United3dArtists Archive

I recently installed Blender, but had some real serious issues with keeping Blender menu's and windows visible. I install the 32 bit version under Windows XP Pro, and apparently there's an issue with the OpenGL currently used on Blender 2.49 and above. The issue was resolved by going into User Preferences>System and changing Windows Draw Mode from Automatic to Full. Just thought I'd post it as FYI for any other users that experience a similar problem. Happy new year to all btw. Leroy.

Thanks for the tip BNG. I have not tried out Blender 2.65a much yet, so I will keep an eye out for this issue.

Hey I wonder if this fixes the flashing black when you resize the window by clicking and dragging.

I wouldn't be surprized especially on older systems that use earlier versions of OpenGL. It was really very annoying too as every time I would hover the cursor over an item the help tip would appear, but everything else would go to a gray blank screen. I have both the 32 and 64 bit version installed under both XP and W7 yet only the XP install was displaying the oddity.

Blender, has come a long way and I think the developers finally listened to the many complaints from users and redesigned the modeling interface to be a bit more user friendly and intuitive like Truespace. It's still very difficulty to use in my humble opinion, and I still don't even know how to apply a simple 2D texture in Blender. Dragging and dropping a texture on to a model is not an option like it is in TS; also auto UV mapping doesn't exist in Blender either.

The only reason that I mess with Blender is as an option to use by new Battlezone II model makers. Most BZII modders seem to get confused trying to use TS, so I would imagine trying to use Blender is really just going to drive them totally bonkers...Leroy.

I like Blender's unfold and UV system, comparible to the mainstream software I use like Softimage, it just doesn't do it automatically, but it's not too hard to learn how to do it. But you're right about the textures, I still have no idea how they work!

I very much like Softimage and feel it quite a bit easier to use then Blender. I have the demo version of Softimage 7.5 and feel more comfortable using it then even Studio Max. Truespace is still my favorite and I have never really found an easier product to use to date. I just wish I knew more about Softimage in terms of using it features to create an older version 1 exporter equivilent to what it currently uses. The XSI format still has an ASCII text based format, but the newer version is not compatible with the older XSI version. Cheers, Leroy.

The problem with free soft is they are always a wip. When a bug is done, a new bug appear. I am tired with that and avoid these tools for my work.
The new problem with the others soft is they have the same situation. Too many update because companies need moneys or they have not good programmers (?).

Yes, a WIP indeed.

I used blender for a while,a few years and off and on entirely, then I just gave up.
I think the community is a lot rough around the edges, with suggestions offered and ignored or outright hostility offered by
those very closely involved with blender , who should know better. Acting like children is a odd behavior from a quality program ( mostly quality),
but I've found through the years, that often that is the case with free open source software.

TS has its own learning curve to be sure, but its so easy to use in general. I started with a copy of 4.3 from a client of mine ( landscape architect) and I was absolutely delighted to have been gifted it, and now this version.

I'm still learning the ropes as they say, but getting there .

Ts seems to do just about anything you could possibly need, and very efficiently at that. What I really need atm, is to install INDigo , and having just watched a video about it, that is soon to occur

I'm so glad TS is being maintained, or at least has a forum where dedicated fans/devs can gather and continue partaking of this wonderful 3d app.

cheers
nl

Truespace is a piece of cake compared to any Blender version that I've dealt with. Blender has a huge user base, but it seems highly fragmented to say the least. Caligari modeling software is pretty much the same from version to version. I've struggled with Blender from day one. Simple tasks like UV mapping, applying materials, and working with Blender in general is a bit like trying to solve Rubnik's cube; the more you play with it the more confused one gets.

Softimage is pretty well organized, but still is very complex in terms of it's modeling tool set and mastering the software itself.

Although I was open minded for Blender i had some bad experience with the user base...
I opened a support ticket because im wanted the coders to look into the implementation of Collada
because it wouldnt work if you imported motion files into Vue...
well .. here is the answer
http://projects.blender.org/tracker/?fu ... group_id=9"

Peter
Ps here is another person having the same problem....
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthr ... ORT-TO-VUE"

That's some bad support from Blender. They just blame everyone else and ignore the information given.

Finis wrote:That's some bad support from Blender. They just blame everyone else and ignore the information given.

Yup ! No pay no support... I was pissed off by that...!
I would have loved to use the software in my pipeline but if it doesnt work.....
Peter

RAYMAN wrote:Although I was open minded for Blender i had some bad experience with the user base...
I opened a support ticket because im wanted the coders to look into the implementation of Collada
because it wouldnt work if you imported motion files into Vue...
well .. here is the answer
http://projects.blender.org/tracker/?fu ... group_id=9"

Peter
Ps here is another person having the same problem....
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthr ... ORT-TO-VUE"

Typical blender. If you are having trouble, its you not the program.

I was one of the 'trouble makers' I guess to them anyway, who thought that blender needed 'turntable' rotation in lieu of the nasty trackball. Most major 3d apps use turntable as default, and I thought ( I got bit my the weirdness as a new blender user at one point in time) it just make no sense to put a new user ( or anyone ) through such a odd default , given they will just think its normal behavior as they set out learning and using said 3d application.

I took a lot of berating over that, including from Ton himself and MIchael ( on forums and IRC), and there were plenty of other voices on the issue as well.

They were solving fairly complex issues on other 3d operations in blender , but seemed to ignore that one, but of course now many months/yr later, turntable is finally default.

So yes, I kinda know about blender and their devs and being ignored and the attempt to make you irrelevant. In my case the level of berating and hate mongering was rather surprising, but as noted in another thread here, I came to see open source/freeware projects as this, and came to expect it sadly

TS is obviously different, and its stunningly refreshing.

I'm sorry they put you through that, because as a one time 'member' of that community I sorta feel responsible on some level ( as I should ). Maybe it takes things like this to see a person/project for who they truly are; and stay away from them afterwards until they fix their messes.

THe other day I saw a post about a blender issue, maybe on CG I just don't recall atm, and somebody was using what I consider profane words to describe the issue or the person involved/commenting on the issue, and not one person remarked about it or apologized for him, or asked him to tone his rhetoric &/or apologize for it; some community...'It takes a village' is completely lost on them.

I personally avoid blender whenever possible because of a lot of that, and with using TS and a few other choice apps, that is no longer a issue
cheers
nl

Use a software is not a religion. " Just show me what you do " is what i like. Some people are strange.

I like that mentality, it's the final product that is important, not the method of how to make it.

Blender is kind of one of those products that a lot of people just don't get easily, and regular posters should go a bit easier on potential new users. I've posted a few questions that just seem to get ignored. If you are too persisent then some of the regulars can get a bit testy. Personally, I'd love to see Blender evolve into a more user friendly project as it really seems to be quite interesting if for nothing else.

Truespace, still rocks as the very best of every other product out there. Sure hope a product similar to TS appears someday. To me I'd rather spend more time actually modeling then just trying to make heads or tails out of some complicated modeling softwares. You guys should take a closer look at Anim8or 3D. It's pretty simple and the user base is quite friendly like the users on this forum. One guy was actually nice enough to modify an existing X exporter script and adapt it for use as an XSI exporter.

There are so many 3d apps out there, and most of them are worthy of use 100% indeed.

I used TS when it was V 1.0 , and 7.6 is just wonderful ,and given the price , its a godsend for those of us who can't afford anything else.

I would still like to think if all others were free,as if we lived in a resource based economy that we'd still use TS, and actually Im rather convinced we would. This forum and its userbase seem very dedicated to this application, and its not difficult to see why.

Great job everyone for making this a professional hangout for a truly spectacular 3d app that give many of us a reason to be excited about what we do.

cheers
nl