The Transcendental GUI

[Troy Rollins]

On 10/13/02 4:43 PM, "Chipp Walters" <chipp at chipp.com> wrote:

> I don't know of any 'professional' 3D package which doesn't take a
> significant of time to learn -- one could say a 'non-standard' interface.
> Most 3D professionals I've worked with rebuke Bryce *because* of it's
> technology and horsepower -- not the interface... these guys can work with
> just about *any* interface (have you seen SoftImage or Lightwave lately??)

Yes, this is true, I own Lightwave (but confess that I have moved to
Cinema4D for my own work.) I will say that because traditional interface
elements do not well support the intricacies of 3D, 3D software does all
pretty much have non standard interface elements.

The thing I find interesting about Bryce (and actually ALL of Kai's
interfaces) is their general lack of usability, almost by design. I hate to
use the guy as an example, but while incredibly beautiful, the interfaces
are obstacles. Speaking as someone who has been involved in 3D for about 13
years, the horsepower and technology were there, at the time. We tried to
put those tools into some of our workflows - and the interface was what
prevented it.

The difference is that Lightwave's (and other similar tools) interface is an
attempt to optimize usability for its core intention, and Bryce's is an
attempt to wow the user with the graphic savvy of its designer.

-- 
Troy
RPSystems, Ltd.
www.rpsystems.net