Vantage

 Pipeline: Blender -> Collada -> DAZ

Tools: Blender

          https://www.daz3d.com/rssy-3delight-to-iray-converter

I have been doing more pipeline work with Blender and it is paying off. This is a Kitbash3D Blender file exported (one group) into the Collada format (which I helped work on for DAZ), and then into DAZ. I could probably render in Blender and composite, but I am doing pipeline work so cross compatibility and getting "X into Y" is my goal, and it also gets me practice with Blender and creating these types of environments myself some day and doing my own thing.

One huge tool to get when doing these is the RSSY 3Delight to iRay Converter from the DAZ store. This will take all of these imported materials and batch convert them to at least something basic and decent, and while material work is still needed from there at least you are not doing hundreds of different objects and materials and you can focus on the most important ones to start. It is nice to have stuff I will be using, and finishes sets to import, since I can get a sense of usability, scale, materials, and the problems with the pipeline and where the work is needed (and what tools help).

I was watching a Youtube video comparing Blender to things like Houdini, Maya, and so on for different tasks. They said while Blender is good, it is not the best for each of these tasks. My feeling is, use the free tool, learn the ropes of each task and workflow, and find out where your interests lie and if you want to - move over to the best in breed program. Otherwise there are way too many expensive mistakes to make when trying to learn these workflows and activities, so it is best to go with Blender and learn first (even if it isn't always the easiest, who cares, it is free and works very well).

Progress, I still want to model, and cool stuff.

-Ren