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10/04/2025 4:24 pm
I've been using Blender for almost 5 years now and recently started wondering if I should invest time in learning 3DS Max. My university offers free student licenses, so I have access to it without the cost barrier (for now).
I'm aiming to get into the VFX industry and notice that many job listings still mention 3DS Max or Maya as requirements. I've watched some professionals saying that Autodesk is slowly abandoning 3DS Max while others swear it's still the industry standard for many sectors.
I tried modeling a simple piece in both software and while I finished the Blender version in about 3 hours, the 3DS Max version took me almost twice as long.
Is it worth the frustration of learning 3DS Max from scratch at this point? Will it actually help my career prospects? I'm particularly interested in VFX and potentially architectural visualization as backup options.
15/04/2025 11:08 am
Absolutely worth learning if you're serious about professional work, especially in architectural visualization where 3DS Max is still king. I've been in the industry for years, and despite what people say about Autodesk "abandoning" Max, it's still heavily used.
The modifier stack in Max is incredibly powerful once you understand it - it gives you a non-destructive workflow that's hard to match in other software. Think of it like OOP but for 3D artists.
For ArchViz specifically, the combination of 3DS Max + V-Ray/Corona + Forest Pack/RailClone is unmatched. Your university license is a golden opportunity to learn without the financial investment.
Yes, it'll be frustrating at first, but that's just because you're comparing your 5 years of Blender experience to your first attempts in Max. Give yourself time.
22/04/2025 3:40 pm
I'll probably get downvoted in this sub, but I switched from Max to Blender 3 years ago and haven't looked back. The development pace in Blender is insane compared to Max, and the price difference is... well, infinite% cheaper.
If you're already comfortable in Blender and creating good work, I honestly don't see the need to switch unless you have specific jobs requiring Max. Many studios are becoming more software-agnostic now as long as you can deliver the final files correctly.
01/05/2025 11:47 am
It's not about the software, it's about understanding 3D fundamentals.
If you understand what a vertex is, where it exists in space, what normals are, how UV mapping works, proper topology, etc. - you can pick up any 3D package relatively quickly.
That said, for VFX specifically, we're seeing more Maya and Houdini than Max these days. For arch viz, Max is still dominant. For product visualization, C4D is very common.
Take advantage of that student license and learn Max well enough to be conversant in it, but focus more on mastering the universal 3D concepts that transfer between software.
SeeBlankArt reacted
12/07/2025 6:38 pm
@thiva32 the blender route is still a viable one, but I don't see a lot of jobs out there looking for Blender yet. I do not think it will be long before we see Blender more often in game/film. All that said, it all depends on the company and its policies, and you get more options keeping all tools relatively close and fresh.