Blender vs Carrara

Frank__

These are two questions for users with experience in both programs:

a) has Carrara features which aren't in Blender? Which? (I don't ask about direct import of poseable DAZ figure, because my V4- and G2-figures don't work in Carrara, too)

b) is Blender's shader-system comparable to that of Carrara with the extension of third-party-shaders (DCG, shoestring)

(Yes, I perhaps could google all this answers - I did a quick test - but I would like to have an answer from a Carrara-centric-user: what speaks for Carrara compared to Blender? What will I be missing if switching the program - besides of years of experience)

Thank you very much.

Sockratease

The ONLY reason I don't use Blender is because it's interface breaks my brain. Also, the Main reason I use Cowrarra is that I like the interface and was able to learn it easily.

And as I said in a post just the other day : I like Cowrarra because it was made specifically for rendering Cows (as it’s name implies).

Blender was made more for rendering food items like milkshakes and smoothies (as it’s name implies!).

That settled it for me.

JoeMamma2000

I would recommend you don't think about "switching" software. There's no reason to do that. Use Carrara for what you need it for, and Blender for what you need.

Yes, Carrara has some features that Blender doesn't. For me, the major feature is the ability to use content natively. Specifically, the ability to animate and render characters. That's huge, IMO.

Other than that, I think for most people it's a matter of "I like Carrara cuz it's easy to use". But in general, feature-wise, Carrara doesn't even belong in the same discussion as Blender (or most of the other popular 3D apps out there for that matter). They are two completely different applications. Carrara is a 1970's/1980's vintage 3D application with very few of the latest features developed for most 3D apps in the last 20 years. Blender is a 2000's vintage 3D application with some excellent and up-to-date features that you'd only expect to find in an expensive, professional 3D application.

I developed a long thread on compositing. I would suggest you do what the professionals in the VFX industry do, and use the best app for whatever you're doing at the time, and then integrate all those results together for a final product.