Pangolin Beyond Info Thread

[White-Light]

Only Beyond Ultimate has 3D.

However, Pangolin sell plugins for 3ds Max and cinema 4D. I think (please check with Pangolin before committing money) these work with all versions of Beyond.

From the Beyond Website:

Beyond Ultimate includes a 3D modeling and animation module. It’s like Autodesk 3ds MAX or Maxon Cinema 4D, but it is designed and optimized for laser. This means you don’t have to buy any other 3D modeling program. (If you already have other programs, we continue to sell our conversion plug-ins, so you can output laser graphics from 3ds MAX or Cinema 4D scenes.)

[flecom]

Hi all,
five days ago I was watching the Quickshow demo videos because I would like to purchase a laser system to project 3d laser drawings.
I never heard about Pangolin.
I use 3ds since the first dos release, now I do photorealistic renderings with Max 2012 and Vray, I'm not a laserist, I donno now what is an rgb laser system and what can do.
But a 3d artist wants more every day, feels the space and geometry differently, spend all the time learning softwares, techniques, spends all his money in hardware, it's a passion.
I think that today with current lasers on the market is impossible to draw a 3d scene with 1 million of vectors for example,...but this is the future, Beyond is the answer.
I asked to myself, while I was watching those videos...: "why Pangolin doesn't use the dark Autodesk interface?...why Pangolin doesn't implement a 3d integrated editor?...why Quickshow doesn't import vector files like dwg, adobe illustrator or similar without vectorize logos?"
Ok, I asked to myself several questions...being me a 3d artist that uses this tools every day.
After 3-4 days i found this site and many informations on the web about laser, lasershows, laserists, scanners, filters, nanometers, etc. I said: "oh my god, I have to learn everything...and I have to spend a lot of money"
Today I discover that Pangolin has released a new software for 3d artists...the same Autodesk interface...same icons, a mix between Cinema 4D and 3ds Max, incredible but true, they did the software that I was dreaming...
5000 dollars for a software that drives a multitude of laser systems probably is very high...But many 3d artists like me are interested to do 3d laser projections together with video projections, stereoscopic too...perhaps using only 3 lasers.
I hope that Pangolin will create only one line of softwares called Beyond eliminating Quickshow and including some basic 3d modeling and animation. I could create the animation with Max or Maya and then import it inside Beyond basic using the fbx format. I think that Max or Maya animation is beyond Beyond and cost less. In Beyond I don't think we have particles, rigid body dynamics, inverse cinematic and many more animated features.
Importing fbx/collada animations in Beyond could be a good idea for those who have already purchased a 3d software.
I hope that someone in Pangolin is reading me...

yes, everyone should pay $5000 for their copy of Pangolin! someone buy this guy a beer!

[masterpj]

Gabrielefx the BEYOND 3D fbx import was my idea and is supported by BEYOND 3D.
if you want pangolin only for the 3D *which i mostly use it for*
Do the following:
Buy a LD2000 Intro system.
Then buy LC-max ( which is for 3ds max)
This will give you the cheapest solution to get LC-max.
LC-max only works on the QM2k which is given with LD2000.

I was also interested like you btw, so we are similar in a kind of way.
Good to hear you are really showing interest.

We use the Drak autodesk interface Gabriel.
In fact we made BEYOND 3D darker to put less strain on eyes when working at late hours.
LC-max works on all versions of 3ds max.
Even the new 3ds max 2012 and also on the inventor versions.
The reason why pangolin made their own software is because it actually saves money, it save you the purchasing of either Cinema4D or BEYOND 3D

There's no plugin for maya, I haven't seen it planned. Pangolin keeps improving LC-max and also remember: updates of pangolin are always free.

If you have more questions, please let me know ok?

[gabrielefx]

500$ for Beyond essentials (ex Quickshow but with new interface and features), 1500$ for Beyond Basic with basic 3d and possibilities to import animations. A cheap software for 3d artists.
I will never buy a 5000$ software to draw 3d animated objects with lasers. I already paid 4500$ for Max that does a lot of work more. I will never buy the Pangolin Max plugin because it works only with the old version of Designer....I guess.

[masterpj]

gabrielefx that's no problem
Pangolin max plugin is highly recommended actually.
seriously it's really good.
I recommend it for any max user.
You will enjoy it.
Designer works fine btw
Beyond essentials isn't exactly quickshow, it's much more.
I have it here right now and it's great.

[White-Light]

I don't think Beyond isn't going to change in price any time soon. It's brand new to the market as of yesterday!

QS is Pangolin's fastest ever selling software, so I don't see any change there.

I'm afraid its a case of if you want the best, it doesn't come cheap.

So far as the plugins are concerned, I would suggest you contact Pangolin I suspect the plugins may continue for Beyond but you'd have to check.

The idea with an integrated solution I think is to give people who don't have 3d Max a cheaper combined solution than buying Beyond and 3D Max seperately. Also, the 3d solution for Beyond is designed with lasers in mind so for those who just use 3d in lasers, its probably a better solution.

For those who already have 3d Max, I suspect plugins will be made available to work with the other versions Beyond, but like I said contact Pangolin.

[masterpj]

LC-max and LC-flash will be continued products, no doubt.

[gabrielefx]

Hi Masterpj
I donno if you are a Pangolin programmer but I'm very happy that 3d is the most important feature that a laserist wants now in the software. Beyond is the answer.
Probably now laser stuff (hardware-software) are a niche market but tomorrow the game will change, this happened for 3d software. I remember when Maya costs 20.000$
Now I want to approach to the laser world and understand if it could be another business for me.
For example 5000 euros for Beyond Ultimate and 5000 euros for a decent laser (total 10.000) to start the game is out of my budget...but I would like to make 3d effects with lasers...
Btw I will purchase Beyond Essentials when available, I hope you will prepare demo videos.

P.s.
I need a comparison table of the 3 Beyond versions to understand the differences.

[flecom]

500$ for Beyond essentials (ex Quickshow but with new interface and features), 1500$ for Beyond Basic with basic 3d and possibilities to import animations. A cheap software for 3d artists.
I will never buy a 5000$ software to draw 3d animated objects with lasers. I already paid 4500$ for Max that does a lot of work more. I will never buy the Pangolin Max plugin because it works only with the old version of Designer....I guess.

the only version of beyond with the 3D stuff is the professional version which will cost you $5000

you can buy LD2000 intro for $1500 and add the MAX plugin for another $1000 for the lite version or $2000 for the full version... so either $2500 or $3500

LC-max and LC-flash will be continued products, no doubt.

LC-Flash has not been updated since it came out pretty much, and its basically broken?

and why would they continue to put development time into LC-Max when they have their own 3D application now?

[masterpj]

Hello Gabrielefx,

No I'm not exactly a Pangolin programmer.
More like a 3D artist myself who specialises in 3D laser graphics.
I did do some testing for BEYOND 3D and feature and interface requests.
I already guessed that BEYOND 3D ultimate is out of your budget.
Check the pangolin site for a LD2000 Intro system
When you purchase that you should also include LC-max, seriously I recommend it and it might be within your budget.
In your case I would not suggest to purchase BEYOND essentials, because your needs are rather 3D then the beams and such.
Again: Have a look on the pangolin site for the LD2000 intro system with LC-max.