I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Vue. You just can’t do what Vue does as well with any other software. Vue is reasonably stable but I’m never in a hurry to pick up the latest version update because, in my experience, there are always issues, sometimes significant issues, that get addressed later on with a patch. Such is the case with this version. From the outset, there was an annoying "crash on close" bug for the C4D version - closing a file that had xStream in it lead to a crash of the host program. Secondly, the stand-alone version of Vue xStream still has bugs in it that disallows network rendering on the Mac platform. This is a shame for a very expensive software that does a brilliant job at it’s core task of 3D environments. In fact, thanks to a helpful Vue software tech, I’m running a beta patched version (not released yet) just to get back some of the network rendering capabilities that are supposed to be functioning from the start.
xStream can be a little crash prone when engaging its functions within the host application. Saving work often is a must, in fact saving before making any xStream adjustments is a wise thing to do.
One other “gotcha” has been some rather unpredictable re-mapping of textures from legacy files that are opened. This does not always happen on every file but it does happen. Opening in Vue 7 = misplaced textures into UV mapped custom objects. Open the file back in Vue 6 = everything just fine. Arrrrgh.
For C4D users, it is important to note that moving and scaling of Vue objects must be accomplished with your selection tool in object tool mode instead of model tool mode. This is not a Vue issue but rather a limitation of the C4D SDK into which xStream hooks into the host application. While clearly highlighted and boxed out in the manual, I missed that tid-bit. Thanks again to Matt Reveccie for clarifying that point with me.
xStream is spendy. However, it provides a level of 3D environment integration into full featured Cinematic grade 3D software that is unbeatable. If you need realistic environmental content worked into scenes you’re building with another 3D application, Vue really is a must-have, despite being quirky and temperamental. However, if your needs can be accommodated by compositing 3D elements in post later on in the process, one of Vue’s siblings may be a wiser economic choice.
Loves me, loves me not. I’ve purchased every version of this software since v3. Vue xStream chronically leaves me feeling like the jilted lover when it misbehaves - “I don’t know what I did to make you crash. Can we just talk about it? You’re so beautiful.” I keep coming back knowing I’m going to get slapped in the face at some point. Vue’s capabilities truly are astonishing, though. As such, the program keeps pulling me back to it. (Still, I really wish a future version would be more stable so I wouldn't have to be so torn!)
