I hope that this isn’t too sensitive a topic, and I really hope that it doesn’t become too controversial. I’m asking this because I am feeling like I’m at a crossroads.
First of all, a little background. I am entering my third year in a five-year BFA program in animation at the University of Montana. We’re just starting to get into Maya and C4D next semester. My career goal is technical art, lighting, shading and VFX (particle system, simulation, etc). I will be seeking an internship with a number of larger studios upon graduation, pending on what my portfolio ends up looking like.
I’ve been using Blender for quite a while, but have only recently been serious about it. I like Blender, it’s a comfortable workspace and the workflow is extremely efficient - even if it’s handling of very large files … well … isn’t. I’ll probably continue to use Blender as modeller, simply because it is just SO efficient. (Though, MODO looks really promising, too)
However, I am starting to question if focusing so much time on Blender is a good idea or not, especially when there is so much to learn in Maya, and because Maya is a required skill-set for so many studios - let alone Houdini, PRMan, Nuke, and all the other tools I feel pressured to learn.
I guess my question is if the tools I am learning in Blender will translate to other applications? If the concepts behind them will apply, especially in the areas of shading and simulation? I can learn a new system easy enough, but learning entirely new concepts is much more difficult. I know I’ll be using less and less Blender as my education continues. But should I write-off blender completely for now and focus instead on Maya?