Post Archive
› October 11, 2004
3D Curious
Like lots of folks, I've been intrigued by 3D graphics generation for years, but never actually tried it out myself. It's an imposing prospect, the applications 3D artists use seem massively complex, and there are many concepts to wrap one's head around. So just out of needless curiosity I thought I'd see about getting setup to try out a little 3D stuff. My first step is to ask my friend Alex for some beginner's tips on what applications to try. His response was in-depth and definitely worth a read if you're interested in the subject.
If you are just looking to learn, you can get the Cinema4d demo, there is Maya PLE (personal learning edition), and Softimage XSI has a demo too. All of them are crippled by not allowing saves, or watermarking the renders (XSI has no limitations, but the demo is time-limited I think Win and Linux only no mac version). There are also free modeler/renderers. There is Blender, and Wings 3D. Blender is open source Wings3D is freeware and both are cross-platform. There is also Animation Master by Hash Inc. It is a patch modeler used mostly for character animation. Cinema4d, Maya, and XSI all have varying levels of price-point based on the modules and or packages you buy. If you plan to branch out and use your skills to make money off knowledge of software Maya or XSI are the answer. If you want Flash 3D, Swift3D is one of the best vector 3D tools. Last but not least Strata3d. Strata is OK from what I remember but seems to fall a bit behind every other package. I recommend getting demos of the software mentioned and playing with them.
For learning Maya PLE is free and has tons of resources that are free and pay. If you want a powerhouse player in the industry, you can buy the basic version of XSI and it comes with fantastic DVD training for around $500.
I use Cinema4D. It is basically like Lightwave 3D. I do not recommend Lightwave because it has a horrible steep learning curve.
For what I use 3D for I would look in this order: XSI, Maya, 3D Studio Max, Cinema4D. There are many more out there...
Be prepared to need a fast processor, maxed out RAM, and a fast hard drive.
Comments
1. October 13, 2004 11:12 AM
2. October 13, 2004 12:10 PM
Alex Mitchell Posted…
Greetings,
As with any digital art whether 2D or 3D a solid plan for creating your artwork can be a big help. Drawing skills, photographs and even hand-sculpted clay models can be a big help in assisting you with understanding the structure of an object. The way you model an object or scene has many factors involved in getting the results you want.
To answer the question "at what point is one ready?"...
You are only as ready as you are willing to learn. The jump from 2D to 3D can be pretty daunting at first. I always suggest following the tutorials and seeking out discussion threads. Once you understand the basics you can take that knowledge and move toward more complex modeling, lighting and texturing techniques. Most 3D applications are similar to Photoshop. In this I mean that there are a million ways to skin a cat. This holds true for Photoshop and most 3D applications I am aware of.
In short... You are probably as ready as anyone else. 3D modeling and animation is like digital photography or cinematography. The difference is that you will be in control of every aspect of the appearance of the final product.
3. October 14, 2004 03:03 AM
drworm Posted…
I use another free application called POV-Ray. It's doesn't have a GUI for modelling objects like most other applications. Instead is uses a form of code. Whilst it means creating a scene requires more work I prefer the flexibity I get by defining models with variables. I compare it to using a WYSIWYG editor to create a HTML page and using a text editor to create a PHP page.
4. October 14, 2004 10:13 PM
Tim Posted…
Are there any of the tools more common in a particular area of the industry? For example, XSI mostly in post or 3d film, and then maybe another one for product visualization, or print design, etc.? Obviously, getting the basics down is the most important first step, as Alex said. And I'm sure they all have there strengths. But *generally speaking*, which apps are being used for different areas within the 3d industry?
5. October 18, 2004 07:57 PM
Jane Posted…
Blender is the coolest 3D app around, but only once you've used it. Its de stijl interface is optimized for actually getting work done rather than for teaching the beginner but there's plenty of help available. A lot of professionals use Blender secretly.
6. October 25, 2004 12:22 AM
Alex Posted…
I recommend Carrara from Eovia - it is a complete package with a fairly intuitive interface.
Tim Posted…
This is a particulary timely post for me, as I'm tentatively exploring 3d illustration. I've always been interested but it's quite a committment if you want to do it well. Quick question: I haven't drawn (pencil & paper) regularly in years, and you know how perishable it can be. I wonder if it's best to step back for several weeks to sharpen drawing skills before tackling 3d. Maybe a life/figure drawing class or something. I wonder if your friend finds strong drawing skills (beyond just sketching or simple illustrations) a prerequisite for success in 3d? Or is it more a matter of arduously learning the software? Inasmuch as drawing is the foundation for *all* visual arts, I wonder at what point one is "ready" for 3d.