How does one learn 3D modeling?

Ducimus · 02-15-11, 10:51 PM

How does one learn 3D modeling? What's the best way to go about this for a beginner?

Are there any free to download, and easy to understand applications for this purpose?

Just curious. Thanks.

Karle94 · 02-16-11, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

How does one learn 3D modeling? What's the best way to go about this for a beginner?

Trial and error.

Hylander_1314 · 02-16-11, 03:34 AM

You Tube also has a lot of Gmax Tutorials. I like working with Gmax, although I'm no expert or scholar on what to do. And it's been some time since I worked with it, but it is fun creating something from scratch.

Nisgeis · 02-16-11, 05:12 PM

Gmax stopped being officially supported and updated about five years ago and has been abandonned by the developer.

Blender, although free, is always changing and whomever constitutes 'the community' for that program is constantly changing and the User Interface is always in a state of flux. Key features are also in a state of working flux - there always seems to be some workaround you have to use that you wouldn't need in a professional program, which just makes what is already a difficult task, uneccesarily difficult. Tutorials for the wrong version also cannot be followed due to the radical UI changes.

A lot of the other free programs don't really have the 'power' to deal with detailled models and will start to barf when you load complicated models in them.

3ds Max is made for the games developer community and it's what I'd recommend learning on, if you can 'afford' the software beyond the one month trial. The tutorials that come with the software will give you a very good grounding in how to go about modelling. Those tutorials have been seen by many eyes are are spot on in what they teach.

The key though, to being able to learn modelling is having a project you want to get done yourself. It's almost impossible to learn how to model in 3D unless you have something in mind that you want to accomplish - that in many ways is the key definining factor in whether you will learn how to do it or not.

Dowly · 02-16-11, 05:37 PM

If you can get your hands on to Modo, I'd suggest you start with that. Of course, it costs, but the GUI is extremely user friendly and easy to learn.

http://www.luxology.com/

Ducimus · 02-16-11, 05:43 PM

Quote:

3ds Max is made for the games developer community and it's what I'd recommend learning on, if you can 'afford' the software beyond the one month trial.

How much is that dare I ask?

02-15-11, 10:51 PM	#1
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	How does one learn 3D modeling? How does one learn 3D modeling? What's the best way to go about this for a beginner? Are there any free to download, and easy to understand applications for this purpose? Just curious. Thanks.

02-16-11, 03:34 AM	#3
Hylander_1314 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2006 Location: 5 Miles Inland West Of Lake Huron Posts: 1,936 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	You Tube also has a lot of Gmax Tutorials. I like working with Gmax, although I'm no expert or scholar on what to do. And it's been some time since I worked with it, but it is fun creating something from scratch. __________________ A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law. -John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ---------------------

02-16-11, 05:12 PM	#4
Nisgeis Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,909 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 11	Gmax stopped being officially supported and updated about five years ago and has been abandonned by the developer. Blender, although free, is always changing and whomever constitutes 'the community' for that program is constantly changing and the User Interface is always in a state of flux. Key features are also in a state of working flux - there always seems to be some workaround you have to use that you wouldn't need in a professional program, which just makes what is already a difficult task, uneccesarily difficult. Tutorials for the wrong version also cannot be followed due to the radical UI changes. A lot of the other free programs don't really have the 'power' to deal with detailled models and will start to barf when you load complicated models in them. 3ds Max is made for the games developer community and it's what I'd recommend learning on, if you can 'afford' the software beyond the one month trial. The tutorials that come with the software will give you a very good grounding in how to go about modelling. Those tutorials have been seen by many eyes are are spot on in what they teach. The key though, to being able to learn modelling is having a project you want to get done yourself. It's almost impossible to learn how to model in 3D unless you have something in mind that you want to accomplish - that in many ways is the key definining factor in whether you will learn how to do it or not. __________________ -------------------------------- This space left intentionally blank.

02-16-11, 05:37 PM	#5
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,054 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	If you can get your hands on to Modo, I'd suggest you start with that. Of course, it costs, but the GUI is extremely user friendly and easy to learn. http://www.luxology.com/