[Blade]

Hey, I was just wondering what is a good first step to learning 3d modeling in programs like 3d studio max or maya. I have seen the programs before and there interface but they are confusing to me.
Just wondering where i should start for learning about 3d rendering programs like those.
Any suggestions on what to do, or where to go, the last and least option i want to consider is taking a class for now but anything else would help, if it is a class that would be the best option then please let me know anyway. There are just so many controls on those programs I dont know what to do or where to start if i were to purchase one of them and yes i know how much they cost.

[a0]

You're in luck! Both Discreet and Alias Wavefront have recently released free versions of their software for users to download over the internet.

Both come with excellent tutorials to get you started.

Maya Personal Learning Edition
Gmax (3D Studio Max lite)

After you have worked through the tutorials that the company provide, then your best avenue is to experiment, or try designing models (and then texturing them) for games like Quake III, Unreal Tournament, The Sims, Command and Conquer Renegade, etc...

A good resource for that would be: Polycount.com

Also, there are hundreds of on-line tutorial sites, many of them which are quite good, like 3D Cafe for example.

Good luck to you!

[Blade]

sweet, looks awesome, thanks for the help, i never know where to look and I usually have bad luck finding good tutorials.
Ill have to try this out, thanks again =D

[HawkOne]

If you feel ready to start right at the top then you should include Softimage XSI too ... they are also giving away free demo-copies now, its Mentalray renderer is one of the best in the business ... it positively smokes both Max and Mayas default renderers ... and many users would tell you that is the case with the rest of the program too. (then again, you gotta try and figure that out for yourself)

Starting right at the top is a pretty big step though. Maybe you should try out something less daunting to get your foothold in the 3D software-world. I suggest Nendo from IZ-Software free download



It has many of the features of the high end Mirai (from the same company) considered by "those in the know" to be the best polygon modeller on the planet.

There is a problem though, a pretty big one too, and that is customer support, and a website/downloads that constantly goes down ... people just have a lot of trouble getting hold of the software from this company for some reason, that just sucks ... Nendo has an offspring due to this called Wings ... Wings3D.com The guy who made it says this "I couldn't buy Nendo, so I wrote my own"

There are many others of course, Blender is free too, but a lot harder to start with ... and it's a tiny download ... just a couple megs ..!!

Lots of free downloads

I guess you might need to figure out where you would like to go with your career, games, or film ... (since they have different requirements for now anyway, this will probably change in the not to distant future though...)

Good luck ...

[ March 08, 2002: Message edited by: HawkOne ]

[nova]

With all the programs I've tried learning, the best of luck figuring stuff out came with guided tutorials.. for example, "Modelling a polygonal spaceship in 3DSMax". It's the best way to learn the program and learn how to work with it.