How long have you all been using a 3d package, and what was the first 3d software you set foot into?
I juist think it would be interesting to see the variety of experience throughout the board.
thanks!
G1antp15to1
Hi G1antp15to1,
I’ve been using ZBrush for nearly two years, no previous experience with 3D, nor familiar with any other package… I mean, I know them but can’t seem to really get them hang of them. But then again I don’t work in ‘the field’ and don’t have the time to really dig into them.
cheers,
Bimm
I had a go at 3D modling a few times in the past but back then it was too complicated for me.
My first real go at 3d was Zbrush, I dabbled for 20min and for about a year didnt try it again. On and of through that year I tryed a few other 3d applications and found that it didnt bring any fun or inspire me much. I cam back to Zbrush again and started using the guide manual and from there on I was hooked. After hitting some of Zbrushes limitations I in the end found a Program called Hexagon that for the first time alowed me to feel free working in a traditional modling software. Iv spent about 6 months with the demo of zbrush from memory and then brought the boxed version of zbrush 2. This was the first perchase of any software where I felt that I got my moneys worth, in terms of help, support and inspiration from others.
Its been about 2 years since I started with zbrush and a year with hexagon. Iv learnt some 3ds Max, XSI and Lightwave and will soon be implimenting My current tools with one of these 3 for my rendering work.
Lightwave6 to Maya 5.0 to Zbrush 1.23
Now its Maya 8.5, Max 8.0 Zbrush 3.1
Man am I getting old;)
Of course I’m not counting the billion conversion programs I have dealt with over my time of being a geek
My first exposure to 3d was Simply 3D by Micrografx in 1999. I have it installed on my WinXP system and use it now and then for old times sake. More often than not it’s just to access a model that came with the package to convert it for use in another application but I still enjoy dabbling with it for animations since it had so many animated presets for motions and lights. I did model simple props in it for years; mostly vases, bowls, containers, tables and such.
I began using Zbrush in March 2007…I had no experience with any 3d software. I became interested in 3d while working with textures in 2d and began researching the available software. I tried the free trial of 3dsmax and loved it, but just could not afford it. Then I tried the free trial of zbrush and was hooked!!! It was also affordable for me so I continued looking at what else was out there and soon it was clear that zbrush was what I wanted…
I still might put my easel up and do more oil paintings from time to time…
I was a Computer Science major for 2 years before deciding I was a more creative than technical person… switched to a New Media major and loved it… my 3rd semester, I took my first 3d class and we used Max… the program didnt really click with me at all… it took me forever to do anything and I was constantly referencing, but it was so much fun just to think that I was doing 3d… then my next 3d class we used Maya, and it was much better, but I was still being outdone by all my more technically oriented classmates and I was still having fun but losing optimism
then I was over at a friend’s house and he showed me a 2 or 3 minute glimpse of ZBrush 2… it was like “hey check out this thing I’ve been playing with… you paint 3d like a brush instead of all this messing with vertices… check it out, I just put horns on this head with a little wiggle of the mouse”
it blew me away… my head was swamped with inspiration… I immediately picked up the demo and started playing… it was really difficult to get used to, but I recognized the power and flexibility of the program right away… then I borrowed Meat’s first Intro DVD and the whole thing just clicked with me… I fell in love… bought ZBrush and a tablet and I’ve been happy ever since… trying to force myself to work with any other clumsy 3d app is like pulling teeth, and when I get together with that friend, I often spend a little time teaching him things about ZBrush
Maya for four years (I think that put me at version 5.5 or 6, can’t remember) and Zbrush for two =] There’s a little mudbox and Max thrown in there as well, but not much of either.
Lightyears before most of you all had been borne :D, in 1991 with the DOS version of what you call now “MAX”.
If C64 and Amiga can be added: 4 more years with things too weird to mention.
But, until ZBrush came up (no kidding) 3D had always been a bad excuse for not to paint using traditional media.
Only after ZBrush came into the digital world this changed for the better: you can use it and still avoid the tiresome 3D stuff. It is good to see, that even Pixologic acknowledges this and did not change the important parts of ZBrush (2 to 2.5D). 
I should hope not. I shudder to think that the core userbase for ZBrush are 16 or younger. When I was a teenager I couldn’t afford $500 for anything, let alone a piece of software :lol:
Edit: My first real 3D package was 3D Studio Max (version 2). Unless you include 3D mapping for Doom II.
Lightyears before Zaphod 
. Lightyears before…3dstudio R4!!!
And as years passes with rush…we now have zBrush!!! 
Respect to the olds! (Us i mean, hahaha)
… remember the train in 3dstudio (the tut)?
Well, nowadays they present you a hammer to build (within Maya). Somewhat degraded, don’t you think?
Hmm, the next one had been Truespace - or had it been RayDream?
Hurray for the elderly!!
My first 3D package was a PC based app called Topaz in 1994. The interface was a nightmare. I’d work on an object in the viewport and rotate the camera. Then I’d lose it. It didn’t have a look at selected object command.
It did produce nice renders for the time.
Started with 3DS R4 in 99, Migrated to Maya Unlimited 4.0 around 2,000. Been using ZB for about 6 years now.