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Dilema: Don't know where to start

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#1

I know that i am posting very useless questions, but i need your advice guys, i am total stranger, in this really strange world.

At the moment i am learning Maya, from Cgtuts, and i have few in mind that i want to do after Cgtuts. The problem is, my thoughts are going for Zbrush.

I really want to learn this, and master it, So i can be able to sculpt everything i can, from environment, to hard surface things, i am not really into in characters,it will takes years to master anatomy, or even to know the basics.Which is, i am planing to learn from Scott Eaton tutorials, what do you think of this guys? but i do want to sculpt hard surface robots,

So what do i learn first? Maya, Zbrush? I am into VFX for features movies, i want to be 3D environment modeler.

#2

If you are after VFX then choose Maya, because ZBrush is “only” sculptiung and texturing tool. For environments you can use both. Maya for modeling hard surfaces and Z for detailing and texturing them.

Scott Eaton is great source. There are much more too. Look in video tutorials on a Pixo’s site. There are references for external tutorials and you will find there somethiung for you.

#3

If you do intend to do character work, dont delay in learning anatomy, yes it can take years, but that dont mean your not going to get reasonable results within the first 6 months with the right training and time put into it.

Along with Scott Eaton, I recomend Zac Petroc, Ryan Kingsling, Eliot Goldfinger book.

As far as sculpting Hard surface in Zbrush, rememebr this will not be ok for production ready models, the resolution will be way to high, and retopologizing can take a incredable amount of time. Use Zbrush hardsurface for design and illistration, and Maya for the actual animatable production models. Zbrush at its core is great for organics, Humans, animals, organic emviroments.

In a typical workflow a base mesh would be created in Maya, then refined and detailed, even textured within Zbrush. If you can handle it, learn both, but Maya alone is enougth to learn. Pick your first project, keep it simple, and work your way through it. As you go your hit technical problems and issues which you will have to resolve to move forward, this is a great way to learn while being productive.