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#1

Hi Guys, I am new to everything. I want to start learning character modelling, visual effects and animination for film production. So I am asking for help on the programs to get and where I should start from. Please you can email me with all the programs I need at [email protected] and let me know what they are used for. I will so much appreciate anyone who can help me with detailed explanation. I come from a country where movies are done from camera to disc and want to learn something more fascinating with effects and character morphing with anymination.

Thanks so much, I know that I need Zbrush which I am planning to buys soon but I know I can’t use Zbrush alone.

#2

Hi,

I am new to Zbrush and to modelling and animation, and I have many programs as most programs do free trials versions. But i would try to learn one first like Zbrush as it is easy to play and has lots of great tutorials. Learn about alpha’s, bump mapping, UV’s and texturing etc. first with Zbrush and then ask again. You will maybe have a better idea of your needs and costs/money to spend on big programs as some can cost £££ lots.

That said here is my view of other programs.

Zbrush: great easy to use, fun to play with and learn. Great for organic shapes and not so good for industiral mechinic shapes. (I know others will maybe argue the point)

Maya: Using version 6 and 7 I picked up a book for beginners and I am working my way throught the guides. Nice interface and some great tools, fluid and emitters/ cloth/hair

Max version 8: I haven’t found the interface for this as easy to use as with Maya but maybe I need a book and guide to help me work through it. Lots of apps. and cool stuff just need time to play. ( I read 3D world and there are always great tuturiols in there)

Lightware: I haven’t used yet but I have heard good things.

Cinema 4D: I have it but again need time to work with it.

XSI: many here (hello ppl) i think use this program for animating I am sure others will tell you all about it.

Adobe photoshop CS or 7: I think this is a must have as you wil use it for lots of things paint backgrounds , textures and lots of PP (postproduction work) if you don’t have this get it before anything else as there is also a whole world of stuf to learn with photoshop.

Vue5 infinite: great world/scene building tool from what I have seen easy to use and quick to get some nice results.

Bryce 5.5: much the same as above

Poser6 and/or DAZ studio: great tools and programs in there own right for posing and moving rigged models.

OK that is the basic stuff Ihave learn I know others here have alot more experince and knowledge so I hope there get you some advice too.

As I am just starting the learning curve I have as you can see started to play and look into lots of programs hope this has been of help.

Openstheway

Life is like Zbrush you never know what is coming next.

#3

Thanks for your reply. I do have Photoshop CS and can work my way around it. What is the most important one to have? I still need explanation like for example starting and animination fron scratch. Which program do you start from and where do you end it.

Thanks

#4

I wanted to reply to you sooner…

In my oppinion, ZBrush is the best modeling program out there, but it has some drawbacks so you can’t use it alone (yet) for making animations.
What I recommend you: Maya Unlimited 7 and Zbrush 2, so you can model and texture in ZBrush and assemble and animate the scenes and everything (and let’s not forget about rendering the animation) in Maya.
If you don’t want Maya, then use XSI, think about 3ds Max as your last resort…
Don’t get me wrong, they are all poligon modelling applications, so if you are skilled you can do the same things more or less in each one, but in these days, the workflow (speed) is very essential.

As for tutorials:
http://pixologic.com/zbrush/class/classroom.html - here you can find GREAT pdf’s to start with and understand zbrush
www.thegnomonworkshop.com - here is a place you can buy great dvd’s about zbrush and maya

Also, check the forum for more tutorials and for Zscripts.

Regards,
Vali

#5

My introduction to 3D started with lightwave.
I think simpler packages like lightwave may be an easier way to start. I found really nice beginner documentation, and it is by no means as frightening as something like maya.

In terms of purchasing software. Im currently in school, so maya wasn’t bad at all- but if I weren’t- XSI is by all means the way to go. It is in the same league, and the pricetag is incredible.

#6

if you really wanna learn 3d, i wouldn’t start with zbrush…is a Great software but that would be a bit like starting to build the house from the roof…i’d take maya or max and i’d start with that, U have plenty of things to learn and the posibilities of these 3d softwares are infinite…once u know what the posibilities are, if you want to develope a bit more all the character modelling part, keep working on maya/max trying to create more complex models, and then if you feel like you really enjoy that, jump to zbrush…the reason in doing all this is cos it’s really good to know a bit of everything, u need to have a solid base and then u can choose what u enjoy the most…and as many people said before, don’t get blind with the softwares trying to guess which one is the best one etc etc, whatever u choose ( i mean between the big ones like maya/xsi/max/lw…) is gonna do the job, the only limitation is you, not the software…good luck and welcome :slight_smile:

#7

Check out this link it should help you out with whatever program you choose to go with…

http://www.tutorialized.com/

There is a TON of info there on just about everything

Escape

#8

Check out XSI, Silo, Amorphium 3, Wings3D.
Wings3D is free so a good place to start.
Amorphium 3 is easy to learn but behind in the times. I hope for a good update since this is my favorite.
Silo is a good modeler and a new update is in the works.
XSI is a professional app and foundation is $500.00.

Hexagon 2 might be a good one I am thinking about that one myself.

Zbrush is awesome I have played with the demo a lot but still haven’t bought it. Went with XSI instead. Zbrush may come latter, depending on Amorphium updates.

#9

I just finished schooling to learn this stuff, so what you need initially is either Maya, or Max (I reccommend Maya 7) and Photoshop. Those two will get you going. While ZBrush is essential to me, and you will DEFINITLEY need to learn it eventually, you don’t need to worry about learning it right away. Just learn the basics of modeling, texture layout and design, animation, rendering, etc…

I like Maya because it has some unique features like Paint Effects, and a unified UI. I haven’t tried XSI much, but hear it’s really good if you want to do characters especially, and it’s cheap. Max was easy for me to learn, but I eventually felt Maya (which was harder for me to learn) was more powerful. If you start with Maya, you shouldn’t have much of a problem learning it. The great thing about Maya is that it is probably the most documented and taught program for this stuff out there. I highly reccomend the Mastering Maya 7 book from the Alias press, and I love the Digital Tutors DVD’s, and Gnomon DVD’s (there are hardly any Max training DVD’s from these publishers…). I don’t like the reccomendation to learn lightwave, or some “entry-level” lame-O 3D package. Jump in to what the industry pro’s use. Unless you just want to dick around with 3D as a hobby, you are just wasting your time.

Photoshop is probably the only program out there that EVERY SINGLE artist in this field uses. Get good with it. Most teachers in the DVD tutorials expect you have it and know it. There is plenty of training material out there for it as well. I like the free video podcasts from NAP on iTunes, despite the fact the guys who do them are total dorks.

Once you learn the fundamentals with a 3D package (Maya), and Photoshop, learn ZBrush ASAP. It aint hard to learn, and is extremely powerful, and is pretty much a standard app now a days, plus it is one of the most FUN apps out there to use!

Above all you must have TONS of PATIENCE! This stuff is complex and does not come quickly all the time!

#10

Ahh, I just read that you want to do characters and film stuff. Definitley pick up Maya. …but then again, XSI is supposed to be really good for character work, and it starts at like 500 bucks! But Maya is the status quo for film work for sure. Max is super common in games (but Maya is getting really popular as well). I hear XSI is common in Japan. They used it on Metal Gear Solid 3.

And absolutley make it a point to learn ZBrush as soon as you get the basics of Maya modeling and UV mapping down at the least.

Good luck!

#11

…don’t miss the free Google Sketchup :+1:

#12

zbrush+maya

#13

Modo, XSI, and Zbrush are what I use =D. I’m surprised modo has not been mentioned yet…