I wanna get into 3d modeling but I just can't decide what software to get started with. If you can, could you give me some recommendations?
I mainly want to do architectural stuff and object modeling, not really character/human modeling. If the software can animate a bit, well and good, if not, I don't mind too much.
Thanks :D
I started the hard way, 3DSMax. From what I've read, Blender is an easier and free alternative.
[QUOTE=G-foxisus;24614072]I started the hard way, 3DSMax. From what I've read, Blender is an easier and free alternative.[/QUOTE]
I always find myself repeating this:
It's all down to personal preference. Personally, I found Blender really difficult but I can use 3DS Max without a problem. Blender was too clunky for me and the hot key stuff wasn't nice to try to remember. 3DS Max has a really nice laid out interface, so does Maya and Cinema 4D I believe.
But yeah, personal preference.
3DSmax feels really familiar and efficient once you learn all of its characteristics. There are more tutorials and a bigger community of users out there, so you'll definitely have an easier time learning to use it and when do you, you'll have earned a valuable skill; seeing as 3DSmax is industry-standard software and Blender is more of a toy.
Blender now because I don't really do 3D a whole lot. It's free. And fairly capable.
But I started with MAX, my mom had a copy of 4 once that I could dick around with. I've tried various other software, but I'd say MAX is probably the easiest to get into as it is very consistent. You don't have to worry about wrapping your head around the interface so much, especially compared to say Blender.
But if you can't afford the frankly ridiculous pricetag, Blender is good too if you can wrap your head around the interface.
I'd say stay away from C4D, while it purports to be "easy" my very limited experience seems to be that it has taken the Apple route of usability, i.e. no functionality = "simple".
If you want to do architectural stuff you may want to check out dedicated CAD software, something like Sketchup mayhap.
[QUOTE=BmB;24614698]
I'd say stay away from C4D, while it purports to be "easy" my very limited experience seems to be that it has taken the Apple route of usability, i.e. no functionality = "simple".
[/QUOTE]Limited indeed, because you couldn't be more wrong! :D
I've been using blender since I started to learn. Mainly because I am too cheap to pay out for 3DS Max, which I wouldn't be using all the time. And because I have adapted to Blenders' interface.
[editline]03:42PM[/editline]
Blender 2.5 looks to have some very nice features too in comparison to the older ones. But the UI change is going to hurt.
been using cinema 4d for a few months, it is as the others say, waay to simple.
One good thing is that it is easy to learn the basic with it, like poly modeling and uvmapping
heres the best thing i have made with it.
[img_thumb]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3655193/FP%20Contests/01%20-%20Old%20and%20Forgotten/3D%20-%20Untitled%20-%20Lazore.jpg[/img_thumb]
i use Blender, am going to learn 3DS Max pretty soon. i like Blender for the hotkeys, i really don't enjoy moving the mouse everywhere to do something that can be done with a quick couple keys.
and the game engine and video editor, those are nice too. rather hard to use, but nice.
I started with 3DS Max a couple of years ago,and have used it ever since. The main reason I stayed with 3DS Max was because I found it more simple and direct compared to, for example, the, at first, rather complex interface of Maya. And another important reason was because of VRay, which I find to be one of the best renderer's out on the market today, and when I started with 3D VRay wasn't available with Maya.
I'm very pleased to see also that 3DS Max 2011 has implemented a node-based material editor, one of my favorite features of Maya.
I started with max but then changed to maya. Never coming back to max.
I use Max and Maya, used to do stuff in Blender before I learned these.
I started with C4D because its really easy to use and manage and good for beginners.
I'm currently learning 3ds Max just because it seems to be more powerful and versatile and the common public favorite.
[QUOTE=squish;24621432]I started with C4D because its really easy to use and manage and good for beginners.
I'm currently learning 3ds Max just because it seems to be more powerful and versatile and the common public favorite.[/QUOTE]
It's not. C4D is as good as max, if not better.
[QUOTE=johan_sm;24621504]It's not. C4D is as good as max, if not better.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I'm a beginner so I don't know for sure but just because of the fact most people prefer 3ds max so it gave me that impression.
[QUOTE=squish;24622131]Yeah I'm a beginner so I don't know for sure but just because of the fact most people prefer 3ds max so it gave me that impression.[/QUOTE]
They do because max is more popular and chances you will hear about max before most other 3d apps. But it doesn't mean it's better. I'd advice you to stick with c4d because max is getting worse and worse with every update.
[QUOTE=johan_sm;24622915]They do because max is more popular and chances you will hear about max before most other 3d apps. But it doesn't mean it's better. I'd advice you to stick with c4d because max is getting worse and worse with every update.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the words of wisdom. Now I can actually focus more on learning c4d :P
Johan hates anything Max or Mentalray related, but he's kinda right, if you want to switch to an Autodesk product then try learning Maya, it's really easy to use, more powerful than Max and there's a lot of people who use it so you'll have no trouble getting answers to your questions. I still use Max sometimes but only because I learned it before Maya, so I'm on a switch-over phase where I use both programs depending on my needs.
99% of the time, the 'restrictions' people impose on different programs is often the user. I mean, look at 'The Third and the Seventh', it was done using Max & VRay and i've seen peoples reactions, if you don't tell them it's 3d they'll often go 'seriously, what's the point?', yet so many people say 3ds Max is useless for stuff like that.
Same goes for some of Hayate's work that i've seen and he uses Cinema 4D. I'm also fairly certain that Maya is the professional [i]film[/i] standard, so your decision is partly based on what you're looking for.
Often i've found it's more difficult to import and export stuff from Maya or C4D than it would be 3ds Max.
But honestly, if you really want to find 'the best'. Download all the trials, try make something in each of them, see how you feel. By the end of you should be able to make an educated decision, and perhaps even widen your skillset.
I tried a lot of 3D software, and came to the conclusion the one that feels best to me is Maya. And the only way to find out which one is best to you is to try them.
[B]Blender 2.5[/B] is awesome and free.
[QUOTE=Mitsuma;24639183][B]Blender 2.5[/B] is awesome and free.[/QUOTE]
It will confuse Blender veterans a bit though :saddowns: It changed a lot of the hotkeys and the new UI is a bit funky to adjust too after using <2.5.
2.5 is a crock of shit.
[QUOTE=DeanWinchester;24637123]Johan hates anything Max or Mentalray related, but he's kinda right, if you want to switch to an Autodesk product then try learning Maya, it's really easy to use, more powerful than Max and there's a lot of people who use it so you'll have no trouble getting answers to your questions. I still use Max sometimes but only because I learned it before Maya, so I'm on a switch-over phase where I use both programs depending on my needs.[/QUOTE]
I don't hate max. I started with max and I have respect for it. It's just that if you started with another app that is the same, there is no reason to switch to max. Max is good, it could have been better though. Look at all the new updates(2010,2011) all they did was integrate some plugins that no one needs or wants.
Yeah, 3ds max.
Houdini is not for modeling though.
It's for rendering and animating
Well it can model, but it lacks advanced tools
[QUOTE=BmB;24640671]2.5 is a crock of shit.[/QUOTE]
Bitch you best be smokin' somethin.
:mad:
Autodesk 3ds Max for everything but sculpting and Pixologic's Zbrush for sculpting.
C4D isnt as limited as you'd think. I really like it after trying maya and 3dsmax
zBrush and maya primarily.
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