New member looking for 3D Animation software.
Hello all I'm a beginner just starting out on modeling and advance in to animation later on so I'm looking for any recommendation on any software that is affordable like Silo perhaps since 3D Max, Maya, SoftImage are way too expensive for my pocket also I'm curious to know will all the 3d modeling/animation software work the same beside some advance features like let say if I learn how to model by using Silo and will I be able to use other modeling/animation software such as 3D Max, Maya ect...
Thank in advance.
Thank in advance.
Replies
Z-Brush isn't as expensive as 3D Max or SoftImage, and with it you can make some very good sculpted models. It is a good compromise between affordable and expensive, and the work that is possible with it will look good in a portfolio.
Also, for more pedestrian tasks, you might consider the free options. Programs like Blender, or the XSI Mod Tool, are great for constructing low-poly models, animations, and exporting models for game engines.
That said, I do agree with Vig that Silo is a solid value, especially if you are just looking for capable modeling-specific software. The price is much lower than most other programs. Z-Brush costs several times what Silo asks. And if you are just looking to use it for pure modeling and sculpting, its lean feature set is actually an advantage. All the extraneous and complicated tools of the more advanced 3D packages aren't there to get in the way, so the user interface and workflow in Silo is considerably more focused.
Silo can't animate, and it can't handle sculpting as well as Z-Brush. But it is a very capable modeling program with great tools and a streamlined, user-friendly interface. It is a solid, cost-effective starting point for someone who just wants to get started modeling.
www.wings3d.com
Both good, free and open-source.
Wings3D is exspecially easy to lear as a beginner, yet isn't a "beginners programm" only.
edit: anything you learn about modeling in any package will carry over to other software easily, so don't worry about that too much yet.
Zbrush is a pretty freaking terrible suggestion for someone just starting out. He needs to learn the fundamentals of poly modeling before he just dives in starts sculpting. Something that is impossible to do in zbrush. Silo would be my suggest, its good, light, simple, easy to learn, intuitive and most of all CHEAP. Modeling wise you can do just about everything you'll need to do on an intermediate level, low poly modeling, sub-d modeling, sculpting and uv work. While it is true that you wont be able to work on 25 million poly meshes or any of that crazyness that you would be able to in zbrush, the reality is that you do not want to nor need to at this point anyway.
Also, it's true that the major 3d applications are expensive, but if you have a valid student ID you can get some of them heavily discounted on sites like academicsuperstore.com. If you don't have a student ID and you're not really interested in becoming a full-time student, register for underwater basket-weaving or dribble-punting or something at your local junior college.
1. For those that is self learn I'm curious to know where do you get the material or resources to learn step by step starting with fundamental of modeling?
2. Is all off the 3D software pretty much work the same? Once you get use to one software will you be able to use other software too or do you have to go step by step on how to use that software like for example if I start out with Silo or Blender and once I reach an advance state for Modeling and decide to use a different software like 3D Max, ZBrush, SoftImage ect... will I need to go about learning how to use those software from beginning?
www.caligari.com
As for tutorials and information online, there's some, but the best way to learn is to read other's posts here, and post everything you do for us to help you.
I use it a bit. It gives me a bit of trouble, but that's because the interface is so crazy. I'm taking more of a liking to it over time. My usual apps of choice are DeleD and Fragmotion, but they have their limits that act as barriers to my work. It's certainly much better than Blender.
They have some nice video tutorials that take you through modeling off a reference. And they have user meets every thursday night where users can connect through trueSpace to a share modeling place and everyone can chat and show off their modeling. I'm going to try and show up for that more often. The devs show up to these user meets, and they seem to be willing to hear people's thoughts on the program and react to them. Some of them have gone out of their way to help all the new users.
The program is in kind of a messy state right now, with the 7.6 and 6.6 versions co-existing inside the app, but they are working on merging them for a 8.0 release, and there should be a 7.6 patch soon, according to forum posts.
I'm just a low poly hobbyist, so I do this for fun. I can't be spending thousands of dollars on software just to dink around with polygons for my own amusement, which means I'm not going to bother using watered down, or limited license versions of programs I'm not going to buy anyways. I would like to see more people pick it up, and hopefully see the devs respond to the criticism and make a better 8.0. They are still in active development.