Essential Material & Learning Path Suggestions

Computron

So, school is over and I finally have time to put all my effort behind learning 3D Artistry.
I have been lurking and reading Polycount and making little mods for my favorite games for the past several months in my spare time.
Now i've decided to pursue 3D Art as a career opportunity.
What I need is suggestions for the optimal learning path.

Who else better to ask than the best 3D artists on the internet?

What recommendations can you offer regarding learning material? I am looking to compile a list of materials in all kinds of formats; books, magazines, web sites, video tutorials, etc... You don't have to limit your suggestions to learning specific softwares or workflows, it can be about the industry as a whole, traditional art skills, even biographies for famous people in the industry it like John Carmack, or documentaries for companies like Pixar, etc...

In short, I want to know what material you Polycounters have used for your learning that you can recommend? I am hoping this thread may help others as well if we get enough info.

passerby

really the most usefull thing i can tell you is to just jump and and start makeing stuff and learn as you go.

Computron

Well, I am already learning to do various tasks through experimentation, but I feel like I should utilize whatever I can get my hands on.

Gooner442

The help and tutorials files can be very good, in the case of 3ds Max anyhow. Check out digital tutors, eat3d, gnomon, 3dmotive, they provide plenty of tutorials. Escape studios are good too for online learning.
Start with the basics though, Zbrush is great fun but it's important to learn the less organic approach.......... I'm no expert though, still a student of sorts myself.

Computron

Thanks Gooner, I'll look into those.

Keep 'em coming folks!

Will Faucher

Use the wiki . It's an incredible database of information.

Computron

The problem I find with the Wiki is that its subject matter is very specific and usually comes directly from a thread with very different needs rather than a general overview. Still a great source though. I just need something with a little bit more glue holding it together. Do you know what I mean?

Computron

I understand, and I see the Wiki as a useful tool, but it has it's strengths and weaknesses. I definitely have used the wiki and read a lot of thread on Polycount with the goal of finding critique and insight, but I also see that there is a lot of material outside of Polycount. Either way, This thread's purpose is to find more sources to fill the gaps. Gooner442 suggested Digital-Tutors and I found some great 3DS max tutorials for fundamental modeling skills. :poly121:

Currently I only really have access to Autodesk's catalogue since they have a great student program where you can get all their software for free. But that doesn't mean I'm not open to other suites. If other companies have cheap student programs, that would definitely help.

Again, thanks for all the input guys. :thumbup: