Trouble learning
polycounter lvl 5
Hi all,
So I've been doing 3D modeling (and some animation etc.) on and off as a hobby for the last 4 years, but recently I wanted to start actually learning it and getting something done instead of just messing around. However, I keep having problems learning new things of the whole field of 3D.
Whenever I try to work on a project, either the model looks weird or just out of place, the textures don't fit the actual model or the normal map is a horrible mess. I've actually gotten to a point where I've failed doing normal maps so many times I've pretty much started to hate normal mapping, which isn't good as I feel they are required for a good looking model in this day and age (I recently spent a few days trying to get a good normal map out of xNormal for a relatively simple model without success, and I ended up trashing the whole project).
I feel like I should just go back to the basics and make simple models with just a diffuse map and maybe a spec map, and without anything else. If I recall correctly, I might 've skipped that phase completely and tried moving from below average modeling skills to using PBR and normal mapping.
If anyone has some tips or pointers on how I should approach this, I'd be glad to hear them!
So I've been doing 3D modeling (and some animation etc.) on and off as a hobby for the last 4 years, but recently I wanted to start actually learning it and getting something done instead of just messing around. However, I keep having problems learning new things of the whole field of 3D.
Whenever I try to work on a project, either the model looks weird or just out of place, the textures don't fit the actual model or the normal map is a horrible mess. I've actually gotten to a point where I've failed doing normal maps so many times I've pretty much started to hate normal mapping, which isn't good as I feel they are required for a good looking model in this day and age (I recently spent a few days trying to get a good normal map out of xNormal for a relatively simple model without success, and I ended up trashing the whole project).
I feel like I should just go back to the basics and make simple models with just a diffuse map and maybe a spec map, and without anything else. If I recall correctly, I might 've skipped that phase completely and tried moving from below average modeling skills to using PBR and normal mapping.
If anyone has some tips or pointers on how I should approach this, I'd be glad to hear them!
Replies
You're right, I'll try to put something together and ask for feedback. I tend to be extremely critical about my work so having someone else give me feedback would be great.
I noticed that Gnomon and Eat3D have some really high quality dvds that take you through the whole method. The thing I found great about the workshop was the instructor could point out our mistakes very quickly which was a real time saver.
Cheerio
I suggest watching Alec Moody's tutorial on normal maps at 3dmotive.com
Eat3D and Gnomon are a bit too expensive for me, as I'm just a student without income, so investing 60$ in a tutorial that may or may not help me is something I really have to think twice about.
Thanks for the reply, I checked out Alec's normal map tutorial, and I think I might buy it as a download to have permanent access to it, since it's quite cheap. Digital Tutors is good, but I've noticed that they don't have many tutorials on Cinema 4D, which is my current 3D package.
The main problem I have with tutorials is that even though the methods usually apply to most 3D software, most game art tutorials are for 3ds Max or Maya which I don't have, and I'll have to figure out how to do the things they show on the video in my 3D package. I've been thinking about getting the student version of MODO, since it should fit my purpose better than C4D, which is not that great for game art - but I'm not sure if there are too many tutorials for MODO.
Thanks