3d modeling

Jops · October 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">Help</div>Hi, this is kinda off topic but I read the modeling thread in general discussion and it said to post here about this kinda stuff-

I want to start 3d-modeling, but I don't know where to start.
Would anyone mind filling me in on some good programs to use, tutorials ect.- help would be much appreciated.

Relic25 · October 2002

Probably learning on of the more 'industry standard' programs would be best. 3DSMax or Lightwave would be good candidates. There is a wealth of information, tutorials, and even sample files for both on the net.

Shuvit_Viper · October 2002

/me hands www.planethalflife.com/polycount

good luck

you'll need it.

Jops · October 2002

Thanx for the info, I'll checkem out.

Nemesis_Zero · October 2002

If you're starting and can get your hands on it legally (I don't know whether they've currently got a personal learning program), I'd strongly suggest taking a look at Lightwave.
It's really fast to grasp and immensely powerful. An outdated version of LW was what I had my very first CSG experience with, and it helped me with every other prog I got in my grubby fingers since that.

On the other hand, there's that tasty PLE version of <a href="http://www.aliaswavefront.com/" target="_blank">Maya</a>, which does everything LW can, only that it also cooks.

CrouchingHamster · October 2002

A cheaper ( well, free) option might be discreet's gmax (no link to hand, sorry..) I believe it's a heavily cut-down version of 3dmax. Can be found on coverdisks etc..well, that's where I got mine..

JediYoshi · October 2002

There's a new version of gmax out. Or it could be old news, anyways the site is

<a href="http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/" target="_blank">http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/</a>

Jops · October 2002

Wow gmax looks great! Free huh hmmmm, does free mean that it is a good product too?

edit: or is it free to download, pay to use?

CrouchingHamster · October 2002

The basic version is totally free afaik, and it seems not bad to me. Not as powerful as the pro alternatives but 3d modelling is pretty damn tricky, and at least if you can't get your head round it at all then you haven't wasted any cash..

Tutorials are available from the site, and I'd strongly suggest you get them..

TychoCelchuuu · October 2002

gmax is wonderful for people who aren't sure if they want to model, since it is free. If you can use that, and make stuff that you like, I hear Milkshape3d is very good, and that is only 20 dollars. If you like it, and think you are good enough to persue the thing, buy one of the real programs. Anyone who you talk to will say 3dsMax, and thats what I say, unless you are loaded. If yer rollin in dough, and yer system can handle it, get Maya by Alius|Wavefront. That is the best modelling program. But be sure to familiarize yerself with gmax and possibly Milkshape first.

HanzGruber · October 2002

you should really understand a few things about gmax:

gmax is free because game developers use it to develop game X (game x being c&c renegade or whatever) and they create plug-ins and so on to suit their particular game - then they release the plug-ins for the public to use so the public can develop content for the game too... The developer licenses the gmax technology from discreet which enables us to download it for free...but don't be mistaken, if you want to do pure 3d modelling - not for a particular game as such - gmax is not what you want to use... it has no renderer or exporting functions (aside from exporting to file formats that you have downloaded developer plug-ins for)....

If you want to model and create 3d artwork/animations - you are either going to have to pay for a decent piece of software or use one of the free version of maya or a cutdown budget 3d program... I would suggest getting 3dsmax if you can afford it... or using (the horribly difficult) maya 4.0 personal learning edition...

However if you are just interested in making a new model for half-life or something like that - get milkshape 3d...

either way... www.discreet.com for 3dsmax stuff, www.alias.com for maya stuff, and <a href="http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft" target="_blank">http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft</a> for milkshape3d

CrouchingHamster · October 2002

^
Hanz, is of course completely correct. I suggested g-max mainly as a chance to have a look at how 3d modellers work without splashing huge amounts of cash..

tommyd · October 2002

i'm pretty sure you can't use gmax for making HL models.

(if you know a way that you *can*, please tell me)

Merkaba · October 2002

You could try exporting the model to a Quake3 model from GMax, and then importing that somehow into milkshape.

On the otherhand, I'm sure most people would turn a blind eye if you got 3DsMax some...ah....'other' way.

Nemesis_Zero · October 2002

To be exact, the big modelling companies are notorious for allowing people to "try" their software "in private", because most amateurs who've got used to one of them don't switch when they start doing CSG professionally.

TychoCelchuuu · October 2002

Truly, though, Maya is the best <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

As Hamster said, I reccommend Gmax because if you can figure that out, then Milkshape will not be a waste of cash. If you cannot make heads or tails of the thing, take a class, or buy a book, or forget modelling.

3d modeling

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