2D/3D Rendering Software

[Ultralight]

My son is very artistic and he has been introduced to computer rendering by a classmate of his. He is interested in software that does 3D renders and 3D games.

I have not a clue what to look for, what is good or bad or in-between. I'm not going to pay an arm and a leg for any software at this moment, but something that he can learn from would be nice before moving to the more complex.

Also, are there any free tools or applications that are available that you know of?

Thanks.

 

[Markbnj]

Software that does 3D renders, and software that does 3D games, would be two different categories if there were really anything in the second category. Looking at them separately...

3D rendering software choices really depend on what your son wants to do. There are tools that render static scenes from descriptions and produce highly realistic images, and then there are tools that create and render 3D models that can be moved around and manipulated in coordinate space. Since your son is thinking games, I assume he is interested in the latter. Blender is free, and very powerful, but it's going to take him some time to learn it. If he's a quick study and is willing to work patiently through the tutorials and do some reading on the web, then he'll eventually get to where he can realize his visions in the tool. All of the commercial packages I know of cost an arm and a leg. There are some other free tools for simple 3D doodling, but they may lack the features and flexibility he'll ultimately want if he's serious.

Software that does 3D games is an empty category. There are toolkits that assist in creating 3D games, and make them easier to develop, but all require a significant amount of technical and programming capability. If that describes your son then check out Garage Games. Their Torque 3D environment can be had for as little as $150, no doubt with some significant restrictions.

http://www.blender.org
http://garagegames.com

 

[Ultralight]

I really appreciate your reply and taking the time to giving a nice indepth answer. As I said I am basically clueless to whole area and I want to encourage and support him. I am going to have him read what you wrote.

Thanks again.

 

[tfinch2]

Some other tools to look at:

Milkshape3D
Terragen (freakin' cool)

 

[I4AT]

I second Blender3D, and recommend he start with it. I've toyed with Milkshape, Cinema4D, 3dsMax7, and have finally settled on Blender. Getting used to Blender's interface can be awkward after using other modeling apps, but moving to something like 3dsMax after using Blender should be a relatively simple switch.

 

[wwswimming]

you can get free downloads of some of the industrial strength 3D modelling programs.

OneSpace Designer - got to check. does 3d modelling (aka solid modelling) & drafting.
Solidworks - the student edition is about $100. does solid modelling & drafting.
Pro-E - hold my nose, can't stand it, but learned it - does solid modelling & drafting.

for the sake of completeness, Catia & Unigraphics have industrial strength solid
modelling & drafting tools also.

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Rhino3D
http://www.rhino3D.com/
good for limited 2D & 3D, great as a utility,
e.g. for scrubbing 3D files from one program so they can be imported
into another.

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*** 3D Studio Max, industrial strength animation, now with HAIR so
the characters don't all have to be bald.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/s...=5659302&siteID=123112

bought by Autodesk, they have a full function 30 day demo.
the student version, which is full function, is about $250.

http://www.campustech.com/disc...sk-3ds-max/dis100.html

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* Maya, industrial strength animation, bought by Autodesk.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/s...teID=123112&id=7635018

the student version, which is full function, is about $250.
http://www.campustech.com/disc...lias)-maya/ali100.html

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* Softimage, industrial strength animation,
bought by Avid. current download is Rev 6. it's a full-function
demo. very, very cool looking interface, worth downloading the
demo just to see.

free eval.
http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/evaluation.aspx

Rev. 6 is not yet available at Campustech.

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===>> Adobe Flash CS3
more of a 2D tool than a 3D tool, but very, very worth
learning. i'm taking a class now. has the ability to import
3D objects.

free eval.
http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/?promoid=BPDEE

$240 at Campustech.

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* Autodesk AutoCAD
worth learning because of its ubiquity - it's used everywhere,
more for 2D drafting than 3D modelling.

i remember one of the last conversations i had where we were
importing AutoCAD solids into One Space Designer. a bunch
of engineers standing around saying, "God, i feel so sorry for
this guy." the guy we got the file from, who had to use AutoCAD's
solid modelling tools, that is.

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Autodesk MudBox
* a 3D tool, not unlike Terragen. sort of like modelling in clay,
except it's on the computer.
http://www.mudbox3d.com/

i'm a design engineer that started with these tools in 1988. however,
in order to use them, you need to be able to sit in front of the computer
for long periods of time. i had a bad outcome from LASIK eye surgery
& that's something i can no longer do. but i still like the software.

 

[Ultralight]

Wow, thanks men for all the information. If my son wanted to pursue this further what type of schooling/classes would you say he needs to seriously consider?

 

[Markbnj]

I have a friend who started out as a talented sketch artist and ended up working in the games industry on published titles, largely console-based. His route was a commercial art school in Philadelphia that focused on the tools and production process for digital media. I don't have any specific insights as to which courses, or which lines of independent study to follow, as I'm a programmer and not an artist, but I would say general digital media studies, followed by specific tools and techniques for 3D content production. Digital artists who are experienced in the production pipeline are always in demand, and it's a good industry to get into.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
Wow, thanks men for all the information. If my son wanted to pursue this further what type of schooling/classes would you say he needs to seriously consider?

i suggest he look up Dan Gregoire. Dan works in pre-viz for Halon
Entertainment. that means he sits down with the director, literally
George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, and draws and talks and renders
while they talk.

i will PM his contact info.

Dan went to a small school in the midwest; i went to Stanford.
he was nice enough to coach me a little when i was first trying to learn
3D Max.

i don't think it matters so much what school your son goes to,
to work in the field of animation (of course, if he decides to switch
to pre-med, it would be helpful to be at a name-brand school.)

i suggest taking every class possible at a local JC, the kind that
charges $10 a unit. they have some great teachers. the best
engineer i worked with, starting in 1980 in Silicon Valley, taught
classes at Foothill College, one of the local JC's there.

i'm taking a Flash class now, and the teacher is great. looking at
the curricula, they have enough classes to keep a talented animator
busy for 2 years. if he's good at it, which it sounds he is, he'll have
enough portfolio at a decent size JC to possibly by-pass a 4 year
school, and go straight to a studio (like when the NBA hires players
out of high school.)

although, of course, there are recreational opportunities at 4 year
schools that are un-surpassed.

i suggest avoiding the expensive art schools, the ones that charge
$5000 a quarter and have lots of ads and guarantee lots of interviews.