3D Modeling - Good beginner program

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bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
3d modeling is something i have never done and would like to try it out with some basic stuff, like a building - house - nothing hard, very square.

what software is good to start off learning, and i am a student so i can get the student price on stuff so price is not too important. i would like to learn on something that, say, if i like it can take me further if i so desire - only would like to learn 1 program.

thanks in advance :)
 
Kromis

Kromis

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,214
1
81
Well, I don't know about for "beginners" but...

From Wikipedia:

* 3D Studio Max
* Alias
* Blender (open source)
* Carrara [1]
* Cinema 4D [2]
* DeleD 3D Editor [3]
* form-Z [4]
* GMax (discontinued as of October 2005)[5][6]
* Google SketchUp (freeware)
* LightWave
* modo
* Maya
* MilkShape 3D
* Pixels 3D [7]
* Poser [8]
* Rhinoceros 3D [9]
* Silo [10]
* Softimage|XSI
* Strata 3D [11]
* trueSpace

Some free modelers available via the Internet include:

* Anim8or
* Art of Illusion (free)
* AutoQ3D[12]
* Quake 2 Modeler[13]
* ShapeShop[14]
* SmoothTeddy[15]
* Wings 3D
* Zanoza Modeler [16]
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
is there any one that i can import different files into? i have some solidworks files from a friend that i would like to mess with and also what about taking 2d plans and creating 3d stuff? which would you say has the "noob" friendliest support/userbase. i have found that some modelers give it to the noobs pretty hard...
 
Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude

Lifer
Dec 28, 2001
11,391
3
0
Originally posted by: bob4432
is there any one that i can import different files into? i have some solidworks files from a friend that i would like to mess with and also what about taking 2d plans and creating 3d stuff? which would you say has the "noob" friendliest support/userbase. i have found that some modelers give it to the noobs pretty hard...
Click to expand...

Well, Maya does have a PLE - Personal Learned Edition - it's basically the entuire suite of Maya, but it just has the Maya watermark when you render it . . .. And you're always going to ru into jerks on the interweb. No big suprise ther, I hope. Anyhow, usually there isn't one (to my knowledge) that's the "most n00b friendly" - but 3DSMAX and MAYA are the most popular so you're going to find the most likelyhood of help there. Best of luck to you!
 
P

pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
3,896
0
0
I started on Truespace before going on to Maya. I've now returned to Truespace.
 
S

Scooby Doo

Golden Member
Sep 1, 2006
1,034
18
81
Ewwwww not truespace.

I have to setup model hierarchy converted from MAX->3ds format. While it's fast, it's not very enjoyable. (This is version 3.1) The UI is totally weird. Ver 7 is very slow compared to Max.
 
G

gentobu

Golden Member
Jul 6, 2001
1,546
0
0
For simple houses and 'square' stuff I would recomend Googles free version of Sketchup. I have the regular version and its very easy to use and the Sketchup site has excellent tutorial videos.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
Originally posted by: gentobu
For simple houses and 'square' stuff I would recomend Googles free version of Sketchup. I have the regular version and its very easy to use and the Sketchup site has excellent tutorial videos.
Click to expand...

thanks for the idea, but i would like something that if i would like to grow with it, the software can handle it. possibly model some vehicles for bf2 or even do some rendering of some buildings.

no offense but, i just don't want to learn something that has a ceiling that is already pretty low.

so would you peeps do 3dsmax, rhino, maya or blender (kind of like open source stuff :) )

i guess could somebody tell how to make a finished product like this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Glasses_800_edit.png or this - http://www.howardmodels.com/Architectural-Renderings/TeleplexInt/index.html
obviously that quality is not realisitc atm or anywhere near it but what is the flowchart on how to get their, even if my first creations suck i would still know more about than i do at this poinst. cpu power won't be a problem as i plan to upgrade to quad next an possibly use a couple of my other machines as a render farm if that is possible.

would solidworks do architecture type stuff or just more cad/cam items as that is all i have seen it do - parts that were to be output to a cnc machine. could it do houses too?

thanks in advance,
bob
 
G

Gorgonzola

Golden Member
Nov 22, 1999
1,300
0
76
I've had a play with Maya, 3D Studio Max, and Blender in the past. Even though they each have a different approach to perform certain operations, the fundamentals of 3D modelling are essentially the same.

Blender has the 'strangest' interface of the three in that it is much different to most windows applications, but I still found it very usable.

For a beginner I'd recommend Blender and the tutorials that come with it to get you started. It has more than enough depth to keep you learning for years to come, and the fact that it is legitimately free is a bonus.
 
M

MechaSheeba

Banned
Dec 10, 2005
768
0
0
Milkshape 3D, it doesn't have a lot of advanced features like a cutting tool etc., but it's a good starter program. I think it's free for like 30 days.
 
J

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
15,424
2
0
A few years ago I tried just about every 3D modeling program but Maya. Of all those, I found Cinema 4D to be the easiest to work with as a beginner.
 
R

Rockinacoustic

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2006
2,460
0
76
I got really accustomed to Strata 3D when I started 3d modeling in my high school computer graphics class. Pretty easy to learn, yet it's a very deep program; It notably works well with Adobe programs (photoshop, illustrator). I'd deff. recomend it.
 
C

ckoffers

Junior Member
Jun 3, 2004
1
0
0
If your going to convert your models for a game, I'd stay away from Sketchup. I've seen it produce some terrible results (messed up polys)
 
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