Hey folks. I have recently decided to make a proper commitment to 3D Studio Max. I have had it for about 2, maybe 3 years... and never really devoted that much time to learning the mysterious ways in which it works.
Time for that to change.
My goal? To create a 3DS Max model every day, from now, until, well forever. Every week I will go select my favourite of these models and render it.
So, my wiki (ahem, cough cough splutter) can be found somewhere in the world wide web. Please tell me what you think I hope to get better and better as time passes.
My reasons why? Why use something inferior, with less render quality and a lot less professional application - when I can use something superior, with industry wide standards and a booming industrial sector? All with better render qualities, better documentation and support?
Aren't all renderer's a different piece and interchangeable? Their are a handful of renderer's that have Blender support as well as 3Ds Max (right?). I think in todays world it's mostly a "Eh I just prefer this program because I'm already used to it" sort of thing when it comes to 3D modeling. At least when I was looking around doing my research when I wanted to try out blender. Sadly the decent (beta) version of Blender has no good tutorials (from when I checked a couple of months ago). If I had the resources I would go with 3Ds Max.
The nifty thing about Blender is that if you just want to model it's handy with it's 20~ mb filesize :3
We could get into a derailing thread because of posts like that. He already has Max and he knows enough to be able to make simple models so he probably already knows Max specific hotkeys. No point in working backwards.
Can we suggest models of things each day? :3
Also when you say make models does that mean no renderan or texturan? If you are going to texture and render make me a pokeball if not, model a trophy.
Go Cardinal go. Aside from modelling directly in 3DS Max, if you ever want a job you'll need a solid understanding of light logic, anatomy, and traditional art. You will also in the future need a good and broad understanding of history, mechanical workings of machines, and possibly psychology (all related to art and or modelling).
I suggest you also start working with traditional two dimensional art, as you're going to need solid foundations to ensure you aren't lacking in your skills. Truly, whenever you start learning something new you need to master the basics first; anyone that just jumps straight into using 3DS Max or Maya without any traditional art or serious academic backround is doomed to fail. DigiPen BFA (Bachelor's of Fine Arts) in Production Animation all start with a very solid and rigorous beginning in a wide variety of traditional art forms, focusing on improving standard drawing skills. You don't even get to use photoshop until your second year at DigiPen, and you only heavily get into 3D animation or 3D art your third year.
I am in my 3rd year of getting a BSc in Geography. I think it pretty much ticks all the boxes on the 'I am not a retard sheet'. But, further than that, it is going to be hard getting into the 3D Modelling game with only self-taught practice. I sketch quite often and design tattoos primarily. I also did a lot of work with CAD and Product Design during school.
Also, nice blogs. I just created mine as a place to store the images I create, it is pretty bare-minimum at the moment. I hope to collate all my images into an online portfolio. Which I will probably host on my own domain name and server, it always looks better to have yourself a .com instead of a .blogspot.com. But that will be in the near/far future.
@Zombie - yeah feel free to give me suggestions of shit to model! I am running out of generic items on my desk which are inside my skill level. Also, another factor is time. I cannot afford to spend hours each day finecrafting and perfecting models.. I would love to, but I simply can't afford to ... So bear that in mind also when you come up with suggestions.
Also, I do intend to learn everything, absolutely everything about 3D Studio Max. So in time I will start producing animated models, bone-rigs, facial anims, and of course, everything will be fully textured. I am thinking Vray will be my rendering weapon of choice.
But, as you can tell, I am still learning the basics. I want to get a solid understanding of creating almost every basic household object, so, around 200 models or so. It will improve my speed and knowledge of how to tackle a problem. So, when the time comes for me to create a fully animated, textured and working humanoid. I'll be able to tackle it efficiently and effectively.
Yeah they are... but to be honest, what Blender lacks is www.maxforum.org. I know atleast 2 people on there who work for Blizzard. Although they are secretive of what they do. Another one has worked on a lot of films which you may have heard of (cough Avatar, cough splutter, Dark Knight, cough The Day After Tomorrow) to name a few. And, what's really cool is, that they share their tips and advice in comprehensive tutorials - for free.
Blender will never, ever have this type of support base.
And besides, it's as MadZombie said. I already have 3D Studio Max, I am already becoming proficient with its structure, hotkeys, shortcuts and tips and techniques... Why work backwards and try learn to use Blender?
Yeah they are... but to be honest, what Blender lacks is www.maxforum.org. I know atleast 2 people on there who work for Blizzard. Although they are secretive of what they do. Another one has worked on a lot of films which you may have heard of (cough Avatar, cough splutter, Dark Knight, cough The Day After Tomorrow) to name a few. And, what's really cool is, that they share their tips and advice in comprehensive tutorials - for free.
Blender will never, ever have this type of support base.
www.blenderartists.org
Red classic.
"In short, their absurdities are so extreme that it is painful even to quote them."
Yeah version 2.5 is in beta. Which a lot of people think is a good thing since they're ironing out a lot of the user-interface problems. I had a bash at Blender last night... I didn't like it. The controls weren't very intuitive and I refuse to dive into the documentation for simple things which ought to be straightforward and user friendly.
What do you mean by "Box-modeled"? I'm not familiar with modeling terminology. Does that mean you started off with and edited a cube/box? Wouldn't it be better to start with a circle and extrude for things like the cup and the Jar? Also is the cap a separate piece? I always here that you should try to make as much seperate pieces as possible instead of trying to make a model out of one whole piece.
If you learn the fundamentals you can apply your skills to any 3D modelling program, so learning a specific program in deep detail shouldn't be your focus.
Blizzard does prefer Maya. And I am just learning the fundamentals of 3D Studio Max and building a portfolio. Hopefully when I have more time I can spend it learning other 3D software systems, different renders, experiment with plugins etc...
@Zombie: Yeah 'box-model' is a term which is as you say, you start off with a cube (the most simple geometric primitive in 3D) and then you extrude, deform, rotate and edit it endlessly until it resembles the shape or object you want. But, in 3D Studio Max (as far as I am aware), 'box-modelling' something refers to using any simple primitive. So yeah, I did 'box-model' them, but I used cylinders as my starting point.
The models so far are all in one piece. I really wanted to make the Jam Jar have a 'screw-type' lid. But it was giving me a headache how to create the 'rivets' and the 'sticking out bits' of the body and the lid respectively. Especially how to make them 'fit' together.
Having been speaking to a few people at maxforums.org - they think I am ready to model things purely for detail. So, I'm going to start modelling my watch over the next few days and post the progress each day.
Let me know what you think of my started Watch project I looked everywhere online for an image of the watch but couldn't find it... so here is a shitty picture I took of it with my HTC:
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Nov 22 2010, 10:43 pm by Cardinal.
What about the see-through glass (Plastic?) part of the watch? Or does that come later? Also how detailed are you going for? going to make the hands of the clock? What should I be expecting?
Forgot entirely about the hands of the face... Guess I'll have to add them in...
The glass bit you're already looking at it, it's the uppermost cylinder with the slightly rounded upper face. I'll need to find a decent texture and rendering tutorial before I even consider finalizing this one... As for the hands... I'll probably have to work backwards and set the current glass face down, level it out, put the hands and actual face detail on that polygon, then extrude a new one for the actual glass casing...
I seem to have troubles uploading phone photo's onto teh interwebz. I'll have to whack out the digital camera to give you guys (and probably myself) some proper reference images.
For now, words will have to suffice. It's a chromium/metal watch (most likely some aluminium alloy) with a highly polished finish. The wristband is actually a series of inter-hinged parts, made out of the same metallic material as the rest of the watch. The clasp is a set of 3 inch-long, thin plates which are all hinged together, both to themselves and to the much thicker and bulkier wristband section. When closed it is a tight seal and the combined thickness of the 3 clasps is the same as the wristband.
Got it?
Also: Updated the OP with a list of mdoels completed so far. I'll also add a poll.
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Nov 22 2010, 10:56 pm by Cardinal.
Oh_Man shouted: yeah i'm tryin to go through all the greatest hits and get the runs up on youtube so my senile ass can appreciate them more readily
You should do my Delirus map too; it's a little cocky to say but I still think it's actually just a good game lol
[2024-4-20. : 8:20 pm]
Ultraviolet -- Goons were functioning like stalkers, I think a valk was made into a banshee, all sorts of cool shit
[2024-4-20. : 8:20 pm]
Ultraviolet -- Oh wait, no I saw something else. It was more melee style, and guys were doing warpgate shit and morphing lings into banelings (Infested terran graphics)
I hope to get better and better as time passes.
... So bear that in mind also when you come up with suggestions.
