Best Modeling Software for a Beginner?

[marvo]

I have been using art and rendering programs for about 10 years, but now I want to go the next step and do some modeling. Which program would the experts out there recommend for a beginner to learn?

From various offers and giveaways I have the following packages available: Amapi 5, Hexagon 2 and Shade (not sure which version, the one that came free with Poser 6). Which one of those should I learn? My budget is rather limited, so things like Lightwave, Maya, 3D Studio Max are out of the question.

 

[Scott Martin]

Google Sketchup has a demo version (aka FREE) which is quite intuitive. Mickazoid has been doing the 3D models of the Conquest using this tool, so it's not a "lightweight" tool.

I have a couple of deck plans in progress, and have some aggravation, but most of these are because I notice that adding a bit of extra functionality is easier if I had thought of it 2 hours ago, like wall thicknesses...

Scott Martin

 

[Border Reiver]

Maya does a free learning edition which is reasonably powerful.

I would go for google sketchup for the easy learning curve though as Andrew Boulton has pointed out elsewhere, there are some great free packages available.

 

[Golan2072]

I've been using Anim8or for some time; its quite basic, but it isn't that difficult to learn, and produces quite good results (and is free).

 

[Andrew Boulton]

The best one is whatever is best *for you*. Keep trying them until you find one you like.

Blender is a popular freebie. Not sure if it still does, but the free Maya used to stick a honking great watermark over everything.

 

[Valarian]

Originally posted by Andrew Boulton:
Not sure if it still does, but the free Maya used to stick a honking great watermark over everything.

It does - but it's a learning edition of a huge commercial product. I can't fault Autodesk for this.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Makes it unusable IMHO (the watermark was visible in the *editor*, not just renders). It's already limited in other ways (IIRC it only read/writes its own file format), the watermark is just taking the piss.

 

[ravells]

Make sure you check out Silo as well (about US$100) - I'm pretty sure there is a free version available with some restrictions. It was the one which worked best for me (as a beginner). What is more the people on the forum are incredibly friendly and helpful.

The interface is superbly simple and the software was rock solid. It doesn't do rendering though, so you will have to export your models to another application for renders (I use Bryce). I have recently tried Hex 2 which Daz were selling for $1.99 as a special offer and didn't really take to it.

The beta for Silo 2 is also out (this supports displacement painting, and it's pretty sweet too although all the new features have made the interface less friendly (to me).

For Freebees check out Blender (as Andrew Said and also Wings 3d)

Ravs

 

[Mickazoid]

I've tried Lightwave and Maya - and Maya seemed best for logo and type treatments, and other 'set design' presentations. Lightwave is a 3d workhorse, but the complexity and learning curve are terrifying. My Lightwave book is 3 inches high.

Recently I've been playing with Sketchup. I like it so far, as it serves the practical need of designing 'places' - I can base my designs off deckplans and exploit Sketchup's 'architectural' origins directly.

All that having been said, I'm an avid 3d artist, but purely an amateur. I bow to the exceptional work of folks like the lovely and talented Andrew Boulton.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

I agree about Lightwave - it's powerful, but not axactly intuitive to use. That's why I like Cinema 4D - it's got plenty of power, but the learning curve is much gentler.

Originally posted by mickazoid:
the lovely and talented Andrew Boulton.

<blush>

 

[BetterThanLife]

Hex is actually quite good. Just follow the link in my sig. All of these packages have a fairly steep learning curve, and it definitely depends on what you are comfortable with. But for starting out, I would stay away from the Autodesk products, simply because the actual price once you learn the software is a bit steeper than the learning curve. And what you learn there won't translate well to other modeling software as they all appear to approach the situation differently. If you are going to get into modeling professionally, it may be useful later but there is little you can't do with a combination of Hex or Silo and Rhino3D. (And you can buy Hex, Silo, Rhino3D, Carrara and Lightwave combined for less than either Maya or 3DSMax.)

Just my Cr.02

 

[El Darbo]

I've used LIghtwave for my modelling, but due to teh expense of upgrading it I'm thinking of switching to Metasequia. It's easy to use, and it is free! It's not that well supported in english, but it is a breeze. If you register it ($45 I think) you can export the models in several formates and unlock all of the tools. It's also quite useful for making cardstock models, as you can export it to Pepakura.

 

[rhoneycutt]

Blender

 

[marvo]

Thanks everyone. As I expected, there is no easy answer to this one. Everyone seems to have their favorite so I guess it's a matter of finding the one I find the easiest to use.

I downloaded SketchUp and found it remarkably easy to use. The only drawback I can see (and one mentioned by Micki in another thread) is that the free version does not let you export in different formats. As I use Bryce, Vue or Poser for my rendering, this is a limitation. The full version of SketchUp is a bit expensive for me.

P.S. If anyone is interested, Bryce 6 is out and anyone who is a member of Daz's platinum club can get it for $6.

For non members it's $99.

 

[BetterThanLife]

For going to Bryce then I definitely recommend Hex. Especially this month as Platinum Club members get it for half price. Sidegrade from Bryce is $79, Half Price for Platinum Club members means you can get it for $39.50. Almost as good as the initial release price, but not quite.

 

[su_liam]

I use legos or wood blocks. Really shallow learning curve.
I've had some success with Bryce, and I've spent about two years building a model in a really old version of Form*Z. That last one is frustrating as all get out, but it calculates volumes and surface areas. Tres sweet!