For the past week I have really been looking at all the beautiful digital art pics. I would like to start doing something like this but don't know where to start. Can someone please guide me where to begin? Like what software should I use etc... I have no drawing skills so that is out of the question. Should I get Poser 5 to start with? Once again I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post this but I couldn't find any other forum. Thanks and man I'm really hooked on all the digital pics and animations :) John

I like Poser 5 myself...but what exactly are you wanting to explore? People, or scenic graphics? If it's scenic stuff, you could try either Bryce or Vue D'Esprit. Genesis II is freeware...it's a terrain generator/editor. I'm sure someone has the link and will post it.

Attached Link: Terragen link

Terragen is also freeware, which creates landscapes as well. It also depends on your computer system, and how much money you are willing to pay out to explore this area. Poser 5 can turn into an expensive hobby. Wings 3D is a good, free modeling program....if you have an interest in learning how to do modeling. You might also want to post in the various forums and see what the people who are experts in the software have to recommend to a newcomer. It's all very addictive, you know.

Thank you for responding. I guess I would like to see if I could do both people and scenes (objects). I don't know how much talent you need to do this (I don't have much), but I'm very interested. I did buy the Poser 5 Handbook today from Borders just so I could get an idea on what to do. Seems a bit confusing but it is brand new to me. Is there a FAQ for people who are new to this? I don't want to be asking you guys a million questions. John

Go to the Poser forum and feel free to ask a million questions. You don't need any artistic talent to use Poser...it would not hurt if you have some ideas, or a willingness to learn, about lighting, color, and how the body moves. A background in photography doesn't hurt, but is not at all necessary. The Poser 5 Handbook is not the best reference tool. I would really look at the Poser Forum...they have a backroom with links to tutorials. Dr. Geep's are EXCELLENT for beginners (sorry, am I shouting). There are also very good (I understand, I don't own them) videos on learning Poser that are available in the Marketplace. Lots of resources. It may take you awhile to sort them out.

Having a background in art will make it easier, as these 3d programs are just tools, like brush and canvas, to create your image. But talent is not prerequiste for creating with 3d software, it would only be the difference between a truely moving image, or an ordinary image.... Some artist's use the 3d app for the basics in composiion texturing, and lighting and then take that render into a paint program to refine it, examples would be Hobbit, Rochr, and others. A good toolbox would contain, a landscape generator(Bryce, Vue, Terragen or Mojoworld), people software(Poser), and a modeling app(Amapi, Wings3D, Amorphium), and a mapping app(UV Mapper, Lithunwrap, etc) for precise texturing, this will allow you the most freedom from imports.

Thanks for your responses. I'll go to the Poser forum and lurk for awhile but I will also look into the things all of you told me. Thx again. John

Definitely take advantage of the free programs out there. I was doing digital art for 3 years before buying Poser. There is a lot to learn and no need to go and blow bucks right away. Visit the Terragen forum and ask tons of questions and read a lot. Download the freeware Terragen, links are in the banner to the forum. I started with Bryce, which is realitively inexpensive now. Certainly a great first app to have and quite frankly, I still use Bryce as my main app.

By the way, I would also look into a 2D program. If you don't already own Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro, you might want to look into Gimp or one of the other free or low cost paint programs. Often times, what you see in many 3D graphics is the result of 2D postwork. Not always. But often.

Also a suggestion is to download some trials of software, this way you can try and see if it suits your needs. I have been a long time Photoshop user, but have only been using Poser around 7 months. Terragen is the best "free" landscape software in my opinion. So maybe try it out, also there is the product called dogwaffle (i think so anyway), and if you want to try painting there is also a very enexpensive program called Expression 3 which can be found at: http://www.creaturehouse.com -LeFrog

Well I bought the Poser 5 software and signed up for online classes at LVS. I really appreciate all the advice. John

When you get Poser 5, be sure to head over to the Curious Labs website and get the most recent updates. It will save you a ton of headaches. I took the Poser 4 class at LVS, and it was great. Lyrra, I believe, is teaching Poser 5, and she is an expert on the software. You'll get a lot out of the class. And have some fun with it. Some of us take ourselves a little bit too seriously, but that's our problem and not yours.