I am pretty good in Photoshop and I have decided to start creating 3D images. I am absolutely clueless in this topic. The end result I am looking for is the ability to create stunning 3D images of Armor, Spacecraft, and Buidings for a project I am working on. The images I hope to create will be viewed on the web and later in full color hardcover books. I can do this freehand with no problem but I would like to take my talents into the digital era. Someone told me that I would need a 3D modeling program to create the images and then they mentioned something about rendering it afterwards. I was also told something about creating blueprints, needless to say the instructions were not clear or else I would not be here bothering you all, lol. I really could use a brief simple for dummies type of explanation of what programs I would need, for Windows XP. I have more than enough Hardware to meet the demands of any 3D program. What I am searching for if possible, is the most user friendly, with great results type of programs. Something a newbie like me could tinker with to learn via hands on trial and error. I will also seek out online tutorials and such but the greatest and immediate need is the name of what I need and exactly what type of programs I need.

If you are having a hard time thinking of what I might need, imagine you wanted to make a 3D model of the Starship Enterprise in full color, with texture, illumination and shadows, and you wanted to take that image and stick it on a background of stars and planets to be saved as wallpaper for your desktop.

All help would be greatly received and returned if in my power. Thanks!

~ Giancarlo

Well, as stated in the header of the forum, "What 3D Program Should I buy?" Not one person here can really tell you what's best for you, as everyone has their own taste in workflow. Try the demo or learning edition of the program you're interested in, this is the only way to find out which programs you like. Having said that, I can suggest a few user friendly modeling programs that you may want to see if you like. WINGS3D, Silo3D and Hexagon. There're also a few complete packages (modeling, rendering, animation)out there that are very powerful but have a slight learning curve like Blender3D, Truespace, and Cinema4D. Ultimately, it's up to you to find a program that suits your style of working, as all the programs mentioned and nearly any 3D Modeling program worth it's code can produce the models you're wanting to make. In the higher price range, there's also Amapi and Rhino, which are two powerful modelers that have respectable scanline rendering. Rhino has loads of tuts on the net (and here) about the subjects you're looking for and those same tutorials can carry over well to Amapi. Again, you'll have to try out a program before you know what works best for you, as not everyone likes using the same interface.

Personally, for someone who has NEVER had any experience with modelling, how about Anim8or... yes, it's spelled that way. It's a freebie, and is geared around someone just learning... from there, I'd go for Wings 3D, since he/she's talking modelling.... that'd get his/her feet on the ground. both have pretty decent tutorials. Lou.

Well, again. It's something you'll have to try. Nothing sucks more than being told, this is what you need and then finding out using it is like pulling teeth with a pair of spoons.

Naaahhh.... with a wood clamp, by a nearsighted beaver... That was only, really, a suggestion... Truly, I get the feeling that BigBlueBuddha WANTS to do the high end, but hasn't done the simpler stuff yet. You ARE right, though. For myself, I think the interface is probably the MOST critical part. If you don't like it, nothing in the world is going to make it any easier... Lou.

Thanks to you all I have some demo downloading to do now!! Who knows maybe I'll become famous, and rich... or not. However no matter how successful I might become I will never, ever run like Bill Gates did... you have all seen the video clip, lol. Thanks again, this site and it's members are awesome!

"I am looking for is the ability to create stunning 3D images of Armor, Spacecraft, and Buidings for a project I am working on." Any program can do that, if you put in the effort. Some better than others, but Teyon is right, you do have to try them, some will work for you some won't. A 3D program is after all only just a program, its you the artist that determines the result. My two cents worth...

Excellent overall advise! I agree, demos are the best way to determine which tool you take to best... another route you might want to take is to jump in to the application galleries here and try sorting by genre. Like try entering a gallery like: Topic = LightWave and Genre = Science Fiction. This should give you a pretty good idea of what can be achieved with that particular application. You'll be able to narrow it down further by jumping into the application forums and meet your fellow artists. Sometimes a forum will have a tremendous online resource of links and tutorials... and sometimes the forum regulars themselves are the resources. :o) Cheers! M

Though I am all for Carrara and Hexagon, like you, being fairly accomplished in Photoshop, I started with Bryce. For the price, it still is a very good introduction to 3D and you can stay with it or spread your ideas wider. Have a look at the Bryce gallery here on Renderosity. Pretty good stuff.

Carrara Basics 2 for $99 from Eovia is a good start.

Attached Link: http://k3d.sourceforge.net

Considering that BigBlueBuddha expressed how little he/she knows about 3D, it might do well to clarify a few things about what software will be needed. Wings3D, which I use all the time to model objects, is only that--a modeler. Unfortunately this will not provide the entire workflow for creating final images. To break the entire process down to a beginner level, your 3D work will involve modeling objects, texturing them, and assembling your scene with lighting etc to prepare for rendering. Then rendering will complete your process, except for any "post work" you care to do in Photoshop. Many of the better software packages will provide tools for this entire workflow. Others focus on one or two steps in the process. Wings3D, which I use and has been mentioned above as a free modeler, provides primarily only modeling. You then would need a UV mapping utility such as UV Mapper Classic (free) or Pro ($60 USD or so) from uvmapper.com to create a template on which you will paint your texture for the object(s) in Photoshop. Then you will need to import the object(s) into a program that will allow you to arrange and light your scene, and render it into a 2D image. Bryce (www.DAZ3D.com), which has been mentioned above, can do this part at an entry level, but isn't so great for the modeling and texturing steps. Blender3D (www.blender.org) is a free, open-source software product that can handle most if not all of the required workflow from modeling to rendering, but you will NOT likely find the interface intuitive, and you listed that as your main criterion. If you truly are interested in the very highest-end, top-quality images, you may be interested in looking at software such as Maya (store.alias.com) or 3DS MAX (autodesk.com). Incidentally, Maya's developer Alias has recently been aquired by Autodesk, maker of 3DS MAX. These will provide high-end tools for your entire workflow, in concert with Photoshop for your texture painting and post work. These suites will cost you multiple thousands of $US, however. Somewhere in the middle of the pack pricewise are SoftImage XSI (softimage.com), Lightwave (NewTek.com), and Cinema4D (maxon.net). These have tools for the entire 3D workflow and have versions ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand $US. Small free packages focusing on one or more steps in your workflow abound... I've already mentioned Wings3D and Blender. Anim8or, a free modeler and animator mentioned by another poster, looks quite user-friendly due to its simplicity and would probably be great for getting your feet wet. However, you'll want to move up fairly soon as it will choke on intricate objects, and the rendering engine doesn't support some pretty basic needs. By no means am I an expert on all the products available, and as has been said, neither is anyone else ;-) I apologize for the long post, I simply thought it might be wise to point out that there are multiple steps involved in creating a 3D render, and Buddha might not have realized that some of the packages mentioned would not cover everything he will need. As a final word of advice, you need to anticipate a number of months, possibly years getting to a level you will consider "stunning". :-) 3D is not simply an add-on to your Photoshop skills... it will take you over and you'll spend many evenings with bloodshot eyes in front of your computer once you are hooked ;-) Holy COW that was a long post... sorry =-o Good luck! Patrick

Long, but well written... and a very considered, intelligent post, in my humble opinion. :o) Cheers! M