Hi everyone:) I'm very new to the 3D graphic art world and as such I'm beginning to feel more than a little bit intimidated by the shear amount of wierd and wonderfully named Programs and aplications used in the 3D world; ever since I started surfing this sight and others (for help mostly) it's been "ZBrush" this, and "3Ds Max" that, and the less said about "Xfrog", "Rhino" and "Vue d'est-wotsit" the better. Now for a person of my (so far) very limited understanding, and I can't be the only one, it just seems like a baffling tidal wave of programs that I don't know so much as what they're used for let alone if I need them or not. Ok before I ramble on any more I would like to ask if there is any brave soul out there who wouldn't mind giving us poor know-nothings a short definition of what some of these programs are and what they are used for (I'm thinking of some of the programs listed under the Software Forums on this sight) Please, really any help on this would be a lifesaver:) Anyone up to the chalange?

Attached Link: http://www.ronknights.com/tutor/index.html

Ok, the different programs listed are 3D programs which do different things. Some people use different programs for creating Poser characters, clothes, background scenes, etc. Examples: Zbrush, 3D Max, Rhino. I think Vue DeEsprit (Spelling?) is mainly used for backgrounds or rendering?! The best to really know which programs do what is to visit their forums, and read a bit. Do you want some good advice from someone who is equally as confused at times? Take one program, say Poser, and learn that as much as possible. Then when you feel more confident, take another program. And follow that. You will find some excellent tutorials here at Renderosity. If you want some decent Poser-related tutorials, you can try mine.

Try Putting these program names in a web search engine
and going to the websites of these software manufacturers
and read their official specs and feature lists on these Apps.

( Example go to adobe.com to learn about "Adobe photoshop")

Better yet, look to the right of your screen... You'll find all sorts of helpful links right there!

I agree with ronknights. Learn Poser (for example). As your needs expand, pick up additional "tools" to help you achieve the effect you're trying to accomplish. For example, I use Poser and Paint Shop Pro (the latter for touching up some of Poser's faults and an occasional texture). I don't do much modelling so I haven't had a need to pick up those tools. Same goes for commercially available "enhanced" characters, props, textures, etc. in the Marketplace. Learn the basics first and pick up what you need as your experience and needs grow.

Here's what I posted for a similar question a few weeks back about what programs are used for what purposes. Hopefully this might help answer some of your questions: Manipulating Human/animal figures: Poser. Image editing: Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop. Landscape/Scene building: Bryce, Vue d'Esprit, World Builder, TrueSpace, 3D Studio Max, Maya, Lightwave. (Poser can accept backgrounds, but it is easier to build it in another program, in my opinion.) Modelling: Rhino 3D, Amorphium, Strata3D, TrueSpace, 3D Studio Max, Maya, Lightwave. Supports animation: Poser, Bryce, Vue, World Builder, Strata3D(?), TrueSpace, 3DStudio Max, Maya. Cross-platform animation: Poser - Vue (may require 3d party software), Poser-Bryce (requires 3d party software), Poser-3D Studio Max (requires 3d party software), Poser-Lightwave (requires 3d party software). Many of the pictures that are in the Poser forum use Poser characters but are actually rendered in a different program. Poser is the most viewed gallery, so people post their pictures there even if that technically isn't the program that rendered the picture. Every few months, we get a debate on exactly how to determine which gallery a picture should be posted, but we're usually pretty laid back about it.

Crescent has done a really good job of explaining things :o). That should give you a good place to start. Laurie

A good way to start trying out 3D modelling, might be to download, - and try AMAPI 4.15, which is free. You can find it here: http://amapi.idevgames.com/ There is a very good forum here in renderosity that gives you a crash course in how to use. (do a search for finger (practices) ) Good luck, and have fun! Britt

Oh, oh....Sounds like you are gonna get hooked. I got Poser 4...had one forever, it seems. And, I had Bryce. Within a week of getting Poser 4, I wanted to make my figures, different. I found a tutorial on morphing, downloaded Animator, and, it's been downhill ever since, for me. Amapi, the free version further added to this. Then, I got Rhino....which I LOVE. I got zbrush, for doing textures right on the model itself. I got 3ds max on a good deal this past autumn, but, the learning curve is too steep for me. It depends on what you want to do. I think I wanted to "model" from the get go. I worked with Booleans, in Bryce, before I ever had Poser 4. BTW...Bryce, Rhino, Truespace, Zbrush, all have free full use demos to try. I downloaded them...and, well, of course I got hooked on the programs...well, already had bryce, but upgraded to 5. Good luck in your quest, grasshopper. Pop...Pop...Poppi!!!

Strap that armour on tight Gideon - you're in for the ride of your life! :) Like someone said above 3d programs can be separated into some rough categories: modeling, figure setup/modification, environment creation, rendering and animation And then 2d image editors like Photoshop to make textures and fudge the renders when you don't feel like doing a 24-hour render over again becuase the mesh crinkled in a bad place. Start simple - poser and photoshop. Then work you're way up! :) Have fun! Lyrra