I'm trying to make some free items for others to use, but so far, I'm not very good at it. Any ideas what I might start off with that might be easy for me to make? I know it sounds hokey, but I would really like to start 'giving back' to the 3d community, especially after using so many great free items from others. thanks, ithkinlore

It would depend on what your abilities are. If you can make models or testures or backgrounds or whatever. Jusat make whatever you know how to make and anything you can contribute will be appreciated. If you don't know modelling or texturing, there are tutorials here and elsewhere on how to do that, and there are a few modeling and image editiong software available for free, like Wings3d and Gimp. (to make textures for an existing model or character, use the templates that are usually provided to insure that the textures will fit right).

A lot of people find textures easier to make than models. If textures aren't your thing, how about poses, light sets, morphs, or materials? And if you have a camera, you can always take photos. For background use, say. (Remember to leave a space at the bottom for the characters to stand.) You may think your town is boring, but people who live in different kinds of places will be happy to have photos of your area.

In general, if at all possible, make something YOU would like. Don't think too much about how others may like it. Chances are, if YOU like it, so will someone else. That was how I started making trash. I made it because I had a use for it. And then it just took off G Something like Poses are always nice, and something everyone CAN do. It's just something that can take a long time shich is why most people resort to premade poses, at least as a starting point (well, I know I do, eventhough I've made my own posesets for sale) Whatever you choose to do, good luck with it! And thanks in advance :o)

Attached Link: http://www.wings3d.com

if you're into modeling (try this one, it's free), you can start with things that don't need to 'bend', like hats, mebbe shoes, etc. Also, things like furniture (simple kinds), etc, can be a good place to start. Just simple shapes. Also, stop by the modeling forums (the general one, Blender, Wings, etc) and ask questions, we'll be glad to help.

Thanks, all. Your great advice will at least give me some kind of starting point. Maybe I'll find something I like making! thanks again, ithkinlore