3D Drawing Tool - Any Suggestions

[VanMac]

Hello.

I'm looking for a tool that would allow me to produce a drawing like the one you see below.

Not looking to spend any/much money on it right now, as it may only be a one time thing, so trial or freeware preferred.

If it is a really good tool, and not to expensive, then maybe I could swing a purchase.

Anywho, that's the scoop. Any input or experience appreciated.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

Will any of this work for you...
Blender

 

[Artful Dodger]

Maybe Cinema 4D or LightWave 3D? I think one of those has a free trial or maybe it was Carrara 5 Try posting this on www.cgtalk.com and see what some people over there say. It's a great site to visit

 

[VanMac]

Will any of this work for you...
Blender

Hey.

Thanks for the tip. Looks like a little much for what i'm trying to do...

 

[VanMac]

Maybe Cinema 4D or LightWave 3D? I think one of those has a free trial or maybe it was Carrara 5 Try posting this on www.cgtalk.com and see what some people over there say. It's a great site to visit

Thanks Artful.

I will check out those products, and take a peek at cgtalk.

 

[toaster_oven]

cheetah3D ($99)

www.cheetah3d.de

or you could use sketchup+photoshop or sketchup+piranesi... (sketchup+ artlantis, maxwell, or many many other 3D rendering apps) a little easier to use if you already know how to use photoshop - but you'll have to fake the materials and radiosity in photoshop.

good luck!

-to

 

[Eric5h5]

Thanks for the tip. Looks like a little much for what i'm trying to do...

Well, you don't have to use ALL the features of Blender. It would probably take me about 15-30 minutes to duplicate that image with Blender. 5 minutes for the basic shapes and layout, and the rest for polishing...the metallic texture would be a little tricky to duplicate exactly, but maybe that's not important?

Plus you can't beat the price, and I'm not convinced that any other 3D programs would be easier to figure out if you've never used one before.

--Eric

 

[etoiles]

I haven't tried this, but I think there are some extrusion/bevel tools in Illustrator CS...

There are some tutorials on the web, for example here http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Illustrator/3D/1

You might not get all the fancy reflection/specularity stuff, but I am sure you could fake the lighting effects using gradients. Plus, it would be all vector and scale properly.

Even if you go down the 3D route, it is probably easier to to the layout in Illustrator first, and then convert to 3D.

 

[YS2003]

I haven't tried this, but I think there are some extrusion/bevel tools in Illustrator CS...

I think you would need the actual 3D software such as Blender, Cinema4D, and others for this type of work. Illustrator's 3D features are nice for 2D graphic program; but, I think it is very limited for full fledged 3D graphic works.

I am testing out Blender (I am having a tough start with this open source software; but, I hope I can get the hang of it soon as I go through the tutorial book I bought for the program).