A Good 3d GFX Starter Package

[Tim Walton]

I'm interested in trying my hand at doing a little 3d GFX work. Does anybody have any suggestions/reccomendations as to what would be a good starter app? Cinema 4d? Lightwave? Something else?

Thanks

Tim Walton
KVIE Public Television

 

[TheFuzz]

cinema 4d's a great app, especially if you're on a mac. there are lots of tutorials online, plus their cineversity site has a lot, too. It's not that expensive either(cineversity that is). i can't really compare it to lightwave, maya, or xsi, but it wasn't nearly as hard to pick up as i'd imagined(i'd had some experience in rhino). c4d is definitely gaining ground in broadcast, i've seen more and more job posting for c4d artists popping up.

 

[Shaduu]

Blender. It's free; what more do you want?

 

[faustfire]

I agree with fuzz. C4D is easier to pick up than any other 3d program Ive tried, and the basic verion is super cheap. The main plus IMO is the fact that you can export camera, null data, and multi layered renders to most compositing and some editing programs. We use it at the station I work at and Ive been using it for about 2 years and have picked it up pretty quickly. Check out my reel, all the 3d stuff was done in C4D in the past 2 years. (note: I had no 3d experience except for bryce before starting with c4d.)

http://www.vimeo.com/clip:195676

 

[ATD]

From what I see C4D is the preferred package for on-air graphics. The only issue I hear about from animators is it's motion blur isn't great, other apps do a better job. I have Lightwave but it's not 3D app I like much. Maya is an extremely powerful program (my main 3D program) but it's not something one would call a starter app.

 

[faustfire]

From what I see C4D is the preferred package for on-air graphics. The only issue I hear about from animators is it's motion blur isn't great, other apps do a better job. I have Lightwave but it's not 3D app I like much. Maya is an extremely powerful program (my main 3D program) but it's not something one would call a starter app.

True, I usually use ReelSmart Motion Blur by RE:Vision Effects. It's pricy (around 600$ I think) but works extremely well. Works great for adding motion blur to video that was shot with too high a shutter speed as well.

 

[milky23]

I am very much fond of Lightwave, and with the release of LW9, it looks to be on the rise in the industry again. However, Cinema4D is probably the most intuitive and user friendly, as well as cost effective. I really like both.

Blender is also quite good these days (but the interface sucks just a little bit. takes a lot of getting used to, but fairly powerful once mastered.)

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Blender, Maya PLE, Lightwave 3d, Modo... it's all pretty good stuff you just need to find the application which suits you needs and budget.

 

[NorCalLights]

Blender. It's free; what more do you want?

I took a class at school in Blender... good stuff. The UI is unlike anything I had ever used before, but I picked it up pretty quickly. There is lots of info on the web about Blender and the online community is great for answering your questions.

And yes, it is free. Check out www.blender.org.