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JamesFoote

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 5, 2008
109
0
I am looking for the very best 3D modeling/graphics design software for beginners like myself. Free would be my first choice, but I guess it doesn't really matter too much.

(I'll be using the software to design simple 3D graphics for my iPhone/iPod touch game)
 
Easy and free do not usually go together and that is certainly the case with Blender. If you don't know the key commands, your toast. It is powerful though.

The most arguably accessible 3D tool out there right now is Cinema4D. It just seems to click more easily. If you are not afraid of learning however, some 3D tools have learning editions that are free like Maya.

It really depends on what you plan to do as some are better than others for certain things :)

-mx
 
Can I bump this thread, and get some opinions for where we are now, 2016.

Same question again. Best EASY to use 3D program to suit beginners.

Id like to have a go at knocking up some organic simple blobby 3D shapes and characters. Ive been googling for several minutes, and hear blender is good, but I'm not interested, as the learning curve is steep and I probably won't do more than a few dozen hours of design, maybe a few hundred if I like it and stick to the hobby. But simply (and sadly) do not have time for any serious study of 3D.

So, same question again, please! :)
 
Can I bump this thread, and get some opinions for where we are now, 2016.

Same question again. Best EASY to use 3D program to suit beginners.

Id like to have a go at knocking up some organic simple blobby 3D shapes and characters. Ive been googling for several minutes, and hear blender is good, but I'm not interested, as the learning curve is steep and I probably won't do more than a few dozen hours of design, maybe a few hundred if I like it and stick to the hobby. But simply (and sadly) do not have time for any serious study of 3D.

So, same question again, please! :)

First 3D program I learned was 3DS Max, but that's super expensive unless you get the educational version, not sure if you have to be a student for that though. A few months ago I decided to give Blender a go, I was expecting it to be difficult but I didn't find any problems learning it for modelling. Since I came from another 3D program, it was probably easier to pick up, but I used this tutorial series and it really helped me learn it, it's made for beginner so I'm sure you'll be fine with it.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLda3VoSoc_TR7X7wfblBGiRz-bvhKpGkS

When I did 3D at school, I found it hard to pick up (but only did it once a week), but even if you do struggle a bit at first and come back to it, you have less to learn as you've already been exposed to stuff before, like interface, or some of the modelling techniques. Once you learn how to do some modelling, best thing to do is try to create simple projects yourself. Good luck though, I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be once you get into it. :)

Edit: Modo is a program I hear about often, but I only have experience with Blender and 3DS Max myself, but worth having a look.
 
Still using and recommend Sketchup (changed from Google to Trimble since this thread started in 2008). Easy to learn and produce models in free Sketchup Make, plenty of more advance tools in paid Pro version if needed.
 
Strata has a free basic version you should look at. Ten dollars a month for a slew of tutorial courses at their University. Learning curve is fairly steep but the results are the best once you're up to par.

The first two posts weren't showing on my screen even after a refresh. So now there are three with no option to remove the first two. Excuse this because I have those idiotic *****tards from Homeland Security monitoring me for some strange reason, and things like this happen often. Our government is infested with dingleberry's and dingbats, just have to put up with their incompetence.
 
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