Interested in getting into 3D

[lightsail]

I'm an artist and photographer but have always been fascinated with 3D I've worked in some basic programs and I'm thinking of learning Maya. I'd be interested seeing a demonstration. I know 3d work started out all PC based but I work from a mac platform.

Any suggestions on that will helpful.

 

Thanks in advance Dave

Here is a link to some of my work if anyone is interested.

 

http://WWW.ChicagoPrintGallery.com

[upshot]

IMHO... Start with sketchup. It's a super powerful program for cheap (even free!). If you cant get comfortable with that, then move on to max, maya, whatever...

 

Mac/PC is becoming less of an issue, but since most CAD systems started out on 486 there will probably always be more options in the PC platform.

[lightsail]

This is what I have used so far. I started doing simple things with Ray Dream obviously a long time ago. I've used Bryce and poser quite a bit I'm now using 2d 3d viacad.

 

I've looked at the free sketch up I'm not sure if you can export any of the objects that you creat, but the professional is almost $500

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[EddieLeon]

Dave, your photography is excellent. Your sense of lighting and composition is a perfect background for getting into 3d. I suggest you jump into Max/vRay or Maya as soon as possible. Good Luck!

[lightsail]

Thanks,

 

Maya has a mac platform so I would probably go in that direction. I also want to focus in some area that I can make money freelancing. I know the 3d world divides in many directions, Fine art, Architectural design, character animation and everything in between, Any suggestions.

 

Dave

[EddieLeon]

I also want to focus in some area that I can make money freelancing. I know the 3d world divides in many directions, Fine art, Architectural design, character animation and everything in between, Any suggestions.

 

Architecture is still profitable. Fine Art is a contradiction in terms. You don't want to be a starving artist. You might also want to consider product visualization for corporate clients. Good Luck!

[poppyy08]

You are going in a right way.

I wish you good luck.

 

I found a Hillary’ous video ..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7150u9sfCo

[alrawli]

Rather than going from Sketch up straight into a costly piece of software like Max or Maya why not try something like Blender? Its open source lots of tutorials about and seems to produce some good results.

 

http://www.blender.org/

[innerdream]

Or Cheetah 3D - about $130.00 good starting package.

[alias_marks]

Rather than going from Sketch up straight into a costly piece of software like Max or Maya why not try something like Blender? Its open source lots of tutorials about and seems to produce some good results.

 

http://www.blender.org/

 

 

I second that motion. I first learned FormZ, then moved to Blender, and sketchup. Now it's all 3ds max and Vray, but looking back on it, Blender was a great foundation tool to learn 3d. A lot of it had to do with the incredibly supportive community - http://blenderartists.org/forum/

 

Can't beat the free-ness of it either.