3D Rendering Application Choice

[Arthalen]

Hey guys,

I'm hoping a few kind souls in this forum can throw me a bone and some advice. I'm looking at starting up some 3D rendering in the near term, with two different angles if you like...

Firstly, I'd like to look at a package to use for generating Landscape art, something akin to what Vista was back on the Amiga platform many, many moons ago. Are there modern equivalents? Or is this something handled better through a well known plugin for a more mainstream package?

Secondly, I'd like to look at a package suitable for character modelling and animation. I'm guessing one of the big gun packages is needed for this with some kind of proper bone/muscle simulation, maybe Lightwave/Maya or this thing I keep hearing about - Zbrush?

I'm a complete newbie who's willing to spend a long time learning for his own personal amusement - I'm not looking to start a career out of 3D animation or anything.

I just want to put my new PC to work doing something more worthwhile than gaming all the time....

PS Search function not showing much in the way 3D orientated threads...

 

[Chaos]

For landscapes you could check out Vue by e-on

For character modelling/animation any of the big Autodesk apps would be fine also Cinema 4D, and Blender.

Zbrush is also used for modelling but its a complete different workflow and is more like sculpting, a lot of folk model in one of the main apps then import it into zbrush to add fine details then export it back out for animation.

If you want to learn some of the main apps have a look at -

http://www.digitaltutors.com
http://www.3dbuzz.com
http://eat3d.com/
http://www.cineversity.com/

 

[Arthalen]

For landscapes you could check out Vue by e-on

For character modelling/animation any of the big Autodesk apps would be fine also Cinema 4D, and Blender.

Zbrush is also used for modelling but its a complete different workflow and is more like sculpting, a lot of folk model in one of the main apps then import it into zbrush to add fine details then export it back out for animation.

If you want to learn some of the main apps have a look at -

http://www.digitaltutors.com
http://www.3dbuzz.com
http://eat3d.com/
http://www.cineversity.com/

Awesome stuff, thanks for this plenty to bite my teeth into here it seems

 

[Jock]

For landscapes as already mentioned you cant really go wrong with Vue.

Personally 3DMax is the one i use every day though i dont tend to do landscapes.

 

[lemonade]

How about Blender and Kerkythea?

http://www.kerkythea.net/