3DSMAX 2011..newbies

JGBR · 27 Nov 2010 at 14:42

I am just starting out with Autodesk 3ds max.

I am looking for a great book or guide to getting started, any suggestions? or good comments and advice on starting out?

I want to be able to design my warships and starships, render and animate to Movie style quality.

My software i have:

3DS MAX 2011, AUTOCAD 2011, MAYA, Mudbox etc.

Dj_Jestar · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:21

There's a reason all that CGI in films costs a massive amount of money. You do realise this, right?

Chaos · 27 Nov 2010 at 15:59

A good way to learn Max is the dvd 3dbuzz.com sell called 3ds max fundamentals.
3d-palace.com sells dvds on modelling spaceships etc.

JGBR · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:38

I know its expensive, but I want to train up in my own time really so was just looking for advice.

kylew · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:51

Dj_Jestar said:
There's a reason all that CGI in films costs a massive amount of money. You do realise this, right?

They all start somewhere. Some of the best did it as a hobby for many years first.

kylew · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:52

JGBR said:
I know its expensive, but I want to train up in my own time really so was just looking for advice.

Some of the best tutorials are by "Digital Tutors", you'll be able to find them with a quick google search.

JGBR · 27 Nov 2010 at 17:52

What i don't get or maybe is my mistake, howcome say

A space scene in a movie, thats obviousy CGI, looks so much more real then what most people produce in 3DS etc?

or is that they are using lots of other tools and software.

Dj_Jestar · 27 Nov 2010 at 18:30

kylew said:
They all start somewhere. Some of the best did it as a hobby for many years first.

I do get that, and I do appreciate the enthusiasm, and the want to make great animations etc, but I didn't want the OP to have false hopes.

kylew · 27 Nov 2010 at 19:58

JGBR said:
What i don't get or maybe is my mistake, howcome say

A space scene in a movie, thats obviousy CGI, looks so much more real then what most people produce in 3DS etc?

or is that they are using lots of other tools and software.

That's due to a lower standard of work simply. With enough time and effort, you can create really good looking stuff.

I made these renders pretty quickly and easily while testing out different rendering programs, they were modelled with Google Sketchup. They're all fairly basic, but you could be making similar things with just a little bit of practise.

The rest of these I modelled in 3DS Max, the chess peices was my first render in 3DS Max

These are all just things I've made to test one thing or another out.

JGBR · 27 Nov 2010 at 22:27

Thats great work.

I understand the time taken to learn and devlop, I had just always questioned that how sometimes certain CGI scenes seem perfect and others you can notice.

I presume texture/rendering is the killer if trying to get it as real as possible?

JGBR · 28 Nov 2010 at 11:13

Is their anyway to convert lightwave to 3ds max for free

AHarvey · 28 Nov 2010 at 11:45

My younger brother has been talking about getting in to 3d design and animation (not sure which he prefers) but he isn't sure where to start.

Any suggestions?

JGBR · 28 Nov 2010 at 12:08

If hes a student, get a Lightwave licence.
(cheap)
Lightwave "all in one soultion" is far easier then 3ds max

MouthBoy · 28 Nov 2010 at 14:32

Just to add to this, if anyone is a student, they can get all the Autodesk software for free from the Autodesk website. It is "student versions" but all that means if everytime you save it says "This is a student version". There are no watermarkings or anything like that.

JGBR · 28 Nov 2010 at 15:04

just a shame light wave does not do the same