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Socoder -> Art and Sound -> 3D modelling

Sun, 22 Nov 2009, 07:52
flying_cucco
What's a good way for a novice to make 3D models with bones for use in blitz/whatever? Your suggestions for programs/tutorials welcome please.
Sun, 22 Nov 2009, 09:43
Mog
Seems the only support pipeline is for 3dsmax, Although 3d canvas (https://www.amabilis.com) can be used in concept if you use the dx8 2 b3d converter

As for model rigging, that's a tedious process.

-=-=-
I am Busy Mongoose - My Website

Dev PC: AMD 8150-FX, 16gb Ram, GeForce GTX 680 2gb

Current Project: Pyroxene
Sun, 22 Nov 2009, 13:36
Afr0
Yeah, model rigging is a really tedious process.
I'd argue 3DS Max definately has the best skin+bone+animation system out there.
Even if in the future it won't be used for modelling anymore (which I've theorized because of the popularity of MudBox and ZBrush these days), it'll still be used for animation.

Edit: If you want to get a cheap version of 3DS Max (below 900 USD), you should go to eBay. Seems to be down right now so I can't check prices.

-=-=-
Afr0 Games

Project Dollhouse on Github - Please fork!
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 04:12
flying_cucco
That price is a little bit steep considering I want to make some low-poly models of dragons and trees and stuff. I have found some info about Blender (free software) and Milkshape (shareware?), any good? I will take a look there too.
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 04:42
Jayenkai
Having to get $bn MAX just to made a freakin' model is daft. There's bound to be something out there.

Don't forget Truespace is free.. Might be something do-able with that.

-=-=-
''Load, Next List!''
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 10:42
HoboBen
Milkshape is pretty good. USD 35 or EUR 25.

I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, so I can't judge how good it is, but it's easy enough to pick up and use from modelling up to animating. I'd say an hour is long enough to learn how to use it. Though you may want to use a separate program for texturing.

Blender.... apparently it's fantastic, but even the blender GUI has a manual hundreds of pages long! Learning how to use it is quite an investment.

There's also anim8or but the export options for animated objects are limited and it's a bit tricky to get what you want out of it. Especially difficult for low-poly models.

-=-=-
blog | work | code | more code
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 11:05
Hotshot
Milkshape? Yep it is good as it can easily make a 3D Car in 15 mins!

IF you want to make House very quickly then 3D World Studio is good Bet!

Truespace is quite good one and best of all is FREE!
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 11:19
flying_cucco
Thanks for the comments, it looks like Milkshape is what I'll go with. It's pretty basic, but so much easier to work with.

Here is what I got after a couple of hours (!) trying to deform a bunch of cubes into a dragon in Blender:



In less time simply plotting and connecting the dots with Milkshape:



I haven't started on texturing yet.
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 12:18
HoboBen
Blimey, looks like you're a natural! That's awesome!

-=-=-
blog | work | code | more code
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 12:50
Jayenkai
Indeed
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 13:01
Hotshot
flying_cucco is Natural Born Modelings!
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 13:04
Afr0
Modelling isn't actually that hard if you have something to model from, so being a good draftsman can be just as important as being a good modeller. Unless you have a concept artist at your disposal.
But yeah, good progress!

-=-=-
Afr0 Games

Project Dollhouse on Github - Please fork!
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 15:49
Hotshot
hey flying_cucco

You should do milkshape tutorial
Mon, 23 Nov 2009, 22:29
JL235
My brother uses Blender. He says it's got a steep learning curve but overall its excellent.

As an alternative you could also look at Wings3D. It's a very cheap and cheerful 3D modeller but I enjoyed it when I did (very little) modelling because it's so damn easy to get started with.

Don't know if it has bone and animation support though.
Thu, 26 Nov 2009, 16:22
flying_cucco
Afr0 Modelling isn't actually that hard if you have something to model from

References are essential. After a few false starts with drawings, I made a model out of blue tack and photographed it.

JL235 As an alternative you could also look at Wings3D. It's a very cheap and cheerful 3D modeller but I enjoyed it when I did (very little) modelling because it's so damn easy to get started with.

I did have a play with it, but I can't get my head around the subdivision method. Making a complex shape by chiselling away at a cube or something is just crazy! And no animation.

Hotshot You should do milkshape tutorial

I am a n00b! But this one has been very helpful:
www.dosfx.com/tutorials/csgirl/default.asp

Mesh is finished, skeleton is in. Texturing is going to be LOL. The UV map is done:


And then animation. What is a good way to store multiple animations for flying/glide/walk etc?
Fri, 27 Nov 2009, 02:09
Afr0
AFAIK the common way to do it is to say that, say, frame 1 - 20 is walking, 20 - 40 is flying, 40 - 60 is gliding etc.
And then base your prrogramming on that.

-=-=-
Afr0 Games

Project Dollhouse on Github - Please fork!
Fri, 27 Nov 2009, 05:05
Jayenkai
Yeah, just treat the anim frames as you would sprites, lay out your anims, jot down which frame is which, and then jump to whichever frame you need.

Should be easy, but trying to get it to work without being too jumpy might be the awkward part!

-=-=-
''Load, Next List!''
Sun, 29 Nov 2009, 13:41
CodersRule
Blender is great. Once you get past the learning curve, you'll have great models... for free