...HELP..!!...I May Be Wasting My Money

[madm8n]

Well Here we go,

I am the proud owner of HEX2.1, Carrara 5Pro, Bryce 6.1 and D/S with Mimic Lite(Pah..!! ..Poser4.. cant afford better or find better for free...LooL...not forgetting Amapi 6.1, Realsoft3D 5.2 and a few others...LooL...)
Now here-in lies a slight problem, and that is, No matter how hard I try, I just cant seem to get very much done with any of them.
I have to be plain and honest in saying that I have no idea as to where to even begin. I have watched several Tuts, but they seem to take for granted that you know each program off by heart..!!!..
What I need is for somebody to try to explain to me in a way that a 3 year old can grasp..!!... . Believe me, I aint kidding..!!!...
I just need the very basics, the tuts that came with Hex for example are in Qt7 but are of a very low quality, cant see the tools they use properly, barring which, they run a bit too fast for me to catch. As for sound, well they'd be better with-out...( all scratchy and crackery..)

So Please, Any one out there that can explain the very basics, Please do...!!..

In Advance, Thanks.

[GHiOM]

The primary basic thing : Focus on only one first and do experiment again again and again.

Try to understand the philosophy of the software, how it work .. Enter in the brain of the developper to find the logic of the tools.

WHen you are able to do what you want with this software, try to learn an other wich complete the only one you know.

If you try to understand tutorial before having understand 3D and logic of the software .. Good luck !

[jbshorty]

This is not advise for any specific program or any of it's tools. But my feeling is that many tuts and vids will assume you know something of the basic toolset (and 3D modelling in general). So what i normally do for any program is learn each tool, one at a time. It's like the way children learn to read by first becoming familiar with alphabet characters... What i'm suggesting is that you don't try to create your dream models just yet. Start simple, REALLY simple. First, learn the UI. Create a 3D primitive, and just learn to navigate around it. This is very important, being able to navigate around your model is key to a fast workflow. Then start with a 3D primitive and one tool. Manipulate/edit the primitive every way possible until you understand what that tool really does, and you feel really comfortable using it. then move on to another tool and repeat until you've learned all the tools. I promise you will soon understand how they are designed to work together. And from there, everything will fall into place... Another thing to never forget- there is always more stuff to learn. I don't hit a lot of stumbling blocks myself anymore. But different workflows will expose different challenges. So i like to help other people get past their obstacles. And i always discover some new methods which i didn't know before. So read as many threads here as possible. They are incredible tutorials in themselves... good luck!

shorty

[Wingnut]

For the best basic instruction the online VTC tutorials are really good and it only cost $30.00 for a whole month.

[shoeach]

Hi madm8n.

I have had the same trouble as you, so I understand you enough.
Only about two years have passed since I started to learn 3DCG as a hobby.

I study the basis of manipulation (or concept) of first-time program through its document or “getting start” guide.
It is tedious for you but it is also a jewelry box full of tips.

And further, after faithfully executing tutorial I often try to do same process again and many times without tutorial until the same one comes to be created.
Finally, you should learn much stuff regarding your new program in the error, struggle and frustration.

Good luck!

shoeach

WinXP HE sp2, Core 2 Duo E6600, GeForce 7900GT, 2GB RAM

[Grendel]

I know I started with Realsoft 3d and I thought it's walk-thru manual was very good for learning the program. For hex try the digital camera tutorial, it's very basic and covers alot of the simple toolss

[madm8n]

Well, Thanks for all the tips and advice. Very much apreciated. Now as for trying them there Tutorials...LooL...hw-e-e-elll..!!...Now if I wasnt confused before....
But seriously, I think this 3D stuff is way too fun to let alone, so tuts here I come..again...!!... I am trying out what jbshorty suggested, trial and error, tool by tool. But alas this is tedious and time-consuming.
I cant even find in the Qt Tuts, the tut about how to extend the facets with-out having to click the extrude tool each time, but in one vid I watched Thomas add facet after facet after....??.. How do we do this..???... I do get the 3D-Worldspace bit and the 3D navigation etc, just them tools and their simplest workings seem to pass me right on by.. ( my first D/S pic, useless I know...But it pleases me...LooL...)

[jbshorty]

Originally Posted by madm8n

...I am trying out what jbshorty suggested, trial and error, tool by tool. But alas this is tedious and time-consuming.
I cant even find in the Qt Tuts, the tut about how to extend the facets with-out having to click the extrude tool each time, but in one vid I watched Thomas add facet after facet after....??.. How do we do this..???...

i know it seems tedious. But you are like the karate-kid. Wax-on Wax-off until you can beat up that blond pretty-boy who wants to steal your girlfriend... Thomas likes to model by the "edge extrusion method", which is amazingly fast. To do a fast extrude in Hexagon, select an edge and hold down the CTRL key. Now grab a handle of the manipulator and drag it. Let go of CTRL and use the manipulator to rotate/scale/reposition the new element. Then repeat to keep extruding new elements. As you are forming new edges, you can quickly stitch them together by highlighting an edge, then pressing "W" (target weld) then select the target edge. If you select an edge which is already shared by two faces, then using CTRL will show a different type of manipulator that creates a bevel around the edge and then extrudes along the surface normal. If you select a face then hold CTRL, another type of manipulator will appear with two handles (one extrudes along face normal direction, the other creates an inset in the face)... The "Bridge" tool can also be really handy while doing edge extrusions. For example, you might have a gap across multiple faces. Let's say 4 connected edges on one side of the gap, and 4 connected edges on the other side of the gap. Select those 4 edges on both sides of gap and then use bridge command to create many polygons at one time... I hope that all makes sense...

shorty

[sailor-ed]

Much good advice has been given here but I would add one more (personally biased?) bit.

Focus on Carrara to begin. This will allow you to work from model to final image in one relatively easy to understand user interface. Additionally once you figure out Carrara it will be quite easy to transfer your skills to Hex, Bryce and most modeling and rendering programs.

Have fun and go slow!

[jbshorty]

Originally Posted by sailor-ed

Much good advice has been given here but I would add one more (personally biased?) bit.

Focus on Carrara to begin. This will allow you to work from model to final image in one relatively easy to understand user interface. Additionally once you figure out Carrara it will be quite easy to transfer your skills to Hex, Bryce and most modeling and rendering programs.

Have fun and go slow!

I would disagree on this, only because Hex is the better modeling program. And i think it is also more focused and easier to learn. Once you're modeling in Hex, then you really only need Carrara to tweak objects which are in your scene. And the modeling skills from Hex will transfer to Carrara just as easily as Carrara would to Hex... So why start off with an inferior modeling toolset? Just my opinion. To each his own...

[madm8n]

Many more thanks, I do think that I'd personally prefer to learn Hex first, as Carrara and Bryce are mainly for scenes etc. I wanna model..!!.. But if i got this right, all three do models too...??..( guess who feels daft now then..LooL..)..


This 3D stuff is forcing my brain-cells to work over-time, but I love it..!!..

Again Thanks for all help and advice given, please, More..!!! More..!!!...More..!!!...

[KevinSp]

I don't know if bryce does modelling but carrara & hex both do, just differently. IMO I would learn Hex first, it's a much simpler workflow. You concentrate on modelling, period.

Carrara has so many cool toys and tools that I could never focus on just one at a time(maybe adult A.D.D. ) so I have learned bits and pieces over time.

They are both great!! just different.

[bwtr]

Modelling in the Pro version of Carrara really is excellent especially the Vertex modeller for me. I find I am not using other modellers like Hexagon much now that I have become used to working with the Carrara Vertex room.

As Sailor Ed suggests, Carrara5Pro will give you enough capability to keep you busy for a year or three!

[polydude]

Originally Posted by Wingnut

For the best basic instruction the online VTC tutorials are really good and it only cost $30.00 for a whole month.

Hi, I'm in the same boat you are in so I can understand your problem. I paid the monthly bill at vtc but they do not give you the models. It is better to pay for 1 month and see if you like their tutorials and then just buy them they have both hexagon and carrara pro. On the other hand you need some basic art skills that you can get at a local community college. Most people overlook this because they assume you are already an artist. I work on my projects first on paper then I scan them in then I model them in Hexagon paint them in zbrush and animate them in Carrara pro. Oh and another thing this is something where tinkering with different stuff helps because you sometimes come up with cool results without looking for them and you don't waste any paper on a computer.
Hope this helps.

[sueposer]

Looking through these posts I found out about VTC and went and checked it out. Just what I needed! Hooray! Thanks. I like that the tutorials come in small chunks, refering to my A.D.D. ;)