Help with Purchase!

[Oktavian]

I'm not sure if I understand what you really want but you could take a look at Renderosity's galerie. They have a lot of picures from beginners up to very excellent stuff.
http://www.renderosity.com/

[gaggle]

Just remember, if you're new to 3D the road to learning is what you should be focused on now, not the destination. Or you will get upset of the slow pace one learns this medium.

You can go with Hash's "Animation Master" and save quite the bucks, it's a very capable program in its own right, and I'm sure anyone new to 3d can use it to learn all the basics and get comfortable with the all the misc. hubbub. Lightwave is cheap as well, and supposedly (relativly) very easy to learn.

I suggest not going for what program has the most features, and I suggest not going for what program produces the prettiest images. It tends to lead one into a trap of lazyness ("my program has Sub Surface Scattering so I gotta use it!") and frustration ("why can't I make pretty images like these guys?").

You could even find one of the free programs out there to start with, I hear only good things about Wings 3D when it comes to poly-modeling. When and if you buy, say, MAX, you'll already be very comfortable with all the basic ideas, and only gotta learn where the various buttons are.

Also: MAX comes as a) GMax, or b) a 30 day fully-functional (afaik) trial version. There's plenty of chance to get aquainted before comitting the money. And let's not forget that Maya, XSI and Houdini comes in free (free!) editions, that you can use to your hearts content, again, before committing any sums of money. Hooray!

..note to self: I'm reminded I so want to try Houdini some day

Well anyway, that concludes my little rant for today. Hope it came out understandable :)

[Paul L. Ming]

Hiya.

Just starting off...go with something "inexpensive". Why? It has been my experience that people learn differently, and have different preferences. As you start your 3d learning tasks, you'll start to get a feel for how your brain thinks of creating something. This is where the program's workflow comes into play. If you spend thousands and thousands of dollars on MAX and then find out you really just don't like the whole "modifier stack" workflow...well, you've already bought into it for a few grand.

Hit the free software first. Wings3D is a great poly modeler. Get all the demo and learning edition software you can get your hands on like Maya, XSI, MAX, Lightwave, etc...or get versions of the programs "from the underground", if you get my meaning...wink wink, nudge nudge. (but don't tell anyone! ;) ).

Once you've got a feel for how you like to work and how your brain thinks of 3d creation, pick a package as close to that ideal as you can. *Now* you can go spend your thousands and thousands. :)

Oh, as someone said...look at the road, not the destination. Otherwise you are bound to be frusterated. Just accept the fact that you will suck right off. But, the more you work it, the better you will get. Enjoy the trip! :)

[drewbie]

If you're starting out, why not download the free versions of these expensive apps and try them out before you sink money into them? Most of the apps out there now have free versions from their sites, and you could really get a feel of what app suites your needs and the way you work.

[RusMan]

Try all the demos, and don't forget to try Cinema4D which is pretty good and not very expensive. (no offense to Max users:) )

[dvornik]

http://www.yeahthemovie.de - very cool max character work.

[SuperMax]

If you look through the CGtalk gallery and especially lately you would find some seriously hot work done using Max.

And i mean Very very hot stuff!:thumbsup:

but that doesnt mean it couldnt have been done using other programs.

[tenl]

Thanks for all the insight. That Link for the "Boss" is awesome. I love 3D!

Any more links that you can think of?

There was one that I lost about a guy who was doing a sorta war film but I lost the link...

Any others..preferably action?

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