starting with 3D

#1

Well I’ve been think about buying educational versions of Lightwave, Cinema 4D, maya, but just can’t decide. I figured starting with a free app would be best and that Wings 3D seems to be a good program to start with.

I am not totally new to 3D, I’ve worked with truespace a little, gmax, and messed around in Maya PLE (mainly the paint effects tool).

My question about Wings 3D (the mac version) regards UV texture mapping. If there a mac UV texture plug-in for Wings 3D or does Wings 3D already offer that when I download it?

Also, I hear Wings 3D is good for learning about polygons. Once I master Wings 3D and start modeling good models, what 3D app should I move to next? What I mean is, is Wings 3D more similar to LW, C4D, Maya, 3D studio, etc.

One more question, I know the Wings 3D doesn’t offer Animation or character rigging. Are there any freeware apps for mac that offer that?

Thanks,
Jack

#2

Welcome to the world of Wings! I can’t answer all of your questions but I can make a start! :o)

There is a UVMapping feature in Wings, it’s still in development but is very capable. I don’t get on with it particularly well though I haven’t made much effort to learn it! If it doesn’t suit you you can always get UVMapper classic for free (www.uvmapper.com)

I don’t think you should “move on” from Wings, it’s probably the best box modeler available at the moment at any price! You may find you want to add other modellers for poly by poly modelling or spline modelling, Nurbs modelling etc that Wings won’t do but no-one can tell which is best, sorry you have to decide for yourself! Wings really isn’t like any of the apps you mentioned. The only modellers that I know of that work in a similar way to Wings are Mirai and Nendo. Neither are available at the moment, Nendo would be a step down from Wings from what I’ve heard and Mirai would cost about $6000 if you could buy it! Neither run on a Mac anyway!
All the apps you mention are excellent and all have demos or learning editions that you can try for free so give them a whirl and see which you like. 3DS Max isn’t available for Mac by the way.

I’ve not done any rigging/animating so I can’t help much there but there are lots of apps to choose from.

My personal recommendation for a companion app on a low budget would be Cinema 4D CE which is being given away on ComputerArts, 3dWorld and Digit magazines I believe. It is limited on it’s render size but you can upgrade to an unlimited version for $100. It has an excellent renderer, all kinds of modelling options that Wings doesn’t have and boning and animation! Pretty good deal huh! - Hope that helps! - Baz

#3

Hey! Thanks for posting.

I remember reading one of those computer graphic magazines and saw the free Cinema 4D disk. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it since it was Cinema 4D R6. Not that its bad or anything, but it only runs with Mac OS 9 and OS 9 Classic. I prefer working under Mac OS X.

I’ve played around with the Cinema 4D R8 demo and what a program it is! I don’t know much about 3D, but after trying out Maya PLE and Lightwave, Cinema 4D was the easiest one to use or at least the easiest to find my way around. Lightwave and Maya are filled with all these features I don’t even know. I didn’t even know how to texture a model! Well I finally figured out how to some-what texture a model in Maya PLE J. But what I’m trying to say is, if I ever purchase a 3D app it would probably be Cinema 4D.

Also, will I be able to import/export my wings 3D models into Maya PLE to be animated, rigged, etc? That would make things a lot easier since I can’t really afford any 3D app since I’m thinking about buying a new mac; PowerMac G4.
Well thanks for your post! You’ve been a great help. J

Jack

#4

First off Cinema 4d CE runs natively under OSX, it’s what I use myself!
Don’t know about Maya PLE, I know it saves in it’s own special format so you can’t export to another app, I would think you could import though. The commonest 3d formats are .obj and .3ds both of which Wings imports and exports. - Baz

PS There is a new app soon to be released called Daz studio, it will only render and animate and rig, no modelling capabilities but the base version will be free. It should be a very good app. www.daz3d.com

#5

Will the Cinema 4D CE offer be downloadable? Or do I have to go get the magazine?

#6

I think you have to buy a mag - Baz

#7

Those look like ‘UK’ magazines,in fact they look like they’re all from the same company, do you think theyre available in America?

That’d be great although this issue must be a back by now right?

I think they’re losing clients by obligating them to buy the mag and get the serial from them only because I’ve seen many people interested in it but who,like me,aren’t goping to subscribe only for that,sure the mag must have som,e good articles but then again,it’s the software that interests me,Cinema 4D has caught my eye since I started 3D 4 years ago.

#8

Hi,

Maya PLE can’t import files from Wings. I’m using Motionbuilder from Kaydara on OS X to experiment with animating models from wings. There’s a converter to go from obj to fbx which is the Kaydara format. It’s $200 US prior to December 31. It works really well for me, except the weighting of skins is a bit of a chore.

(I had no animation bg before getting MB this summer).

Best of luck
John

#9

wasn’t there a learning edition of MotionBuilder for $100? Where can I find that Learning edition?

#10

Hi,

You can go to the www.Kaydara.com website to get info on the “learning” or base version. That $100 offer has actually expired and was only good for a one year license. The current offer is $200 for a permanent license if bought before Dec. 31. After that I think it goes to $995. The cheaper version (usually referred to as “standard” or just without the pro in the title) is for non-studio use but can be used commercially. It has some features omitted.

Regards
John

#11

Now that I have wings 3D, can someone give a list of other good “mac” 3D apps and Animation apps? List any program that it free to non-free, but nothing too expensive. I can’t afford Lightwave, Maya, etc. I could afford the education versions of lightwave, maya, but its still pretty expensive and I don’t think programs like maya and lightwave or good to learn for starters.

So basically, a list of useful low-priced or free 3D tools would be helpful. Tools for rendering, modeling, animation, etc. But also tools that work under Mac OS X.

Thanks, Jack

#12

just curious, snickrep,

why don’t you think maya and the other “big boys” are not good programs for beginners to learn with?

i’m a noob myself. i found wings almost two months ago and have been working with it and all the free demos i can get my hands on in my search to find the first program i’m gonna spring for. (i think it’s narrowed down to C4D, Maya and Max…but i’m waiting on the Max 6 demo to finalize a decision.)

Skip

**edit i dun spel gud

#13

Yup these mags are English but they’re available in the us. C4d CE was on the cover disks two months running and they’re still on the shelves in the UK so you should still be able to get them. - Baz

#14

I dunno , a Wings3D, C4D combo sounds really good to me…

sometimes we tend to get excited bout things and want a quick render to check stuff out, but… that really only serves to take time away from the ever important modeling time eh…

I mean, once ya have the idea in mind, the overall boxiest shape tweaked out and done up as much as possible, the next step is one mo divide and hone in on a world of box’n out some cool detail… and that’s it really… in Wings all you have to do is hit Shift/Tab and voila, a smoothed preview like subd mode… for me I found doing test renders alright, up until recently, when it was like I was hit with a 3D brick or something… now all I want to do is work on some level 2 detail of a model… who careas bout the rendering… the quick smoother preview is good enough for me :smiley:

model on dudes…

#15

I’ll sure buy that Mag before it vanishes.

Seems like a good alternative for animation & renders or modeling opened meshes :slight_smile:

With wings you actually feel in control of the mesh and not of the application’s hundreds of menus & icon…Don’t get me wrong though,I use Gmax and Softimage as well but I’m just not as fast as in Wings,the advanced menus make it even faster!..In fact,I’ve customized most of their keyboard shortcuts to emulate Wings and still can’t go as fast as with it,yet :slight_smile:

#16

I know what you mean.

We use Softy XSI in college, and it’s a cool app but modelling in it feels so slow. I often find myself thinking “If we had Wings on these machines, I’d have finished this an hour ago…”

Oh yeah, and Cinema 4D is a great option for renders etc.

#17

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