If I were to go into 3D character modelling, what softwares would I need?
by 3D G33K
I’ve seen stunning online galleries of people using Zbrush. But then I hear terms like ‘rendering’ and ‘modelling using maya’. do i need separate tools to render and/or to model?Any suggestions?
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ezromation
the main 3d packages are 3d Studio max, and Maya. Both these programs have rendering software as part of the package, as well as being able to model you can also animate, rig (set up characters for animation) light and create particle effects (used for special effects like the teleport effect in Star Treck) you can also bring sound files into your scenes to work with characters speaking or time animations to music.
In terms of putting together a short film you would also need an editting program to put your shots together after you have rendered them, eg After Effects of Adobe Premiere. Also you will probably need to do sound edditing. You might not think you are interested in making short films, but its worth remembering that a showreel is a short film and if you want to work as a model maker you would do well to have one of these.
The other thing you would deffinately need for modelling is a program to create textures (the 2d images you apply to models which act like paint, for example a wood texture would be applied to a model of floor boards to complete a 3d model)
for this your best bet is Photoshop as this is what most professionals use, although you can use other progams like Coral Draw.
People often do the low poly (low detail) version of there model in Maya or Max and then bring that model into Z Brush or Mud Box, Z Brush and Mud Box are for high detail modeling not animating, they are quite new programs While Maya and Max are well established and have a much broader spectrum of use.