What modeling program do you use?

Gamingmaster000 · 09-22-2012, 02:52 PM

I use Blender and 3DSMax, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. Or maybe it is because I can't put texturing cause I'm too poor to afford Photoshop. And also 3DSMax is way too difficult for me to use. Any tutorial will get me into an hour long video or a 10 page tutorial.
I just need the basics and how to make complex structures.
What modeling program do you use and what would you recommend to me?

**Crazycarl** · 09-23-2012, 02:49 PM

I use 3DSMax and recommend it. Whatever you use just remember that you need to stick with it and practice, just to learn the interface well enough to make simple objects.

Once you learn what menu options you need out of the 10 zillion they give you, you will find modeling much easier. It's a constant learning process.

Gamingmaster000 · 09-23-2012, 03:31 PM

But wait, if I want to make a weapon skin for FF then how am I suppose to put texturing? Can you tell me how?

**Crazycarl** · 09-24-2012, 12:27 AM

If you can't afford Photoshop get GIMP, it's free. If you want to retexture an existing model you don't have to use any modeling programs, just replace the texture. If you have an existing model that you want to skin, look up tutorials on UV mapping.

Raynian · 09-29-2012, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazycarl

If you can't afford Photoshop get GIMP, it's free. If you want to retexture an existing model you don't have to use any modeling programs, just replace the texture. If you have an existing model that you want to skin, look up tutorials on UV mapping.

Quote:

If you can't afford Photoshop

Not giving links or supporting piracy, but do people actually buy photoshop? I mean christ, it's practically the most pirated software ever released.

Quote:

get GIMP

Has GIMP gotten better since 2005ish? I literally could not do a damn thing, and I think it tried to install malware on my computer back then. It was fucking awful. Anytime I hear about GIMP I hear nothing but bad stuff about it.

KubeDawg · 09-29-2012, 04:55 AM

I'd certainly pay for Photoshop if it were more reasonably priced, but it's crazy expensive. I'm fine with the pirated copy I got from my web design teacher in college until I have a business of my own. Then, it's a tax write off.

**Dexter** · 09-29-2012, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raynian

I think it tried to install malware on my computer back then.

raum · 09-30-2012, 01:35 PM

in case you dont know, you can download any autodesk software and get a free student license (which is valid about 3 years) from students.autodesk.com. this is almost why i started to use mudbox over zbrush (and zbrush having quite gay GUI).

i'm however considering using an open-source software these days.

**Crazycarl** · 10-01-2012, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raynian

Not giving links or supporting piracy, but do people actually buy photoshop? I mean christ, it's practically the most pirated software ever released.

I bought it with a student discount, because I like paying for things that I use. I don't remember what I payed but I thought it was reasonable. No idea if GIMP is better than it used to be, but I also found it hard to use years ago.

Gamingmaster000 · 10-02-2012, 02:53 PM

I got 3DSMax with the student license, but I can't seem to get the hang of it.

pF · 10-02-2012, 11:05 PM

I also use 3DS Max nowadays, since it's somewhat of an industry standard, and while it's a strange mashup of a decade-old foundation and countless 3d party plugins they bought up, it's still quite elegant once you get the hang of it.

I can recommend sites such as 3dmotive.com or Eat3d.com for (paid) tutorials of high quality, and there's also quite a lot of good beginner tutorials on cg.tutsplus.com (the water tower tutorial is how I transitioned from XSI back in the day).

Random tips from a heavy user:

- As soon as you're semi-familiar with the core functions you'll be using, start adjusting the UI and keyboard assignments to your workflow. You'll gain a lot of speed and Max is very customisable.
- Don't be afraid to use 3d party/user-made scripts that add or enhance functionality. Scriptspot.com has a fuckton.
Selection of scripts I use: TexTools, turboTools, SubObjPivot, VisualPivot, QuadChamfer, a couple I've written myself (which is fairly easy to do), and loads more.
- Use the modifier stack for 'great benefit!1'. It's Max's singlemost useful feature.
- Set your autosaves to every 5 minutes. It will crash on you

Maybe more when they spring to mind. And if your goal is to create complex objects, you won't learn to do it in 3 weeks, so set your goals realistically and start small, including the whole workflow from (highpoly to) lowpoly to UV to (baking to) texturing to importing in-engine.

Great program. For more simple stuff, Sketchup might be the way forward - the paid version can export meshes and I do know a couple of game designers that use it to quickly block out geometry for levels.

moosh · 10-09-2012, 04:14 PM

I remember I made a box and textured it with squeek's avatar one day, needless to say I felt pretty accomplished and haven't touched 3dsmax since.

pF · 10-14-2012, 05:06 PM

Yeah, that's about the level of complexity I usually end up with.

09-22-2012, 02:52 PM	#1
Gamingmaster000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Gametype: CTF Affiliations: Dalokohs & Sandvich,I'm 12 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	What modeling program do you use? I use Blender and 3DSMax, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. Or maybe it is because I can't put texturing cause I'm too poor to afford Photoshop. And also 3DSMax is way too difficult for me to use. Any tutorial will get me into an hour long video or a 10 page tutorial. I just need the basics and how to make complex structures. What modeling program do you use and what would you recommend to me?

09-23-2012, 02:49 PM	#2
Crazycarl D&A Member Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 31 Times	I use 3DSMax and recommend it. Whatever you use just remember that you need to stick with it and practice, just to learn the interface well enough to make simple objects. Once you learn what menu options you need out of the 10 zillion they give you, you will find modeling much easier. It's a constant learning process. __________________ Support FF:

09-24-2012, 12:27 AM	#4
Crazycarl D&A Member Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 31 Times	If you can't afford Photoshop get GIMP, it's free. If you want to retexture an existing model you don't have to use any modeling programs, just replace the texture. If you have an existing model that you want to skin, look up tutorials on UV mapping. __________________ Support FF:

09-29-2012, 04:55 AM	#6
KubeDawg Nade Whore Server Owner Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oklahoma Class/Position: Scout/Soldier Gametype: CTF/TDM Affiliations: blunt. Moto Posts Rated Helpful 128 Times	I'd certainly pay for Photoshop if it were more reasonably priced, but it's crazy expensive. I'm fine with the pirated copy I got from my web design teacher in college until I have a business of my own. Then, it's a tax write off. __________________ Moto's Funhouse \| Dallas, TX - 74.91.114.247:27015 ff_plunder - Complete

10-02-2012, 11:05 PM	#11
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	I also use 3DS Max nowadays, since it's somewhat of an industry standard, and while it's a strange mashup of a decade-old foundation and countless 3d party plugins they bought up, it's still quite elegant once you get the hang of it. I can recommend sites such as 3dmotive.com or Eat3d.com for (paid) tutorials of high quality, and there's also quite a lot of good beginner tutorials on cg.tutsplus.com (the water tower tutorial is how I transitioned from XSI back in the day). Random tips from a heavy user: - As soon as you're semi-familiar with the core functions you'll be using, start adjusting the UI and keyboard assignments to your workflow. You'll gain a lot of speed and Max is very customisable. - Don't be afraid to use 3d party/user-made scripts that add or enhance functionality. Scriptspot.com has a fuckton. Selection of scripts I use: TexTools, turboTools, SubObjPivot, VisualPivot, QuadChamfer, a couple I've written myself (which is fairly easy to do), and loads more. - Use the modifier stack for 'great benefit!1'. It's Max's singlemost useful feature. - Set your autosaves to every 5 minutes. It will crash on you Maybe more when they spring to mind. And if your goal is to create complex objects, you won't learn to do it in 3 weeks, so set your goals realistically and start small, including the whole workflow from (highpoly to) lowpoly to UV to (baking to) texturing to importing in-engine. Great program. For more simple stuff, Sketchup might be the way forward - the paid version can export meshes and I do know a couple of game designers that use it to quickly block out geometry for levels. __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products Last edited by pF; 10-02-2012 at 11:06 PM.

09-23-2012, 03:31 PM	#3
Gamingmaster000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Gametype: CTF Affiliations: Dalokohs & Sandvich,I'm 12 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	But wait, if I want to make a weapon skin for FF then how am I suppose to put texturing? Can you tell me how?

09-30-2012, 01:35 PM	#8
raum D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2009 Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	in case you dont know, you can download any autodesk software and get a free student license (which is valid about 3 years) from students.autodesk.com. this is almost why i started to use mudbox over zbrush (and zbrush having quite gay GUI). i'm however considering using an open-source software these days.

10-02-2012, 02:53 PM	#10
Gamingmaster000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Gametype: CTF Affiliations: Dalokohs & Sandvich,I'm 12 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	I got 3DSMax with the student license, but I can't seem to get the hang of it.

10-09-2012, 04:14 PM	#12
moosh WhenNailGrenWillOut? Beta Tester Join Date: May 2009 Gametype: mp_prematch Affiliations: [:)] - Frag Happy, babe\| Posts Rated Helpful 29 Times	I remember I made a box and textured it with squeek's avatar one day, needless to say I felt pretty accomplished and haven't touched 3dsmax since. __________________ [[ ff_hotfudge - bhop_theonlyone ]] "As the the new year approaches I await for it like an case of explosive fecalomania otherwise know as diareha or the massive shits. I am gripping the sides of the toilet as my stomach produces the first hollow thud out of the anus of the year to come." DarkeN_HellspawN

10-14-2012, 05:06 PM	#13
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Yeah, that's about the level of complexity I usually end up with. __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

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