There are six major development steps a 3D image passes through before it can be called complete. Discover them here.
Interested in learning the art of 3D? Our new training series for Autodesk Maya will show you the ropes and introduce you to the 3D development cycle. We'll start with the user interface and work through 3D modeling, animation, and rendering in Maya.
Looking to get started in 3D, but don't want to pay an exorbitant amount of cash for software?
While the top commercial applications will set you back hundreds or thousands of dollars, there are actually a ton of options out there that make it easy to jump into 3d modeling, animation, and game development without any monetary overhead.
We've compiled a list of our top recommendations for free 3D software, and while the list is far from exhaustive, these are the best of what's available:
CGTrader has just launched a new competition to see which of their users can produce the best 3D print-ready models between now and June 30th.
Two Ultimaker 3d printer kits are up for grabs, one for the best single model, and one for the best print-ready collection uploaded during the contest duration. Additionally, winners and runner-ups can snag gift certificates to Sculpteo and win a chance to have their work featured at the iMakr shop in London.
Models need to be print-ready in the .STL format, so be sure to read the contest guidelines carefully if you plan to enter.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the 3D printing revolution and compete for some truly stellar prizes—I mean, who doesn't want their own 3D printer to experiment with? Happy modeling!
Not too long ago, the guys from Futurepoly (a game-art school in Bellevue) posted an excellent lecture on YouTube that discussed what it takes to go pro as a game artist.
In their lecture, they identified quite a few common pitfalls that they see in student artists, and I thought it would be worthwhile to recount some of them here. Of course, if you have time, be sure to watch the video—at 50 min, it's a bit lengthy, but there's a ton of valuable information contained within.
As promised, here's our review of Knald, the latest normal/ambient occlusion map extractor to hit the market.
The software is currently in open beta and can be downloaded here if you're interested in taking it out for a spin. At its core, Knald is almost like a GPU accelerated (and improved) version of Crazybump. It's really pretty impressive!
