Creating 3D

The wide world of 3d computer graphics has dozens of different outlets, so jumping into the learning process haphazardly can ultimately lead to uncertainty and frustration. Follow our three quick steps and you'll have a better idea of where you'd like to go with 3D and how to get there.

The third entry in our Getting Started in 3D series, we discuss what to do once you know what direction you'd like to take in 3D and have decided on which software you'll be using. Knowing what types of resources are available to a budding 3D artist will help tremendously in making the learning process as smooth as possible.

An introductory overview of six common techniques employed by 3D modelers in today's computer graphics industry.

A concise walk-through of common polygonal modeling workflows for box and edge modeling.

Take your 3D scenes to the next level with this in depth discussion on how to efficiently tackle a fully realized CG illustration.

And here's the second part of our in depth discussion on how to efficiently tackle a fully realized CG illustration.

We go through some key steps in creating the absolute worst CG

Before a 3D model can be animated, it must be passed to a character technical director (TD) for a process called rigging. When rigging a model, the mesh is bound to a digital "skeleton" made up of joints and control handles which allow it to be posed and manipulated by animators.

Concept sculptors forgo traditional 2D design tools like Photoshop and Painter, and and instead work directly in a digital sculpting application like ZBrush or Mudbox. Here are some reasons to add concept sculpting to your character design toolkit

Showing your work is a crucial part of the artistic process. Here's a brief list that highlights some of best CG forums & communities on the web.

In addition to forums and community sites, there are a number of other options for showing your 3D artwork. We

Links to 50 incredible galleries and portfolio sites from some of the best artists working in 3D computer graphics, entertainment design, concept art, game development, and animation.

An introduction to the six types of lights in Maya and 3ds Max.

One final list of options for showing your 3D artwork, from magazines, to workshops to modding.

Suggestions for 3D artists on how to maintain productivity during a creative block.

Suggestions for 3D artists on how to reignite creativity during an artist's block, and where find inspiration for 3D modeling/animation.

Part one in our step by step training series for Autodesk Maya. Oriented toward beginners, we'll walk through the Maya interface and introduce the basics of modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering.

Part one in our step by step training series for Autodesk Maya. Aimed at beginners, we'll walk through the Maya interface and introduce the basics of modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering.

Learn how to use Maya's "revolve curve" tool by creating a three piece tea set. This is a beginner level Maya tutorial.

Stylized modeling and animation is hard. Because stylized renders often have simplified forms and materials, your image has to stand on the merit of concept, design, and execution rather than intricate detail. Here are some tips to help you create "stylized realism" like Pixar or Dreamworks:

In this three-part series, we explore stage three in the computer graphics pipeline—surfacing. Shading and texture artists are responsible for developing the surface detail for a 3D model. This includes color maps, textures, bump or normal mapping, and developing a realistic shader-network to determine how the model will react with light.

In this three-part series, we explore the third segment of the computer graphics pipeline—surfacing. Shading and texture artists are responsible for developing the surface detail for a 3D model. This includes color maps, textures, bump or normal mapping, and developing a realistic surface shader to determine how the model will react with light.

Shaders, or surface materials, are instrumental in giving a 3D model it's visual appearance. A shader is a programmed set of instructions, which tells a 3D render engine like Mental Ray how a 3D model should interact with light.

A guide to the best 3D training so far in 2011, including tutorials from Digital Tutors, Eat 3D, Gnomon Workshop, and a few freebies.

Wondering which 3D software to purchase? This is an overview of the different types of 3D software available, and recommendations for choosing the 3D software suite that's right for you. We'll go through full 3D packages, digital sculpting tools, game engines, and free applications.

We'll discuss project and file management in Autodesk Maya. Topics include creating a new project, folder structure, and naming conventions.

Object creation in Autodesk Maya 2011 - Creating primitive polygon shapes.

What is rendering exactly? The final step in the 3D computer graphics pipeline, rendering is the process by which a 3D scene is translated into a final 2D image. Read more about the techniques and software used to render a 3D character or scene.

A list of all the major 3D software applications in use by today's top production studios. The list is organized into categories according to the strengths of each piece of software.

An introduction to 3D models, with a breakdown of the major components of a 3D Model. We'll cover the main types of 3D models, and provide an explanation of faces, edges, vertices, and shading networks.

A five step look at the process required to properly prepare a digital model for the 3D printing process. We look at some tricks and techniques that will enable you to print your 3d models as easily and cheaply as possible.

A list of 10 incredible books for 3D animators, with a nice mix between traditional animation theory and practical CG knowledge.

Ten incredible sources for online training in 3D computer graphics. These are the absolute best places to go for self-paced instruction in 3d modeling, animation, visual effects, and game development.

ZBrush is on the absolute cutting edge of innovation in the computer graphics industry. Here are five reasons why now is a better time than ever before to learn Pixologic's game-changing software.

A list of eight techniques that will improve your 3D renders and help you achieve a higher level of photo-realism.

We explore whether or not it's time effective to focus on your 2D drawing and painting skills when your ultimate goal is a career in 3D computer graphics.

A summary of some of the CG industry's top news stories and visuals from March 2012—in case you missed anything.

Recently had a go with the trial version of NDO2, Quixel's flagship normal mapping utility. Here are my thoughts and first impressions.

Good lighting can make or break a render. Here are five easy tips to ensure that your 3D images always have great lighting.

An overview of Maya's object manipulation tools—translate, scale, and rotate.

Accessing Maya's different selection modes.