New to 3D Modeling Thread

I just started like, less than 20 minutes ago; which I know will make a lot of you cringe since I am such a newbie.

I'd just like to ask, what is the best and easier software to use for Source modeling?

Props, Player Models, you name it.

I ask because I'm using Blender, and the tutorials they offer aren't real great.

I keep making mistakes, and the "video tutorials" always assume I know how to use Blender so they skip the explanations on a lot of shortcuts and such. Furthermore, I hear that other software is better (such as Maya and 3D Studio MAX).

My point being, does anyone know of any really good Blender tutorials (not the ones on their website), or software that is easy to learn?

Thanks for your patience, and in time I hope I can be a valuable member of the modding community.

Well you can start off by using google, or you can try this . Developer.valvesoftware.com

Well I've tried Google, and I figured I'd ask some experience modelers.

One of my buddies tells me that Softimage Mod Tool is pretty terrible, but I'll give it a try later on.

The tough part about Blender is that its entirely driven by keyboard shortcuts. Its hard to just play around with the program to get the hang of it because all you can do is randomly push keys. Most 3d programs have a very steep learning curve though, and it is a very complete package if you can get on your feet.

I think most people would disagree with your friend about Mod Tool. I haven't used it, but I've only heard good things about it.

If you don't like Blender or Mod Tool, you can try Gmax, which is a sort of free version of 3d studio max.

Ziji wrote: Well I've tried Google, and I figured I'd ask some experience modelers.
One of my buddies tells me that Softimage Mod Tool is pretty terrible, but I'll give it a try later on.

Softimage Mod Tool is pretty terrible?
Its very powerful, its just hard to master!

Any modeling app will do fine, personal preference is 3dsmax but blender, gmax, maya, khed will all do the same job.

Softimage is hard to use and master, and with competition such as maya and 3ds max along with free program like blender, softimage become the worst one to use for beginner and in long term usage for pro.

Blender is very easy to use once you have your foundation built from tutorial and work around those tuts. Most tuts never really get deep into detail and once you learn a tool, screw around with it and make something weird. I never learn blender using the tuts they have. I already know how to model with maya and 3ds max so all i need is to find the tools to do what I want in blender.

Start small and move up, that is the best approach in learning.

3ds max
I'm 14 & been using 3ds for 1 year
I find it easy to use and best for game models, just get 3ds max trial and try it out!
After 1 year of tuts from online i can make high poly 3d example: S437.photobucket.com and check my moddb profile, thats what you should be able to do in 6months.
Have fun modeling

Edited by: Goobyplssss

One of my buddies tells me that Softimage Mod Tool is pretty terrible, but I'll give it a try later on.

Softimage is hard to use and master, and with competition such as maya and 3ds max along with free program like blender, softimage become the worst one to use for beginner and in long term usage for pro.

Capcom, Konami, Valve, Lionhead, Blur, and several other game/movie companies would strongly disagree with you there. It's a VERY professional tool, which is why Autodesk had to buy it in the first place.

Seriously, is this backwards day or something; Blender and Max are easy to use, but Softimage isn't? Softimage is very quick to pick up. The UI is layed out with logical text and contextual menus, and you don't have to attach edit poly modifiers to be able to edit something like a cube. I can see it being a bit trickier to learn from the start (not because the UI or program is hard, but because the tutorials for it require some extra digging than a more common program like Max). But if you're honestly saying it is the worst one to use in long term usage for a pro, you're obviously speaking out of your ass on the issue.

i love sketchup and blender. i have had 6 months experience but they arent too hard to understand.

Angusman wrote: 3ds max
I'm 14 & been using 3ds for 1 year
I find it easy to use and best for game models, just get 3ds max trial and try it out!

How the heck can you afford max?

get trial, the 2009 trial doesn't have any limit as far as modeling and other goes, some rendering restriction, but great to learn how to model.

And to Cryrid, this is all based on my opinion when i uses it, taken the fact that I use max first, maya second, blender third and xsi last, it really cut down the impressions of xsi for me when I use it.

Edited by (in order): shadowofamn, Orion

gah when will people learn that piracy is a double edged sword?

i would master sketchup, that will teach you the basics of working in a 3d environment, and its free, then move to something a bit 'stronger' (is that the right term i'm looking for here?) I quite like cincema 4d, but havent tried the softimage tool, isnt that free?

Revengous id say the pirates wont learn on this site until the rest of the people here start taking a different approach to them than indifference.

I think if your just getting started pick something like blender or the Softimage XSI mod tool and go straight to that once so you can familiarise yourself with the interface and get comfortable with how it works.

Looking for the right tool and a great set of tutorials? I would highly suggest Mod Tool. I just got started yesterday wit, and already *fairly* confident with it. There is a free set of video tutorials along with the project files used in the videos that you can get with it by going to the Support -> Training section or I'll link it here. It's a fairly hefty download (~1.8 Gb), but I highly suggest it, as it's a great way to learn and get started. Not completely comprehensive, but certainly enough to get your feet wet.

I'll check it out, thanks man.

okay, i havent read what everyone here have said but i will tell you this:

if you dont have much money i recommend Softimage mod tool wich is simply GREAT considering its free =P Also Blender is great although i dunno if it supports much when it comes to source. Truespace is also free. You can get Milkshape for 20$ too =P wich isnt very good when it comes to Sources polycount, maybe start of at 1.6?

if u have much money buy 3ds MAX or Softimage or maybe Maya?

Good luck

Edited by: [Q]uik

Blender has export tools for Source, so no worries there. Once you've learned one toolset it's not hard to pick up another, most modern programs model things the same way, barring hipoly tools like Zbrush or Mudbox. It's all about practice.