how to start?

[strait-2-the-point]

sorry if this has been asked before but here goes...

what and how shall i start modelling? what do i use to upload a model and customise it?

pelase help....

[Athlete{UK}]

Go get a modelling app. 3dsmax, maya XSI gmax, blender lightwave cinema 4d. there are tons to choose from then find a tutorial

this is one of mine for 3DSmax depending on what app you use you will use different tutorials

http://forum.interlopers.net/viewtopic.php?t=1970

Learn how to model something on your own before you start customising HL2 models not because there is anything wrong with doing that.

It's just easier and better for you to learn how to create something first.

Need any help have a look for tutorials or ask here on the forums. also consider going to http://www.cgtalk.net (or is it .com?) tons of stuff to help you there.

Good place for tutorials is http://www.3dtotal.com.

Ok good luck enjoy.

[strait-2-the-point]

ok thanks allot!

hmm iv got maya but never used it, well its my brothers... is it possible to use something such as sketch up? i know that programme is more to do with architeture but isnt a model basicly the same?

well, il try and learn how to use maya, or find out more abou 3ds... thanks again!

[Athlete{UK}]

ok thanks allot!

hmm iv got maya but never used it, well its my brothers... is it possible to use something such as sketch up? i know that programme is more to do with architeture but isnt a model basicly the same?

well, il try and learn how to use maya, or find out more abou 3ds... thanks again!

Maya is a good thing to go with. People will tell you 3dsmax is better or xsi is better. it all depends what you learn with. If you have maya i suggest learning it.

As for a model is a model. not quite. You have meshes, patchs, nurbs, polys.

http://forum.interlopers.net/viewtopic.php?t=3959 have a look there.

You have to be careful of poly counts. Also when you export a model to source it should be a mesh.

[strait-2-the-point]

yes SIR!

reading now....

yet again thanks for the help and info, guess im going to have to learn how to use maya...

[mike-o]

OK, dumb question, but in max, i cant seem to find the snap to grid option. I've got my table leg sideways, and i can tilt it up, but i need to learn how to snap to my grid.

[Farles]

there's a magnet icon. right click on it and a menu ask you what you want to snap on
then left click the magnet to activate.

or press S if you have default settings

[Deadman]

I downloaded blender today, and so far I am really impressed by it's capabilities, it also seems a lot more accesable than XSI or maya when you first look at it, I was wondering if anybody else here is using blender for there modelling and how they experience it, is it easy to learn or hard?
I watched some video tutorials and I think I'm ready to get started now, I'll post my first work later

Deadman

[Athlete{UK}]

I Always like blender. It's free quite easy to use and has a great community around it.

The drawback is it's no where near as powerful as something like max.

[Deadman]

well, here it is, my first ever model





it's a chesspiece, as you can see, I'm probably going to make an entire set.
the only problem, this one alone is 1000 vertices

Deadman

[Athlete{UK}]

Ok when looking at budgets for games you dont go of verticies you go of triangles (each 4 sided shape is made up of 2 triangles when it is a mesh.)

don't threat too much. That''s your first model ever like you said. Working to a good budget for games comes in time. it may take a while but with enough practice you will get good.

There are tons of places and tutorials to help.

http://www.3dtotal.com
http://www.cgtalk.com
http://www.3dbuzz.com

Also there ar epeople around here who ar emore then willing to help.

I have no problem with you pming me for help and stuff.

Also Farles and Wilko are two very skilled artists and i'm pretty sure they wont mind helping you out if you need it.

[strait-2-the-point]

ok, im wondering which maya is the most recent, iv got 6.5, also where can i fing good tuts for a newbie on modelin?

thanks in advance.