Boutons Xara Stuff: Volume 4

[Boy]

3D apps are often quite complex and require a steep learning curve (I dabbled with DAZ 3D) but I can see how your mastering them helps you to give realistic depth to your designs even if these are not realistically rendered in other ways. That's what makes your work stand out even more.

[Gare]

I thank you, and I encourage you, if you feel like experimenting, there are several sculpting (as in ZBrush) programs that are free, Boy. And who would I be if I didn't recommend modeling and rendering programs? :)

AutoDesk MeshMixer

ZBrush Core Mini they want you to register, but don't bug to awfully with news

Sculptris Alpha 6 They aren't giving it away anymore, but it's fun, they still have it on Softonic, I do not trust Softonic so I downloaded a copy via a "sandbox" Barbara and I have set up, and this is a cloud link.

They're educational, VERY therapeutic to just mash meshes (or mesh mashes), and they do not do not demand anything of you like getting hired at PIXAR.


Oh, and TopMod 2.5

Now, none of these programs have what I'd call a complete tool set. Nor do they have the second part of the imaging pipeline, a rendering engine. If you like what you've done, I suggest ScreenCap...or Pixar has a version expressly for personal use, like learning and practice.

I'm mindful that yeah, there's a learning curve for something like Blender or 3D Studio Max, but these programs represent a simplicity of creation and design that will get you at very least amused. Here's some "therapy work I did last week...




In brief, I mildly recommend exploring modeling a little, especially for the experience, not a finished product.

—g

[ss-kalm]

What about the FREE (non-commercial usage) RENDERMAN ...

[Gare]

Pixar Renderman is provisionally free. What the company is doing is trying to grow future professionals who understand the RenderMan pipeline.

But it's only the rendering engine, Boy. I've heard from reliable sources in the trade that Pixar animators use Maya and AutoDesk 3D Studio Max for making the creatures they then export and hand over to the styling and animation departments.

There's to me, a problem from the beginning. Registering this guy has a 1:10 signal to noise ratio. FINALLY, after I downloaded a copy, I was completely befuddled by the UI, commands, and a sense of orientation. I tried several programs before settling on Cinema 4D for modeling, and then Maxwell Render as a rendering engine for still frames.

BTW, many, many feature length animations don't use Renderman, such as all the "Despicable Me" series. A lot of animation house use off-the-shelf software, while others build rendering engines in-house.

Now, you can find a lot of models for free; just use "3D models FREE" as a key search in your browser.

Then consider Kerkythea to import the free files. It's not a bad engine, in fact, it's really good for non-ulttra-high-end work.




For the sake of fool disclosure (!) and that The Xara Group am our gracious hosts here, I must add that I use Xara Designer extensively for creating paths that I export to Cinema 4D and then perform an operation on them (extrude is an operation, among others). Truth is, no path creation utility within any of the modelers I've tinkered with have tools that can compare with XD's. Then again, I'vew had God knows how many years in Xara's workspace, so let's allow some prejudice here. :)

Just try to draw the base shape within 5 minutes with anything else than Xara! Okay, at left is an example of a Lathe; think of a potter's wheel. The Xara Shape is revolving around circle, and the result depends on how far the shape is from the hypothetical outermost edge of the Lathe. Then there's a Sweep operation. To get this shape, you run the shape along a path, in this instance a 45° arc. Where the 2D shape intersects the controlling 2D shape, there's a point of a surface. This is how solids are made.

Finally, at right, I did a Loft, which involved three of the same Xara shape, a small one in the middle with one on top and one on the bottom.





Shirt, I think I've just written a generic modeling chapter :)

SHORT ANSWER: Renderman is a professions rendering program, and as such is not mentally suitable for normal, well-adjusted adults. Besides, it's been quite a while since Renderman was the only and best game in town.

My Best,

Gary

[Boy]

I thank you, and I encourage you, if you feel like experimenting, there are several sculpting (as in ZBrush) programs that are free, Boy. And who would I be if I didn't recommend modeling and rendering programs?

I should have added that my 3D exploration with DAZ 3D was some 20 years ago. In the end, it wasn't really my thing but I still appreciate its value in 2D design.

[Gare]

I, too, experimented with DAZ 3D, being free and all that. I wound up buying Poser because the UI is very well and intuitively laid out.

That said, they're both mostly limited to human figure accessorizing. It's a niche product, I hesitate to say, just as Vue is a landscape modeler.

That said and said (?), I own early versions of both, and perhaps a dozen times a year, I need a render.

The animation possibilities/features make it attractive, IMO.

[Gare]

Og gave his blessings to take the phrase "Hexagons unraveling" and riff on it.

I used pentagons instead,because I've known for quite a while that the Pentagon is in trouble. See?

[gwpriester]

OK. Hmm?

[Gare]

Hey. I had an extremely painful 2nd hip revision in April.

It's the anesthesia wearing off.


Or ramping up. :)













(gee)


Oh, loOky! My next post will be #6,000!

Kate tells me I have at least 50 goods ones total.