How does everybody make these beautiful computer drawings? What program do you use? How much does it cost? Is it easy to use? Is it easy to obtain? How do you draw races? Do you start from scratch? I have looked through these boards and have noticed a picture of a dwarf (http://www.digitaldark.net/art/dwarf00.jpg) and is there anyway to draw my own fantastic creatures?
????3d art????
- Thread starter redwing
- Start date
Painfully
First Post
First you need a fast computer. Next you need to get as much RAM as you can afford. And then you need the right software.
You will need a model, which you can think of as a frame for the body. This frame needs to have articulated joints so you can put him in different poses. Often, you will have to create the model from scratch, but you can also take measurements and "scan" in the points on a model as well. I won't get into those kinds of tools here.
On top of the frame you will need to dress it with what is called a texture--think of it as a skin for your frame. Flesh tones can be one of the more difficult textures to make.
All this is done in a 3d rendering software program such as 3D Studio Max. We're talking very high end stuff--$3500 retail last time I checked. However, I know that there are cheaper versions of the software available, and the same people making 3DS Max also have a version they offer for gamers to use for making game models such as in Quake III or Half-life.
This sort of artwork is a time-intensive process, and textures especially can be difficult to master. Still interested??
You will need a model, which you can think of as a frame for the body. This frame needs to have articulated joints so you can put him in different poses. Often, you will have to create the model from scratch, but you can also take measurements and "scan" in the points on a model as well. I won't get into those kinds of tools here.
On top of the frame you will need to dress it with what is called a texture--think of it as a skin for your frame. Flesh tones can be one of the more difficult textures to make.
All this is done in a 3d rendering software program such as 3D Studio Max. We're talking very high end stuff--$3500 retail last time I checked. However, I know that there are cheaper versions of the software available, and the same people making 3DS Max also have a version they offer for gamers to use for making game models such as in Quake III or Half-life.
This sort of artwork is a time-intensive process, and textures especially can be difficult to master. Still interested??
I'm actually in the process of making a 3d model of my character, so I guess this is one time I can actually answer a question posted 
>How does everybody make these beautiful computer drawings?
Time and patience
>What program do you use?
I use 3d Studio MAX 4, Photoshop 7 and Poser 4
>How much does it cost?
A lot, unfortunately
>Is it easy to use?
Well, no, but if you put in the time and effort to learn the programs, they become easier with time.
>Is it easy to obtain?
What? The programs, or the skill? THe programs are as easy to obtain as any other program out
>How do you draw races? Do you start from scratch?
Well, there are millions of methods of doing this, but this is my method. I'll get a Poser model, edit it to my liking, then create the clothes, weapons, items etc from scratch in 3d Studio MAX, along with all texture/bump maps. Then I'd make a scene in MAX, import my character with its clothes and items, and render the scene. This process can take anywhere from days to months.
>I have looked through these boards and have noticed a picture of a dwarf (http://www.digitaldark.net/art/dwarf00.jpg) and is there anyway to draw my own fantastic creatures?
Looks like it was modelled in some other program, then imported into Poser for posing. You can do that sort of thing, but you need a lot of time and patience (and money too I guess
@Painfully: I must disagree with your comment on a fast computer. When I last upgraded my cpu/mobo, it was the fastest thing around, but now a snail could perform more calculations per second than my cpu, and I am still able to run 3d Studio MAX 4 just fine on it. Sure, it might help a bit if my CPU was faster, and I must admit that I have a decent video card, which does help, but these things aren't required. You'll just need more patience if you have a lower end system.
>How does everybody make these beautiful computer drawings?
Time and patience
>What program do you use?
I use 3d Studio MAX 4, Photoshop 7 and Poser 4
>How much does it cost?
A lot, unfortunately
>Is it easy to use?
Well, no, but if you put in the time and effort to learn the programs, they become easier with time.
>Is it easy to obtain?
What? The programs, or the skill?
THe programs are as easy to obtain as any other program out>How do you draw races? Do you start from scratch?
Well, there are millions of methods of doing this, but this is my method. I'll get a Poser model, edit it to my liking, then create the clothes, weapons, items etc from scratch in 3d Studio MAX, along with all texture/bump maps. Then I'd make a scene in MAX, import my character with its clothes and items, and render the scene. This process can take anywhere from days to months.
>I have looked through these boards and have noticed a picture of a dwarf (http://www.digitaldark.net/art/dwarf00.jpg) and is there anyway to draw my own fantastic creatures?
Looks like it was modelled in some other program, then imported into Poser for posing. You can do that sort of thing, but you need a lot of time and patience (and money too I guess
@Painfully: I must disagree with your comment on a fast computer. When I last upgraded my cpu/mobo, it was the fastest thing around, but now a snail could perform more calculations per second than my cpu, and I am still able to run 3d Studio MAX 4 just fine on it. Sure, it might help a bit if my CPU was faster, and I must admit that I have a decent video card, which does help, but these things aren't required. You'll just need more patience if you have a lower end system.
Really depends on how you want to go.
An easy way.. and how I started (and still use a great deal as I'm not proficient in Lightwave yet) is with things like Poser and Bryce.
Both are very low end peices of software (ranging about 200-300 bucks) And come with standard models you can use and learn with.
Bryce is for landscapes.... inorganic things.. Poser does people, animals, etc....
Also.. a good piece of paint software is almost neccesary for textures to post work, etc... I use photoshop though paint shop pro is cheaper.
The problem with software like Poser and Bryce however is that you cannot really create objects with them. You can modify existing ones to a great extent using morphs and magnets and such.. but you cannot create from scratch like you can Lightwave and 3d studio max.
But if you're just getting into it it is MUCH cheaper to go this way and you'll kind of get the thinking for doing 3d work and it makes it much easier to make the leap to the high end software.
I found out I love it and do a lot of illustrating work using poser and am in school getting a 3d animation degree in lightwave.
It does take a collosal amount of time but I enjoy it.
If you're interested in those pieces of software I'd check out www.renderosity.com It has galleries, free objects for those softwares and a great community that can help you out and answer your questions on any 3d software almost.
BlackStar
An easy way.. and how I started (and still use a great deal as I'm not proficient in Lightwave yet) is with things like Poser and Bryce.
Both are very low end peices of software (ranging about 200-300 bucks) And come with standard models you can use and learn with.
Bryce is for landscapes.... inorganic things.. Poser does people, animals, etc....
Also.. a good piece of paint software is almost neccesary for textures to post work, etc... I use photoshop though paint shop pro is cheaper.
The problem with software like Poser and Bryce however is that you cannot really create objects with them. You can modify existing ones to a great extent using morphs and magnets and such.. but you cannot create from scratch like you can Lightwave and 3d studio max.
But if you're just getting into it it is MUCH cheaper to go this way and you'll kind of get the thinking for doing 3d work and it makes it much easier to make the leap to the high end software.
I found out I love it and do a lot of illustrating work using poser and am in school getting a 3d animation degree in lightwave.
It does take a collosal amount of time but I enjoy it.
If you're interested in those pieces of software I'd check out www.renderosity.com It has galleries, free objects for those softwares and a great community that can help you out and answer your questions on any 3d software almost.
BlackStar
BlackStar said:
Actually, you can create some pretty good things in Bryce using boolean modelling, and you can use the terrain editor to create objects too. It's a lot more tedious and isn't as powerful as proper modelling techniques in max/lightwave/maya etc, but I've seen some great things modelling in Bryce.
Very true... :grins; it is a monsterous pain in the butt to do anything in bryce like that.... I did this one recently..took me forever.. I wanted my copy of lightwave sooo badly.
But thats really the issue with Bryce... its cheaper and easier to aquire but if you want things that aren't mountains and rivers, etc.. you're going to have to work for it and unless you use the terrain editor to do it are not going to be able to export them to other programs.
Blackstar
But thats really the issue with Bryce... its cheaper and easier to aquire but if you want things that aren't mountains and rivers, etc.. you're going to have to work for it and unless you use the terrain editor to do it are not going to be able to export them to other programs.
Blackstar
