Journey Into 3D

Journey Into 3D - #2
(Previously 3D Made Easy - OK still not a clever title but this will suffice for now)

3D is wonderfully, deliciously multi-faceted. You can do lots n lots of things with it. From simple things to excrutiatingly complex stuff. For instance, you can create cool logos, or an animated bouncing ball, your fanciful product design, or a walking fire-breathing dragon.

With that in mind, 3D can be dauntingly hard to grasp for first-timers since you can easily get sidetracked with it's many many application features. So, my first tips is to get to know what you want to do with 3D and try to narrow down YOUR fancy.

Here's a list of job specification a 3D artists usually falls into. This is also a workflow of a complete 3D production.

Modelling
moulding polygons n vertices to form an object or subject.

Texturing
giving that object/subject some skin or colour or material.

Lighting
just like any camera-based thingy, you need lights.

Animation
making things moves

Special FX
the 'WOW' factor of the 3D branch.

Technical/Renderings
the boring but all-important stage where all the above get it on the final image.


And here is a list of production category:
3D Film Animation
yep, most ppl wanted to get into 3D after watching Pixar's stuff.

Special FX/Visual FX
you saw them in movies and wonder whether that car crash scene was real or CGI.

Architectural Visualization
creating virtual rooms and buildings look like it have been built before any brick been laid.

Product Visualization
next time you see a new shoes ads by Nike, think again whether its real or not.

Simulation (Industrial, Medical, Infotainment, etc)
watched "Aircrash Investigation" lately?

Creative Design a.k.a Creative Content Creation
any serious designer is a fool if he/she think they don't need to learn 3D.


Next post I will try to explain some of the jargons or meaning of some 3D-centric words used by 3D artists.