Recommended reading for modelling/texturing?

Hi,

I am at a point whereby I really need to be able to create decent models (and UV maps) for my 3D stuff.

I have access to Wings, Blender, Unwrap, Truespace and 3d Studio.

Initially I want to create 'basic' mathematical 3D models and texture map them easily.

Q1. Does any one have any recommended books on learning this stuff?

Q2. Should I stick with Wings/Unwrap or use 3D Studio (or Blender)?

These two links were all i needed to get started in blender:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro
http://www.blendernation.com/category/tutorials/

The wiki tutorial are missing bits and pieces everywhere, but its still worth reading through. Mixxed up the blendernation vids with some other site, but there is still a big chunk of tuts there.

Bet there are quite a bit of useful stuff at video.google also :)

3D studio? Meaning 3D studio MAX?

Mustang,

yes

If you have MAX (or can use it at least) you should definately learn to use it - it is the only app on your list that has any value if you want to work in the indusry some day.

I learned to use MAX years ago entirely using New Riders excellent "Inside #D studio MAX 2-3-4 etc" series of books... got hired because I knew MAX and although I then had access to the "real" tutorials and manuals I didn't need them anymore.

I have not used MAX for some time now so I'm out of the loop what's good book for MAX 7/8 these days... what's your version BTW?

Im learning (or trying to learn) 3DS Max Character modelling, uising Paul Steeds book. "Modelling a character in 3ds Max" and although the whole thing is very complex, I can honestly say I am learning a lot.

It is taking a long while, because there is soooo much to learn about character modelling.

Texturing is an art in itself, so if anyone has any good books regarding this subect please let us know.

IPete2.

You should have a look at Silo - it will soon be featuring a 2.0 upgrade, and with many cool functions with it (including sculpting)
www.nevercenter.com

The quickest way (and best way for me) to learn is by watching training videos/dvds.

One thing I learned after some time doing 3d was that if you just want to learn techniques of modeling/unwrapping/animation/etc then it really doesn't matter what software the training is for (if you're using a higher end program) since they all have similar tools that achieve the same final result. You'll just have to figure out how to do it in your program which will aid in your learning process :P

You can try some of these sources:
http://www.digitaltutors.com/store/home.php (various training)
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/ (various resources)
http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_home.php (various resources)
http://www.3dtotal.com (various resources)
http://www.3dtutorial.com (xsi)
http://www.edharriss.com (xsi)
http://www.psionic3d.co.uk/



I've been working in 3d for 5 yrs or so now and to be honest... books 'were' the way to learn then but now ... training dvds are so much better to quickly learn techniques and also to really see what's going on with the model as it progresses. I'd also recommend getting into high poly work too... it will make you much quicker at low poly work.

I really don't know what to recommend as far as UV mapping. I always felt like that was the black art nobody bothered to teach and I just figured it out on my own. www.polycount.com helped some, but the problem there is that so many of the tutorials suck, so there's a low signal-noise ratio among their learning resources.

Here are a few tutorial sites I have bookmarked, but again I would caution that the good tutorials are often buried amongst a load of crap:
http://www.webreference.com/3d/ (these actually suck, but are easy to understand and thus a good starting point; just skim)
http://www.learning-maya.com/ (as he said, it doesn't really matter which tool you are learning about, since they all do the basics exactly the same)
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/ (actually, if you go to this site you can navigate to tutorials on 3ds max)
http://www.designertoday.com/tabindex-37/tabid-42/itemid-1817/DesktopDefault.aspx (I highly recommend this short read for learning about UV mapping, plus it's specifically about Ultimate Unwrap)
http://www.psionic3d.co.uk/page.php?3 (he already mentioned psionic, but I wanted to second this recommendation)

I hear good things about those digitaltutor DVDs he mentioned, but I personally don't think they're worth the money. It would be expensive to buy DVDs covering every topic you'll need to know, and there are tons of tutorials available free online.

Is my UV mapping tutorial still on the Ultimate Unwrap site?

Yes, and that just shows how long I have been doing this... 8 years professionally and counting. :)

Also, I'm going to start teaching an online class on 3D art for videogames. The course content is already prepared, I teach to their curriculum, but they haven't shown it to me yet so I don't know what resources they recommend.

jH is an authority as well... a knowledgeable authority... i've seen a lot of his stuff all over the web, and read a few articles by him (or where they blogs)...

not to ignore some of the other knowledgeable graphics people we are lucky to have here as well...

oh yeah...

my book recommendation is 3D Game Programming All In One, by Ken Finney... make sure to get the first book, not the follow up...

It's an easy read, very well organized... and it goes over all aspects of game making, but doesn't skimp or overwhelm you with useless info...

it's geared towards Torque, but there are many chapters that will be valuable to anyone using different engines and tools...

for example, there's a whole chapter on modelling a vehicle in Milkshape... a whole chapter on skinning the vehicle in Unwrap... and a chapter on texturing in PaintShop Pro (above ver 8, which i bought for $35 on Amazon)... there's also accompamying chapters on doing all the same stuff for characters as well...

this book will serve as your all in one reference for quite a while... like the title says, All In One...

good luck...

--Mike

> like the title says, All In One...

If you wrote a book, would it be called "All In Three..." ?

if i wrote a book, it'd probably be called ENAY The ASSNAY... PART DEUX.

now, go find another thread to soil with your ENAY droppings, will ya... i think this one is trying to stay a lil on topic...

the kiddie threads are over on the DarkBASIC forums... now go ahead... run along...

--Mike

Well thanks for the plug, but as a 3D artist I got nothin on Mustang.

That book Red recommended is like a couple of my recommendations: an easy place to begin, but you're going to outgrow that fast, so don't expect to learn to be a super duper 3D artist from that resource alone.