Thanks to the personal computer revolution,
3D computer imagery have escaped the confines of the broadcasting
industry, and become a truly mainstream visual form.
As you are reading these words on a computer screen, it is likely
that you have at your disposal the basic tools for creating
3D imagery.
So what exactly are 3D graphics?
3D graphics are a way of painting pictures, not with
paint brushes or pens but with applied rules and properties
within a 3D modelling computer program.
Instead of creating a surface impression of a 3 dimension scene,
the 3D modelling software describes the scene in terms of geometry,
lighting properties, surface properties, point of view for the
image. With this huge bag of information the computer can very
easily generate images of 3D objects, so long as the artist
is willing to ‘build’ more than just what is visible in a single
picture.
This sounds like a lot more work than just creating a single
snapshot of your subject. This is true, but there are some big
advantages to. The computer can very quickly manipulate the
model version to bring about radical alterations in the look
of the final image. For example, if you painted or drew a picture
of a bowl of fruit it might be easier than modelling the scene,
where you must account for things that are hidden from view.
However once built it would be possible to re-arrange the fruit
in the bowl, change lighting conditions and quickly generate
a new image. When you are painting in the traditional way you
have start all over again.
Getting Started
There is no better software to test the waters of creativity with
than trueSpace, created by Caligari
Corp.
The program offers the budding artist/animator with
an enormously powerful set of tools, while remaining
intuitive and easy to use.The user interface is designed
with the artist and none-technical user in mind, not seasoned
CAD professional or animator. The combination of ease-of-use
and relative power means that when your experience and
expertise in the medium grows, you won't quickly outgrow the
software.
If however you end up turning to 3d graphics on a professional
level, a good all-round solution is 3DS MAX from Discreet.
Max remains the most popular 3D software in the world, offering
cutting edge visualisation tools, balanced with excellent
usability and extendability.
From here you can see how a simple 3D
scene is constructed from start-to-finish, or view some
of my 3D graphics work in the gallery.
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