Okay, my gallery is at http://www.gallery.wolvenmoon.com

I’m currently using blender 3D, and am at the end of the completed free tutorials. They’re getting to a point that I’m having trouble translating them to the current version of blender, so I’m starting to look for alternatives. It looks like most blender users come over from other suites anyway.

So, I’m a self-taught hobbyist. My goal is photorealistic character animation ( More focused on anthropomorphic animals than humans, which by what I can tell are next to impossible to make photorealistic and not creepy / weird )

I don’t draw at all, in fact I can’t due to dysgraphia, so everything I do will have to come straight from my head or from reference pictures.

What do I need to get and how much am I going to have to spend? I’m a CS major in college (planning on switching to computer engineering soon enough) and am constantly broke, so it’s going to take me a bit to save up.

Thanks!

Wolvenmoon 03 September 2009 10:49 PM

Okay, my gallery is at http://www.gallery.wolvenmoon.com

I’m currently using blender 3D, and am at the end of the completed free tutorials. They’re getting to a point that I’m having trouble translating them to the current version of blender, so I’m starting to look for alternatives. It looks like most blender users come over from other suites anyway.

So, I’m a self-taught hobbyist. My goal is photorealistic character animation ( More focused on anthropomorphic animals than humans, which by what I can tell are next to impossible to make photorealistic and not creepy / weird )

I don’t draw at all, in fact I can’t due to dysgraphia, so everything I do will have to come straight from my head or from reference pictures.


What do I need to get and how much am I going to have to spend? I’m a CS major in college (planning on switching to computer engineering soon enough) and am constantly broke, so it’s going to take me a bit to save up.

Thanks!

If you’re a student, I recommend looking at student licenses. As for various packages, I think other members may give better recommendations than I can, but I would certainly recommend downloading trial versions and get a feel for them.

Since you are asking this question at an Autodesk community site, I assume you’re asking which of the main apps to choose from - Maya, Max, or Softimage.

Robust features to look for in your case:
-Modeling Tools
-Fur/Hair system
-Renderer
-Animation Tools
-Scripting

You may also want to invest in a sculpting package such as Mudbox or ZBrush.

For inspiration, take a look at Jacques D’s chimp model: http://area.autodesk.com/for...ew-sculpting-and-textures

E. K. Anna Hennequet [FA]

A few places you can inquire about student licensing:
http://www.journeyed.com
http://www.studica.com
http://www.novedge.com
http://www.genesis-technologies.com/

n8skow [FA]

This is just outrageous.

A few months ago, you could get 3ds Max Design, 13 month student license for $99 US.

Now, look what you get for $149!!
(From Studica.com)

Tim Wilbers [FA]

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual Arts
University of Dayton
http://www.udayton.edu/
3ds Max: 7.5, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010

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