New modeller - which is easiest to learn?

Unity Engine
1

Hi all.

Recently just found unity and started to have a play around with it, ive learnt some of the basics but im quickly realising I would enjoy it alot more if I had my own models ready to experiment with (have had a quick look at other assets but nothing really appeals to me yet) then I would sink alot more time into it and have some direction with where I want to go.

Im just wondering if any one modeller has alot smaller learning curve than any of the others, the main ones ive heard of are Maya, Blender and 3d Studio Max. Keep in mind this is only for my hobby and time killing of iphone game development so im not worried about max amount of features, just the easiest to learn and has enough to get me going.

Any other tips or pointers are welcome :slight_smile: thanks in advance

2

Blender is free and easy to learn(was for me).
3dsmax and maya cost around 3500$ so you probably cant afford them but you can try to get student version of them(non-commercial only).

3

Blender is already mentioned.

Cinema 4D is known to have a really easy learning curve and easy handling compared to other professional 3D apps. But is also in the price range of Max and Maya. And when it`s just a hobby for you then the commercial apps may not be your best bet.

Daz has still the campaign running where you can get Bryce, Daz and Hexagon for free. Hexagon is a cute litte modeler, which may fit your needs better than Blender. Daz comes with a bones system. 3D Models and Assets | Daz 3D?

What`s also nice to have is the freeware Sculptris for sculpting (Result is not suited to be directly used in games, you need to retopology it). http://www.pixologic.com/sculptris/

4

Just to add to the list. Modo601 is my personal program of use. It includes everything, modeling, rigging, animation, sculpting, texture painting, normal baking, retopology tools. The works. It’s my program of choice.

However since blender is free I would start there.

5

I recommend blender. Alternately, you can take advantage of the sale Daz 3D is having on Daz Studio, Bryce, and Hexagon.

6

Blender is free and powerful as Maya and Max. Modo is relatively easy to pick up, but costs some money (though still way cheaper than Autodesk suites).

7

http://www.wings3d.com/

Its free and just focus’s on modelling.

8

blender i think best solution on game modeling and low poly modeling and easy uv texturing so powerfull tool just dont skip blender :slight_smile:

9

what do you guys think about lightwave?

10

Blender. End of story.

11

milkshape is a easy cheap way to get started , with gscape tools you can get HL CCS animated models with there animations, and you can modify, them play around , basic tool .

i have 3ds max 2012, with the right plugins " 3d characture morf @50.00 " is sweet tool that you can make player models in 1/4 the time.

blender was my first back in 2001 it nice too

there is maximo characters with there easy animations cost a little, but is great for starters, buy them, animate them right there, and put them in unity, cost a few bucks but everything will cost sooner or later

12

you are right about it buddy.

13

Blender is overrated and I’m getting annoyed with everyone saying Blender to everyone when they ask for a modeling tool

14

Same thing with most of autodesk software,blender is MODELING tool and software wont help much if artist sucks.

Blender’s features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, animating, rendering, video editing and compositing. It also features a built-in game engine.

15

How do you get animations in since Unity does not support Modo bones? Like character animations?

16

MS Dos 6 too …

17

Go with Blender. It is not easy to learn, but that goes for Max and Maya as well. It needs time and dedication to master a 3d modeling application.
Now a days Blender is some serious alternative to overpriced 3d packages. And it evolves in a breathtaking speed. You won´t see such a rapid development and bug fixing in any commercial application. There is areason why Blender gets a lot props from industry people these days ；）

18

You can export in Fbx format from modo

19

Blender is your best choice money wise; to help you get started, here’s a YouTuber I recommend.

Blender 2.5 [Modeling 1]

While this link is not blender, it does involve game asset creation; might help you understand some basics. He also does some unity tutorials as well with importing from blender.

Game Asset Creation [Modeling 2]

20

As told before. There is still this DAZ campaign running where you can get Hexagon for free. Hexagon is a cute little polygon modeler. And is no bad substitute for the polygon modeling in Blender.

3D Models and Assets | Daz 3D?

There are even more free alternatives for modeling.

XSI modtool is free.
Houdini Apprentice non commercial version is free from what i know.
trueSpace is still available
Then there`s stuff like Autodesk 123
An older version of Carrara from DAZ was also more than once at a magazine cover. Maybe you are lucky to buy such a magazine at ebay or amazon.