Artists

Some people can have problems drawing with a tablet, I know I?m one of them, I just use it for adding colour and textures all line work I still use paper for.

It can depend on tablet size, the larger the tablet the easier line art is because there is less scale distortion. Also the slick surface throws some artists, so try placing a piece of paper on the tablet o give you ?pen? some bite.

Pantmonger

well, first of all realise you're getting into a completely different medium - the same learning processes in getting comfortable with this medium applies as if you where going from, say, pencil to oils.

A lot of more traditional based artists want larger tablets so they feel more comfortable since it's the difference for them with a larger canvas, between drawing with the wrist, and drawing from the shoulder. This on top of many other factors like surface friction, stylus holds, pressure ranges, scale, accuracy precision etc all have to get used to.

Take the time to get used to this new medium as you would with any other, and you'll get where you want to be in no time.

well i dont have money coming out my ears so my tablet is fairly damn small, i suppose that might have something to do with it...

just keep drawing ey

My biggest problem with the Wacom and drawing is the friction factor. I have always drawn on heavier grade paper, and the lack of friction on a Wacom is very difficult for me to get used to. I am going to buy some comic pages though, as the paper is smoother and that means that the ink from my pen wont bleed as much. Cleaner lines :D I haven't really tried too much to use the tablet for straight drawing though. I should probably start.

Off topic, but how have you been Pant? Haven't seen you one here in a while. How is married life?

Moonunit: I have a 10 x 10 tablet at home and a teeny weeny one at work, the larger ones allow much broader strokes from you elbow instead of from your wrist, alot easier to draw on the biggies.

I've never had a problem drawing on them freehand, generally I hold my home one on my lap as I would an art pad and sketch away.

JI: drawing from the shoulder?! How the?! [:P]

Aven: you can buy wacom pens that have ink nibs, place paper on top of your tablet and away you go!!

its a pity that there really seems to be no point in using it when i can scan in things drawn with pencil, like ive done here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/4053632/

quote:Originally posted by Malus


JI: drawing from the shoulder?! How the?! [:P]

Getting a little off topic to begin with but...

When you say "the larger ones allow much broader strokes from you elbow", it's actually coming from your shoulder - it's a ball-and-socket joint, as opposed to the elbow only being a hinge joint. eg, the shoulder enables you to bend, twist, raise, and move everything below it (this is your forwards kinematics theory in practice right here! [;)] ).

MoonUnit: My answer to your original question, "Tablet owners, is yours really that effective?", is a resounding "Hell yes!" [:)]

I've pretty much made a full transition to digital medium - nowadays, all I use traditional stuff for is doodling on the run, or to communicate an idea in a quick more comfortable way to someone sitting next to, or over you. Everything I show, all the stuff on my site, is all digital medium.

Malus: Yeah I have seen them nibs/pens, and I remain a little dubious towards their effectiveness. I do have to get used to using smoother paper, so that should help a lot. I do still like to draw with pencils and pens as it just a 'feel' that can't be created so easily with digital media. Granted, I haven't used Painter that much either (i'm upgrading to full Painter 8 soon).

Plus, drawing with a Faber Castel Porschedesign Fountain Pen is absolute heaven :D

But to also keep on topic, yeah a tablet makes a lot of difference. More for the fact that I don't have the wrists of an 80yr old woman anymore :) bye bye RSI.

Off Topic: sorry Aven.

JI: I see what you mean, you know I never actually noticed the movement in the shoulder, wierd 25+ years of drawing and only notice it now lol.

What I was referring to however is how you pivot when you draw, either from your elbow stationary on the ground or your wrist. I tend to draw with my elbow resting on a stable surface and pivot from that as opposed to resting my forearm on a surface and pivoting from my wrist. [:)]

Do you draw with your whole arm floating? Doesn't that get tiring? Actually curious btw, not being a smart arse. [:)]

Aven: You would have loved the pens I saw at the porsche sales centre in Lucerne Switzerland (think it was there) $30,000 titanium fountain pens with diamond grips and shit!!

ok, a little off-topic reply to malus, and also a bit of a tangent - sorry! [;)]

malus: Well first, about the floating arm question, I'll answer that before I get on to how I work; think about vertical canvas painting - you're standing or sitting with your arm out-stretched floating and painting freeform - yup, that can be tiring if you're not used to it, but you'll develop a comfortable zone with that in time.

For me personally, I've actually gone against so many years of drawing and all the art teachers in the world and draw from the wrist myself - I have a small tablet both at home and work (with high accuracy dpi), which is what I really prefer. For me it's a matter of speed and comfort. I can sweep a smooth arcing line over the entirety of my canvas in just one flick of the wrist, as opposed to moving my whole arm - over time I've learnt to work like this and refine my strokes to a minimum so I'm not "scratching" over the one area constantly but get it done first time (which is one of the big reasons your art teacher will get anal about you drawing from the wrist [;)] ). This is all just personal preferance, but it's how I've found my comfortable zone, which I think is very important for an artist, so you can concentrate on just doing the art, instead of how you'll go about the process of doing it.

I don't think there should be a strict school of how to hold you arm when you draw, wrist, elbow, shoulder its what suits you that matters.

As for vertical canvas painting, I've got me a leaning stick so as to keep away from having my arm floating. Lazy bugger. [:P]

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Off Topic: sorry Aven.

[?] Er... Did I miss something? What are you sorry about? You didn't say anything wrong. Did you?

Here is a photo that I just took of my two fountain pens. The one at the back is my Rotring 600 Fountain pen with an Extra Fine nib. I have had it since year 11 and it only cost me 1/3 of what it was worth :D The one at the front is the Faber Castel Porsche one. It has a Fine nib (I REALLY wish Faber Castel would make a EF nib), my parents bought it for me as my 21st pressie this year. The best thing about the Faber Castel nib is that it is Gold with Rhodium plating. Silky smooth to use. A page about Rhodium: http://www.scescape.net/~woods/elements/rhodium.html

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/DSCN0111.jpg[/img]

Sorry for the qual of the pic. I don't have a tripod yet, so I have to use a flash :/

As for styles of drawing. I use A3 paper so I do tend to use my elbow/shoulder a bit more. My tech drawing teacher in high school taught us to draw straight lines that way. I do use my wrist and fingers the majority of the time though. I also hold my pencils/pens really weirdly. I choke the crap out of the nib. No holding it further back like I was taught :p

My Wacom technique is very similar. Wrist for small details, arm for long strokes or movements.

I just bought a new art pad as well with smoother pages, so I should start to get a bit more used to frictionless drawing (with any luck) :)

I just got a tablet as an early christmas present and I can't wait to use it in texturing... no more hand cramps!

From the couple of scribbles I've done so far I think having a tablet is going to greatly increase the quality of my textures and also the speed at which I can produce them.

Go tablets!

damn you ironikart and your ability to actually use them :P

(btw itonik incase you havent figured i found the pen :P )

quote:Originally posted by MoonUnit

i was given a tablet for my birthday and when i try to use it, i draw like a 2 year old on depressants. Ive been drawing by hand for yonks, and likewise with mouse, but i simply cant acheive anything near what i get with a pen and paper.

Did anyone else find this when they first started? am i approaching this the wrong way?

It definately takes some getting used to and a lot of practise before it becomes second nature, I'm sure. I wish I had one years ago. If any of you younger high-school student types want to get into concept art/texturing, get a graphics tablet NOW! They're affordable, and you'll develope those graphics tablet wielding skills earlier...

:D

for your next tute can you do my portfolio :D

All i can say is thank u very much for creating different parts of texturing tuts joel... it helped me heaps and sped up my texturing process since u showed me last nite... im sure it will help other artists as well. [:D]

chris... [:)]

This is pretty much the same way I work, except I use airbrush and dont use hardlight.

cheers JI, thats getting backed up in my reference section :)

thanks, i needed something like this, i'm try to work at my texuring and this is really helpful

Okay. Please don't EVER ask what package people like using more. That is just asking for a massive flaming war. You may also want to sign up for copies of GMax and Softimage XSI while you are starting that nice collection :) Overall it comes down to what you would like to do. Wings 3D is also a good package if you just want to do modelling.

. Rhino is great for NURBS modelling and er... nah thats all it can really do.
. Lightwave is a VERY popular package and it does modelling, animation, etc. Unfortunately I have never used it, but would like to give it a try one day. Truespace I don't know much about, so I can't help you out there.
. I use Maya and absolutely love it :D Does even more than Lightwave or Max.
. Max (GMax) was fun to use, but I had too many things that I personally didn't like about it. The majority of people here use and love Max and that is cool. It is a good package to start off with and has some very solid tools.
. XSI is also one that I would love to try. Up there with Maya for tools available for it.

If you are after more 'lower end' work, then try Max or LW first. If you are aiming for 'high end' movie work, then plunge in the deep end and give Maya or XSI a try. They are not the easiest packages to learn though. It took me two days to figure out how to zoom in Maya (and that was with the help :/). There are hundreds of tutes available for each package nowadays, so you just have to find them :) Here is a bit of head start.

CG Channel. www.cgchannel.com A very good news site and has a forum that will have many questions asked, and you can ask them yourself. Never underestimate the usefulness of a Forum.

CG Talk. www.cgtalk.com The worlds largest Digital Art Forum. Due to it's size it can really be a hit and miss. Plus there seem to be quite a few people on there who treat newbie badly whenever they ask a question. Most people will try to help you though.

Learning Maya. www.learning-maya.com/tutorials.php Although it is meant to be Maya based, they have a great selection of tutes made for 'general' use and don't require any particular package. I really can't recomend this site enough.

Metagons. www.metagons.com Fantastic site for modellers. Especially High Poly modellers. Has some great links from there as well.

Here. Well naturally.

Don't forget all of the websites for the individual packages. They generally have a good selection of tutes and links.

I hope that helps you out a little.

Hi bullet21, best to concentrate on one 3D app at a time to learn the fundimentals... you'll find it far too overwhelming if you play around with all those apps at once.
I'd personally go for Truespace to learn the basics, and I'm saying that through my own experience with the program... it really is one of the easiest 3D programs to learn and there's a wealth of tutorials on the net. I began with the first version around 10 years ago and found it to be extremely intuitive and user friendly plus it requires a very modest system to run well. I used several versions and then made the switch to Max quite easily, in fact I found the switch from Max to Softimage a lot more difficult... almost like having to start all over again. As Aven suggested, it can be quite difficult getting your head around some of the higher end apps when you're new to 3D.
Take your time, and go through as many different types of tutorials as possible, but don't try to tackle advanced tutorials straight off, go for the basics first.

just want to point out that GMax isn't an educational version of 3D Studio Max, but a severely crippled free package for use in making low poly games models for specific games; this in itself isn't bad, but it actually kills a lot of features and tools which are very handy for low poly game work. There is free trial versions of the full uncrippled packages available, so I'd recommend getting that.

Nobody can tell you "this package is the best for you", but we can share our experiances, and relevant info. I personally use 3dsmax, I've been using it for quite a few years now. I started with imagine 2.0 on my 486, moved to 3D studio r4 (before max, this is still dos based), then to 3d studio max 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x; I've had a rather package sheltered life, but it's been a very easy learning curve. There was a study a while back which pretty much named 3dsmax, closely followeed by maya, then hash animation, then lastly lightwave, as the easist for beginners to get into and rise in the learning curve. Other relevant info is Maya is the vast predominant package for film, and Max predominant for games dev.

in the end it'll be whatever you find comfortable first. then you'll swear allegiance to it and develop huge bias in favour of that package although you'll complain about how much you don't like it - we all do that [:)]

Saying that Maya has a learning 'curve' kinda makes me laugh JI. The best description I have heard of it was a learning 'cliff'. You have a look at it. It is scarier than seeing Rosanne naked, but when you climb over that cliff, it is pretty much easy sailing.

I also forgot to mention some other more specialty packages.

. Houdini. Really only if you are after Special FX. It can do particle systems like a lovely furry bunny wabbit. If you have ever seen the FFX movie with Yuna dancing on the water, that particle system was done with Houdini. I have heard that there were 5 million particles running in real time (if anyone knows any more about that I would LOVE to know). They have also added in other areas (like modelling/ animation), but they really aren't that great.
. Poser. Uhmmmm. The less said the better :)
. Motion Bulider. I have never used it, but it apparently kicks utter arse when it comes to character animation. Very little is able to touch it. One of my friends swears by it.
. Cinema 4D XL. Although this started off as a small package, it is now really starting to grow. The latest issue of DESIGN GRAPHICS has a review/study of it, and it does sound rather impressive. VERY nice renderer as well (and it is their own).
. Wings 3D. I mentioned it above. Basically it is a modelling only package that you then export to other apps. It's poly modelling system is a derivative of Nendo/Mirai (no longer exsist as such). Fewer and fewer people are using this as the main packages are getting stronger poly modelling tools available to them.

I know that I have left out a lot, but they are the 'main' ones. Sega are even making their own animation only package.

It is also important to note that ANY package can make awesome looking artwork. The artist makes the main difference.

I have really only used Max and Maya, so here is a quick guide. Used Max first (r3. Havne't used r4+), found it REALLY easy to use. Kept on getting pissed off at a lot of things (I think they have been fixed up a little since then). Used Maya. Once I figured out how to use the bastard, it was fantastic. It's interface really does put every other app on earth to shame. I have to admit that I wouldn't like Maya as much and appreciate what it can do if I had not used Max before hand. I do recomend that Max or LW would be a good place to start. If you find them to be a little too limiting then move up. If not and you love what you have. Use it.

sorry for my wording JI. I'll make sure that I do better next time :p

I have no idea where it went to. I haven't really been to any fileplanet related site in ages. Did it have reference of 3D models or real life people?

If you are after people then try www.3d.sk. You can view all the images on the site by going through the site map area. The only thing is that they are only the thumbnails. I really want to join, but they accept all credit cards but mine :/

Doh, i started leeching all the zips form there, but forgot to finish my collection...

Hey Inglis, check out http://www.correct-proportion.com/index.php
Its the best reference site I've ever seen. You have to sign up but its totally free. They have all kinds of stuff. If your a refeerence nut like me, you gotta check it out!

well, reading a tutorial usually helps, try the manual or online. i use lightwave (5.5)~ can get quite quick with it..

Well, I mucked around with Rhino3D while it was in beta (oh so many years ago), and it was a great program if you're heavily into nurbs modelling. So if you want to get into precise, technically accurate modelling of machinery, vehicles etc, it'd be a great program to use.. (You can do organic modelling with nurbs as well, but I reckon other methods are much easier and better).

I have never heard of it, but from experience, non Wacom brand Tablets are utter shit. The only one that I have heard of that may be somewhat decent is a LCD one that Sony released a few years back. It was only available in Japan though.

I had a look at the US Wacom site, and here is the list of resellers in the States

http://www.wacom.com/wheretobuy/online.cfm

There are also offline ways of ordering as well.

Wacom's Store also has a refurb area. The lowest models ones that they have are Graphire2s, and they are selling for US$80 for a complete package.

If you have the ability to, jump on Ebay and have a look. there are quite a few Graphire2s going for US$50 and less. No Graphire1s though. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a bit for postage, but it shouldn't be too much as you live on the same continent as them.

Hope that helps a little.

I used one for about three to four years. I only just got rid of mine for a new Intuos2. You can't go wrong with one, and I think that quite a few people here will also tell you that ANY size and style Wacom is better than a mouse.

I am also guessing that by $50, you do mean US$50? It is definitetly a great starting point, and you can always buy a higher version later on when you have more funds and you are more comfortable with them.

Summing up. Yes it is a good idea :P Where in the States are you? What drew you to this site?

i searced the internet i saw this website i am in new york and i think is 50 but can someone check for me

Yes. The best example I know of for this is GTA 1 and 2. They had 3D backgrounds (cities) and then all the vehicles and people were 2D sprites.

Before 3D became really big for gaming, a lot of developers would make high poly characters in their package of choice, render out frames, crop the characters and then use those for their 2D art. Septerra Core is probably the best example for that. Any EA games around the original Pentium timeline will show that as well (ie. Crusader: No Remorse). Even fairly recent games have done it this way. Fallout Tactics is another example.

If you do not have any 3D experience, then I suggest that learn as much about traditional animation as possible and then try to paint your frames by hand in a 2D package of choice. If you are just after making vehicles, then buying model kits and looking at their decal diagrams will also work really well.

You should get a program called Game Maker_5, ( http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/gmaker/ ).
Also when i make the 2D that looks 3D i use a modeler and animate, like walk, than i capture a screen shot of some frames that go through the walk cycle than i make a gif file, easy as pie and chicken. By the way i use MilkShape 3D http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft .

But im guessing you were gona make a game like Commandos, not fully top view, but to the side, should get that game and look at the damn good shit they done in it, or Commandos 2,3.

looks very crowded.

Uhh.. Still.. What are you trying to do? Do you want to make the art stuff?

In that case you'll need a program to do that.. Depending on if you want to do it in 3d or 2d, you can get free programs like gmax or milkshape3d for 3d stuff, and the gimp for 2d..

Places like www.polycount.com have a large database of tutorial sites in their forums.. It's just a matter of looking for them.

Have you tried looking at the tutorials at polycount? (www.polycount.com)

better yet
http://www.planetquake.com/polycount/resources/quake2/tutorials.shtml

Thankaz Makk, ill check this out.

www.actionquake2maps.0catch.com/home.html

http://www.3dm-mc.com/tutorials/maya/dobby/

A tutorial by the one and only Julian J. Unfortunately it loses all text half way through it and just turns into pics. It is still very useful for getting the idea behind edge loops.

Where can I get a free tutorial on learning maya/wotever from scratch?

The Maya help file. That's how I learned. Otherwise if you start another thread with any questions you may have, I can try to help you out the best I can :)

Alrighty then...I guess i should install it now.

www.3dtotal.com
It has a massive tutorial collection and also has some good meshes for download.

www.3dcafe.com
Once again a lot of tutorials for a lot of differant apps.

www.3dbuzz.com
Has some kick ass video tutorials. On every software imaginable. They even now have C++ video tutorials. They used to be all free but now they are using some kind of star system which means that only frequent buzz users can get anything passed the first issue.

http://tutorialcocktail.free.fr/tutorial.htm

Modelling
http://www.gmask.com/tutorials/wrx_tutorial/Tutorial/tutorial.html Modelling a Suburu
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/mechpoly/ Modeling and Animating a Mechanical Hand
http://www.zoorender.com/html/tutorial_zootext.htm How to create Bevel text with Nurbs
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut11.html How to Build a Car
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/o2/ Modelling an SGI O2 chassis.
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/starwars/starwars.3d Star Wars walker
http://members.tripod.com/llobera/stairs/index.html create mechanical stairs
http://members.tripod.com/llobera/flexo/index.html Model a Flexo
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/kevin2/ Modeling a Shampoo Bottle
http://www.fractalice.com/tutorials/maya/sword.asp polygon Sword
http://www.clickgrafix.com/tutorials/cgx2002_tutmain.htm 3d modeling for housewives
http://www.3dluvr.com/content/article/42/1 creating a lab
http://www.medialab.chalmers.se/tutorials/maya/Pages/Lesson5.html Modeling a spaceship
http://www.digitalanimators.com/HTM/Tutorials/Shipbuilding_tutorial.htm Modeling a Ship in Alias|Wavefront's Maya 2.0
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… Low Poly, High Powered Gun
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=kettle Modeling a kettle
http://www.gmask.com/tutorials/corners/corners.html The art of rounding corners on nurbs models
http://www.gmask.com/tutorials/fillets/fillets.htm Creating fillets without using a fillet tool
http://www.fractalice.com/tutorials/maya/stitching_1.asp Stitching
http://www.mindspring.com/~jkemp/cord.html Chord attached on both ends
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/continuity/continuity.html What is Continuity?
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_08.html PointOnSurfaceInfo node trick
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/splitpoly.3d How to split a polyset into individual polys
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/spira… How to build a spiral staircase
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/gear/… How to Build a Polygonal Gear
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/impor… How to Create 3D Text from Vector Art
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/bevel… How to Use bevelCaps.mel Script
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/anima… How to Use Animated Sweep and Snapshot
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/nurbs… How to Use NURBS Booleans
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/modeling/squar… How to Create Square Surfaces
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Special/atom/tutorial/Fundam… Maya Fundementals
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_07.html Make text out of polygons
http://www.cgw.com/cgw/Archives/Magic/1998/04/04story1_03.asp Modeling an Asteroid With SOFT-BODY DYNAMICS
http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/maya/tut/mazertut1_main.htm Beginners modeling

Modelling: Organic Modelling
http://www.haggi.net/tutorial/tutorial_modelling1.htm Modeling a monster (german tutorial)
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/CharacterAnimSite/patch.htm Patch Modeling with NURBS Surfaces
http://www.stickman.de/content/stuff/process/tutorials/model_2_0.htm dobermunk - The Head Tutorial
http://www.keongputer.com/tutor/modeling/dragon/index.html Modeling a dragon with NURBS
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=27488 Subdivision Surface Modeling - Introduction
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=27973 Subdivision Surface Modeling - Advanced
http://www.thehobbitguy.com/tutorials/polymodeling/index.html Poly Modelling a Head by the Hobbit Guy
http://www.worldofmaya.com/t_poly.html Poly Head Tutorial
http://sotos-digital.cjb.net/ Poser to Maya Import
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/polys/default.htm The Art of Poly Modeling
http://plissken.fatalunity.com/ SubDivision Surfaces- a brief Maya tutorial
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=23386 Model a 3D shark
http://members.aon.at/bulletin/sushi/ Create a Nurbs-Fish
http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/maya/modeling_a_character/model_3d… How to build a 3D character
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/denis1/ How to create a realistic looking turtle - Modeling part 1
http://www.gignews.com/kappblackcock.htm Model a Chicken
http://www.keongputer.com/tutor/modeling/DragonMan/index.html Modeling a Dragon Man
http://www.keongputer.com/tutor/modeling/treehouse/index.html Build a Tree House
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=22927 Model an Alien Head
http://users.pandora.be/gds/maya/index.htm Modeling a Comic Bird
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut1.html Stitching a NURBS character
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut3.html Stitching a NURBS leg
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut4.html Wire Tool Part 1
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut8.html Wire Tool Part 2
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… Easy Character Setup
http://www.fractalice.com/tutorials/maya/body_1.asp How to Build a Body
http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/steven_tubbrit/Workshop/Subdivision/Ear/T_… Creating A 3D Ear (Sub D)
http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/steven_tubbrit/Workshop/Nurbs/Eye/Photorea… Creating A 3D Eye (Nurbs)
http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/max/joanofarc_p2/modeling_of_the_e… Modeling of the Eyes
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut9.html Polygonal Character Modeling
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/subdemulation/ Modeling a Head with Subdivision Emulation in Maya Complete
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/subdiv/ Subdivision Surface Modeling Tutorial
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/michaelb/seamless1.3d Seamless modeling - 1. An Introduction
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/michaelb/seamless2.3d Seamless modeling - 2. Head, hands, cloth
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/michaelb/seamless3.3d Seamless modeling - 3. Dog's body
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/patch/ How to patchmodel a head in Maya
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/patch2/ Patch Model a Head
http://www.planetquake.com/sin2q3/tutpart1.htm Modeling a Low poly character
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/xen/ Modeling Using Connect Poly Shape
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/subd/ Process for Modeling a (poly) Sub Division Head
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/modelingears/ Modeling a Human Ear
http://www.swanimator.com/tipstutorials/tiptutorials.htm Nurbs Modeling
http://plissken.fatalunity.com/tutorials/stitch/ Stitching Surfaces, Patchmodeling
http://www.swanimator.com/tipstutorials/patchModellilng/patchmodelling… Patch Modelling a head
http://www.blackorb.com/mayagiraffe3d.html Modeling a giraffe with Polygons
http://www.geocities.com/susantio/head01.htm Sub-D Head Modelling
http://members.lycos.co.uk/peoplesfactory/q3_modeling/modeling.htm Quake Models in Maya
http://www.okita.com/tutorials/maya02.html Modelling a person from a cylinder
http://users.pandora.be/gds/maya/indian_2.htm Human Head Shading
http://www.maya3d.dk/Tutorials/HeadModeling/HeadModeling.htm Modelling a head from a cube
http://coldfusion.art.msstate.edu/camenisch/thehumanhead/ Modelling the human head
http://www.kcc.zaq.ne.jp/nkj/sculpland/englishver/06TMC00.html Modeling a human body
http://www.3dchopshop.com/tutorials/frankenstein.htm Modelling Frankenstein
http://www.yiqunchen.com/publications/images/article1.jpg Modelling a Human Head with Maya Subdivisions
http://www.newriders.com/articles/article.asp?product_id={0BFF74D1-DE92-4405-9C33-3E985FF68368} Hair for 3D Characters
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=head2 Head modeling
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=mechh… modeling a mechanical hand
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=ac_dr… Making of a dragon mesh
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=head Head modeling
http://members.tripod.com/llobera/jack/index.html Create a pumpkin face
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/metaball/metaballs.3d Faked Polygonal Metaballs, Objects, polygonal, MetaBalls, Objects
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/peter/model2.3d Modeling a Polygon head
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/peter/model1.3d Modeling a Nurbs head
http://www.planetsack.com/tutorials.asp?tutId=mayaSubd Maya Subdivision Surfaces
http://www.3dcentral.com/tut1.html Modeling a Head with Subdivision Emulation in Maya
http://www.mayaring.com/userpages/Peter_Ratner/ch8/ Modeling a human Figure (pt1)
http://www.mayaring.com/userpages/Peter_Ratner/ch9/ Modeling a human Figure (pt2)
http://www.mayaring.com/userpages/Peter_Ratner/tutorial/ The Structure of the Head and Features
http://www.digitalproducer.com/aHTM/Features/features_modeling_a_head_i… Modeling a human Head in Maya
http://www.3drender.com/jbirn/ea/HeadModel.html NURBS Head Modeling
http://www.3dgate.com/techniques/000328/maya1098.html Organic Modeling and Animation
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/organic_part1/organic_part1… Organic Modeling Part 1
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/organic_part2/organic_part2… Organic Modeling Part 2
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/organic_part3/organic_part3… Organic Modeling Part 3

Modelling General
http://www.secondreality.ch/tutorials/modelling/head.html very good Sub-D Head modeling (Max)
http://www.secondreality.ch/tutorials/modelling/ear.html very good Sub-D Ear modeling (Max)
http://www.stickman.de/content/stuff/process/tutorials/model_1_0.htm self made man - a LW modeling tutorial
http://www.fluidimage.co.uk/handtutorial.htm Hand tutorial
http://www.highend3d.com/global/tutorials/subdmodel/ Subdivision Modeling of a Human
http://devworld.apple.com/dev/techsupport/develop/issue25/schneider.html Nurbs Info
http://www.izware.com/news/indexa446.html Digital Sculpture Techniques
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/street/gfz58/ Modelling Characters with Nurbs in PA
http://tomcapizzi.com/imagesHi/headWebPage/index.html Modelling a head with Nurbs in PA
http://tomcapizzi.com/imagesHi/bugWebPage/index.html Modelling a Bug Head with Nurbs in PA
http://www.newriders.com/articles/article.asp?product_id={1E9E1524-3582-4CFA-9830-5E2AA86DE278} Modelling basics non maya specifc
http://www.animationartist.com/2001/02_feb/tutorials/feet_part1.html Sub-D modeling a foot not Maya specific
http://earth.vol.com/~natzke/ear.htm Modelling an Ear with metaNurbs in LW
http://www.okino.com/conv/iges_opt.htm Polytrans IGES optimization
http://www.n8dog.com/tutc/index.html Adobe Illustrator Importing via Invigorator
http://www.joelertola.com/tutorials/brain/index.html Modelling a brain in Lightwave
http://www.figure2productions.com/EI_HeadTut/EI_TutIntro.html UberNurbs Modeling in Electric Image
http://mr2k.3dvf.com/tutorials/max/tutorials_joan.htm Modelling Characters with Nurbs with MAX
http://maxrovat.sns.hu/subdiv/subdivmodeling.htm Sub-D Modeling Tips
http://www.suurland.com/tut_ball/tutorial_football.htm Modelling a soccer/football in Max
http://maxrovat.sns.hu/subdiv/ SubDivisions with Mirai
http://www.lightwaveworld.com/Tutorials/Chris/intro.htm Modelling from Cross Sections in Lightwave
http://www.anticz.com/3dheadpa.htm Constructing the Human Head In 3D non maya specific
http://www.anticz.com/images/Animation/TimeLapse.mpg Modelling Process

Rigging/Character Setup
http://www.n8dog.com/tut_1/ Wrap Skinning for true Bone & Muscle Skin Deformation
http://www.haggi.net/tutorial/tutorial_character1.htm Rigging a Monster (german tutorial)
http://www.optidigit.com/stevens/rigtut.html Rigging in Maya
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/arm_ik_fk/arm_ik_fk.html Arm set-up with IK/FK
http://www.zoorender.com/html/tutorial_handcontrol.htm How to create a Hand Controller
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… Scaling a Character Rig
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut16.html Rigid Binding
http://www.dmc3d.com/tutorials.html Character Rigging Instructions
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/CharacterAnimSite/CharGrouping.h… Propper grouping
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/CharacterAnimSite/deformers.htm Binding With Deformers and Flexors
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/realtimechar1/ Character Setup for Real-Time in Maya 3.0 Part 1 - The Spine
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/realtimechar1/part2.3d Character Setup for Real-Time in Maya 3.0 Part 2 - Part two ? Legs/Reverse Foot
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/realtimechar1/part3.3d Character Setup for Real-Time in Maya 3.0 Part 3 - Skeletons
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/sharktacos1/ ADVANCED CHARACTER SET UP IN MAYA
http://www.victoriapictures.com/dragon/pindex.html general character setup
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/wrapskin/ Wrap Skinning for Bone/Muscle Driven Skin Deformation
http://www.characteranimation.com/ Awesome Tutorial on Wrap Deformers!!!-->
http://www.gmask.com/tutorials/Hydraulic.pdf contraints
http://www.animagicnet.no/maya/bodyShape/ Rigging with Blendshapes
http://www.gignews.com/kappmarch02.htm Rigging A Vehicle
http://www.mindseyemedia.com/maya2.htm Articulated Characters
http://www.mikefortner.com/pages/3d.htm Rigging Characters
http://www.mikefortner.com/pages/face_rig.htm Joints for Facial Deformations
http://fraghq.com/brainswell/tutorial1.htm Reverse foot
http://www.anticz.com/eularqua.htm What is Gimbal Lock and why does it occur?
http://www.anticz.com/puppets.htm Puppets
http://www.3dluvr.com/content/article/11 covers modeling, rigging and texturing

Animation
http://www.n8dog.com/tut_4/ Dynamic Constraints for pod type rigs
http://www.familie-summa.com/Oliver/tutorial1.html Spraying Animation Tutorial
http://animation.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww… ANATOMY OF A WALK
http://216.127.95.21/content/mayaforum/9076 SetDriven Keys (german tutorial)
http://www.shoosh.de/bonsai/Sound_Ani_Tut.htm Animation through sounds (german tutorial)
http://www.geocities.com/%7Egcmartin/phoneme_examples.html Lipsynch: Phoneme examples
http://www.geocities.com/%7Egcmartin/mouth_shapes.html Lipsynch: Mouth Shapes
http://www.comet-cartoons.com/toons/3ddocs/lipsync/lipsync.html Lip Sync - Making Characters Speak
http://www.jackals-forge.com/tutor/tut3_1.html Animating a yoyo
http://www.bk.tudelft.nl/scripts/guide/maya3/guide.asp?dbid=4000 Maya 4 - Animation Reference Guide
http://www.jackals-forge.com/tutor/tut1.html Wing cycle and Wing fan of a dinosaur-birds
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=tenac… How to create a moving Tentacle using Procedural animation
http://www.cmistudios.com/lessons/tireTut/index.htm Animating a tire
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_06.html Changing frame rate without changing keyframes
http://www.medialab.chalmers.se/tutorials/maya/Pages/tutorialLevel1.html Basic Animation
http://www.keithlango.com/ Pose to Pose tutorial in several languages
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=Rotos… Animation through Rotoscoping
http://www.the-gnomon-workshop.com/tutorials/arm_ik_fk/arm_ik_fk.html Arm set-up with IK/FK
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/keongputer/bone/ Bone Setup for a Dragon
http://www.3dcentral.com/tut2.html Building Leg Skeletons in Maya Using the Detached Foot Method
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Special/atom/tutorial/Charac… Character Animation
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/talk/ dreamLipSync Mel Script Tutorial
http://www.nawyecky.com/tuts/tut-exp1.htm Expressions
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/CharacterAnimSite/Roto.htm Rotoscoping
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/peter/emotion.3d Expressing emotion through facial animation
http://www.mayaring.com/userpages/Peter_Ratner/ch14/ Facial Animation Expressing Emotion
http://www.nawyecky.com/tuts/tut-baloon.htm Flying baloon
http://www.kolve.com/mt_rollingEllipse/rollingEllipse.htm ROLLING ELLIPSE
http://www.kolve.com/mt_rollingEllipse2/rollingEllipse2.htm ROLLING ELLIPSE PT.2 - WACKY VEHICLE
http://www.3dgate.com/techniques/000605/0605maya_arm.html Get a Grip Arm Set-Up in Maya
http://www.splotsh.com/tutorial.htm How To Animate a Polygonal Tree with Maya
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to model and animate a FLEXO with MAYA
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to build and animate an iris
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Pick up an object
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to animate an accurate clock
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to animate an extrusion
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Animate the Aiming of a Spotlight
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Animate a Rolling Cube
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Animate with Flow (Object)
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Animate with Flow (Curve)
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… Creating Softbodies in CHARACTER ANIMATION
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Blend Facial Poses
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/animation_char… How to Use skeletonWorks
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/charcterSetup/setup_1.3d HUMAN INDIRECT SKINNING WITH FREE-FORM DEFORMERS IN MAYA 2.5
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/bora/ Making an advanced leg skeleton
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/adam/nla1.3d Non-Linear Animation in Production (Case Study/Discussion)
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/dreamlab/skiing.3d Skiing Cycle with DreamLab Database
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/dreamlab/walk.3d Walk Cycle
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/dreamlab/index.3d Walk with an expression

Non Maya Specific Animation
http://www.cgfocus.com/ArticleDetails.cfm?ArticleID=137 walkcycle
http://www.anticz.com/Walks.htm A Simple Method for creating Walk Cycles
http://www.anticz.com/animatio.htm Character Animation Theories And Principles
http://www.animation-collaboration.com/xsistation/tutorials/cat.htm Tank Treads in XSI
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/panther/startpage/startpage.html Animating for Speech and Expressions
http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~matt/courses/cs563/talks/face_anim/ekman.html Facial Action Coding System
http://crl.research.compaq.com/projects/facial/facial.html Facial Expression Research
http://mambo.ucsc.edu/psl/nsf.txt Understanding Facial Expression Paper
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/humanface/ The Human Face Reference

Paint Effects

http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/paint_fx_fur/t… How to Create a Tree using PaintFX
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/paint_fx_fur/l… How to Create Long Hair Using Maya Paint Effects and Maya Cloth
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/paint_fx_fur/f… Maya Fur FAQ
http://www.noboundrees.com/yinako/tut/pfxhair/pfx_hair_design.htm Paint Effects - the ultimate hair designer
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/paintfxqa/index.3d Maya Paint Effects Q+A with Duncan Brinsmead
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/pfxhair/ Paint Effects hair
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/3d_paint_tip.html 3D Paint Tip
http://www.gmask.com/tutorials/hairtut/hairtut.html PaintFX hair
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/subd2/ How to paint on Subdivision Surface inside Maya
http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~rdknowle/fine328H/tutorials/paint_effects_… PaintFX
http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~rdknowle/fine328H/tutorials/paint_effects_… PaintFX
http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~rdknowle/fine328H/tutorials/painteffects_h… PaintFX
http://www.yiqunchen.com/publications/images/article2.jpg Maya PaintFX for 3d scenes
http://www.newriders.com/articles/article.asp?product_id={9A0A5379-17CF-48AE-897D-E56BEBDF3C6A} Fun with Maya 4's Paint Effects

Cloth and Fur
http://www.n8dog.com/tut_5/ Cloth - Shirts with Collars & Fringes
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/fur_tips.html Some Fur Tips
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/paint_fx_fur/c… How to Comb Maya Fur
http://www-viz.tamu.edu/thelab/tutorials/rlogan/present/fur_pres.html Fur anyone?
http://www.poopculture.com/chris/styles/tutor/paint_tut.html Painterly Effect using Fur
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/furfaq/ Maya Fur FAQ
http://www.dressingsim.com/DFL_en/products/dspmk/en/html/tutorialjacket… Making a Jacket
http://www.newriders.com/articles/article.asp?product_id={DA0ABD4D-D5FF-4F52-A437-9C3B1E85DD62} Animating Realistic Cloth

Dynamics And Particles
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut15.html Tornado Effects
http://www.zoorender.com/html/tutorials_zoo_smoke.htm How to create Real Smoke
http://www.kolve.com/mt_rbCollisionDetection/rbCollisionDetection.htm RIGID BODY COLLISION DETECTION
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut12.html Realistic Liquid

http://www.steven-tubbrit.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Tutorials/Tutorial_01.htm Sprite - Based Particle Trees
http://www-viz.tamu.edu/thelab/tutorials/clara/particle/index.html Creating Special Effects with Particles
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/harley1/ Creating the logo effect from Matrix
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/missle/ Creating a Missile Trail
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/jaredmartin1/ Interparticle Collisions
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/softparticle/ Surface Emitted Particles on SoftBody Tenticles
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/dyncon/ Dynamic Constraints
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_10.html Particle runtime rules
http://216.127.95.21/content/mayaforum/14821 Particles in Maya - (german tutorial)
http://www.geocities.com/jozvex/tutorials/interparticle.html Inter Particle Collision
http://www.3dtreat.com/SiteC/assets/A_TUTORIALS/CLOUDS/CloudTutorialPag… Clouds the old way before fluids
http://cade.scope.edu/courseware/notes/phenomena/explode.html Explosions (is offline alot)
http://www.animationartist.com/2002/01_jan/tutorials/smokin_tutorial.htm Smoke
http://www.painfulurination.com/Tutorial_Breath/maya_tutorial_breath.htm Using Particles to create cold breath
http://www.painfulurination.com/Tutorial_Cigarette_Smoke/maya_tutorial_… Creating cigarette smoke with particles
http://www.polyextrude.com/Tutorials/CharacterModeling/smoke.html Smoke
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/candle/candle.html Candle Flame
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/collidepart.3d Colliding Softies with Rigids
http://www.nawyecky.com/tuts/tut-exp2.htm distanceBetween node
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/emitgeometry.3d Emit Geometry from a Point Emitter
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/parti… How to use Particles to Drive Rigid Bodies
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/fireb… How To Create an Exploding Fireball
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/pendu… How to Create a Newton's Pendulum
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/chain… How to Animate a Chain Link
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/melt/… How to animate a melting object
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/ballo… How to create an inflating balloon
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/gelat… How to animate a Gelatin cube
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/flag/… How to Create a Waving Flag
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/dynamics/footp… How to Create Footprints
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/collision_emission/collision… Particle Emission when Objects Collide
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/brush/index.3d Paint Effects: Brush Restore Tips
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/brush/french.3d Paint Effects: Brush Restore Tips (French Version)
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/smoking.3d The Smoking Maya Tutorial
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_09.html Turn auto exposure off for glows in animations.
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/speed_color/speed_color.html Using Particle Speed
http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/tutorials/maya/volumeuniform/volumeuniform.asp Volume filled Uniformly with Particles

Fluids
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… Fluid Dynamics
http://www.cmistudios.com/lessons/oceanTut/index.htm Animated wake
http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/people/stam/suomi/stam/gas.html Interesting but not for Maya

Shading and Texturing
UV-MAPPING & TEXTURING

http://www.drone.org/tutorials/uv_smoothing.html UV smoothing in Maya
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/normal_maps.html Generating and using normal maps in Maya
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/displacement_maps.html Recovering normal and displacement maps from existing geometry
http://www.haggi.net/tutorial/tutorial_uv1.htm UV Setup for a Monster (german tutorial)
http://www.menithings.com/How/TheFreak_01_UV/Freak_UV_01.html To UV Or Not To UV
http://www.keongputer.com/tutor/texturing/NurbDragon/index.html Texture Map NURBS Dragon
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/paramaterization/parameteriz… Dealing with Surface Parameterization
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/layeredtexture/ Layered Texture Tutorial
http://www.planetquake.com/sin2q3/tutpart2.htm Texturing a Low poly character
http://www.eliteops.com/sama/uv_tutorial/index.htm Ugly Character UV Map Tutorial
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=head_… Texturing a Head with Subdivision Emulation
http://www.kniffen.ca/index.php?target=tutorials/texture/UV1.php how to copy uv's among other
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut5 UV Texturing Mapping
http://avl.etsu.edu/intranet/resources/CharacterAnimSite/optimizingtext… Optimizing Textures
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=23265 Texturing Mapping - Overview
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… UV Mapping the Gun
http://www.dwkim.org/html/tutorials/polygon_map/index.html Polygon UVs
http://enemy.mesmer.com/moebius/FMPro?-DB=article&-Format=free_tutorial… Unwrapping UV maps
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/tips/col_tips/xyz2uv/xyz2uv.htm How to map a 3d texture (XYZ) into 2d (UV)
http://www.mtmckinley.net/tut7.html NURBS Texturing
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/shar… How to share texture nodes
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/texture_res/texture_res.html Texture Resolution
http://www.3dcentral.com/tut3.html Texturing A Head Modeled with Subdivision Emulation
http://www.digital-tutors.com/digital_tutors/maya/hypershade.htm Using the Hypershade
http://www.borderequals0.org/articles/uv_intro.cfm UV Texturing Mapping in LW
http://www.lightwave3d.com/tutorials/games/uv_mapping/index.html UV Mapping for games in LW

SHADERS
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/spaceChange.html The spaceChange Utility Node
http://www.haggi.net/tutorial/tutorial_textur1.htm Texturing a Monster (german tutorial)
http://www.fractalice.com/tutorials/maya/flag.asp American Flag
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/wetshader/ How to create a Wet Shader in Maya
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/denis2/ Seamless texturing: Part 2 of Creating a realistic looking turtle
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/denis3/ Seamless texturing: Part 3 of Creating a realistic looking turtle
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/snow/ Realistic snow
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/kevin1/ Putting a label on a bottle
http://www.noboundrees.com/yinako/tut/nprs/nprstut.html Non photo realistic shading
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/cornellbox/ The Cornell Box Simulation
http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/maya/maya_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=EyeBa… how to create a realistic looking eyeball
http://www.optidigit.com/stevens/shadetut.html human skin shading
http://www.3dcar.kg/tutorial/less02.htm How to make headlights for a car
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=23082 Creating Photorealistic 3D Eyes
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/street/gfz58/ch19.pdf Skin Shading
http://inti.planet-d.net/divers/mayatuts/neige/snow.htm Snow
http://www.golemgraphics.com/Tutorials/Eyeball_maya/eteball_maya.htm Eyeball
http://www.cgvisual.com/dn/download_dnshader001a_001.htm shader download
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_02.html Shader transparency
http://www.purefizz.com/maya/articles/shading_1/ Shading
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/visual_arts/19981023/skybox_01.htm Creating Backgrounds for 3D Games
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/tips/col_tips/surf_lum/Surf_lum_node.html The surfaceLuminance node part 1
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/tips/col_tips/surfLum2/Surf_lum_node2.html The surfaceLuminance node part 2
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/tips/col_tips/HSV_anim/HSV_index.htm Animating HSV attribute of a texture file
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/ various shading tutorials
http://www.3dluvr.com/pixho/tips/col_tips/poor_radio/radio_poor.html how to simulate reflected light
http://www.secondreality.ch/tutorials/materials/wornmetal/wornmetal.html worn, painted metal (Max)
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/ut/ Unreal Tournament Skinning
http://www-viz.tamu.edu/students/amoran/courses/viza617/rendering/index… Shader Networks
http://leigh.cgcommunity.com/tutorials.htm Photorealisitic Shading For Dummies
http://www.secondreality.ch/tutorials/tutorials.html Weathered textures
http://tomcapizzi.com/imagesHi/bugWebPage/index.html Bug Surfacing
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/bump… How to Combine Bump and Displacement Maps
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/ghos… How to Create a Ghost Shader
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/env_… How to Create a Realistic Sky with EnvSky
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/toon… How to Make a Cartoon Shader
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/doub… How to Make a Double-Sided Shader
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/clou… How to Make Natural Clouds
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/ripp… Water Ripple
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/shaders.3d Making Metallic Shaders
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/real… How to create realistic glass
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/refl… How to Set up Reflections and Refractions
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/shader_glow/shader_glow.html Shader Glow Tips

TEXTURE MAPS
http://www.noirextreme.com/digital/digital001122.htm Earth
http://oera.net/How2/Earth1.htm Earth Texture Maps
http://www.3dmax.com/textures/index.cfm Texture maps
http://www.animax.it Texture maps

Rendering and Lighting
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/rayDisplace_workarounds.html Baking (? convert to file texture ?) Workarounds
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/lighting_flat_objects.html Lighting flat objects
http://cade.scope.edu/courseware/notes/mayarender/index.html Rendering Guide
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/id-studiolab/ide521/tutorial2_online.php material & light tutorial
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_05.html Depth map auto focus
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_03.html Display resolution or filmgate?
http://www.halbstein.com/tutorials/deskLamp/lampPages/lampPageThree.htm A Desk Lamp Light
http://www.cadmonkey.com/tut3.htm Shadow Quality
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/decay_regions/decay_regions… Spotlight Decay Regions
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/fog_density/fog_density.html Controlling Fog Density
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/transparency_shadows/trans_s… Transparency Shadows
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/fisheye/ The Fisheye Camera
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/bakeshadows/ How to bake shadows in Maya
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/radiosity/ Faking radiosity in Maya
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/tesselation/ Multi-Patch Model Tesselation
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/davidhofmann1/ How to render a real volume in Maya
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/emmanuel1/ BACKLIGHT SHADER by Emmanuel Campin
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/emmanuel2/ Faking ray-traced shadows with detph-map shadows
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/emmanuel3/ Creating motion-blurred shadows in Maya
http://hussle.harvard.edu/~pyesley/waterwaves/ WaterWaves Plugin

http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/camlightproject.3d Camera/Light texture projection
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Special/atom/tutorial/render… IPR Rendering 24
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/anim… How to Animate Texture Files
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/came… How to animate camera cuts
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/came… How to create camera cut camera
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/refl… How to Create a Ball Env Reflection Map
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/soft… How to create a soft spotlight
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/ligh… How to Create a Light GOBO with Barn Doors
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/env_… How to Create Realistic Shadows with EnvSky
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/dept… How-to Set Up Depth of Field
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/cent… How to Use Center of Interest with Depth of Field
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/over… Technical Overview on Aliasing Atrifacts
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/over… Technical Overview of Maya Software Rendering
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/light_linking/light_linking… Light Linking in Heavy Scenes
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/passes_layers/passes_layers… Rendering in Passes and Layers
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/simple_fog/simple_fog.html Simple Fog
http://www.gignews.com/artistkapp0700.htm Depth of Field as a Post Process
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/lightfog/lightfog.html Spotlight Fog
http://www.digital-tutors.com/digital_tutors/maya/t_jj_light_projector… Slide projector
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/gi/ Faking outdoor illumination in maya

MENTAL RAY & RENDERMAN
http://www.steven-tubbrit.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Tutorials/Tutorial_02.htm Final Gathering - Maya / Mental Ray
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/displacement_maps_mental.html Recovering normal and displacement maps from existing geometry with Mental Ray
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/rayDisplace_mental.html RayDisplace Mental Updates
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/rayDisplace_renderman.html Using displacement and normal maps with Renderman
http://www.deathfall.com/tutorials.php?op=showcontent&id=63 My first RenderMan Shader
http://www.3dluvr.com/intercepto/maya/tutorials/mray_thegathering/intro… Global Illumination in Maya
http://www.motiondesign.biz/vol_start.html Volume Scattering and Volume Caustics
http://www.motiondesign.biz/sss_start.html Simulating Subsurface Scattering
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/animatedmtor/ Animated Shaders with MTOR
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/ribbox/ Using Ribbox in MTOR
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/shadowpass/ Shadow Passes with MTOR
http://www.br1.org/2002/postnuke/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=Secti… Rendering with mental Ray
http://www.hiddendinosaur.com/tutorial/ Using Maya UV's with Renderman
http://www.rendermania.com/HDRI/index.shtml HDRI with Renderman
http://www.arsc.edu/~brody/pages/tut.htm Prman Slim
http://www.renderman.org/RMR/Books/sig02.course16.pdf.gz TD Lore this file is actually a pdf and not gzipped

NON MAYA SPECIFIC RESOURCES FOR RENDERING
http://www.anticz.com/texture.htm General Texturing
http://www.anticz.com/drawing1.htm Drawing - Using Light and Shadow
http://www.billmunnsgallery.com/techniques.html Bryce as a paint tool for textures
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/id-studiolab/gems/compvis/tutorials/compositin… Interesting composite tutorial
http://www.menithings.com/How/Tilt/Hair/Tilt_Hair_01.html Hair with Texture Maps
http://www.debevec.org/ HDRI Lighting
http://graphics.stanford.edu/~henrik/images/global.html GI examples
http://freespace.virgin.net/hugo.elias/radiosity/radiosity.htm Explaination of Radiosity
http://www.flipcode.com/tutorials/tut_rad.htm Another Explaination of Radiosity
http://www.softimage.com/Education/XSI/SelfPacedLearning/tutorials/webT… Beer in XSI
http://cedar.intel.com/software/idap/media/pdf/games/procedural_clouds… Clouds conceptual
http://www.vterrain.org/Atmosphere/Clouds/index.html Clouds with VTP
http://www.cs.unc.edu/~harrism/SkyWorks/ Clouds with Skyworks
http://www.andrew-whitehurst.net/tutorials.html Lighting

MEL
http://www.ewertb.com/maya/mel_intro.html MEL Introduction
http://www.ewertb.com/maya/mel/index.html MEL - How to
http://216.127.95.21/content/mayaforum/9054 MEL - what to know (german tutorial)
http://www.zoorender.com/html/tutorial_maya_mel.htm BASIC STEPS FOR WORKING WITH MEL SCRIPTS
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_01.html Creating comments for MEL-buttons
http://www.morten-moen.net/tutorials/MEL-Windows/WindowShopping.html MEL GUI
http://www.ewertb.com/maya/index.html MEL
http://www.gooroos.com/unitConv-essay.html Unit Conversions In Maya
http://www.nthd.org/article/articleview/52/ Introduction to MEL Scripting
http://www.digital-tutors.com/digital_tutors/maya/t_mc_mel_ui_script.htm Customize the Interface using MEL
http://www.digital-tutors.com/digital_tutors/maya/t_km_mel_getting_star… Getting started with MEL
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/mel/attrCollec… How to use attrCollection.mel Script
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/mel/install/in… How to use an Assistant Online MEL Script
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/mel/qtvr/index… Hot to use QTVR.mel Script
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/mel/relocateTe… How to use 'relocateTexturesWin'
http://www.3dgate.com/techniques/000124/mel_script.html MEL Scripting

GENERAL TUTORIALS
http://www.multiliteracy.com/persist/ Introduction to Animation
http://www.fractalice.com/tutorials/maya/imageplanes.asp how to set up image planes
http://216.127.95.21/content/mayaforum/10932 Lightlinking (german tutorial)
http://www.zoorender.com/html/tutorials_maya_ceditor.htm BASIC STEPS FOR USING THE CONNECTION EDITOR
http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp031.htm The Key Light
http://www.3dlight.com/page-lighting.htm Lighting - from film set to 3d
http://www.trinity3d.com/M4F/tutorials/UnWrap/Final.wmv How to Unwrap in Maya video with sound
http://myfileformats.com/?telocator=driver&compound=hrt.html Various File Formats
http://www.a3d.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/maya/tutorials.html Camera Projection
http://www.eztools3d.com/tutorial.htm EZTools Tutorial
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/tangents/tangents.html Custom Marking Menu for Key Tangents
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/selections/selections.html Custom Marking Menu for Selection Masks
http://www.jackals-forge.com/tutor/tut2_1.html The Shaker - create camera
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/ron1/ CharPik: Character Pick Tutorial
http://www.rhonda.com/Maya_TopTen_04.html How to show a node buried in the hypergraph
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/rendering/caus… How to Use Caustics Plugin for Maya 3
http://www.bk.tudelft.nl/informatica/toi/flash/_refguide/ Maya Reference Guide 4.0
http://www.goat.com/alias/alias_bible.html Power Animator Bible
http://www.funny3d.com/tutorial/article/Live.pdf Maya Live
http://www.the-gnomon-workshop.com/tutorials/continuity/continuity.html Understanding Continuity
http://www.ewertb.com/maya/api/index.html Maya API How-To
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/ae_zdepth/ Z-Depth in After Effects
http://www.highend3d.com/global/tutorials/backlightglow/ Compositing Backlighting
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/andrea1/ MAYA TO LIGHTSCAPE
http://www.animationartist.com/2002/10_oct/tutorials/building_workstati… How to build a workstation
http://www.newriders.com/content/images/0735712581/samplechapter/073571… Using a digital Camera

GAMES
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/games/level_bu… How to Build a Level Using File Referencing
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/games/pre_ligh… How to Prelight a Scene
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/games/2_bone_i… How to Use the Two Bone IK Solver
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/games/multi_te… How to Use Multi-texturing
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/games/damage/i… How to Control the Display of an Object Using Dynamic Attributes
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Special/atom/tutorial/games… Maya for Games
http://unreal.epicgames.com/skeletal/UTSkelAnim.htm Unreal Export
http://stecki.m4driving.sm/tips/tips.html Racer Export

FINE ARTS
http://www.conceptart.org/ ConceptArt.org
http://www.anticz.com/heads.htm Head Proportions
http://www.bakaneko.com/howto/main.htm Drawing Anime Style *10/24
http://mag.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=pageone&article_no=1549&page=1 How To Draw Animation: Shoulder Motion
http://www.anticz.com/heads.htm Understanding the Form of the Human Head
http://www.anticz.com/handtut.htm Drawing the human hand

REFERENCE MATERIALS
http://www.bartleby.com/107/indexillus.html Anatomy of the Human Body
http://www.onnovanbraam.com/ Wide range of reference materials from cars to guns
http://www.bartelby.com/107/279.html Human Surface Anatomy
http://www.bartelby.com/107/ Gray's anatomy
http://www.fineart.sk A great resource for human anatomy reference
http://www.suurland.com/ A great resource for vehicle reference & blueprints
http://www.geocities.com/Augusta/9275/ SMALL Vintage Car Blueprints

MAYA NEWBIES
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/type/tutorial.asp?id=28561 A Taste of Maya
http://www.digital-tutors.com/digital_tutors/maya/index.htm Digital tutors - Newbies tutorials
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/learning_maya/… Learning Maya Chapter 17: Character Controls
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/learning_maya/… Learning Maya Chapter 18: The Walk Cycle
http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/Community/Learn/how_tos/learning_maya/… Learning Maya Chapter 19: Non Linear Animation
http://www.n8dog.com/tutb/index.html Artisan
http://www.n8dog.com/tuta/pb.html Photorealistic Buttons
http://www.n8dog.com/tutd/index.html Deforming Text
http://www.n8dog.com/tute/index.html NURBS Booleans
http://www.mtmckinley.net/newbie_tuts.html Newbies tutorials
http://www.newriders.com/articles/article.asp?product_id={61B5439B-86B6-45E8-B907-59911F79B3BE} A Tour of Maya

Hi yeah.. I hope posting load of tutes won't piss any one off... these are a bunch of links sourced from where I go to uni
I havent check every single one.. I'm sure a couple are broken... most if not all are to do with maya.. enjoy!!!!!!

That is a very good and long list there Me109. Most them are listed in the Leraning Maya link in the first post though. Still, it is easier for people to read them here, rather than go through another site :)

Wow, that is long

many a tutorial for many a newb ...

That Dobby Tut, [url]http://www.3dm-mc.com/tutorials/maya/dobby/[/url]

All I can say is WOW! [8D] That is sooooo cooool, I wish I could model like that, let alone skin like it! [:D]

Heres a site where you can access the manuals for Maya 2!
Still lots of relavent stuff in there.

http://caad.arch.ethz.ch/info/maya/manual/

[?]
Hi all,
Im a newbie to this forum and I am also a newbie to 3d. I have recently became very interested in using poser. Im not sure if this is where I post as most of this thread is about maya.... however if anyone can help me regarding learning to use poser from scratch or a program that will get me ready for poser Id appreciate it. Im interested in the figure side of 3d using people in other words.
Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks

Ok guys, I'm unsticky-ing this thread, and putting all the links in the wiki. Actually, I just tried a lot of the tutorial links on the previous page and a huge proportion of them don't work anymore. If you ever want to add or contribute to the list, you can do it there easily!

http://www.sumea.com.au/sumeawiki/owbase/ow.asp?3dLinks

I bought Expose 1, and hoped that one day I will be good enough to have my work published in there. Unfortunately, I do not think that my work is quite that good yet.

If you have never seen this book, then I really suggest that you buy it. It is easily the best art book that I own.

i know of the book. but i have not looked through one.

Same, cant find any decent art books here in Ballarat!! :( Have to order the over the net instead

It is really worth it :D I ordered my Limited Edition one before it came out, and I am really glad that I did so. They sold out of those ones about a week after they announced that you could buy them (about 4 months before they were even released :) ). It basically has all of the best works from of www.cgtalk.com

I just found this thread on the CG Channel Forum.

http://www.cgchannel.com/forum/viewthread?thread=4291

Honestly I do think that quite a few people are being a bit too harsh on CG Talk for their book. I think it is a fantastic book, and hope to get my work published in there one day. I would not give a shit about being paid, as just the ability to have my work published along side some of the amasing artists in there would be reward enough.

I don't really agree with CG Talk's censoring of posts that spoke against them (even after the apology), but censorship can be useful from stopping people from blantly flaming others.

Well I just thought that I would let people here know. There is one bad thing that I did not particulary like about Expose 1 though, I would have loved to have seen a small part that had small bios for all the artists. Maybe in Expose 2 though.

There was a little Controversy over the first book:

quote:The painting titled "Angel" by Pierre St-Hilaire has raised some serious questions about whether the image was worthy of making it in to the book , based on the fact that the painting is obviously a direct copy (possibly a trace) of a photograph of Angelina Jolie, with elements taken straight from a Luis Royo painting.

I guess stuff like that happens when you have so many entries.

Edit: Link to full story: http://www.gfxartist.com/general/general_news/28994

Not a bad Idea, simular to this web site: http://www.designcontest.net/

I think you'd be better off posting logo competitions to a design-related website. www.australianinfront.com.au is great website where a lot of Aussie designers hang out.

Cool. I just got my Graphire 3 6x8 yesterday, been using it non-stop since.

I should be getting a graphire 3 by the end of the week [:D]

O btw hi every one [:)]

Hello Djenx. Welcome. Will it be your first Wacom? If so, I think you will like it a lot (think? shit. I KNOW you will love it :D)

This will be my first wacom/graphics tablet [:)]

I've been playing around with 3d modelling for about a year and a half now, and I thought it was about time I learned how to make some proper textures rather than just using procedural maps which don?t work well with characters : (. I had a shot at it with my mouse but its a little clumsy(like drawing on a chalk board with a spare try)so I decide to get a tablet .....Well that and digital painting looks so fun [:D]

Just to make everyone here cry... http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=4353c8b08186545e8caab8ddf91feb2a… He must be truly amasing to do THAT with a mouse :O

quote:I think you will like it a lot (think? shit. I KNOW you will love it :D)

I've had mine for 1 and a bit days and now I can't live without it.

quote:I had a shot at it with my mouse but its a little clumsy(like drawing on a chalk board with a spare try)

lol. I found it possible with a Laser mouse but the results and the stiff wrist aren't worth it.

quote:Just to make everyone here cry...

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=4353c8b08186545e8caab8ddf91feb2a…

He must be truly amasing to do THAT with a mouse :O

I've seen that on GFX when he won the T-shirt comp. My eyes popped out of my head when I found out he used a mouse.

Aven I can tell you that that the Intruos2 are a huge step better then the Graphire2. My work wacom is a Intruos2 and my home one is a Graphire2. I seen the spec and all of the two and didn't know if i would notic the changes. I find the differece between the two the same as the differece between a mouse and a Graphire2. But I don't know how much my art work had gain from it because i havn't had the chace to get it a good work out :(.

Anyway you should have fun putting it to the test.

I have had a good go with it now, and I do like it a lot more. Although the newer Graphires may have fixed the probs that I had with my Graphire1. The cursor seems to be a lot more stable. This could be as it is just newer than my old one or becasue it is twice the size. The size is taking a bit of getting used to. No more flicking my wrist and watching the cursor teleport all over the screen :( After a week though, I should be fine again. I just haven't used that large a Wacom for nearly four years (wow, it has really been that long). The extra pressure steps wont make too much of a difference at the moment, but with Photoshop CS being launched today, and a lot of other companies moving from 8bit to 16bit colour palletes, the difference will soon become noticable. I really wanted it for the Tool Box at the top. Change pressure settings with the flick of a wrist :D~~~~ No more having to keep the Wacom window open and continusly change it. The one thing that I am really disapointed with though is the demo version of ComicStudio Mini. The way they were talking about it on their site, makes it sound AWESOME. The demo version that comes with it is very sad. Looks like there is another app I need to save up for (sigh, so many). The demo for it can be dl here http://www.celsys.co.jp/download/cs/index.html Just hold your mouse over the Japanese text and look at the bottom of your screen to see the name of the URL to help you to dl it.

I was thinking of getting a Intruos2 but the only one I could possibly afford is the 4x5 which is a little small for my liking, and is another $80 [V]

quads are best ofcourse, especially in your characters face. good edgeloops etc..
if you can avoid tris you should but if you have placed them well you shouldn't have a problem.

As inglis mentioned, Quads generally produce the nicest look in a model, especially if the model is environment mapped in the game... tris will often distort environment mapping.

alright i had a dig through my old models and pulled one out that shows why you should be careful when using tris. you are right though, a lot of artists will tell you to use quads without actually being able to explain why (i haven't seen an actual explenation yet).

this is the first character that i ever made using Maya. man i learnt a shit load about hp modelling from him. mainly why not to use triangles.

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/tylor_01.jpg[/img]

mesh doesn't look to bad except for the big crack running down his face and the fact that he was my first head job ever (hang on... wait a sec...). he was made with the true form of Sub-divisional Modelling (SubD), not the fake poly proxy way (the way that i use now).

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/tylor_02.jpg[/img]

now we can start to see that the wire frame is looking rather messy all over. his lips and nose are probably the worst affected aras. the ridge of his nose is also very bad.

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/tylor_03.jpg[/img]

now with the low poly cage layered over top so that you can see the base. notice that there is a nasty six sided nsided poly on the side of his nose doing some funky shit.

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/tylor_04.jpg[/img]

a close up view of his mouth and nose area.

[img]http://home.netspeed.com.au/mlanham/tylor_05.jpg[/img]

now this is the SubD model once it had been converted entirely to polys. i dare anyone to tell me that it is one beautiful, easy to understand mesh. it is an absolute mess and looks horrible. although when hp modelling, poly counts aren't the bigest deal, you still don't want to have a mesh with (bolded big red fricken blinking letters)THAT(/bolded big red fricken blinking letters) many extra polys.

tris can be alright as long as you be careful where you use them, they can hav a habbit of creating odd creasing along the corner points. nSided polys (five sided or more) can also be a nightmare if not used carefully. the extra vert (over a quad) should try to stay flat along the edge, or it will pinch and create an odd dimple effect. i can post a pic of that if people really need a diagram as to why.

as Inglis mentioned, it is mainly used for the edgeloop/polyloop theory. your loops should follow the contours of the creatures muscles. this done as it will make it easier to model and once the character has been rigged, they will deform better at the muscular areas. if edge/polylooping has been done well, there really shouldn't be any need for tris or nsided polys. there may be as few occassions when a tri or nsided may be needed or prefered over a quad though. it can come down to personal preference.

there is some really good documentation by the worlds best hp modellers here at www.metagons.com also make sure that you check out the wireframe section. it can really help to show you how you can model and area of the body using quads.

if there are any questions or requests, please ask.

*slaps head*

this is in the wrong forum! I was sleepy when I posted this.. :/

Great feedback so far guys :D

I know one thing related to the topic - and that is that i HATE spline modelling (in MAX).

i really hate it.

But on the flipside, i probably just can't use it properly. :)

spline modelling is the main reason why you shouldn't use triangle patches. damn bunching up :/

SubD (true or fake) really does work better. it is quicker and has a whole variety of great tools available. and as soon as Byron releases his poly tools for Maya....

Well. what do you know. i just went to grab a link to his site and... it has just been released. i'll have to buy it on the weekend :D http://www.visualboo.com/%7Ebyronimo/mainpage.htm

Sub divisional surfaces all the way. I tried modelling with Patches and Nurbs and they just seem too restrictive in what they can allow you to create.

As I understand it, there are two schools of thought when you are modelling with sub divisional surfaces. Those that try to avoid poles (verticies that comprise more of less than 4 edges) and those that try to use only quads (four sided polygons).

I think the two are mutually exclusive and it would be inherintly impossible to model something whilst adhering to both methods. If you did, you would end up with something that very much resembled a patch anyway and that would kind of defeat the purpose of modelling with sub-D's in the first place.

I prefer to model whilst adhering to the quad only method. Good results can come of either and I think it really is up to the artist as to which he feels more comforable with.

check this post for a better explanation of the two
[url]http://www.izware.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000313.html[/url]

Theres also the importance of edge loops which in my experience are the most relevant thing when modelling a good clean mesh. They are basically an unbroken loop of edges that help to define the primary forms of the model and serve as a method of selection aswell as a point of reference when you want to uniformly add and subtract detail from your mesh.

This is a head I did a while ago. You can see highlighted the major loops that define the eyes cheeks and mouth. It's certainly not the best example of edge loops out there, but it should give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

[img]http://www.ionization.net/loophead.jpg[/img]

The best resource site I have found is www.metagons.com Go to their wireframe section and there are a lot of good pics to help you out with shape and form. Plus they have material from Bay Raitt, and let's all face it, it doesn't get much better than that.

Just found this. Although it is a little off topic, I didn't know where else to place it.

http://www.ethereality.info/ethereality_website/3d/topology_research/to…

I decided to post this as I noticed that a few people are raising questions about quads vs tris and pents.

I have done some reading and it seems that modelling with pents is quite alright, as long as you are careful with your UV Wraps. Maya has a problem where relaxing the UV set will cause some odd occurences on the smoothed mesh. I am unsure if Max would have this problem, but just be wary.

http://cube.phlatt.net/forums/spiraloid/viewtopic.php?TopicID=23

Cool interview and some awesome art. Very motivating.

sweet baby jesus. Reminds me of Ryan Church's work, only more polished.

Wow :) Excuse me while I pick my jaw up from the floor [:D]

Very nice.

no i haven't had that problem with my Graphire I. you should return it. should still be under waranty if it is only a month old.

don't worry though, my overlay has a nice dent scratched into it from using my pen too hard :p.

definitely get in contact with either the store or Wacom themselves though.

Never heard of that happening, I'd take it back.

The worst thing about the new Wacoms is the fat pen, its a traversty I tells ya!! My poor little hand...boo hoo.

The problem with the pen is only becase you have little girly hands Malus. [:p]

I have never had any problems of that kind with my wacom, Id say you got one with a defect, take it back, they should replace it.

Pantmonger

Souri, same thing happened to me..

Is there two layers? If so, just peel the contact stuff off.. I did that, and I've had no problems whatsoever..

Pants, my girly hands make for soft touching, you know that. [:P]

Actually all the newer tablets we have here at work have larger fat pens, not the older slimline ones like I have at home.

Took off the layer like bob said.. I assume this is what you had to do in the first place. [;)]

Is the contact stuff like the plastic on some mobile phones to protect the screen when they're new.

Yup HC, I first thought it was a protective layer of goodness.

But it doesn't really do anything helpful. Peel that bastard off and you're set.

I bought the same tablet as you a couple of months ago and have been using it on and off when I have a chance... Nothing like this has happened to me so far though. Take it back and complain :)

Aaight... further info perhaps?

Sir! The radar, sir! It appears to be... Jammed!

we ain't found shit

hmmn, using a mouse in one hand, and the other hand for keyboard shortcuts or space ball view manipulation could work, wonder if that is what they are pushing it as....

Yeah, it doesnt replace the mouse.

I just need two more arms... one for mouse, one for spacepuck, one for keyboard and the other for regulating the coffee drip.

I remember the game versions of those things were all the rage a few years ago. Heres hoping the 3D version sticks around for a bit longer.

Hell I'll buy one, if only to nurture my hand into the shape of a deformed claw ;)

Thats just it, no deformed claw on the traveller... your arm stays flat and you tweak it with your forefinger and thumb. Tres cool. No RSI.

Next time I am in Hong Kong Ill grab one and take it on tour with me.

http://www.cgchannel.com/news/viewfeature.jsp?newsid=2433

A review of it. Looks pretty junky :/

Shit - if this is what I think it is, a mate of mine I went to Uni with in NZ developed it. The good thing is that Phil is a 3d artist as well as programmer and the early version I saw a year or so back reflected this - really easy to use.

He's (and the others) have put a shitload of work into it -- I hope it does really well.

i think i understand what you would like to do.

use the mirror geometry tool only when the mesh is complete, as it will make the mesh a whole.

it should be as simple as simply pressing (shift+d (D)). this will duplicate the mesh as a new object. now swich to your scale tol (r) and start to scale it in the given axis (should be x right?), until it 'flips' and starts to mirror. to make it so that it is completely proportional, type in -1 in the 'scale x' box in your channel bar (assuming it is the x axis, otherwise change as needed). that is it.

note that the two objects will be COMPLETELY seperate meshes. if you do something to one, it WILL NOT do it to the other. if you would like to instance the geometry, do the following.

select the mesh. go to Edit > Duplicate (option box). tell it to mirror the geometry in the give axis (say the x axis) and make sure that the 'Instance' check box is checked. now when you edit one mesh in component mode, the other will update.

hope that helps. please let me know if you need pics or any other advice (i wrote this very quickly).

duplicate the mesh using edit > duplicate (option box). mirror the mesh in the

Hi Aven, thanks for your help. I was actually given that suggestion on another forum, but then someone told me the easy way. Just mirror it then choose the 'separate' command from the edit polygons menu. So easy!
Thanks again for your help :)

i was going to suggest that method as well, but was unsure whether you wanted the mesh instanced or not (and the msg was getting long enough :p). it's good to hear that you got it working though.

I know Sumaleth.. he used to do pixel art with Dpaint on the Amiga over a decade ago. [:)]

Great site.

I urge everyone to check it out.

Also one of the dudes responsible for QuakeRally yes?
Love that guys work...

Yep, that's him. I actually sent him an email about sumea.com.au when I first opened up the site. I remember back a decade ago (around 93 I think) when we both entered a graphics competition. It was pixel art, Deluxe Paint, 32 colour palette Amiga stuff. His picture was voted first, and mine came second, but I still claim that my entry was miles better than his [:)] *shakes fist*