I have been trying for some time to learn to use the open source 3D modeling and animation program Blender. The fact that such a robust and extensive program exists, is free, and open source, is something that I find really exciting. And I want to learn it and support it.
However, for me, it isn’t working out at the moment. It is actually getting in the way of having fun creating art. I am not finding it the easiest program to learn, and I have been trying. I have one of the newer books and I tried to work along with one of the chapters only to find that one of the tools being featured has since been deprecated from that specific incarnation to something and somewhere slightly different. It took me half an hour searching help and the wiki to figure out what to use instead. Were it not for being really determined to work along and try to learn how to use the features, I would have given up and gone and played a game.
I’m not inept at digital art programs and I have had experience with 3D programs, though it has been quite a while, and I can draw. Blender just turns out to be more challenging than I have the patience for at the moment. So I give in.
I still want to create 3D art.
What to do. I suppose the next thing is to look at some of the programs that are not open source and not free and are used in industries that make use of 3D art.
Where to start though. I could try to go back to the program I used in school and see if I can pick up the newer tools and functionality, and hope they kept some of the things that I remember making things a bit easier for creating. I am afraid I will find it to be more challenging than I remember. There is a 30 day trial so I could test it out before committing to it, which is good. If it turns out it is easy to pick up and get going then the next problem becomes the price. Right now, it’s a little high for my budget. Maybe it will be a goal, something to strive for.
I’ve been reading some sites and magazines and have found two other programs closer to my budget, also with 30 day trials. I have decided on one that I think I will enjoy working with the most, initially. I may still want the other once I get proficient with the first one.
I’ve watched several of the training videos on the site, and know once I get the trial I will go back and watch some of them again. I’ve even ordered a book so I have some reference.
I haven’t downloaded the trial yet. I’m hoping to do that this weekend. I am trying to time the 30 days to coincide with some time off from work that I have scheduled, that way I have larger chunks of time to spend with it so I can really see how I like it.
More soon. And who knows, maybe pictures in a post or two.