Hi guys!
I'm Christian and I've just subscribed to this platform.
I work as a graphic designer and do some motion graphics here and there. I really fell in love with 3D when my company hired a freelancer doing some really cool stuff with the product we have. He did a billboard in NY square looking like it was coming out of the building. He does really cool stuff and I really want to deep dive into realistic product modelling and animation for product advertising. Can you guys help me recommending what would be the best path of getting there (I know I might be cheeky saying this, but as fast as possible :3).
I've always loved what 3D artists do in the gaming industry as well but to be honest, I feel like I could never do portraits and stuff like that. I think you have to have some kind of calling for that which I don't feel unfortunately but I really love and appreciate when the visuals are awesome in a game or in a 3D movie or something of that sorts. I would really love to learn something like that as well but you can be very direct with me and tell me straight, that maybe I shouldn't go for that.
I'm sorry if this post was inappropriate or it didn't fit in the list of most probably useful threads. I just came here to say hi and introduce myself and wishing you all the best!
Hello Christian and welcome. Nothing inappropriate, don't worry. You have come to the coolest place to learn 3D. The community is great here, everyone is helpful, the tutorials and courses focus on teaching concepts and fundamentals, not gimmicky stuff. Teachers love what they do and it's basically 3D Valhalla around here. You'll see for yourself as you start learning.
I too do graphics design and motions graphics as my day job and do 3D as a hobby. I can tell you the 3D pipeline (Concept art, modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, rendering, compositing, rigging, animation, VFX, 2D drawing, 3D printing, character artists, sculpting, hard surface modeling, etc, etc.) it is way way too vast, and it's all so awesome that you want to do it all. Many people are incredible generalist, but I myself have to pick my battles and I have to focus on only a handful of stuff. All of that to say that yes, don't worry, you don't have to focus on being a character artist or sculpture if you want to apply 3D to product design or product shot for print of commercials, you can't go wrong, you can focus on whatever you like, or all of it. Because believe it is addicting, it's so cool when you finally start seeing the fruits of your labor and you're getting it and learning. It is a steep learning curve at the beginning, but you stick to it and you will overcome it. Plus we're all here to help out.
The best way to learn is the learn the broad so you can apply it to your specific, you don't have to watch tutorials on product shots specifically. Everything you learn on a course about modeling a car, you can apply to when you want to model a soda can or jewelry, so no need to worry about that either. It's like a hammer and nails, those are the building blocks and with those you can build a house, a chair or plane. So you can start with the Fundamental courses:
For a total beginner, the Blender Basics Course:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/blender-basics-an-introduction-to-blender-4-x
Then Fundamentals of 3D Mesh Modeling:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/fundamentals-of-3d-mesh-modeling-in-blender
Then go up a bit with modeling a low poly asset:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/rev-model-a-low-poly-muscle-car
Then another more challenging asset:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/press-start-your-simple-first-blender-project
And then the real challenge, the modeling bootcamp:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/blender-mesh-modeling-bootcamp
And then the final boss, modeling Pothead:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/pothead-create-a-hard-surface-character-in-blender
Then after you got comfortable with modeling, it's time to go to Fundamentals again but for the next stage, texturing:
https://cgcookie.com/courses/fundamentals-of-texturing-in-blender
Thanks very much for the comment! Looking forward to seeing what they will teach me. I really resonate with the idea of picking out your battles. That's a really good point of view. It is very reassuring to hear that you can actually apply concepts you learnt from building other models to your own ideas. Thanks again for answering and this will definitely be my next course playlist!