3d animation software

[d_unbeliever]

i would like to create a moving 3d character that can for example run, jump and be able to save each minute movement in jpeg format so i can use these jpegs in flash. any software that can accomplish these? im planning to design a animated 3d character for our flash presentation. i would like to design 3d character just like from this site ---> www.neostream.com

i don't know if maya or 3d studiomax can do these, i never tried them before. the only 3d creation software i was able to use is swift3d...any software you can suggest?

[thecoalman]

That looks like it was created using a image editing app, you can create 3-D looking images but only work with them on a 2-D plane, in other words you can't rotate the object. You'll notice that image has very little animation. You could easily create a simple animation like that by manipulating the objects in a photo editing program.

Pseudo 3-D using Ulead Photoimpact (photoimpact allows you to work with Z-plane moving objects in and out):


Real 3-D:


The image above was created using Ulead Cool 3-D and is pretty basic compared to what you can do with it, It will export as a sequebtial TGA, GIF, AVI, or SWF. There's another progrma that is free that I have seen mentioned call Wax as well that looks like it's similar. I haven't used it. Creating a animation such as walking will require quite a bit time, that's something that is not easy to do, at least with Cool 3-D.

[guns1inger]

Maya and 3d studio max would eat these up, however 3d is not for the faint hearted. Discreet (now autodesk, again), makers of 3d studio max, used to have a special version of max tooled for flash output. It was called Plasma, but seems to have fallen off their product list.

3d is a very different way of working to 2d, and requires a fair bit of effort just to get your head around working in 3d space. It then requires a lot of effort to become any good at it. If you want faster results then your best bet is probably Poser, where you don't have to worry so much about modelling, but can concentrate on getting the position and textures right.

If you do want to play with 3d, I suggest downloading either the Maya PLE or XSI learning edition. Both are pretty much fully functioning, although the output is watermarked and resolution limited. They will give you a good idea of what is actually involved in 3d work though.

[thecoalman]

Maya and 3d studio max would eat these up, .

Yes and for a couple thousand more they should.

[Conquest10]

^I agree with the above. Maya can do exactly what you want. You can create it in a 2d program but that will be no good as you can't rotate or animate too easily (you would have to draw each frame out if you want it to look good). So 3d is going to be your only option here.

If you've never used Maya, it is going to take a WHILE to learn. Like the above posters have said, you will have to learn to think differently when working in a 3d space. You will have to learn how to rig a character and get that character to move realistically. That is not an easy thing to do. It sounds easy but it is not.

I don't know if realistic movement is your goal as that website doesn't finish loading up for some reason but don't think you can be able to do this in a few days. It will take time.

[Conquest10]

Ulead Cool 3-D looks pretty good. The samples, that is. Don't have any experience with it, though.

[guns1inger]

thecoalman - the site he referred to shows character animation that can't be easily replicated in anything less than a 3d environment.

More reasonably priced 3d modelling packages include Cinema 4D (priced in the hundreds instead of the thousands), or the freeware alternatives of the bewildering Blender, or Anim8or -> http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html

[thecoalman]

thecoalman - the site he referred to shows character animation that can't be easily replicated in anything less than a 3d environment.

I only looked at first page, I can easily replicate that using photoimpact and my gif animator. As I said it allows you to move images using the z-plane, easily merging them seamlessly. Here's a sample of the 3D-type images you can make from there sample library. I'm sure your aware of what you could with from here.




Having looked at the SWF file this wouldn't work, well it would but you'd be working at it for years........... Cool 3-D would be able to do that to some degree. Obviously this is no comparison to the capabilities of the apps you have mentioned but for simple stuff it's more than adequate. The same for cool-3-D, as far as the sample avaiable on the Ulead site........ They should let me make some samples. Not the ideal tool for making something really complex especially if you have a couple of grand to drop on a application but for $100 it's quite a decent app. One thing I do find qiuite impressive about it is it's particle affects, they are very realistic.

http://www.nepadigital.com/temp/clouds.wmv

[d_unbeliever]

i could request the money from our company to buy those softwares, anyway its their presentation. I have one month to learn and prepare the presentation...

[jakol]

for 3d character animation I will go for Poser 6 by Curious Lab., it can also render to flash, although it will take you a while to learn.

[guns1inger]

You aren't going to produce much in a month. If they are serious, then for less than the cost of the software they could get an animation house to do the work.

Poser is a start, but you still need to get a character into it, unless you are happy with the stock characters that ship with it.

Set some realistic goals or get professionals to do the grunt work while you take the glory.

[Conquest10]

^Yup. A month is too short of a time. Much better (and cheaper) to get someone who knows how to do it than trying to learn and end up with a half-assed attempt.

[d_unbeliever]

i want to learn 3d animation...it's been a dream of mine . im a fast learner especially when im highly motivated and im willing to make some sacrifices...
maybe, i will download the trial version first of those programs you mentioned and try them...any site where i can get some good tutorials?

[guns1inger]

3dbuzz.com. Register and download the vtm's for Maya. Buzz is a great teacher.