Digital Art & Photography

The closest open source equivalent to 3DS Max is probably Blender.  In fact many Blender 3D users also uses 3DS Max.

Here’s some notes to make it easier for 3DS Max users to transit to the open source 3D suite:

Navigation

1. Unlike Max, Blender selection is using a right-mouse button click.

2. In Max, multiple select is using the Ctrl key, for Blender the multi-select is the SHIFT key.

3. The Select and Link parent-child grouping is Ctrl + P keys using Blender. The last object selected in the parent.

Modelling aspect

 4. Sub-object selection mode is known as Edit Mode. The Edit Mode toggle is the TAB key

5. Connect loopcut is Ctrl + R keys using Blender.

6. Cut is K-key (Knife)

7. The shift-drag of edge to extrude in 3DS Max is E-key using Blender.

Well, these are some of the fundamental differences. The workflow of both programs are quite similar.

Hope that this is helpful to some people.

In order to make a realistic 3D robot, there is a need to understand the anatomy of one.

A 3D robot is structured very much like a living organism. So to make it realistic, a 3D concept robot can consider the location or provision of the following components.

1. Outer casing. This part must be modelled. For organic form, one can use subdivision surfacing to create.

2. Actuator. Think of this as the muscles of a machine.

3. Drive train.4. The frame. Think of this as the skeleton of the machine

5. Controller. Think of this as the brain of the machine

6. Sensors.

7. Manipulator.

8. Communication system. This is like the mouth of the machine

9. Power system. This is like the battery pack.

So, next time you create a science-fiction 3D robot, do keep that in mind.

Beside Bryce and Terragen, there is a most popular landscape generating program. It is the famous Vue.

Vue is the 3D landscape generating program that is widely used in movies. Well, a free copy of it is available on the latest issue of 3D World magazine.

The version on the magazine cover is Vue 8 Frontier. This version seems to have a rendering resolution size limit though. Anyway, Vue is a fantastic program capable of producing very realistic and pretty landscape. Vue frontier allows the import of 3D human figures from Poser as well as DAZ Studio.

Vue comes with several different modules. If you are into landscape rendering, it is nice to check it out.

There are many free illustration and drawing programs. But there are very few painting program. What I meant as painting programs are those that allows the user to painting as in using natural paint media. Programs such as Photoshop, Photoplus and GIMP may be able to be used for painting. But that is not their main specialty.

A true digital painting program must be able to emulate effects such as water colour, airbrush, pastel, oil painting and so on so forth.

One of the few of such free program is Mypaint. This is a very nice software that supports pressure sensitivity. That means, you can use it with a graphic tablet and the strokes will be natural with thickness that corresponds to how much pressure is being applied to the stylus pen.

The closest commercial equivalent to Mypaint should be Artrage which is also very nice and not too expensive.

Bryce 7 is out now. Now it comes in three different versions. There is even a free PLE version. This version is however not for commercial usage.

Looking at the video, it seems the render quality has improved significant, approaching that of Vue.

Bryce and Vue should be the most popular landscape generating and rendering software around. However, there are also others such as Terragen and Carrara.

Check out the video on Bryce works below: