3dsmax / modelling

I have a school project which requires quite a lot of designing before I can actually start working on it therefor I'd need to learn modelling. (probably some other program could be a better option for starting so feel free to suggest)
I'd like to learn the quite basic of modelling with 3dsmax or any other similiar, maybe more simple, program due to timelimit of the project.
basically I need to design and build a hometheatre "box", it would include an amplifier, speakers, subwoofer enough space for TV etc. any good tutorials / guides for such? I tried googling a bit but seems there isnt much stuff with so basic modelling.
thanks in advance.

I'll try with autocad aswell, though Ive completely forgotten how to use it by now and it would be nice to have the project in 3D so guess autocad isnt quite enough for it.
Comments
30
i could help you if you had to design a teapot instead
i dont like that american geek voice ;(
Parent
cinema4d grow in the past years and is userfriendly + offers many plugins/functions
I agree to that!

Try one of these video tutorials
http://library.creativecow.net/video-tutorials/cinema4d
Parent
thanks, I'll umm... buy... the software soonish.
Parent
Talk with gaso
he's at work and I'd like to get started with this now. cut my finger with a carving iron at school again, 2 stitches so cant really do any wood carving either :D
Parent
Unlucky but still ask gaso :p
Parent
mm i have maya and 3dmax imo maya is not that hard
You should really try Blender, it has really great tools for modelling objects and its very userfriendly AND it has great tutorials/ video tutorials wich will help you get going really fast. 3ds max is great too but its total crap if you havent done modelling before..
I tried Blender... Couldn't do shit with it. :p

I guess I've been brainwashed by Autodesk.
Parent
graph paper and a pencil?
been there, done that.

14:44:47| <@decem> need to design this home theatre box, getting kinda boring to redraw it on paper everytime I think of something cool to add or change

and its kinda complex from inside so drawing it inside out would be quite troublesome, its good for sketching but.. :l
Parent
Google SketchUp, or Autodesk Autocad/Inventor. Personally, as I am familiar with the latter they would be _my_ choice. Or Dassault SolidWorks, but I don't think that is an option if you haven't used those. btw. Autodesk offers their software(education version) free for students... just a reminder.

But from what I've heard SketchUp is pretty decent, if you don't need the utmost detail accuracy.

Blender needs more time, at least as much as 3D Studio max.

image: modo


http://www.solidworks.com
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=4246282
http://www.3ds.com/products/catia/
Ive tried google sketchup, I'd like to learn to use photoshop instead of paint if you get what I mean, its too basic for my needs. 3dsmax sounds quite ideal but learning to use it in such a short notice can be quite troublesome :k

sketchup is fine for larger, more block-a-like sketching but even then you desire for more advanced modelling, really not worth it unless you need to do something quickly.

image: design
Parent
Well, Cinema 4D is honestly the easiest to grasp from get go. Maya and 3Dsmax are too myriad and obscure until you learn to know them really well. Since they have been around for ages, they have kinda grown to certain direction, same with Lightwave.

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~peoples/fr/

Didn't took too long to do in Cinema 4D, but I did those few years ago, and the other part is unfinished. Still, it is a lot easier to do stuff in a CAD program, as it is designed to do things for the mm. But, if that level of accuracy isn't needed, C4D is pretty easy, or was, it has been years since I've used it. As you've presumably used AutoCAD before, Inventor isn't that hard to learn either.

All in all, 3d modeling is like programming, when you learn the first, it doesn't take long to learn others.
Parent
I will try both, C4D and autocad, will see which one feels more natural for the project. its just that I need to see inside the htbox, all the details of how to build it inside as its gonna be very complex build, thus I figured a 3D modelling software would be far better fit for the project than CAD. im not too familiar with cad as I apparently missed those courses where we went into 3d modelling with it.
Parent
seems I'll go for Cinema 4D for now, found some really basic tutorials on, what appears to be a decent tutorial site.

http://www.3d-resources.com/cinema_4d_tutorials/basic_cinema_4d_tutorial.html

around 1 hour till my purchase of C4D is finished. :p
http://www.3dattack.net/shop/index.php?page=6

Awesome resource, I used it alot. I learned a lot by going through their tutorials, amongst them Ferrari Modena, Stihl Chainsaw and many others. I still have the magazine on my PC somewhere... from year 2005(10numbers).
Parent
so how can I access to any of that stuff without purchasing?
Parent
TurboSquid is your best friend with this assignment. Make an account and download some freebies:

Amplifier
Speakers
Televisions

I think I saw some home theatre chairs there for free etc.

Change renderer to Mental Ray, use the new ProMaterials shipped with 3DS Max 2009, put on Photographic Exposure from Environment settings, put some photometric lights somewhere and render away... Easy bash. :)
Parent
its more about the actual furniture im making, not so much about the stuff that im gonna put into it :D
Parent
That kinda takes the fun of making it yourself away :)
Parent
Time is a limited asset, I tend to avoid doing trivial things if I can.

Modelling something basic is a good excercise, though. :)
Parent
You can't I guess, since people don't seem to share those files. I could upload the stuff I have, but it's like 700MB and I don't have any place to upload them to.

Since, I don't need them anymore, I don't use Cinema 4D anymore. I have a legit license for my current program.
Parent
i dont like 3dmax :M
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