> Hey there, > another two cents (this may add up ;)
> I can see how it seems complicated if you go strictly by the manual. > What I did is seek out modelling tutorials on the web, > and I found that most of them use a lot of poly by poly construction, > which I now use to do everything, simple or complex. I think that this is key ! To get your helicopters pilot license , you have to lern to fly a small plane first . SDS primitives are all 'smoothened to nurbs' right off the start, and this could very well be what is tripping people up . Polygon to start and then switch over may very well be the solution for new users starting to attempt to use SDS (don't tell RealSoft or they will remove the polygonal option in the first thing in the morning) > I agree, but then again, how is the software supposed to know what > you are up to, if you don't tell it in detail? imho SDS combined > with displacement maps is the most detailed way to build & animate > about anything. That's the basic problem that I see with SDS ... the way the prim- itives are set up to be used right now . They require a lot of detai- led input , for even very simple tasks . > Try Zbrush, or a 2d drawing program. When it comes to real 3d stuff, > I have to force myself to accept that I will spend hours on miniscule > details that would take mere minutes in a drawing. At the same time, > nothing is ever set in stone, and I can alter and improve things, go > back or try something completely different, as long as I want, unlike > in a painting or claymodelling etc. I don't mind putting in the time , and actually making some kind of progress ... but when I am just spinning my wheels and going no where, and the sweat is coming off of me , and Zaug's Manual search engine is glowing red hot , and still I am getting no where ... I have to stop and ask "why ?" & "am I the only one to give up and walk away?" > That's it. Hope you find it somewhat motivational. > Daniel Maybe not motivational , but your insight (and Mark's) into the polygonal aspect of SDS could very well have broken loose some useable power in RS , that doesn't require you to divorce your wife, quit your job , and send the kid's dog to the pound , just so you can find enough time to learn how to build a snake . Where do I get started with polygonal modeling using RS3D ? Are there any 'RS3D' specific tute's ? (I would [of course] assume not) Thanks for your insights . studio www.niagara.com/~studio www.studiodynamics.net
