Update, a new introduction series is released.
Hi Lizzybluts,
Everyone has a different start position, like you got already some 3D knowledge as you said.
Practically the standard pipeline is
[1]modeling, [2]texturing, [3]lighting, [4]camera, [5]animation and [6]render
Yes, there is more. Try to make that one time through, perhaps with a simple cube the first time (skip if needed steps 2-5, then skip less steps)
In a nutshell, you need to know these steps. There are specialist and generalists and for everyone the needed tutorials to watch are different. People who love to do only one or two steps (e.g., modeling), or all steps (1-6). If you can get a feeling what you like to do, learning is so much easier.
Each step is certainly reflected here in Cineversity, and there is more. Check out the Cineversity>Tutorial interface, it is a great tool, as it is very suggestive. Inside of the “Tutorial Page”, you find for example “Discipline” twirl it open and click on something that you like to learn. One click un-checks all the other. You can filter the content and get faster to the tutorials that might fit to your needs.
To achieve these realizations, what area you like more (specialized such as Modeling or “Motion Graphic Tools” or just general), as simple and as fast as possible, here are some tips about great material that is already available to you, right now:
Typically to get savvy with the interface and some core concepts—MAXON has created the Quick-start Manual.
The link for that is here:
http://www.maxon.net/support/documentation.html
MAXON has as well the very basic first steps discussed, and these are here:
http://intro.maxon.net/index_US.php?lang=US
The Quick Tips are certainly a great idea to get in under two hours a great pile of tricks and ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD428BE966FF3B1E9&feature=plpp
There is more in the Help Manual, tutorial and information.
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This is considered as given and known. We might give here as well some starter information, like I had created a while ago a Mentor group based on mainly seasoned artists:
You find these under Instructor: Pixelcorps here. (There is an option in the interface “Latest Tutorials: (x) show all” please press show all, so the every tutorial shows up) The idea was to give in a short time some basic concepts as well. Sounds familiar to the material above, sure… (I can give more details to this of course, let me know)
If you start, you have sometimes specific questions. Things that might have stopped you, and based on being not used to the application, no idea where and how to search. For that we are present in the forum and please ask anything related to CINEMA 4D there, nothing is too simple or abstract, just ask. Anything that you miss in the start phase will slow you down perhaps for a long time, so again, please ask. Any question that is placed in the forum helps us to see where we have to go in the future. As I said—everyone is different, starts differently. Tutorials are sometime like illustrated manual version and sometimes they are more spread to cover given questions from the past as well. It will never fit to 100% to everyone, there is “no one size fits all”.
You might find here tutorials that are too short, to long, too wide spread. If they are too short, please ask, if they are too wide spread, please understand based on what I mentioned above.
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Typically my next step is to ask what is your interest and you main target.
I understand that on the start “3D” seems to stand for a something that one would learn completely. Well, I’m certain some people like to do that, but in 20 years I haven’t met anyone who knows everything. The idea has its roots in the simple term “3D”. This area is not only based on a lot of tools, options and methods: The greats power is given in the combination of these, and the number of possible set ups is nearly endless. So, to learn everything means to know nearly an endless number of combinations, which I think is impossible. Why I say that? Because it might be overwhelming on the start to see all the parts, the more you know what you like - the better
To have a clear focus and go that direction for a certain time might be my best advice. If you have even a blurry idea where you are heading: GREAT! Let us know.
Most of the time you will find something in the interface that is not clear to you. the fastest way is the rich mouse click on the “parameter” or what is given, and call up the “help content”. Normally in 98% of the cases the “help content” will give a brief answer. At least it helps to clear some terms. These terms helps you to find further information here, in form of tutorials.
Mostly this material is based on a series around that theme. If you like pick the one that contains the tool, or if time allows check out the complete series. I suggest to get through the complete series. As I mentioned, the combination of the parts allows for the most variety. Such knowledge is possible to gain with these series.
You will find more often such suggestion to look “left or right” inside a tutorial. Something that drives some people nuts who use tutorials under a deadline. Again - no one size fits all
Bottom line, we haven’t invested a lot of time to redo what MAXON provides already. My perspective is that we build up on this. Yes the starter material is not that large, as CINEMA 4D is not so complicated during the start (You might think differently during the first week :o). The more you specialize, the more you get into larger set ups. The beauty is, most things build up on each other.
Again, please ask. (Please in the Forum, as you posted here in the “Tutorial suggestion forum”. Not a problem, but if we keep these forums organized, everyone will have an advantage from it.)
We are here to help you, stay in communication and you have the greatest benefit from it. :o) Welcome to Cineversity!
My best
Sassi
