NationStates Jolt Archive

Hey all,

So I am something of an amateur author and as much as I enjoy writing my stories I'm always on the lookout for a way to take some of the material to the next level.

Most of my stories are sci-fi and sometimes I really wish I could animate the scenes in my stories not only for the sheer delight of watching them come alive, but also to help keep things straight in my head when I'm writing a scene.

Any suggestions/advice/info on a decent graphic animator suite that won't require me to take a bank loan to afford?

Any suggestions/advice/info on a decent graphic animator suite that won't require me to take a bank loan to afford?

No :(

You could ask around on deviantart.

Adobe has some good stuff that isn't too expensive.

You could ask around on deviantart.

Adobe has some good stuff that isn't too expensive.

Ah, good suggestions, thanks!

Umm, utorrent? >_>

Umm, utorrent? >_>

*gasp* surely you don't mean...

::goes to Limewire to start torrent DL::

Hey all,

So I am something of an amateur author and as much as I enjoy writing my stories I'm always on the lookout for a way to take some of the material to the next level.

Most of my stories are sci-fi and sometimes I really wish I could animate the scenes in my stories not only for the sheer delight of watching them come alive, but also to help keep things straight in my head when I'm writing a scene.

Any suggestions/advice/info on a decent graphic animator suite that won't require me to take a bank loan to afford?

Personally, I recommend the GIMP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP

Freeware, and while not QUITE as powerful as Photoshop, it's pretty decently close.

Personally, I recommend the GIMP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP

Freeware, and while not QUITE as powerful as Photoshop, it's pretty decently close.

But that won't handle animation, will it?

Try Adobe, their suite is reasonably cheap, and functional.

But that won't handle animation, will it?

Wait, animation? Whoops!

In that case, you should probably look at Flash animation. As far as I'm aware that's the cheapest type.

Try the old macromedia director.

OR, get a Mac.

Try the old macromedia director.

OR, get a Mac.

A Mac comes with software that would do sophisticated CG animation?

A Mac comes with software that would do sophisticated CG animation?

Some of them does.

Blender is free, watch Elephants Dream (http://video.yahoo.com/watch/45811/498171) for an example of what it can do. Everyone I have talked to who knows how to use it says it's interface seems very strange at first but is the most natural way to do 3D graphics once you learn your way around it and get comfortable with it.

A Mac comes with software that would do sophisticated CG animation?

Not necessarily, but they're definitely good platforms for animation. One of the very few things they are good for, in fact.

Hey all,

So I am something of an amateur author and as much as I enjoy writing my stories I'm always on the lookout for a way to take some of the material to the next level.

Most of my stories are sci-fi and sometimes I really wish I could animate the scenes in my stories not only for the sheer delight of watching them come alive, but also to help keep things straight in my head when I'm writing a scene.

Any suggestions/advice/info on a decent graphic animator suite that won't require me to take a bank loan to afford?

What's your ceiling on price? You can get a full version of Lightwave V9 for $895 (with PDF manuals) or $995 (with printed manuals), from Newtek. If you're a student, check out the student copy for $195+.

Some of them does.

Would it be less or more expensive to buy a whole new computer to do animation or buy the software at the same level of functionality?

I am betting the software will be cheaper ...

Not necessarily, but they're definitely good platforms for animation. One of the very few things they are good for, in fact.
Ehhh the hardware is almost on par nowadays with the edge usually going to PC except right at release times. And even then the expandability of the hardware makes the choice lean towards PC

From a software perspective there are some definite strong apps on both platforms though in purley the CG world rather then the wider animation world with heavy hitters like 3d Studio Max in the PC corner they may for lower/hobby class machines actually have an advantage

Any suggestions/advice/info on a decent graphic animator suite that won't require me to take a bank loan to afford?

If you're a student, you can get a student version of 3ds Max for a $100 or so I believe. Don't bother taking any kind of official lessons for it though. Look online for free tutorials and the like. If it's not against the site rules, 3d-palace will have practically all the tutorials you'll need to get off the ground and at least to semi-professional level.

You'd be surprised at the level of realism you can get if you put enough time into things. Take this for example. A day or two of work, and nothing but an idea when it started.

http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/ea090a30b1.jpg

Blender is free, watch Elephants Dream (http://video.yahoo.com/watch/45811/498171) for an example of what it can do. Everyone I have talked to who knows how to use it says it's interface seems very strange at first but is the most natural way to do 3D graphics once you learn your way around it and get comfortable with it.

Blender is the one to go for
http://www.blender.org/
it is quite awkward to get used to the interface but is pretty powerful. Creating the 3d models is the hard part, but there are a few places where you can get free or cheap ones
http://www.katorlegaz.com/3d_models/index.php
http://www.turbosquid.com/

I seem to remember you know c++ so you could try OGRE 3d
www.ogre3d.org

Well I downloaded Blender last night and started to go through a tutorial. So far I'm still learning the interface but it certainly seems to be sophisticated enough for what I have in mind.

Thanks!

Question: if I were to get a student version of LightWave or Studio Max (assuming B lender doesn't work out) wouldn't I need to somehow show that I was a student to be able to get it?

Well I downloaded Blender last night and started to go through a tutorial. So far I'm still learning the interface but it certainly seems to be sophisticated enough for what I have in mind.

Thanks!

Question: if I were to get a student version of LightWave or Studio Max (assuming B lender doesn't work out) wouldn't I need to somehow show that I was a student to be able to get it?

I have a feeling I downloaded the student version of 3d studio max and it annoyingly won't let you do quite a lot of things. You are far better of with Blender.

The student/test version of Maya is free...

Yeah: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7639525