AutoDesk Maya or Blender Tutorials?

[Halowood]

I'm not completely sure where to put this but this is my best guess.

I need either general usage tutorials for Autodesk's Maya software or blender.
I need to make a Model for an assignment for Graphics at school.

I've never modeled anything ever before.

[Pieter]

Bunch of links here... not sure it's what you need, but should give you a starting point.

http://www.subdivisionmodeling.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59

[TheGrayK]

Well You've certainly asked the right people!
so for blender check out one of my favorite sites Blendercookie.com
here is some tuts for maya 3d-tutorial.com
If what your looking for is more of a tutorial on actually modelling and not keyboard shortcuts and such, then
any tutorial should suffice but if its keystrokes you need tuts specific to the program
but modeling as a whole is a pretty general matter.


P.S.
Also might I ask what your modelling, as you may or may not know I am very intrigued with the possibility of more 3d artists on the forum.

[Halowood]

Spartan II MJOLNIR MK V Armour.
A.k.a. Master Chief from Halo 1.

[TheGrayK]

Well I do wish you the best of luck that is quite an ambitious goal for someone who has never modeled before. If you need any help don't hesitate to ask.

[Halowood]

I have plenty of time before the model is due in so I am gonna do some basic modeling first to get my head around it. Starting with Blender then eventually Maya to see which is easier to use.
I am checking out some of the tutorials and they all assume you already know how to make the model and general settings, but I will keep going through it and experimenting until I get it right.
Thanks for the help.

[TheGrayK]

do you have skype?
I don't mind giving you some pointers in blender

[Halowood]

With Time Zone differences and availability of my computers for me I doubt it would help at all.

EDIT: Ok so I've gone through a few of them and they all assume you already know how to use the software. I need a "This is the first time you've opened the software use this button" type thing.

[TheGrayK]

Give me two days and I will do my best to create that tutorial.
Blender cookie has it but Unfortunately it is really expensive eg (more than 50$USD)

[TheGrayK]

Sorry for a double post but I just wanted to make this thread unread.

between this (borrowed from here*)
CHANGING VIEWS

MMB=Middle Mouse Button
RMB=Right Mouse Button
LMB=Left Mouse Button

Click and hold MMB and drag to orbit your view
CTRL+MMB will zoom your view but you can do the same with the scroll wheel
SHIFT+MMB will pan your view

2,6,4,and 8 incrementally orbit your view in the direction represented
by the corrosponding number
2-Down
6-Right
4-Left
8-Up

1,3, and 7 will change your veiw to
1-Front
3-Right side
7-Top
CTRL+1,3, or 7 will cange your veiw to the opposite side of the original
CRTL+1-Back
CRTL+3-Left Side
CRTL+7-Bottom

5 will switch your view between orthographic and perspective

Orthographic:
an affine, parallel projection of an object onto a perpendicular plane.

Perspective:
the way in which objects appear to the eye based on their spatial attributes;
or their dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the objects.

0 will change your veiw to the camera's perspective

.(on the numpad)-Center view on selected object

and this long winded video you should be set.
http://vimeo.com/15243105
<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15243105&amp;amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;amp;show_title=1&amp;amp;show_byline=1&amp;amp;show_portrait=1&amp;amp;color=00ADEF&amp;amp;fullscreen=1&amp;amp;autoplay=0&amp;amp;loop=0" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15243105&amp;amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;amp;show_title=1&amp;amp;show_byline=1&amp;amp;show_portrait=1&amp;amp;color=00ADEF&amp;amp;fullscreen=1&amp;amp;autoplay=0&amp;amp;loop=0</a>


*this was made before the release of 2.5 so some of the hotkeys aren't the same

[Pieter]

Keep in mind though, that the blender workflow is completely different then that from just about any other 3D app.
People who use it as their first app usually stick with it, people that have used software such as Modo, C4D, Maya or 3Ds Max might find the workflow differences too much of a deal breaker.

It's the thing that keeps me from using it, just about everything that could be done different has been done different.
It's a great app, but it does live a bit in it's own world.

[Halowood]

Thanks for the help.
Atm I'm tring to see which program just works simplest but how to modify the objects and shapes just seems to elude me.
I'll have to check out that video next time I have free time and am near my work computer.

[Halowood]

I have figured out how to edit objects!!
Hurrah!

EDIT: I don't want to triple post so blarg.

This is what I have so far.