An Interview with 3D Modeling Expert Jonathan Williamson on How to Get Started with 3D Modeling

An Interview with 3D Modeling Expert Jonathan Williamson on How to Get Started with 3D Modeling

Do you want to study 3D modelling? Are you unsure if it's a good idea? Or how long will it take you to create your first 3D model? And what should you do if you're gazing at a blank screen and have no idea what to do next? We spoke with Jonathan Williamson of CG Cookie, one of the premier digital art education sites, about the challenges and rewards of the trade, as well as his insider suggestions for someone who is brand new to 3D.
Jonathan, you are a skilled 3D modeller with several years of expertise. Why do you believe someone considering about getting into 3D should do it in the first place? Isn't the world already overrun with 3D modellers?

Jonathan: Certainly not. 3D modelling is ubiquitous in today's environment, and it will only become more in demand as a skill. To put things into perspective: 75 percent of the IKEA catalogue is now available in 3D. We all know that Facebook paid billions of dollars for the Oculus Rift, so you can bet that they will need to develop plans for expanding that area. If virtual reality continues to grow, it will have a considerably greater impact on people's daily lives. And, of course, all virtual reality things begin as 3D models. Next, consider architectural visualisation; whether you have a house renovation project or want to totally design a house, 3D modelling can undoubtedly help. If you want to get started with 3D printing, whether it's making toys, tools, or anything else, 3D modelling is the way to go. Everything begins with a model.

3D is becoming more involved in a wide range of fields, including film creation, virtual reality, scientific study, and unique design. It is currently affecting hundreds of industries. If you want to do a lot of research, visualisation, and medical design, 3D modelling is essential. In a nutshell, the world requires 3D modellers!

That's fantastic. So you've persuaded me to begin — but what do I need as a prerequisite? Is it a field to which everyone can apply?

Jonathan: Thank you. Without a doubt, you must have a passion for computers in order to get started in 3D modelling. You will be spending a significant amount of time working digitally, and if you dislike working on a computer, 3D modelling is probably not for you. If, on the other hand, you really appreciate computers and have a concept for something you want to integrate either with the real world or wholly online, 3D modelling could be for you. For the most part, this interest or passion will be your only requirement.

A good sense of spatial awareness is something that is not required but will greatly benefit you. If you are one of those people who can imagine a real-world object in front of you — a peanut butter jar, can opener, car key, or wallet — and can spin it around in your head and know exactly what it looks like, 3D modelling is probably a good fit for you. That is basically what you will be doing every day. If you struggle with spatial visualisation, 3D modelling will most likely be even more difficult. Of course, it depends on the extent to which you are modelling, but some modelling will be based only on existing plans.

You're set as long as you have a computer and a solid sense of spatial awareness, and beyond that, just the desire and drive to learn.

Anyone, in my opinion, can learn to model. It's a little technical, but it doesn't have to be computer science-related. There are a lot of extremely successful modellers who are more on the creative side of the spectrum than the technical side.

Jonathan Williamson developed the 3D model.

OK, I've decided to pursue a career as a 3D modeller! What is the next thing I need to do?

Jonathan: Thank you. The following phase would undoubtedly be software. Most PCs do not include the software required for 3D modelling. However, as far as what you choose, the software is starting to matter less and less; it is much more up to one's particular resources and personal preference. At this moment, all of the major software products are so close to being on the same level that it is essentially meaningless. It nearly doesn't matter if you use Blender, 3ds Max, or Maya; all of these technologies are capable of allowing you to do things you could never do before.

What is your personal opinion?

Jonathan: Thank you. Considering how similar 3D software packages have grown, I believe Blender remains an excellent choice, particularly for beginner artists, for a number of reasons.

One of the key reasons is that there is no entry barrier. Blender can run on almost any computer. It will still work if you only have access to a PC that is a few years old. Blender is a compact and very suitable device. To offer an even more extreme example, if you don't have a computer at home, you can simply put Blender on a flash drive and take it to your local library or any other location with a public computer. Blender is portable, so you can take it with you everywhere you go without the need for access dongles, licence keys, or anything else.

Blender is also built by the community, and anyone can contribute. If you are an artist and want to contribute to making the software better, you can do so, and if the modifications are good, they may be implemented in future releases. If you are a computer science student and want to start developing on Blender, or if you are designing a data visualisation application, you may incorporate it immediately in Blender without having to create the entire basis; simply leverage Blender.

Of course, because it is totally open-source, the software is free, and there are no usage limits on whatever you make.

This is significant since one of the challenges that young artists may face if they learn 3D modelling at school is obtaining a free student licence, which can no longer be used for commercial work once you leave school. You've already spent four years and thousands of dollars on your education, and you're probably not in a position to pay another few thousand dollars on a software licence. However, the software you just learnt requires you to purchase a licence! So, what kind of position do you have to begin doing professional employment while still repaying college loans?

There is no need to worry about a licence with Blender, and you can use it for commercial reasons without limitation. Any Blender creation can be sold, altered, and distributed. Blender makes a lot of sense for a rookie artist who is just getting their feet wet in their professional work. Your startup costs are limited to your time.

Another aspect to mention is Blender's community spirit. It is created by Blender users and the community, which I believe will appeal to a wide range of individuals. Blender has a very strong vibrant community of people from various walks of life, different skill sets, various artists and researchers, you name it, so that side is quite exciting.

Jonathan Williamson developed the 3D model.

Information Transformation Services is endowing the clients with a stunning and impressive visual experience crafted by 3D Modeling Services. We are completely forted to offers our customers with a range of appealing 3D designs that are carefully crafted to meet with all type of requirements. 

It appears to be a no-brainer. But, regardless of which software I end up using, where can I obtain resources as a beginning 3D modeller?

Jonathan: Thank you. Again, this is dependent on the software you select. If you're going to use Blender, CG Cookie might be a nice place to start. It might also be YouTube for SketchUp or 3ds Max. There are numerous resources available, and if you're just beginning started, Google is likely to be your best friend. There are numerous instructional websites available, and the one you choose depends on your field of interest. Of course, because I'm prejudiced towards CG Cookie, that's the one I'll recommend over the others if Blender is your software of choice. We have a free “Blender Basics” course that I personally prepared for complete Blender beginners, and I can highly recommend it as a terrific place to start. It will have you up and running in less than 45 minutes.

Do you think it's a good idea to look for education based mostly on your area of interest?

Jonathan: Thank you. True, one of the things that makes 3D software so difficult to understand is that it is extremely complicated and practically limitless in what it can do. Blender and its competitors are now so large that no single individual knows everything. There isn't a single person on the earth who understands everything there is to know about Blender. Many individuals, including myself, try to gain a general awareness of all topics, but we do not know everything. There are already a plethora of specialised sites springing up that are focused on using their preferred software in a very specific business, whether that be Blender with 3D printing, Blender for architectural visualisation, or Blender for data analysis. In this instance, Google will be your best buddy when it comes to locating those themes.