Nugget starter kits - new to cg? READ THIS FIRST

[Hundred]

When I first started out down the road of CG artistry, I got lost. I mean there I was, a bad ass free-hand artist, who decided to put down his pencil, and trade it in for a mouse, but who only had no more than six months of computer experience behind him. I had no clue as to where to start, or even where to look. I did'nt even know what a search engine was, hell if someone would've told me to Googleit back then, I probably would've punched them in the mouth. So what did I do you ask? Well, I took a job as a volunteer computer tutor, who learned as he taught; and eventually I stumbled across the Rhino3d.com site, where I downloaded my first trial version of Rhino 3.0. Well a lot has changed since then, for one, I no longer have the desire to punch people in the mouth when the tell me to Googleit, and I have acquired many 3d modeling applications; free as well as paid for. You may be asking yourself, "What the hell is he gett'n at?" or "What is that GODLY-TALENTED, ARTIST-KING trying to say?". Well I'm glad you asked. In this thread I will be posting links to software and or resources available for those of you Nuggets (and Pros), who may be a little strapped for cash, as well as those who, like me when I first started out, are computer idiots. All so that you won't have to run around the net, like a chicken with it's head cut off, trying to find what you may be looking for.

Oh yeah, and anyone else who has a link, feel free to post it, . But please, do not post any links to a trial version (or demo) of a particular software application(s), (i.e.) an application which has an expiration period, or anything that will leave watermarks on renderings (very unsightly). Thank you.

(Yet another instance where The Wink and the Gun Smilie would come into play.)

Originally Posted by IRML

Make sure you are CERTAIN of your links BEFORE you post them...

[Hundred]

Terragen 2.0 (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5


(Quick update Ya'll, GenesisII has been withdrawn by it's makers, and has been replaced by GenesisIV)
GenesisIV (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: N/A

NOTE: For those of you who haven't heard of terrain generators. I highly recommend Terragen 2.0. And though I am still quite unfamiliar with GenesisII, I have seen some great images created from it as well.

NOTE: The first image in the attachments is from the Terragen homesite's image gallery, and is not one of my own; however the last four images are mine. I actually made them like two hours after I'd downloaded and installed the program, without reading a tutorial. Yes, Terragen is just that easy to use.

[Hundred]

Gimpshop 2.4 (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5 (Just like PhotoShop.)

Picasa2 (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 4/5

[Hundred]

Blender (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

K-3D (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: N/A (Comes with it's own animated user's tutorials. And, it's copyrights are partly owned by ILM, that's right, Industrial Light, & Magic. Might wanna check this one out.)

Truespace3 (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

4D Blue (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 3/5

[Hundred]

Freeware Files (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

Turbo Squid (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

If you need some nice, trouble-free freeware, then Freeware Files is a great place to get it. No unexpected pop-ups, nothing too buggy, you just have to look through the pile.

For models, props, plug-ins, what have you, Turbo Squid is a great source. They have a large selection of, stuff.

[kenny]

Should this not be moved to another section ?

[Hundred]

No, Aceman told me here kenny.

[kenny]

Ok.

[Hundred]

Cinergy (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

If you're going to go with free screen-writing software, Cinergy is probably your best option, especially if you're running Windows/Word. I mean I've personally tried some the others, and most of them are just not worth downloading. Now if you're in a pinch, the following program (Celtx) will do nicely.

Celtx (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

EDIT: (01/23/08) There's a new and improved version of Celtx out there, Celtx 0.997 I believe, with a new look, a totally new interface, and new features. I haven't used Celtx in a while, but based on what I've seen of this new version, the look, and the improved functionality, I've increase my rating from 4/5 to 5/5, .

[Hundred]

Wavosaur 1.0.1.0 (Please read all advisories, follow all instructions and observe all terms and conditions of the download site.)

Rating: 5/5

Again, if your gonna go with freeware, this is probably one of the best free sound mixers/editors out there. It's simple, it's compact, and you don't have to install it use it, (that's right, you read it), you can use this program without even unpacking it. All you need is a cheap Radio-Shack microphone, and you're ready.

EDIT: Wavosaur 1.0.1.0 has a whole new look and interface, and it sure beats the hell out the old one. It's looking good baby, .