Cinema 4D alternative

[craigi35826625]

Since Cinema 4D Lite is rather limited for building more complex 3D designs, I began looking at alternatives to upgrading to the full application as $3,500 is  not a realistic expense for me, and I came across the free Blender.

I am working on my 3D building/modeling skills and wanted to get some opinions if having Blender knowledge would be useful and beneficial on a resume, or I'd be better off learning something else.

Any thoughts?

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

I have and use Blender all the time. In my opinion, it is by far the best open source 3D software out there. I also have a full version of C4d. The UI is different for sure. Some of the tools are different for sure, but the underlying theory is basically the same.

The most important thing about learning 3D animation is not the software. The most important thing is learning how to create a design that tells a story. The most important skills, the ones that will change you from an assembly droid making minimum wage to a skilled professional making a good living are not specific to any software. It does not take a very long time to learn the UI and some techniques in any specific software. What does take time and a lot of practice is learning how to set up a scene, frame up and move the camera, and move the models creating the illusion of life that is critical to good visual storytelling. A set of colored pencils and a few sheets of paper and some practice will make you better at the really important skills you need to tell a story than any specific software.

If you really want to learn and you have no budget take the time to learn how to create some really fantastic scenes in Blender, tell a story, and put the scene in your sample reel. If you get hired by somebody they will be much more impressed with your ability to tell a story visually than the software you used. Anybody can learn a UI and how to apply an effect. Very few folks have the determination and tenacity to learn how to be really good storytellers.

[craigi35826625]

Thank you for your thoughts.

If I understand, a strong skill level of storyboarding as presented in such design mediums as comics or film, such as drawing out the scenes and the dialogue can be more valuable and desirable to prospective employers than software capability.

I've worked on those as well, having draw comics (albeit not professionally) for some time though my drafting skills are average at best.  But when it comes to stories and being able to visualize them, that is something I've felt comfortable with for some time.

[Mike_Abbott]

craigi35826625  wrote

I am working on my 3D building/modeling skills and wanted to get some opinions if having Blender knowledge would be useful and beneficial on a resume, or I'd be better off learning something else.

I think the first thing you need to be absolutely clear about is what you're aiming to do. There are a wide range of possible work options across the video / 3D CGI world - and a wide range of types of employment, from a freelance generalist through to a specialist position in a big studio: modeller - character, environment, hard surface... lighter, rigger, VFX specialist... Focus on developing the skills you'll need in the area you want to pursue.

Yes, Blender is a decent place to start. it has all the tools you'll need to show your learning progress in 3D and produce a showreel to demonstrate it. It's perfectly capable of meeting the needs of a generalist freelancer. You won't find many big studios recruiting 'Blender specialists' - but  as Rick says, the fundamental techniques and skills you can learn using Blender will set you ip for C4D, Max, Maya and others.

...and a ps: having decent sketching ability with pencil and paper is always a good thing...

[P.M.B]

Like Mike said the important thing is to be clear what your goal is.  Blender is an amazing open source software that rivals the major packages but not many studios use it. But it is a good way to learn the fundamental theories of 3D modeling and 3D modeling software.

If what you want to do is be a 3D modeler I suggest ZBrush.  ZBrush is highly sought after skill in both the Gaming and Film industries.

Even more so since they introduced proper box modeling a couple of versions ago and continue to build upon those capabilities.

Rigging ready models can now be easily created inside Zbrush without any need for retopologizing, and then imported into a full 3D package for rigging and animation.

The pro's of ZBrush are it's low price and the fact that just about every major studio (that builds 3d models) uses it.

It's cons are the fact that it's interface is completely unlike any other 3D modeling package which makes knowing how to use it largely an untransferrable skill.

But that can also be an advantage in seeking a job because you have a skill that other potential employees with traditional 3d software experience cannot transfer over.

You already know the basic ins and out's of a traditional package from using C4DLite and that knowledge can easily be transferred to whatever 3D package the employer uses.   Adding Zbrush would give you a genuine second skill set.

I'd say another viable option is Modo.   It's cheaper than other 3D packages and people say good things about it's modeling toolset.

The main drawback is lack of tutorials and a large user community.

If you're looking to specialize in being a modeler and want the most marketable skillset I say add ZBrush to your arsenal.

You already basically know how to use C4D's basic toolset so that is still highly marketable.  Continue to practice it as it is completely transferrable to a studio that uses the full version of it or even other 3D paxkages.

Adding ZBrush to your resume makes you an asset in a software widely used in the industry that someone who has only studied traditional 3d packages would have a much harder time learning.

Basically...having C4DLite and ZBrush on your modeling resume will be better than having C4DLite & Blender.

If you plan on being more of a generalist then a full 3D package is better.  But studios "generally" look for specialists, not generalists.