Evaluation

I have always thoroughly enjoyed using 3d programs, I find them interesting and I find them a lot easier to get my ideas across modelling free hand in comparison to free hand drawing with pen and paper which I do have issues with, drawing is not my strong point. At first using 3dS Max, I found it a bit strange, because I first started learning 3d on Maya. But after a few weeks of practice and also getting practice from learning how to over come obstacles through modelling, texturing lighting and camera work I found that to a degree I am reasonably competent at modelling, in the respect that I modelled everything free hand, only using the images as visual reference, I didn't at any point use any templates on planes. Although that method of modelling with templates projected on planes I wish to learn aswell, as it will come in handy for modelling vehicles or any object which requires a completely symmetrical shape.

Through this assignment, I have found my strengths in using 3DS MAX which is superb, but what I value more is I have also taken note of my weaknesses. I don't personally think my weaknesses are through using the program, but they lie in using other programs around it. For example with the slug texturing, if I had a better understanding of how to shape the textures according to the mesh which I unwrapped in MAX, i wouldn't have any overlaps or mistakes and the textures would fit smoothly to the final model, so from this assignment, as well as practicing more on MAX I really need to practice more on photoshop to ensure these mistakes do not happen again in the second semester's assignment and in turn, I will create better textures to compliment my future models.
Another weakness I have found in myself and is truly a bane of my life! Is time keeping! I must, must, must ensure that my timekeeping is improved to create a better quality of work over a evenly spread work flow timeline for the second semester. I believe that if I managed my time better for this assignment I would have been capable of creating a higher level of realism and quality on my stamps, so from these errors I will learn to ensure I create a higher quality of work which I am capable of doing for the second semester and my goal for the second semester's work is to practice heavily on using 3DS MAX and photoshop (look into how to animate in MAX, I understand how to animate in MAYA and looking at MAX it is reasonably similar, so this will be advantageous) take on board my weaknesses, make them no longer my weaknesses and exceed whatever grade I will get for this assignment.

I think I have said it in previous posts and perhaps this one aswell, but I have really enjoyed this assignment, more than I think I would when I first got the brief and it has been one hell of a learning curve from start to finish and I do not think I will forget any of the techniques I have used for this assignment, I will take them on board for the creation of my personal projects also.


This is a bit of an after thought and I should have really put it earlier on in my blog, I found this link really useful for beoming more efficient in using the hot keys. I think originally, I searched for it because I couln't understand for a while, why I couldn't move around in my perspective view and I found out that reason why was comewhere down the line I hit CTRL+C (create camera)

http://www.3dvalley.com/tutorials/3d-studio-max-hotkeys-and-mouse-essentials