Making Bats in 3d

No one would ever fear the sight of a vampire if they were this adorable. Part Dracula and part bat, this is a hybrid origami figure that attempts to intimidate but whose penguin-like figure and cuddliness gives him away as a sweetheart. If you're finding this vampire/bat as ...more

Maya is arcane, complex, but incredibly powerful software. It is the industry standard for 3D modeling in games and film. This video for Maya beginners will teach you how to create a model of an airplane as a means of teaching you a lot of the basics of Maya. It is meant to be ...more

Want to become a cartoon master? Want to make your own animations? Well, you've found the right place! This cartooner's free online interactive tutorial teaches you, step-by-step, how to draw and animate - the easy and fun way. There's even some shortcuts and animator's secre ...more

Cinema 4D is an amazing program, but not a one-stop source for animation needs, especially if you're planning on making a 3D video game, for which you'll need Unity 3D. This three-part video covers the process of rigging a character in Cinema 4D and transferring to Unity 3D. ...more

Scanners have been around for a while. They allow us scan photos and documents into digital versions that are a lot less susceptible to damage over time. But what if you want to digitize the memories of something that isn't 2D? With this hacker's how-to, you'll learn a method ...more

See how to model a natural landscape within 3ds Max 2010 using the Displace modifier, a few simple primitives and some procedural maps nested in a precise way using the Composite map. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looki ...more

Bored with boxes? No longer content with cranes? This video tutorial presents a complete, step-by-step overview of how to make an inverted stella conica from thirty sheets of paper using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. For more information, and to ...more

Fold a paper bat! With this guide, you'll learn how to make a simple paper bat using origami, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding. For more information, including a step-by-step overview of the folding process, as well as to get started making your own paper bats, wa ...more

In this new 3D Studio Max tutorial from Max Cookie, you'll see how to use the Prime Focus Krakatoa plug-in. Specifically, you'll see how to create a volume, how to pick an animated mesh, and then how to make a good setup to create a basic sand creature. Whether you're new to A ...more

This five-part guide presents detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create a low-polygon model of a tree when working in Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely ...more

If you are making games or hybrid machinima in 3D Studio MAX, the occasion may arise where you want to give one of your characters a massive two-handed weapons like a sword or machine gun. This video's sole intent is to teach you how to do that. It focuses on how to link parts ...more

For beginners, learning the intricacies of modeling 3D art can seem insurmountable. This video for 3D beginners is here to help you through it. Its four parts are a detailed and slow walkthrough for making low poly BC Rich guitar with splines using 3D Studio Max, a popular 3D ...more

Clothing a 3D model properly is almost as hard as making the model in the first place. Fortunately, 3D Studio MAX and this video are here to help. Watching this you will learn how to create splines, simulate cloth animation, and use good smoothing techniques, among other thing ...more

Making a head is hard enough with pen and pencil or with clay. Doing it in a 3D graphics program can seem impossible. This video is here to prove that such is not the case. Its eleven parts feature incredibly detailed instructions for modeling a human head using 3D Studio Max, ...more

Dawn Griffith creates a cute card with a 3D lemonade glass embellishment from start to finish. Create a template by making a rough sketch of an 8 ounce paper cup onto a piece of white cardstock and cut it out. Take the template and either trace it onto a piece of vellum cardst ...more

Making use of multiple modifiers and projection painting this tutorial covers the entire process of modeling and texturing an old, wooden barrel in Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned di ...more

Interested in making the next Finding Nemo? Learn how to model and render a complete underwater scene using 3ds Max 2010 with this video guide. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the ...more

CGI and live action shots get together in almost every big-budget Hollywood movie these days, but combining them in one shot can be challenging for the uninitiated. This video will teach you all about using CGI in live action films, including the use of 3D Studio Max, Blender, ...more

The nose is the most prominent feature of the face, and cannot be obscured by sunglasses or hats like the eyes and hair. This two-part video will show you how to add detail to the nose of a 3D model of a human head using 3D Studio Max. You have to have a face already for this ...more

Maya is the most powerful 3D modeling tool that most people are likely to have access to. This video will teach you some basic techniques for creating 3D models in the program by teaching you how to make a chair from scratch. It's not a very exciting chair, sure, but you have ...more

Starcraft 2, like it's predecessor before it, has a very robust level editor called Galaxy Editor that allows you, the DIY modder, to create nearly any scenario within the bounds of the Starcraft 2 engine that you could imagine. We have compiled videos on how to do all sorts o ...more

Mastering the intricacies of 3D modeling in Maya can take a lifetime, or as close to a lifetime as anyone has had since Maya came out in. This video for Maya beginners will teach you the basics of modeling by walking you through modeling a toy rooster. The model doesn't look t ...more

This clip presents a look at one of the basics of Houdini: Polygons - point, vertex and primitive data, smoothing and faceting, subdivision, removing inline points, orienting polygons and making polygons planar. Whether you're new to Side Effects Software's popular 3D producti ...more

If you've already watched our videos on basics of Unity3D, the awesome free 3D game design engine, and want something more meaty to dig into, watch this video series for a guide to making C4KE, a charming little 4-player action / strategy romp designed by the creator of this v ...more

If your yard is full of pests in the summertime that you can't get rid of, consider building a bat box. Bats are great animals - they eat any unwanted insects and only come out at night so they don't bother anyone. By building a bat box, you will invite bats into your yard and ...more

This video tutorial presents a number of quick tips on making a Lego minifig head within Blender 2.49b or Blender 2.5. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular 3D modeling program or a seasoned graphic artist just interested in better acquainting yourself with th ...more

Making a spaceship use its afterburner and escape from the Earth's gravitational pull is tough. Modeling and animating a 3D simulation of the same thing is also hard, although quite as much so. This video series will teach you how to create a 3D model of a flying rocket with a ...more

If you are modeling a 3D game in 3D Studio MAX, you are going to need to know how to correctly model the destruction of many of your beautiful 3D models. This video is focuses largely on that. It will show you how to use the procutter tool and booleans in 3DS MAX to break up a ...more

Learn how to create depth map shadows when working within Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. F ...more

This clip presents detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create level templates within Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely on the lookout for new tips and t ...more

This video, from accredited 3D art instructor Andrew Klein, will teach you how to use one of the many powerful features in Maya to manipulate you 3D models. Specifically, it will teach you how to use the LOD (level of detail) tool in order to control how much of your model loa ...more

Feeling ambitious? With this guide, you'll learn how to make a 3D star with five intersecting tetrahedra using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. For more information, including a step-by-step overview of the folding process, as well as to get started ...more

Creating a good 3D model in 3D Studio MAX is hard enough. Now I've got to model clothes onto them too? Why can't all 3D game characters be naked? Once you've resolved that debate in your head, watch this video. It will show you how to use the Reactor cloth system within 3DS M ...more

The mushroom cloud is one of the iconic images of the 20th century, calling to mind destruction, progress, and arguably the single most important event of the century. This video will show you how to create a 3D model of one using 3D Studio MAX 4 or higher. This can then be us ...more

Are you fed up using Zbrush? Are you just not cut out to be a 3D digital sculptor? Nah, all you need is a little practice. Check out this three-part Pixologic video tutorial on how to use the basics when sculpting a head. You'll see how to make the perfect 3D animated head, an ...more

Before you can start making awesome 3D games on your Linux computer using C++, then you're going to need to download and install these developer programs. This video lesson will show you how to download and set up OpenGL and GLUT for C++ on a computer running a Linux operating ...more

Interested in animation? Start making 3d animations in After Effects with help from this tutorial. Learn how to get started making such animations with step-by-step instructions from this After Effects expert.

Shape keys are one of the most basic and important parts of making 3D graphics. This video will teach you how to use them in one popular 3D modeling suite: Blender. Also covered are how to apply your shape keys in animations and in the game engine that your graphics will be ru ...more

Ian and Blake share with us their awesome tutorials for making 3D Models and crazy Monster noises.

Create three-dimensional objects in 3d-making software, Blender with help from this video tutorial. Learn the basics of how to get started making these animations with step-by-step instructions from this Blender expert.

It's nice to add "depth" to a project -- generally by making something look 3D (or 3D-ish). This is a really easy tip for creating a 3D button in Flash and further goes into adding sounds and scaling the button.

By now, you should know a few of the basics of programming with OpenGL and GLUT for C++ developing, like shapes, transformations, timers, and colors. Now it's time for lighting. Everything could look right in your 3D program or game, but if you're lighting isn't right, it's a ...more

Materials and lighting are two of the more basic elements of making good 3D models on the computer. This video teaches you how to use and manage these two important facets of a 3D model using Cheetah3D, Apple's popular free 3D editing suite.

Making a 3d sphere in Motion 3 can be tricky. Luckily, there's someone out there willing to help you. In this video, learn a show cut on creating a true three-dimensional sphere using cameras.

Transforms are a fundamental part of 3D graphics. It's important to know this well before moving on to making perfect 3D models with 3ds Max. So, check out this video tutorial to see how to move, rotate, and scale objects in Autodesk's 3D Studio Max, the graphic digital modeli ...more

Need a little help making your 3D letters? This quick tutorial on how to draw embossed or three-dimension letters makes it look pretty easy, revealing secrets on how to get perfectly-shaped three-dimensional lettering for your next art project or handmade holiday card! Write 3 ...more

To start making your own 3D games using C++, then you're going to need to download and install these developer programs. This video lesson will show you how to download and set up OpenGL and GLUT for C++ on a computer running a Mac operating system. After getting all of this ...more

Making a 3D model bipedal character walk is one of the most basic and necessary things that you can do to them. If you are going to use them in a movie or game, chances are they will have to move themselves from one place to another right? This video will teach you how to crea ...more

Drawing cars is one of the most fun and practical things that a 3D artist can spend their time on and get employed doing. This video is a walkthrough for making a 3D model of a rim and tire of a car. It should be good practice for getting you ready to start designing your own ...more

In this video tutorial from CreativeCOW leader Tony Ross, learn to use Flash as a drawing tool, while making several pseudo-3D shapes, including a flower pot. Tools include the Rectangle Tool, Oval Tool, Paint Bucket Tool, and Free Transform Tool. Draw a flower pot in Flash. C ...more

The sword is a very oft-depicted item in video games and CGI-heavy movies, so making them in 3D is an important skill to have if you want to become a 3D artist. This video tutorial walks you through the process of modeling a basic sword using the 3D graphics suite Metasequoia. ...more

In this 3ds Max tip tutorial, you'll learn how to work with the program's various modeling tools, taking a look at features like spline shape modeling, the lathe modifier and connect compound object to create a simple cup of tea. You'll use spline and lathe to create the cup b ...more

By now, you should know a few of the basics of programming with OpenGL and GLUT for C++ developing, like shapes, transformations, timers, and colors. Now it's time for lighting. Everything could look right in your 3D program or game, but if you're lighting isn't right, it's a ...more

After you've learned the basics about shapes, transformations, and times, it's time to move onto learning the color scheme of things in the C++ programming language. You can't have a beautiful 3D game or program with out vibrant colors! This video lesson will show you how to a ...more