Digital art and Animation

[Fayera]

Hi guys,

I would like to start with basicly what the heading states. Digital art and Animation. I would like to know where to start with this. I have a engineering background.

I would firstly like to know what packages I should be using, 3ds Max or Maya ? and I think Photoshop as well (or should Photoshop be mastered before I start with 3d modeling?). I also want to enroll somewhere to start learning the packages, I was thinking Openwindows maybe?

Should I be switching over to Mac or will my windows still do?

and if anyone know of a community I could hook-up with to learn and get feedback from that will be greatly appreciated.!!

Thanks

 

[Jow]

If you're interested in pursuing it seriously, then Wits has some postgraduate degrees in Digital Art: http://web.wits.ac.za/Academic/Humanities/WSOA/DigitalArt/ .

 

[Fayera]

Thanks a lot, did not pick that up, was looking at website but found mostly oversee courses. I want to start off on a personal level and just develop the skill, because currently my engineering work is funding it I hope they give the courses part time.

 

[space_monkey]

You don't need to 'master' photoshop, you need to 'master' drawing (with volume, anatomical correctness) and animation. To start out you should just try drawing characters etc. on paper. For animation try this software: http://www.pencil-animation.org/ first until you get a feel for how to animate characters and the principles of animation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_basic_principles_of_animation). Then you can try 3ds Max or Maya(if you have a license for them), but blender should be ok to start with

 

[Fayera]

I want to start courses in the packages so I will probebly get the student version for a reduced prised, I hope. I will have a look at pencil thanks again.