Hi Prab
I've already got some basic animations and acting scenes down in iClone & CTA. I'm looking for something a little broader. I learn by example and discussion points. These forums are brilliant and grateful for them, but for my goals its sometimes better to have a skilled professional face to face to understand the questions :-)
I don't mean that critical to you, just saying its how I grasp things.

Cheers
Archie

n pretty quick

Cheers Animagic
TBH that's the problem I like to be involved in many aspects from an interest level.
And my emphasis is really end to end :-/ That being creative concept and technical understanding.

But I completely agree with you it can become overwhelming. That being said I have decided to take time out of IT contracting to focus on this.

So I am fairly committed. Bit of a knowledge sponge really but I guess there's method in my madness.
You might see me asking varied questions because of this. Just the way my brain functions.

I see you're in Arlington VA, I'm a brit but spent 14 years in USA in Norfolk VA mostly. Moved back home couple years back.

There's part of me wants to create films, animations, documentaries etc and part that is simply ambitious to understabnd the technicalities so I can furnish a meagre living. Thus my efforts go hand in hand for future plans.

Its like studying any kind of engineering, there's so many aspects, but rewarding when it all starts to fit together and becomes prodcutive.

Character creation, tearrain creation and such are a desire for two reasons. One to learn how, and the other to create something unique or specific, when out of the box just doesnt cut it.

Its an ambitious road I know that :-)

My Youtube site has snippets, animations, commercials, travel videos etc to see where I'm at. A long way to go !! I made a couple $$ here and there though.

https://www.youtube.com/britishroamer


Thanks again
Archie

This is the most IDEAL approach for anybody trying to learn ICLONE. One could start playing with the built-in characters and Props to get hands dirty.

3D Modelling, Rigging et al can come much later. Who knows you may not even need them in future !

Archie, if I may make a suggestion: I think you should try and see what you want your emphasis to be in order not to get overwhelmed.

For example, if it is making animated movies, then there is a lot of customization of characters you can do with iClone/3DXchange and programs like Z-brush and Photoshop with getting into the complications of creating your own from scratch.

If, on the other hand, you require special characters that you couldn't create any other way than from scratch, you would need to become accomplished in rigging.

Not to discourage you, but I feel that sometimes getting involved too deep into the technicalities might take away from creating movies if that's your goal. 

I wouldn't take myself as an example, but since I'm here anyway, I concentrate on the movie-making aspect first and learn stuff along the way. Just the other day I delved into the mysteries of creating a terrain in iClone 5.5. It is quite satisfactory then to conquer the problems along the way and know that you have mastered something.

Physics is a capability in iClone that I have barely touched...:unsure:

There is so much capability within iClone (and 3DXchange) that familiarizing yourself with that is quite a project in itself. Adding too many other applications in the mix might make it hard to get a handle on the basics.

That said, external training may help in keeping you focused. Good luck!

---

Hi James
I have been mulling the idea of paying for freelance training to boost my understanding of certain areas of 3D modelling and animation, not necessarily restricted to iClone but more of a collective.
I have been browsing through Pinterest & ODesk.com site to see what it available and what rates might be.

In short a way possible to explain:
I am looking for an online trainer (Skype etc.) to walk me through end to end basics on all things 3D and 3D Animation (not gaming, more for film and commerfcials).
I wish to learn basically by Q&A sessions.
I explain what I'm trying to understand about a particular topic and you offer your best knowledge to help me grasp the concepts. Show & tell style :-)
Having dabbled with this stuff I have in the past done some animations & web commercials but my skills are still infantile in comparison to professionals like yourself.
There's plenty of youtubing and such to learn from and I have already done so. But I still need the specifics and for that I am prepared to pay for.

I am mildly versed and use the following products.
iClone 5.4 pro (basic knowledge)
CTA (Basic knowledge)
3DExchange (very limited)
Avatar Studio & Toon Maker (not used yet)
DAZ 3D (baby steps)
I cannot afford MAYA nor 3DS MAX :-/
ZBrush R5 (learning)
Adobe Phototshop (OK)
Cinema4D (basic)
Adobe After effects (I learn as i go)
Final Cut (mildly accomplished)
Adobe Premiere (learning)
Logic Pro (savvy, also dabbling in music area for fun)

I have also aquired the iClone training videos etc. but these dont provide the human element of asking questions.

I use both MAC & Windows (20+ years IT professional) and have done a lot of self study in various areas of graphics & animation.
Predominatly my IT career has been progression from technical sys admin to Project management, BUT I have also done web development and programming! MANY years of it :-)


My Objective here is based on several factors:
1. Keen Hobby interests in film & animation
2. To eventually develop some short films/animations. Ideas from over my years.
3. Long term to make minimal revenue as my full time career and transition away from IT. (long way off yet). Animation & Web Commercial type stuff

To give you an example of my intial requirement.
Gain knowledge and undersdtanding of custom character design, including rigging and porting into iClone. Preferred tools are, ZBrush, DAZ3D, 3DExch, iClone
Within this stream I also need to better understand, mapping and textures, (displacement, bumps etc).
It really is a loaded question but willing to pay for the hours it takes, IF the knowledge can be conveyed and you have the broad skills of 3D modellling etc. I would assume so.

I am also looking into a degree course but that would not kick off until September therefore I would like to use the time before that constructively.

Best regards
Archie.

Ah that is the problem with forums, writing is not the same as speaking and it's easy to misinterpret people!

All is good - I hope flybynight knows that he'll find lots of help here - no reason to despair :D

Hey azknrdude - you have exceeded your messages so I cannot reply to you - but I certainly plan to join your site, not sure if I did already either. Any sites with free iclone content are already bookmarked, lol.

Hi,

I don't think anybody is trying to single you out. Your comments were well made and fair and so were the responses. Remember words on a page don't always convey the smile on the face of the person writing them. I'm sure no one was having a go at you. :)

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Oh I "Flyby" 3 times in a thread and again get singled out about this. I simply struck struck up a conversation with Stacey. Is this not a forum? What a a place I finally despair. :sick:

and of course there are a couple of ther kinds of folks - those like me who learn by seeing not by reading instructions where a class is very beneficial

and those who are quick studys where an hour class would convey more than a week's worth of self instruction -

You know it also matters a lot what you are doing with iClone. In my case, this is a business investment - because cool looking videos can help sell my product (a Spanish learning online membership) - as well as my physical products, which also teach Spanish. I figure that creating some awesome iClone vids will help keep me a bit cutting edge - and even though I've been selling online for 10 years, it's gotten a lot harder now that there are hundreds of websites offering to teach you for free. You need a better mousetrap, to be sure!

So for me spending a few hundred here or there is really just good business - even though I can't say I'm flush right now, and it's a calculated decision to put resources on these videos. I just think they will be super fun and impressive.

But for people doing iClone as a hobby - sure - spending anything may seem like too much. Geez I have had people quit our $10 a month service in recent months because of economic hardship. While it's a bit off topic, when food inflation is as high as it's been in the past year - $10 can make a difference!

Forums are often the best free resource you'll ever find - it never ceases to amaze me how generous people can be with their time and knowledge, and the RL forums are a great example of this spirit.