(last update date: July 30, 2007)
Communities are sources of ideas, tutorials, and forums. Often these are built around a Web store, or a particular software company has made itself very portable to other products, so that everyone flocks to it and “hangs out”. 3D Communities have contests, provide feedback on various levels of work, and tell you where to find freebies. There are true stage-personalities that make it work: digital artists who are famous among other digerati, developers who have fashioned the “first digital wheel”, and personalities who look more like exotic dancers in night clubs. Almost everyone who belongs has a certain basic skill set: they know Adobe Photoshop quite well, they understand just about all the abundance of image file formats and convert freely from one to another, and they are familiar with the variety of 3D object formats as well—knowing which ones convert to others completely or partially. Animation and movie file formats and sound file format are probably under their belt. Hardware is usually a snap for them. In these communities the conversation most often centers on art—how to do something well in whatever product is being played with. Windows or Macintosh usually makes little difference to them because they are generally able to work with both. For a beginner it is sometimes imposing. But they do help, and help often. Perhaps these communities work better than many others in the computer world. You will detect a spirit of play and fun above all else. Here are some of those worlds.
Some of the Larger 3D Communities
1. DAZ Productions (http://www.daz3d.com/)
“DAZ Productions originated as the Poser-production division of Zygote Media Group, Inc., in Provo, Utah where the content included within Poser 3 and 4 was born. After creating the default content for MetaCreations, Daz developed the “Millennium Woman” Victoria and the “Millennium Man” Michael figures. With a tremendous positive response from the Poser user base, DAZ gained a strong reputation as the premier source for Poser oriented digital content. In December of 2000, DAZ branched off from Zygote, and became a freestanding corporation. In January 2001, DAZ Productions opened its first e-commerce website with 159 products. DAZ has built a business by creating 3D digital content at affordable price points offered to the public via an online store. DAZ also works closely with third party artists and offers an online publishing program through which these artists can make their own creations available to the DAZ customer base.
“The company now sells over 3,000 products to a constantly growing group of customers. DAZ has a variety of software solutions designed to expand the market for digital content, including the increasingly popular DAZ|Studio software application. DAZ|Studio removes the barrier to entry for newcomers to the 3D industry, as it is offered free of charge. DAZ|Studio provides an environment where users may take their favorite 3D assets and easily create art or animation for either recreational or professional endeavors. With a free, easy to use 3D tool, DAZ hopes to reach new industries and individuals that would otherwise be excluded. DAZ continues to focus primarily on creating digital content, and only develops items that help increase the demand for future DAZ digital content. With this in mind, DAZ continually develops new versions of their popular “Millennium” figures, as well as developing relations with the most successful third party content creators.”
Employee bios: http://www.daz3d.com/information/index.php?page=bios
3D modeling tools, animation tools, design tools
Excellent source of 3D models for Poser and some other formats
Recently acquired: modeling/rendering systems of Bryce 3D, Carrara, Hexagon sotware; voice animation system called Mimic
Sponsor of Artzone 3D Artist Forum: http://artzone.daz3d.com/
2. Cornucopia 3D (http://www.cornucopia3d.com/)
“Cornucopia is an online community dedicated to the Vue line of products. On Cornucopia, you will find all sorts of resources to improve your Vue experience: forums, galleries, tutorials,... as well as a store where you can find top-quality content at the best possible price!”
Training, Tutorials, Forums, Galleries, a Store
This is one of the homes for Vue Infinite, an excellent 3D modeling package which outshines the others in scenery and landscape design.
3. Content Paradise (http://www.contentparadise.com/us/user/home.php)
“It might be easier to ask, what we aren't. We aren't just another Content Store. In fact you might think of us as a Content Mall, a place where many stores come to sell their very best. We're a concentrator, a facility for allowing Content Providers the opportunity of presenting a unique Single Stop Shopping environment, giving the Providers tremendous exposure while providing the Content User a fantastic resource. We have over 10,000 items for sale, and the number is quickly growing. We're committed to providing the most and the very best in 3D art and content. More than that, each provider interacts and plays with every other provider. E-Frontier releases Miki, and suddenly there are 10 new products for her, RuntimeDNA releases Apollo Maximus, and now there's three pages of content for him. Content Paradise is a collaborative environment, creating a new synergy in products and services. We've only just begun, new services and products coming will leave our customers breathless. It's our goal to make this the finest possible resource for 3D content and service. The best is yet to come!”
Forums, tutorials, technical help with usiing models. The work of many smaller vendors appears here and that gives the user a chance to see a wide range of products at a single Web site. The site makes it easy for new digital artists to sell their wares.
Closely associated with http://www.e-frontier.com, the manufacturers of Poser products.
4. Runtime DNA (http://www.runtimedna.com)
A long-running 3D site with an established membership of digital artists. Forums, tutorials, freebies.
Very innovative software which runs with software from other manufacturers.
Galleries, contests, artist directories
Technical forums to answer all 3D questions
5. Renderosity (http://www.renderosity.com)
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Renderosity is to create a thriving, productive environment that encourages an atmosphere of community, respect, collaboration, and growth for graphic artists, digital artists, animators, photopgraphers and writers of all backgrounds and levels. We are a community created by artists, for artists ... Because The Art Matters!
HISTORY: Renderosity has been an online art community since December 1998. Its original name PoserForum.com was changed to Renderosity in October 1999. The name Renderosity was created and voted upon by the online community of digital artists. As the graphic arts industry grew worldwide, there became a need for a medium of communication that could link this diverse, international group. Renderosity has filled that need. Today, Renderosity is one of the leading online communities for graphic artists.
COMMUNITY: The Renderosity community is made up of members who have a passion for helping others learn, share and grow in digital art. The participation and interaction among members has slowly built a family and a place known as a "home". The Renderosity membership is a very interactive community with forums, chats, free content and a marketplace for digital products and 3D models. Many features have come from member feedback.
The free content comes from members around the world.
Recent news announcement: Renderosity Organizes Online Fraud Protection Network. And another: Renderosity Art Community Reaches 1 Million Gallery Images
6. 3D Buzz (http://www.3dbuzz.com)
Training for the widest variety of products and interests. This is a user hangout, and it is also a video prodution company developing its own original training materials. Some manufacturers place free tutorials here for download. Areas covered: programming, digital production, gaming and Web development. Does not sell 3D content.
7. 3D artist pages (http://www.e-frontier.com/link/category/9?sbss=307)
A good listing of skilled 3D artists.
8. 3D community pages (http://www.e-frontier.com/link/category/7?sbss=308)
A good listing of 3D communities
9. 3D Café (http://www.3dcafe.com/)
One of the oldest 3D communities with something about everything. A storefront, collection of freebies, forums, job listings, classifieds.
10. Animation Magazine (http://www.animationmagazine.net/)
Good coverage on animation issues.
There are many more, but this is a good starting point to learn about communities.
