How to Start 3D Modeling – Proven Tips & More

Most 2D designers want to update their skills so that they can excel in 3d modeling too and it is but obvious that they want to know How to start 3D modeling?

Although 3d modeling isn’t very difficult to learn it requires patience, practice, and concentration. It isn’t something that you can learn overnight or in just a few days. You need to put in hard work and burn the midnight oil if you want to succeed as a 3D designer. I would suggest that you get the best mouse for 3D Modeling at the onset itself to make things further simple for you.

However, once you learn the required skills, you will find that it was all worth it.

I must mention here that as a 2D designer your options are quite limited and the real world of opportunities opens up only when you learn 3D modeling too. It goes without saying that most companies look for designers who can ace both 2D as well as 3D modeling.

Hence the need to upgrade your designing skills and be a 3D designer!

How to Start 3D Modeling

Here is how to start 3D modeling – or at least, How I started 3D modeling:

3D Modeling Software:

Instead of directly jumping to paid software, I decided to work on free software like Tinkercad, Blender, Sketchup, and Netfabb. I gave a shot to all of them to understand the pros and cons of each of these. And all through I was analyzing which one suits me the best.

I decided to continue with Blender. Although the other two were easy too, I was more comfortable with Blender.

All these Softwares come with basic functionalities so you have a rough idea about how they work and what features they have. It is thus best to go through all of them and try to pick up as much basic info as possible as far as 3D modeling is concerned. And this is what I would recommend to you as well – just run through all these open-source 3D modeling software, try to get a hang of them, and then choose which one you want to move ahead with.

Watch Videos

Tutorials available on online platforms can be an excellent source to learn stuff and it is no different when it comes to 3D modeling or even Revit. You’ll find the answer to the silliest questions possible.

From a very basic question like “how to save a 3D model file” to the most complex questions – you’ll find answers in the form of guidelines, manuals, videos, and whatever – you just name it.

Also, these guidelines aren’t by the beginners; instead, they are experts living in the field for the past several years and wish to distribute their valuable knowledge among all. Also, you can join the 3D model designers community and forums to seek guidance from established 3D designers.

You’ll need to do a little bit of research in order to find such platforms but trust me, it’s going to be worth the effort.

Be Patient!

Patience is one of the most desirable attributes that you need to have in order to learn 3D modeling. Nothing comes overnight. You have to stay consistent and keep practicing it in order to become a pro. I have seen a couple of budding designers give up when they face difficulties.

Facing hindrances is a part of learning and this indicates you are leveling up. Each time you solve a problem – you level yourself up and this is what your learning curve should look like (with ups and downs).

Before you draw your first 3D model, you have to keep in mind that it will be a disastrous one. Do not expect something awesome on the first attempt. Give yourself some time, and practice two things; 3D modeling and patience. Only these 2 things can help you get to the next level as a designer. Give yourself enough time and see how things work for you.

Also, do not compare your work with a pro or someone who has decades of working experience. I did this mistake and got disheartened – but you do not have to repeat this mistake. Try to be realistic when comparing your work with someone else’s and you will save a lot of disappointment.

Begin with Simpler Objects:

Whenever you start learning something, you start with the basics and it is slowly and gradually that you start learning complex things. The same goes for 3D modeling. You need to begin with the simplest object first.

Begin with easy shapes like cubes or pyramids. Then start putting them together. With each practice, you will learn the trick and start doing it proficiently. The smaller the step you take, the better chances of polishing your skills.

After some time and with regular practice, you’ll see a tremendous change in your designs.

The Printer Build Area:

Before you print any of your 3D models, you need to know the correct printer build area. This is extremely important because if you miss out on the correct size, chances are that the printed model will not be aesthetically appealing, and fine lines will be visible to the viewer – which doesn’t look good at all.

Also, you can use the diagonal spaces for printing so you do not have to cut the model and disturb its overall look. Give it a try and see how it works – experiments are very important and interesting for sure.

45 Degree-Angle Support:

If you have built a model that has a greater angle than 45-degrees, chances are you will need support in order to avoid collapsing while printing. This support is often a little more difficult to pull out but it is worth it.

Although it is against the general rules of 3D modeling which say that any object designed beyond 45 degrees will be removed, I believe this rule limits your creativity. Despite thinking of a unique design, you think about what can be built or designed by staying within the limit of 45 degrees.

For such cases, an overhang can be done. Thick layers are added beneath the model to avoid the crumbling of the model during the printing process. However, as I mentioned before, overhangs are resistful and aren’t easy to remove. Also, the use of overhangs can cause a little bit of drooping. But that is totally fine too.

The Format of The File:

What I have learned during my “to be a 3D model designer” is that you have to be sure about the format of the file. If the format isn’t correct; your files won’t print out. OBJ and STL are the commonly used formats for printing purposes. Thus, you must stick to them while saving your work.

Conclusion:

My journey of becoming a 3D model designer was quite extensive. But I learned through my mistakes and never gave up. This is exactly what I suggest to my readers to stay consistent with what they want to be.

A lot of budding designers get stuck when they have to build a roof in SketchUp. If you are one of those, you can look up this article to check out to do so quickly and easily in just a few steps.

More and more practice is the key to be a better designer. So, give your best shot and work hard to become successful!