This month we turn our attention to ‘Beginning 3D’, as we create simple 3d objects and add them to a Retro Cafe scene! Here’s how your scene could look at the end of this beginner series!
Note: The video includes additional FREE pre-built assets. We will create the coffee mug and Space Invaders, and the spaceship shown is included with the ‘Kenney Shape’ software used in this series.
The world is not flat!
You might be able to create smart documents in Word and professional presentations in PowerPoint, but can you incorporate 3d scenes or simple animations? The ability to use 3d or ‘3d capable’ software is central to the world of digital creativity.
The more time you spend working with 3d software, the more you’ll realise it’s not about learning specific platforms or programs (many of which are complex and expensive), but about developing a transferable skillset. Your 3d skills will be equally useful for:
- Social media and marketing
- Architectural Visualisation (ARCHVIZ)
- 3d modelling
- Animation
- Computer aided design (CAD)
- 3D printing
- Creating teaching and training resources
This month we start at the very beginning, using free and low cost (under $5) software to introduce virtual 3d space and create simple 3d objects including a coffee mug and Space Invader!
Through this series of 8 explainers we’ll
- Get tooled up! (Including creating accounts for Tinkercad , Kenney Shape and Unity)
- Learn to navigate in 3d and add 3d shapes to a Tinkercad scene
- Combine 3d shapes to create a coffee mug in Tinkercad
- Export the coffee mug as a 3d OBJ file
- Get started with ‘Kenney Shape’ and export a built-in 3d object
- Use Kenney Shape to ‘trace’ a Space Invader image and create a 3d object
- Create a Unity project and import the saved 3d objects
- Import a free Unity coffee shop asset and incorporate the 3D objects
The explainer series starts on 5 April and continues every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until we’re finished!
This series is suitable for beginners, including educators working with 3d for the first time. If you already have experience with 3d modelling workflows using complex software (E.g. Fusion360, Blender or Maya) you may find this series too basic.
