3D Studio – can do?
Kirby:
Sounds like 3D Studio would be perfect for you!
1. Create a gridded floor plan and make and move cubic human figures on it.
Easy! 3DS comes with a grid-maker and human figure to start you out.
2. Change the point-of-view from far to near, overhead, etc, and change the
scale of image depicted at the same time, i.e. start close and move far
away while keeping the depicted figures the same size.
Just set up a camera and change the location and field of view.
3. Animate the above.
That's what the keyframer does!
4. Alter the perspective system used, e.g. use a picture hemisphere instead
of a picture plane, and make a movie of one becoming the other.
This one sounds interesting, but I'm not sure I quite understand. Not
that it'll stop me from guessing! If a picture plane is the standard
view, mapped flat, then a picture hemisphere is a hemisphere with the
image mapped onto that? If so, yes! If not, please explain! <g>
5. Any 3D modelling tools which allow me to refine the original humanoid
forms — to make them more organic (and complex) — would be useful.
Yes, you have full control over the amount of detail in your models – or
you may wish to purchase some detailed people to start with and modify
them from there. Wizard people, from in northern California, would be a
very good start.
If there are any other questions, or more detail on 4. above, just holler!
Sounds like you will be doing some very interesting work! If you haven't
seen the 1992 3D Studio Siggrpaph demo tape, you should probably take a look
at it. This may answer some of your questions and give you some more ideas
of some of the capabilities of the program! If you can't get hold of one
locally, let me know and I'll send you one.
Greg Pyros