Five Must-Know Tips for Beginners…

> Observe the real world -- a lot. Absorb how things look all around you. I can’t switch this habit off! I am constantly interpreting objects, and how they would be recreated in 3D.

> When you start out, avoid software rendering assets like global illumination, radiosity, etcetera. They use physics to calculate how light is bounced and reflected around objects and scenes, but you should learn how to fake those effects yourself using basic lights at low intensities and colors. This will not only help you understand how objects interact with environments in reality, but will make you more in control of your image’s lighting creatively, which can make fundamental differences.

> Start with simple primitive shapes like cubes, etcetera, and try out all the different modeling tools like extrusions, bevels, scaling, rotation, as well as move tools, knife and selection tools. A short time experimenting to see how these all work will pay off when it comes to creating something for real.

> Get used to moving around your object a lot, and constantly alter you viewpoint to gain a fuller perception of its overall shape. Just like a painter steps back from his canvas, or a sculptor moves around her clay form, a 3D artist needs to be constantly re-appraising his own model.

> Take regular breaks away from the screen! Like with above tip, getting some perspective away from your creation is essential for both the object you’re modeling, as well as for the health of your eyes.