Need software/hardware advice

[Phippsp]

Hello

I am currently enrolled at ITT-Tech for multi media and working up towards things such as animation, java, flash and all that good stuff. I have been working currently in Flash and 3ds Max 8 30-day trial. I was wondering if someone could give me some good information on hardware and software I might want to look into getting for the purpose of animation and such. Right now I'll list a few things that I have and just see what I have is good and tell me what else I may want to look into.

Laptop Inspirion 9300
Pentium M 1,73Ghz
1gig Ram
Nvidia 6800 Go 256mb
100gig hardrive 5200rpm

Home Desktop
Amd 64 3500
1gig Ram
2 Evga Geforce 6800 GT 256mb (SLI Sometimes)
2 80gig HDs in RAID
Water Cooled

Software
Paint
Flash
3ds Max 8
And som weird program to resize pictures and stuff

[u]Things thinking about[u]
Graphics Tablet - Any thoughts on one to get? The mouse pad type not enough money to get the full laptop type
Photoshop - Not sure which to get really haven't looked into photoshop much yet.

Thats about it for now that I can think of. But any and all information would be helpful. I am currently looking into a art class to get into thats not in my school for some help with that. But my goal one alot of people have to make video games but I want to make MMORPG atleast 1 in my life. But of all things my main goal is to just create things that when people look at them they think it looks awsome

Thank You

Hope to be posting some more on the forums once I get up and running and maken some good stuff and not the newbish stuff I've been makeing

Posted on Wronge Forum My sorries.

[Animalator]

First of all whats your budget? What are you looking to dishout on hardware and software. Are you looking for a whole new computer or just upgrade your old one? You can check out newegg.com , for they have great deals on hardware (let me know what you are looking to spend and I can give you an Idea on what to get). If you are going to buy software, check out www.journeyed.com . They give student discounts there on various types of software. Photpshop is a great program, Id say the best, but a little expensive though. I think its like 650.00$ fore the program.

From what you put for your hardware, I say it looks good to start out with. Id upgrade to another gig of ram. You'll notice an increase of preformance. And maybe sometime in the near future, if you have the cash, upgrade to a dual core AMD processor, either the X2 or the Opteron(if you got the money).

as for your main goal, its a good feeling to show people your work and get responses like that, but that shouldnt get your main reason for making art. You should do it for yourself first, and if people like it then its even better. Artists have enough stress as it is, you dont need to try so hard to fit into the aesthetic tastes of others. As long you are confident and think it looks good, others will to. Unless your unrealistic about your skills and knowledge of art, then other people will just say things not to make you feel bad. Anyway.......


And just to let you know, SLI doesnt work with 3d applications yet, as well as flash. Hopefully sometime soon, whenever the programmers decide to take advantage of it.

Hope this helps.

[Phippsp]

Yes thank you this did help out a good bit. My main downfall I believe is my art skills and belief in my art skills. I never really touched bass with it. I just always lived in my own little fantasy world kinda to say and believe that I could come up with some very awsome things. Its just getting the ideas holding the ideas and putting them to work that gets my down. I sit at the screen and think of what to make and I know that is not what I should do but for now I believe it might be to get to learning the programs and my way around them.

Im thinking of getting myself into a art class to try and see if I got some hidden talents to get out

Any information on something like this please tell. Like how you get your ideas and motivates you to get your ideas, how you prepare youself for the project and such. I know this may sound bad to be asking and that I should know how to do it myself but I really want to be good at 3D and animation aswell. Im in school for it but I know I need more then just the knowledge of the programs.

[Animalator]

Well Phippsp, everyone has there own unique ways of creating art, getting work done, aquiring inspiration, etc. I, myself, have recently came out of a 4 and half month artistic rut, one of the worst ones yet. It felt like someone blew out my inspirational flame. This was probally due to working too hard, bad diet, stress, pulling too many all nighters, etc. It was all completly psychological, and I knew it. I just didnt know how to fix it. I would just sit at my drawing table with a pencil in hand, staring at a blank page, and feel absolutly NOTHING. Unfortunatly, laziness and boredom ruled my life. Two emotions no artist should encounter. So I took the time to reflect, and regather my thoughts so that I could perhaps learn from this experiance. It took the funeral of my aunt, around christmas time, to get me drawing again. I used her death and funeral as a catlyst for creation. Now Im back to my old familar self again, recharged and more confident then ever. I guess my basic point is that which doesnt kill us, makes us stronger. We should look foward to the times of feeling uninspired or even depressed. It gives us a new perspective on ourselves and the world around us, allowing new thoughts to arise, thus creating a very essential step toward true artistic inspiration and elightenment.

Use the knowledge of this quote to move beyond mediocrity:

There is only a 2% genetic difference between the "Average" human and the chimpanzee. So that makes us, at best, a super chimpanzee The genetic gap between the true genious; the artist, the saint, the philosopher, the poet, the scientist, etc. is even greater. The vast amount of human histroy has produced a majority of zeros. Why have there been so few? The answer to that lies in another question, "What is the greatest human characteristic: Fear or Laziness"

-Loosly translated from the movie "Waking Life"

We all have great ideas, and are born with talent to pursue and create them. But what many lack is the will, knowledge, and a well disciplined work ethic in order to convert talent into "skill." I always get, "Oh wow, your so talented. It must be nice to draw and sit in front of a computer for a living, i bet its so easy for you." Working in animation is one of the most stressful careers one can pursue. And no it doesnt come easy, there is a tremendous amount of work involved. I cant even count how many endless nights I sat in front a lightbox or computer furiously trying to get work done. Artists should constantly feel that "deadline" whether in animation or not. There should always be a sense of urgency to further harness and strengthen your artistic abilities; like your life dependes on it.

How do I get my ideas?? Hmmm, well I try to keep a sketchbook with me at all times, or just a little 3x5in sketch pad to jot down anything that floats into my noggin. A completly abstract thought comes into my head and Ill write it down. I may look at this in a couple of days, months, years, or decades and a whole new thought will arise because of it. The evolution of thoughts, one thought leads to another. The romans called this "invention." I also bike, run and meditate alot. I find that after working out, I feel better about myself and thoughts tend to come more clearly. Inspiration is to inspire, which means to breath. So just calming the mind and breathing deeply can envoke creativity. Every breath is life. I also like to read and learn new things on a daily basis. Try to do this with non related art subjects. Once you have a broad range of knowledge on various subjects, you can formulate ideas much better. Read into things that you like on different subject matter. For instance, right now im starting to read into the spirituality of physics, and string theory. Ive recently finished a couple of books called "The Traveler" and "Bury My Heart at wounded Knee," a story about the victimization and mass genocide of the west plains indians. Ive also been reading off and on various books on drawing and animation techniques as well as anatomy. STUDY EVERYTHING. Animators literaly have to know it all, lol.

How do I prepare for projects? I try to do an emence amount of research, gather images, draw thumbnails, etc. I also like to write on paper, an outline of what im about to do, rather then just think of what to do. Once you get your ideas down in the "physical" world ,whether in words or images, your that much more closer to achieving the end result.

IF you want to be good at 3d animation, do lots of of life drawing, study the human anatomy to figure out how things work, and also read art history and art techniques like compostion, color theory, and even sacred geomtry. Have knowledge of what came before you, and try to use it in your work.

Sorry for the lengthy post, I hope I touched on some of your points clearly enough. I tend to rant. Just to let you know, Im in school for animation as well. I go to the art institute of philadelphia. Hope this helps, and good luck. And dont be afraid to ask questions.