   What would be the best 3D Modeling program for a beginner??
  Would it be best to jump straight into 3DS Max, or is there a better program to start out with and work my way up? Also, which is better, 3DS Max or Maya?   
MilkShape3D is a great low poly modeler and pretty cheap too at $25.Between Maya and 3DS-Max I don't know, I've never used Maya, but I've only ever heard good things about it.   ;  Well, money is not the concern. I am getting it as a birthday present. I was just wondering if I should use a product, such as Milkshape, to work my way up? Or is 3DS Max or Maya fine to begin with?   ;  In that case I would just spring for one of those two, there are plenty of learning materials on the internet to teach you how to use them.   ;  i made a big mistake, i started of using truespace, and got very familiar with its interface, and its capabilities. i then, when i had the money, bought 3ds max 7.5, as i heard so many things about it. and since then (2 years) i havnt got to grips with 3ds, this is down to starting with a basic program. obviously i had no choice, i had to use a cheap program to start with. but i think it would be better to use 3ds MAX, and DONT use anything else.Hope this helped :)   ;  Neither one is better. Maya's interface and scripting language make it the tool I prefer, but both applications are very similar in a feature to feature comparison. The important thing to learn is not the tool, but the concepts. A lot of employers would expect you to know one or the other, but be willing to use both.   ;Quote:Original post by imagin i then, when i had the money, bought 3ds max 7.5, as i heard so many things about it. and since then (2 years) i havnt got to grips with 3ds, this is down to starting with a basic program.Not to nitpick (well yeah.. to nitpick) but 3DS Max 7.5 came out in May of last year. I don't see how you could have bought it two years ago.   ;  Don't forget Blender - It's free (well, if you want a fancy paper manual, you pay for that)! Why not get hardware for your bday and use it with a free modeler? (I think Maya is also free, but I don't remember).   ;  If it was me, i'd pick a free modeller first just to see if 3D modelling was something I enjoyed and could do well.Max and Maya are expensive and it would be a serious investment to just go buy one them when you are a beginner. Have a go with Maya PLE or a 3ds Max free trial (if such a thing exists) or XSI Mod first. See what you make of modelling and then decide.Regards,ViLiO   