Another Friday, and I don’t know about you lot, but I’ve had a really busy week. So, naturally, instead of sitting back and using one of my already-researched books to write a review, I’m going to talk about 3D World instead. This was my first real exposure to 3D Magazines, and still my favourite after a year’s subscription (or thereabouts).
Every month, I sit down with my subscriptions (currently only two, but I used to get 4 through my door at various points in the month) and skim through them. At least, that’s my intention; I rarely sit down to read through them cover to cover and absorb all the information right then and there. Every month, I mean to just skim through 3D World. Every month, I end up spending at least an hour reading it properly. I even refer back to it later for specific information and tutorials.
Every month it steals at least an hour of my time, which I will never get back no matter how hard I try. And Every Single Month, it’s worth it. Here’s why:
- Full of Incredibly beautiful images. Not only in their showcase of upcoming projects, or their Portfolio section (readers can send in their 3D artwork and have it featured), but every page has something on it worth staring at. Even a large portion of their adverts have that effect.
- Cuts through hype. A lot of new products and software bundles, plugins, tools, etc are released for 3D professionals (and students, and hobbyists, you get the idea) every month, and often they can be quite confusing. 3D World has some larger reviews, but they’ve also made a section called ‘The Filter’ where they fill the page with columns on new products, what the marketers are saying for each one, and what it really does without the hype. Very useful.
- Competition Love. Each month they have a new reader competition; it’s basically a draw for some of the coolest pieces of kit/software/books around.
- Feature Articles. There are almost always 3 or more feature articles in each issue. I’ve yet to find one that I’ve read and looked through, and not found even slightly interesting – The chances of not having a single article you could identify with in an issue are slim.
- Diverse Tutorials. Most industry magazines have tutorials included; at least, that’s what I’ve noticed. Possibly it’s just my personal experience but I haven’t found another one that tries so hard to cover so many software solutions. Whether you use one of the big name software bundles, or one of the smaller, or even open source ones – there’s going to be at least one tutorial for you.
- As mentioned in the introduction, it will take your time and chop it into tiny pieces, make a stew, then dance round the campfire while your time smokes. Love every second of it, but read at your own risk!
- In-Depth Tutorials. The cost of being so diverse with your tutorials is that, while you can have a few main ones every issue and lots of smaller ones, it does mean that some issues you’ll go without your software of choice having a main tutorial of its very own.
- Mental. Roy. If you’ve never read 3D World, you’re missing out on some of the best, most sarcastic (yet relevant and sincere) rants in the industry you’re likely to find in print. I could go on expounding his brilliance and entertainment quality, but instead you should click here and see for yourself.
- The Disk. It comes jam-packed (cliché, I know) with tutorial resources, free assets and models, textures sometimes, training, and sometimes even free software trials. The actual content varies per issue, but it’s always to a high standard and worth diving into whenever you get the chance.
Conclusion
If you want to do anything at all with 3D (yes, even pre-visualization) then get at least one issue of this magazine to try out. You won’t regret it (and if you do, feel free to come and yell at me about it =P).
Overall: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5
Writing (Style and Content): 5/5
Artwork: 5/5
Re-Readability: 5/5
Here are the links to their website, and their forum, check them out if you’re interested. I don’t get paid for either of these by the way, though I maintain that you should definitely buy a copy of 3D World to check out. Enjoy your weekend everyone!
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I’m afraid I’m much too old to lose an hour a month reading a 3D magazine. Maybe if it had some 3D women in there.
On a side note, do you have to wear special glasses to get the full effect of the magazine.
PS, you should install a subscribe to comment plugin so that I know if you replied to cuss me out or something
Sire´s last blog ..If Women Controlled The Earth
I knew there was something I was missing! I’ll get right on that.
Anyway, you don’t need glasses to get the full effect (they’re more about CGI rather than stereoscopic 3D, though sometimes they have features). And yes, there are definitely 3D women.
*grumbles* Yeah yeah
Just doin’ my duty
Lol, have fun working then.
Sounds interesting, Yet another thing to check out, Damn you ^_^
Weekend? i have none…gottaworkgottaworkgottawork………before you ask, it has been an incredibly hard day