Visual Arts & Making · Digital & Tech
3D Modelling
The software is free; the learning curve is the actual cost
Free software covers this entirely, so money is not the barrier and time is: the first fortnight goes on shortcuts and interface, which is where most people quit. Make something simple first rather than a human. The real dividing line is topology, since how faces are laid out decides whether a model can bend or take a material.
First stepInstall a free modelling program, follow one beginner tutorial to model a mug, and learn the move, rotate and scale shortcuts by heart.
Barriers
Cost to start
Free
Going deep → $2k–10k
Alone or with people
On your own
Effort
Sitting
Without a teacher?
Self-taught
One session takes
1–2 hours
Where
At home
Why people take it up
Related guides
Keeping the spending in checkStarts at Free, going deep runs $2k–10kSkills
BuildsThinking in three dimensions