Okay so I am taking Jonathan Lampel's Fundamentals of 3D Mesh Modeling course, and I do not think nor feel like I am grasping what he covers in videos "Object and Mesh Data" through Mesh Shading and Visibility." In fact, albeit four questions, I failed the quiz outright!
I am not new to 3D. I was once a professional, i.e., paid to create 3D objects using Maya (2001-2003). However, now that I've recommitted myself to "studying" 3D, I realized that I did not know 3D, I only did 3D, if that makes any sense. In other words, I used the tools in Maya and produced models, but I couldn't tell you how or why they came out the way they did.
So, I promised myself that if I were going to recommit myself to 3D, learning a new 3D program (Blender) that I would "study" 3D.
My question is this. Should I give myself a break and realize that throughout the next three of four years, studying 3D that these same topics will appear over and over, giving myself ample time to learn the concepts Jonathan covered in those lessons, or should I go back and re-watch them over and over until I can regurgitate them verbatim with a clear understanding?
I know learning 3D concepts is a journey, not a race. I don't want to stop rowing to shore (my destination) and suddenly stop because I don't understand fluid dynamics or body mechanics when that info is useless.
Thanks for the help!
Signed, dazed and confused...
The answer depends on the person honestly. Object and Mesh data can be a very confusing topic in particular though. I wouldn't be overly hard on yourself.
I just started tutorials and then played a bit, then went back to tutorials and then tried playing and then went back. I only remember 10% most of the time if I am being brutally honest. But the more I play and try to teach the more I end up having desire to answer my questions.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions as they come up. The answers may not always come quickly but I doubt you are the first person to ask them and you are definitely not the only one who doesn't understand.
Ask often after trying to understand things and post pictures that reflect the struggle with arrows pointing if possible. I use greenshot for screen capture (free program like blender) pictures and I make arrows all over things I don't understand or want to highlight.
Thanks, Shawn! That's great advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my query. And great tip on the program Greenshot. I'll check it out.
To add to your comment. I was killer at modeling in Solid Edge back when I was in school. But I didn't understand what was happening under the hood. I still don't fully but I do understand better why things do what they do on a more basic level. This stuff just takes time and practice and banging our heads against our desk.
Another great way to learn is to keep an eye out for forum questions that look simple and see if you can answer them on your own (you don't have to answer them) but you can ask yourself "do I know the answer to this?"
Trying to teach something to someone else is the best judge of telling yourself how much of it you fully understand.
I know learning 3D concepts is a journey, not a race.
This is quite true.
Agreed! Like Einstein once said, If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough, or something like that. :)