r/retrocgi • u/Petunia_Sheila • 21h ago
r/retrocgi • u/nuvpr • Aug 03 '22
Discussion MEGATHREAD: How to make retro CGI
Seeing the frequent "How do I ____?" threads and the recent "Clueless" meme, I felt it's high time to consolidate all learning resources into one place. Going through multiple past threads on the subreddit I put together this list of programs + tutorials for making retro CGI... Please keep in mind that this list is meant to be a constant work in progress, as the retro CGI scene grows and more resources are available they will be added here on a regular basis. Additions, suggestions, and criticisms are most welcome.
Bryce 3D
Landscape/terrain generator, basic modeler and animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)
Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)
- Bryce 5 User Manual (text)
- Creating surreal 3D landscapes (video)
- Bryce 3D Free Tutorial (video)
- Learning Bryce 7 (video)
- Setting up Bryce on WINE (discussion)
- Making Surreal 'Trapper Keeper Art' on Windows 95 (video)
Blender
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)
- How to make PS1 style graphics (video)
- How to make PS1-esque graphics with Blender 2.8 (video)
- How to make graphics look 90s CGI-ish? (discussion)
- How to imitate early CGI style animation? (discussion)
3D Studio
Modeler, animator, renderer (MS-DOS)
- Inside 3D Studio R4 (CD-ROM)
- Inside 3D Studio R3 (text)
- 3D Studio R3 Presentation (video)
3D Studio MAX
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)
Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)
- 3D Studio MAX Quick Tutorial Outline (text)
- 3DS MAX Basics (video)
- Demo 1996 (video)
- 3D Studio MAX 3.1 Castle Flyby Scene Tutorial (video)
POV-Ray
Raytracer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)
- Official POV-Ray Documentation (text)
- POV-Ray Lessons (video)
- POV-Ray Descriptions, Tutorials and Examples (text)
- Christoph Hormann's POV-Ray Tutorials (text)
- Mike's POV-Ray Tutorials Page (text)
- Taming POV-Ray by G. Moran (text)
- A Short Introduction to POV-Ray (PDF)
- Render Geometric Shapes on a Realistic Environment (video)
- 3D Animation (video)
- povmodeler (GUI modeler for POV-Ray) (software)
Infini-D
Modeler, animator, renderer (Macintosh)
- Make a donut scene in Infini-D 4.5 (video)
- Infini-D 4.5 Manual, FAQ, Quick Reference (text)
- Infini-D 3.1 Addendum (text)
- Render Farm Setup (video)
Anim8or
Basic modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)
- Anim8or Manual (text)
- Anim8or Tutorials (text)
- 3D Modeling Tutorial (video)
- Point Edit Modelling an Alien in Anim8or (video)
Art Of Illusion
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)
- Art Of Illusion Manual and Tutorials (text)
- Art Of Illusion Tutorials (video)
Ray Dream Studio / Designer
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)
- Ray Dream Studio Tutorials (archived text)
- Ray Dream Tutorials, Tips and Links (archived text)
- Ray Dream Studio 5 Training Pack (CD-ROM)
- Ray Dream Designer Demo (video)
- Ray Dream Studio Extensions (software)
Carrara
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)
Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)
- What Is Carrara - Intro (video)
- Cool Carrara Tricks (video)
- Carrara Information Manual (text)
- 3DXtract E-zine (tutorials, tips, tricks) (text)
- Carrara Resources (text)
- Plug-ins for Carrara (software)
Lightwave 3D
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)
Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)
- Lightwave 6 Manual and Tutorial (text)
- Lightwave 3D 4 Advanced Features (video)
- Lightwave Tutorials (video)
- Lightwave Tutorials for the Amiga (video)
Poser
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)
Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)
- Poser 2 Manual (text)
- Poser 11 Tutorials (video)
- Poser 12 Tutorials (video)
- Dynamics in Poser (video)
TrueSpace
Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)
- TrueSpace Resources (misc)
- TrueSpace Forum (misc)
- TrueSpace Fan Site (misc)
StrataVision 3D
Modeler, renderer (Macintosh)
- Setup and usage guide (text)
- StrataVision 3D Tour (video)
- Strata Studio Pro Tutorial (video)
Sculpt 3D / 4D
Modeler, raytracer (Amiga)
- Sculpt 3D Manual (text)
- Sculpt 3D basic usage (video)
- Making of Crystalball logo in Sculpt 4D (video)
- Modeling a Light bulb in Sculpt 4D (video)
- Sculpt 4D Hidden Commands (video)
Others
- Seamless 3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
- Wings 3D - Modeler, renderer
- Softimage|3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
- Vivid - Raytracer
- Simply 3D - Modeler, renderer
- Extreme 3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
- OpenFX - Modeler, animator, renderer
- GroBoto - Modeler, renderer
- MojoWorld - Modeler, terrain generator
- Shade 3D - Modeler
r/retrocgi • u/SoiAnimatica • 20h ago
Bryce Ocean Man music video I made in Bryce3D and Blender :^)
r/retrocgi • u/mr_slumps • 2d ago
Blender Retro style PRBG for a 90s adventure game
Here's an example of one of the background scenes I made for my game using Blender 3.6. This one was fun trying to work out how to add some life with a simple 6 frame looping animation. The last pic shows the water ripple shader, the phase offset value was animated to create the seamless looping I needed. The final renders are run through a colour index/dither step and then loaded into Godot as a frame animation.
r/retrocgi • u/Samm844 • 4d ago
New Nomad Sculpt work
Another iPad / Nomad Sculpt sofa session followed by many Photoshop filters π
r/retrocgi • u/SeltsamStudios • 3d ago
Blender I used Blender to make a parody of early 2000βs commercials.
r/retrocgi • u/Bucko_Rose_The_Deer • 3d ago
Blender This appeared in my recommended, so decided to not only DESLOP but also be a reimagining of the Sonic 3 Title Screen. ^^
galleryr/retrocgi • u/Bucko_Rose_The_Deer • 4d ago
Blender [[ SONIC 3D ]] Been working on a 3D Blast Sonic mod for Sonic 1 (( Forever )) with my Sonic model!
galleryr/retrocgi • u/bigsmokaaaa • 4d ago
Stecyk3D: a Bryce3D recomp Blender add-on is now available
You'll need your own Bryce (only works with 3.0, 3.1, and 5.0), follow the instructions to extract the files and you'll be good to go. Enjoy!
r/retrocgi • u/transqueen421 • 4d ago
Not OC I kinda love this creepy CGI vibe from the 90s/2000s
I know this is quite horrifying but I kinda dig the dark and eerie and almost surreal vibe of this Shrek 1996 test animation.
It also really screams "Retro CGI" and I would love to recreate this for my projects.
r/retrocgi • u/deadisbea • 5d ago
Blender The Marching Hammers
Our current president in Brazil is fighting for re-election against a right-wing fascist... and Roger Waters (former lyricist, singer and bassist for Pink Floyd) came out publicly against this one extremist candidate, which took me back to listening to The Wallβall this to say: I made them hammers :)
r/retrocgi • u/Nakavelli • 5d ago
Bryce βto which I have loved in every lifetime.β (oc)
r/retrocgi • u/WerterCli • 5d ago
I made a survival horror game set in a town you can completely explore with ps2-esque graphics. What do you think of the visuals!
If you would like to check it out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4376460/Tache_Noire/