What are the most important skills to develop in your first 90 days as a 3D modeler?

I highly recommend to present your artwork in platforms like ArtStation, Behance etc. Also to watch indie modeler tutorials procedurally to learn how to deal with tricky scenarios.

In my experience being able choose an industry to work in, should be the first choice before entering the 3D field, perhaps it's the most significant choice of a 3D artist. Due to the extensiveness and variety and also constant furtherance of this field, it's quite impossible to Master every Subset of this major.

Develop your skills on the software you wanna use is very important to improve your workflow. One thing that I highly recommend is to practice the usage of the hotkeys of the software. When the usage of this hotkeys become something natural to you, your speed of production will increase as well. So, I think this is a good way to begin your path as a 3D modeler.

One important aspect of becoming a skilled 3D modeler is to have proficiency in software, it is a foundational and important skill that allows you to leverage the capabilities of digital tools to bring your artistic vision to life. However, it should be complemented by a strong grasp of fundamental modeling principles, attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication skills to excel in the field. If you want to find inspiration, take some time to explore Artstation, CG Society, and Behance.

"TRY TO MAKE A CLEAN MESH" even if you are beginner. No matter the industry, clean Mesh is always appreciated. For beginners, the Best practice can be avoiding "N-Gons"

During first 90 days a 3D modeler should learn to: 1. Observe: Observing allows an artist to deconstruct a complex object to simple primitive shapes and how they would interact with each other. 2. Topology and edge flow; It is crucial to have a good understanding of how the geometry of the shape is designed. Good topology is always appreciated and is an indication of a pro ! 3.Patience; Its exciting to dive straight into detail and adding more geometry to the shape. The real trick is to keep you poly count low and add geometry only when needed. This is actually more efficient and quicker !

Regardless of which software you use, there will be multiple ways of achieving similar results in your modelling. One of the most important skills to learn is knowing which technique to use and when. Some techniques will make a difference in modelling times, whilst others will make a difference in resulting typology, or the way UVs are auto-generated. Also, take advantage of your software’s modifier tools. It’s easier to model something basic and use a bend / taper / twist / etc modifier, than trying to model the end result from scratch. Lastly, try to keep your models as clean and as simple as possible, as this makes editing them more manageable. A final subdivide modifier can be applied to your model to smooth out any lumps and bumps.

Spend time familiarizing yourself with fundamental modeling techniques such as polygon modeling, edge loops, and subdivision surface modeling. These techniques form the basis of creating 3D models and are essential for building assets efficiently and accurately. Knowing modeling techniques like low poly to high poly can help create high-quality props and environments. Please remember to start with the basics before moving on to more advanced levels. Jumping straight into advanced levels can create problems.

In your early modeling days I’d recommend to start primitives and then you advance as time goes on. That way you learn basic modeling skills like loop cut and slide etc.. Start small before going to complex shapes and models

Spend (a lot of) time learning the different UV workflows. Learn when to use the simple Planar, Spherical, Box-type mappings, and when to use the more versatile Unwrapping tools. These will be universal techniques, across any renderer you choose. Shading, on the other hand, will mostly rely on which renderer is currently active. Start off learning the software's default shading tools, so you’ll have a solid understanding of what can be achieved, regardless of the renderer being used, then move onto render-specific tools, to take full advantage of the renderer's strengths.

Learn interface of your choosen 3d software and adapt it to your needs, it will increase your speed significally. Start with modeling most simple objects around you to understand what the shape consists of. It's enough to use built in render engines to tweak light and shaders settings for the begining to understand how these concepts work in cgi. And look for a good mentor from the industry which will explain you topology basics and guide you on your way.

Similar to shading, the available lighting and rendering options will drastically change depending on which renderer is currently active. Unlike shading, however, I would recommend concentrating on your chosen renderer’s lighting and rendering tools, as this will save time in the long run. It would still be advantageous to learn the defaults at some point too, but outside of comparing workflows, there’s little point in investing too much time into, say, Arnold’s lighting and rendering tools, if your goal is to master V-Ray or Corona. On that note, it’s worth researching which renderer is the industry standard for your chosen field. Arnold for TV and film, V-Ray and Corona for architectural and product visualisations, for example.

Lighting and rendering are essential for bringing your models to life. Learn basic lighting techniques to showcase your models' best features. Understand different lighting setups and their effects. Rendering: Explore popular rendering engines like Lumen or Cycles. Understanding the fundamentals of rendering enables you to showcase your models with stunning visuals.

It’s helpful to learn basic lighting techniques and how lighting works. It is always tricky when lighting your work and good work with bad lighting will ruin your work

Using simple typeforms that are about 10-15 slides to get a better understanding of your client's unique 3D modeling needs with specific questions and reference images is crucial to making your models accurate. Also, a color board with various color tone options and reference numbers for each color will ensure to visualize the 3D models as your client's dream.

Present your artwork in multiple platforms like ArtStation, Behance, Dribble, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, LinkedIn groups, Facebook art groups and deviant Art etc. So that recruiters or outsourcing agencies can see your skills, without even contacting you they'd know if you're capable for the job or not. Also create Fiverr and Upwork profiles, upload your artwork there and stay online on these platforms by refreshing webpage every one minute.

Develop strong presentation skills to effectively showcase your portfolio during interviews or client meetings. Publish your artwork on platforms such as Artstation, CG Society, Instagram, and Behance to increase visibility and attract potential recruiters or agencies.