The fun thing I like to do is find something that looks or feels so complicated and then, you slap your head as you spot how simple it is to do and you have been trying to do it in the most complicated way, Lol.
That's how I did the above seam, all a seam is...... Two pieces of clothing coming together with a little gap where it has been sewn. Nothing more complicated than that.
I used to look at things being complicated and then I learned a nice technique called basics!! This is where you take something complicated and lok at it in a simple way to look ta its content.
Look at a basic house, wow..... complicated... Nope!!!
It's a rectangle, the windows are normally square, the door is another rectangle, the steps are rectangles, the roof is an elongated pyramid.
So, there you are, I have made something that looks complicated into very basic shapes. Once you start doing this with other things you suddenly see the world as just shapes. So, the next time you are out and about, try the basic technique and all of a sudden those shapes will just pop into your head.
Yes, it is a kind of Matrix moment when it first happens to you, but it is something that can be easily learned. Lol.
Then you just apply the same concept to 3D.
A skirt is a cube, nothing more, nothing less.
In a modelling program anyone can do this from scratch.
Load up your character model.
Create a cube, and scale it to the correct size and then place it to the right place on your character.
Delete the top and bottom of the cube and keep the sides.
Do a subdiv and refine it.
WOW!!!! You have the start of a skirt!!!!
That cube now looks like a cylinder, make the top smaller to fit the abdomen, make the bottom a little smaller to get the flow of a skirt and hey presto, 20 second skirt made!!!! LOL.
Once you find simple things like this, you should post how things are done to encourage others to do things.
Making content is NOT for so called mega gods of 3D, it's for everyone to have a go at.
Grab a free 3D modeller and have a go.
The only person that will stop you from doing anything is....... yourself. Not a Yoda quote, but Richard one.
The next thing is to take away the power of the word Test!!!!!
I bet I just scared a few people by using that word. Yes, you used to have those at school and you hated them!!! Come on be honest.
But.... If I now change that one word from Test to Challenge, you don't feel as bad.
The amount of students I used to tell this to when I was teaching and got the right effect was amazing.
Just before doing a test or an exam in word processing, data bases etc. I would tell them....
Most people hate tests, it reminds them of school and bad experiences, but if I say, it's just a challenge, well everyone is up for a challenge!!!
That one line used to take the stress out of people in seconds. I have had people so wound up by the thought of a test that they were going to not come for it. I gave them the above and they were ready to take the test there and then.
So.... When you start to make content, remember you are going to have a go at a challenge!!!! What will happen if you don't get it right the first time.....
Will the world stop.... no.
Will a big hole open up under you and you will drop into it.... no
Will a plague of zombies suddenly appear...... no, well I hope not!!! Lol.
It's all a learning process. You WILL make mistakes. Do you think those professional content makers don't make mistakes, sure they do, but they don't show you the mistakes that they make during their WIP's. Well I DO!!! Lol. If something goes wrong, at least I'm honest enough to show what happened and when I find a solution I post that as well. This way I show I'm just like everyone else wanting to make things.
The main thing is... get doing that first piece of content, that first little skirt, that first top etc. And most importantly, keep it in a special folder and look back at it in six months time. By then you should be making things way, way more professional and will look back at that first item and wonder why you were so worried to start making things in the first place.
Why do I write these little things? Because I want to encourage people to have a go. Notice the word encourage, I would never say force as this is the wrong way. I always encourage anyone starting out in content making and will always give feedback and ideas etc. There are probably some amazing content makers out there at the moment, but they just need that slight little nudge, and by reading my little thought, they may think, hell if he can do it, then so can I. Lol.
All the best.
Richard