Expert: Andre Hickman - 9/26/2009

Question
Hi Andre.
I'm going to make a 2D animation of some oil related equipment going down the drilling hole. I need to be able to move the parts in two directions (x-y) at the same time. I don't need anything fanzy like 3D Studio. As easy to use as possible. If it can do 3D animations too, it would be great. Should be able to import from Cad software.
Any idea what software I can use??
Thanks! :-)

Answer
Hey Stig,

In order to import a CAD file, you are basically asking for some type of 3D software, unless you are just trying to take some 2D vectors.  Anything that you are trying to do outside of 3D would really require a combination of software. For instance, you could get create 2D vector images of the art and import into Adobe Illustrator and do the coloration, or you could create the parts in Photoshop.  Then you would have to animate in a program like Flash or After Effects.  

I believe that there is a free 3D animation software called Blender 3D, that you can download.  For what you are trying to do, I think that is your best bet. It can do most of the basic design and animation stuff that 3ds Max can do(PLUS IT IS FREE!!!) Now programs like these do not teach themselves, so you are going to have to google "blender 3d tutorials" and "import cad file to blender 3D" and the like, to learn how to do what you need to do.  

Creating animation in 3D or 2D of any level of quality does require quite a bit of learning.  You may just want to price the cost of someone doing it for you. This is funny, because I just had a friend from the Houston, TX area asking me about the cost of doing some animation for him, doing the exact same thing, oil equipment and all...You aren't doing work with a company in Houston are you? LOL...

Cheers,
Andre'