3d art is absolutely easier to learn than 2d. 3d art removes a lot of the skills required of 2d and is more forgiving to errors. This makes 3d a lot more of an iterative process. Skills such as perspective, and lighting are considerably easier as it requires less interpretation and more trial and error.
There are many reasons 3d is easier than 2d but the main reasons include.
- You Do Not Need to Learn Perspective
- It Is Easier to Learn to Light
- It is Easer to Create Texture
- 2d Is Not a Prerequisite for 3d
- Mistakes Are Easier to Fix
- Iterating With 3d is Easier
- You Can Focus More on Fundamentals
- You Have a Lot More Feedback as You Create
1 . You Do Not Need to Learn Perspective
Judging how big something is in relation to the camera and other objects can be a difficult task in 2d. It involves a lot of practice, a keen eye, and techniques to get it perfect.
In 3d you are able to simply scale something using real-life measurements. It is a lot more exact and removes the guesswork completely.
There is no need to guess what size it is in comparison to the camera as you have a third dimension to simply move it closer or further away.
Provided all the objects in your scene are the right size in comparison to each other perspective is something you never have to consider.
2. It is Easier to Learn to Light
Always having exact knowledge of where the light is coming from in 2d is a skill that is difficult to pick up and develop. Placing shadows in the right place is extremely difficult and somewhat permanent in a lot of 2d artwork.
With 3d you can simply place a light source and that’s it. Shadows are automatically calculated for you giving you the exact placement.
This is not to say that lighting in 3d is easy, as it plays a very big part in great 3d art. There is just no interpretation required from the artist on how the light reacts.
Best of all 3d lighting is a very iterative process. In 2d you more or less need to know how to light your scene correctly straight away. In 3d you can simply keep moving the lights until you get it looking exactly how you expect it to. 3d is a lot more forgiving.
3. Easier to Create Texture
Making textures such as wood or material can be a difficult task in 2d. You have to create the pattern, color and then also interpret how the light interacts with the texture. It can be difficult to master.
In 3d you simply don’t have this difficulty. You can use a wood texture and apply it to your model. The lighting is done for you so this is a consideration you don’t even have to think about.
You can then further dictate how the wood looks by utilizing a PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflow. With PBR you adjust how light reacts with the texture. For instance, can dictate If it’s polished (shiny) or just wood (barely reflecting light).
Best of all this is once again a very iterative process. You can keep playing around with it until you get it right with minimal rework required.
4. 2d is Not a Prerequisite for 3d
Zero skill is required in 2d to learn 3d art. They may be both striving for similar results but that’s where it ends.
I cannot iterate enough when I say that being good at 2d art is not a barrier to 3d art. I am terrible at 2d art but can get some reasonable results with 3d.
A lot of 3d artists cannot create 2d art and vice versa.
This does not mean that 2d is completely useless when it comes to 3d. Fundamental skills such as anatomy, color theory, and composition do carry over.
While this is the case these are skills are not exclusive to 2d and can be learned as part of 3d.
5. Mistakes are Easier to Fix
Everything in 3d is usually modeled separately. Clothes are separate from the characters, props are separate from the rest of the scene, and lights can be added or removed.
If you don’t like the way something looks in 3d it usually only requires you to either remodel that part, move or sub it out for another model.
If the model itself is wrong it is usually a pretty easy process to change in 3d depending on the changes required. Textures and lighting can be reused and only the model can be isolated and changed.
depending on the type of 2d art changes such as this can be difficult. Digital 2d art can be a little more forgiving but in my opinion not to the extent that 3d is.
6. Iterating With 3d is Easier
3d Modeling has a very structured approach. Usually, the process of modeling is separate from texturing and both are separate to lighting. This means if something looks off it is very each to change one of the 3 to get it looking right. You can try almost any combination of the 3 until it is perfect.
2d art is not as forgiving the type of vast changes that 3d enables is simply not an option in 2d.
7. You Can Focus More on Fundamentals
A lot of fundamentals involved with 2d art involve color, lighting, and composition. These can all be difficult to practice in isolation as they are linked with the drawing you are currently working on. Making changes to any of these can sometimes be difficult.
With 3d art it is a lot more segmented. You can use a single 3d model to practice lighting in isolation. You can then use that same model to practice texturing. There is no limit to the amount you can hone your skills off of a single model.
Practicing is so much easier!!
8. You Have a Lot More Feedback as You Create
A lot of 3d programs allow you to model texture and light as you go. As such you can actually light your scene and texture as start modeling. This makes it really easy to give you an idea of your finished model as you you go.
You don’t have to wait for the finished product to get an idea of what it will look like. You can get constant feedback as you go making it really easy to spot errors or places to improve.
By the time it comes to rendering your final image you can usually get a pretty good idea of what to expect the final outcome to be.
Conclusion
I am personally biased towards 3d art but learning 3d art is simply easier. If you are reluctant to give it a try I highly encourage you to. I always considered myself useless at art because I am terrible at drawing. This is a misconception,3d is nothing like 2d art. Don’t let the fact that you are terrible at 2d art to be a barrier to getting into 3d as it simply is not.