COMMON MODELING TECHNIQUES

We have come to the part which you have to model your objects starting from lines and curves. The following techniques require you to draw the shapes of the object you want to model and apply the specific modifier.

LATHE SURFACE

In using the Lathe modifier, you must remember that you only have to draw the one side of a rounded object. Then, apply Lathe.

Usually, when I explain Lathe surfacing to my students I use the chalice as an example. It’s easy to draw and has very nice curves for a 3D model. So let me show you how to model a chalice using Lathe.

We’ll get the line from the Shapes button on the Create tab. It’s just beside the Geometry.


Figure 2-2. Shapes command panel.

In the Creation Method, the Initial Type is Corner and the Drag Type is Smooth. We want to be able to create the curves of the chalice by dragging and the pointed areas just by clicking.


Figure 2-3. The Creation Method.

With the combination of clicking and dragging, I start to draw the one side only of a chalice. You’ll need regular practice for you to understand how the curves and the pointed parts of the chalice are drawn. I only manage to understand this concept after I started teaching 3D Max to my first class in animation.


Figure 2-4. The Chalice as drawn on its one side only.

Then, I’m going to apply the Lathe modifier found in the Modify tab, Modifier List. Check it out.


Figure 2-5. Lathe modifier.

If you look at the object now it doesn’t quite look like a chalice. That’s because we still need to configure something in the Parameters section. With the object still highlighted, on the Parameters section on the right, click on the ‘Min’ button under the ‘Align’ group. There it is! Our chalice made by just a drawing of its one side.


Figure 2-6. Compete model of a chalice using Lathe.

Try This!

1. Now why don’t you start practicing by drawing some of the chess pieces such as the pawn, bishop, rook, and the queen! Just draw the one side and apply Lathe.

Note: Don’t forget to click the Min button on the Parameters or your object will not appear as what you want it to be.

Part 2 - Modeling

This part of the blog deals with modeling your 3D objects, from using standard geometric primitives to the more complex organic modeling. Modeling your 3D objects is usually the first step in creating 3D animations. In addition, this stage in animation is the hardest and longest compared to the rest of the steps in the animation process. Let’s start with the basics of modeling which are the geometric primitives.

A. Geometric Primitives

Primitives are the basic shapes in 3D animation. They are very familiar to us because most of these primitives we have learned from kindergarten to geometry in high school. It includes the simple circle and the more complex Torus. You can actually model a complex object from any of the primitives especially the box. I’ll introduce to you how to model simple objects using the standard geometric primitives found in 3DS Max.

BOX

The first primitive you can see on the command panel. In the figure below you can see a box on the Perspective. Focus your attention on the lower right portion of the command panel that says ‘Parameters’. Observe the different parameters you can use to modify your box object.


Figure 2-1. The Box primitive.

Try This!

1. Place a box on the front viewport by simply clicking on the ‘Box’ button on the command panel and drag it on the viewport.

2. At the lower portion of the command panel, go to ‘Parameters’ and place the mouse pointer on the ‘up-down’ buttons just beside the text box labeled ‘Length’.



3. Just drag it upwards or downwards until you reach the desired length of the box. Do the same for the width and height of the object. You can also type-in the values for the length, width, and height of the box if you want a more accurate measurement.

Try doing the same box as you can see below.



4. That’s how you model your box just by changing the values in the parameters section.

SPHERE

Just try and explore the rest of the primitives. For example here’s what you can change from the parameters section of a sphere.



Try This!

1. Change the number of segments from 32 to 5 and check out how your sphere will look like.

CYLINDER



Try This!

1. Check on box labeled ‘Slice On’ and move the arrow down beside ‘Slice From’ and you’ll see your new cylinder.

TORUS



CONE



PLANE



There are many primitives in Max that I will not cover in this book. I suggest you take a look at them and try them to see how you can use them in your models. In the activity below, we’ll make a simple 3D model of a table.

Try This!

1. Place a box in the Perspective viewport and follow the Parameters as shown in the figure below.



2. Now, place another box on the Top viewport somewhere at the lower left side of the first box. Use the following parameters. This will be the leg of the table.



3. With the box (leg) still selected, press the ‘Shift’ key and drag the box to the right, then release the Shift key. The ‘Clone Options’ dialog box will appear. Just leave the default settings as it is. Notice that we are going to copy only 1 box.



4. Do the same for the last 2 remaining legs of the table.



5. Our table is complete. All we have to do is to rotate all the objects together so that the model will look upright on its 4 legs. Select all the objects in the Front viewport and rotate the table upwards using the Rotate button.



6. There it is! Your 3D model of a table using boxes. Go and experiment on the different Geometric Primitives and try to model real world objects such as furniture and appliances.