Table Of ContentTutorials:
Modeling
2010
Autodesk® 3ds® Max 2010 Software
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3
Modeling Tutorials
Modeling in 3D is similar to sculpting. Many different techniques can be used to create the
objects in your scene. The techniques you learn in these tutorials can be adapted to any style
of modeling you need to perform. For instance, if you're building models that will be
incorporated into a game, you'll be most interested in low polygon modeling techniques. The
same techniques will be equally beneficial when building highly detailed models for
architectural presentations or motion pictures.
The tutorials in this section are geared for the beginning-to intermediate-level users. Each
tutorial takes from 30 minutes to several hours to complete.
Beyond modeling techniques, the tutorials also expose you to the Material Editor and show
you how to apply materials to objects in your scene. That familiarity will help when you dive
into the materials and mapping tutorials on page 1056.
Features Covered in This Section
■ Creating primitive objects
■ Using a modifier to alter an object's shape.
■ Creating and editing spline objects
■ Converting splines into geometry using modifiers
■ Setting up viewports with background images
■ Editing a model at sub-object levels
■ Features in Editable Poly
■ Using Merge and Xrefs to bring external objects into your scene
■ Using the Graphite Modeling Tools Ribbon to edit poly objects
59
Modeling a Chess Set
In this tutorial, you will create four pieces of a chess set—a pawn, a bishop, a
rook and a knight—using various modeling tools and techniques.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to:
■ Create and edit spline objects.
■ Use Lathe modifier to create a 3D object.
■ Use Face extrusion to create geometry.
■ Use Boolean compound objects.
■ Use viewport background images.
■ Use the Surface modifier.
Skill level: Beginner
60 | Chapter 3 Modeling Tutorials
Time to complete: 1 hour
Modeling a Pawn
In this lesson, you will model a pawn for a set of chessmen. In a wooden chess
set of standard design, pawns are turned on a lathe. You will use 3ds Max to
do something similar: draw the pawn's outline, and then use a Lathe modifier
to fill out its geometry. The Lathe modifier revolves the outline around a
central point to create a shape, not unlike the way wood is turned on an actual
lathe.
Features and techniques covered in this lesson:
■ Using spline shapes to draw the outline of an object.
This lesson also briefly introduces you to spline editing.
A spline is a type of curve that is interpolated between two endpoints and
two or more tangent vectors. The term dates from 1756, and derives from
a thin wood or metal strip used for drafting curves in architecture and ship
design.
■ Editing the shape vertices and edges to better control spline drawing.
■ Using the Lathe modifier to turn a 2D outline into a 3D model.
Skill Level: Beginner
Time to complete: 15 minutes
Modeling a Pawn | 61
Set up the lesson:
■ Start 3ds Max or, if the program is already running, choose Reset
from the Application menu.
No scene file is required for this tutorial.
Set up the viewport background:
To create the profile of the pawn (and other chess pieces), you need to load
a reference image into the viewport so you can trace over it.
1 Right-click the Front viewport to make it current.
2 From the Views menu, select Viewport Background. The Viewport
Background dialog appears.
62 | Chapter 3 Modeling Tutorials
3 Click the Files button. navigate to the \sceneassets\images folder and
double-click ref-chess.jpg to load it.
4 In the Aspect Ratio group, choose Match Bitmap. This ensures the image
in the viewport does not get distorted.
5 At the right of the dialog, turn on Lock Zoom/Pan. This ensures the
background image reacts to zooms and pans you may use for viewport
navigation.
Modeling a Pawn | 63
6 Click OK to exit the dialog. A bitmap now appears in the Front view.
Press G to disable the grid, as you won’t need it for this exercise.
Now you are ready to begin drawing.
Start the pawn's outline:
You will draw the pawn's outline beginning with the “knob” on top.
1 Zoom in on the pawn reference in the Front view.
2 On the Create panel, click Shapes, and then click Line.
64 | Chapter 3 Modeling Tutorials
3 On the Creation Method rollout, set both Initial Type and Drag Type to
Corner. This ensures all line segments will be linear.
4 In the Front viewport, click a point near the top center. Press and hold
the Shift key to constrain the line to the vertical axis and then click a
second point at the base of the pawn.
Modeling a Pawn | 65
5 With the Shift key still pressed, click a point in the bottom-right edge of
the base.
6 From this position, click a few points on the right contour of the reference
image to create a rough profile, going up the side of the image. You do
not need to be very precise at this time as you will be able to edit the
profile later. To close the spline and end the command, click on the first
point.
66 | Chapter 3 Modeling Tutorials
