| Creating
a Duck in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max
) - Tutorial / Lesson |
|
In this chapter, we
are going to model a
duck using the primitive
modelling techniques
in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds
max ). We will use several
new modifiers and techniques
for modelling the different
parts of a duck. A duck
can be modeled using
primitive modelling,
by dividing the duck
into different parts,
and modelling each part
using one of the available
primitives.
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| Modelling
the Duck's Head in 3D Studio MAX
( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson |
The
ducks head can easily be
modelled using spheres.
Start with a new scene in
3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max
) and reset it. Create two
spheres
in the Front viewport,
and using the modifiy panel,
change their radius to 20
and 8 respectively.
Position, the spheres, as
shown in the figure. |
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The
larger sphere will form
the head, and the smaller
one will form the beak.
Let's change the shape
of the small sphere to
look like a duck's beak.
Click on the sphere to
select it. Go to the modify
panel in 3D Studio MAX
( 3ds max ) and from the
modifier list, choose
FFD 3X3X3.
FFD stands
for free-form deformation.
The specifications, 3
x 3 x 3 says that the
FFD will have three control
points along its length,
breadth and height. The
FFD modifier in 3D Studio
MAX ( 3ds max ) creates
a lattice that surrounds
the object on which the
modifier is applied. The
control points in the
FFD lattice can be used
to deform the object to
any shape that we want.
We are going to apply
this technique for modelling
the beak. |
|
You will see the FFD modifier
in the modifier stack when
our small sphere is selected.
Click on the plus symbol
to the left of the FFD modifier,
and from the expansion,
click on control points.
Now you can select and move
any control point, using
the move tool.
You can either select the
control points individually
or drag a rectangle around
the control points to select
them as a group in 3D Studio
MAX ( 3ds max ). |
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In
order to make
a beak, out of
our small sphere,
we need to elongate
the sphere and
make it thinner.
In the front viewport,
the draw a rectangle
around the right
most control points
using the select
or move tool.
Refer the figure |
|
Now using the
Move
tool
in 3D Studio
MAX ( 3ds max
), move the
selected control
points to the
right. Now select
the left most
group of control
points by drawing
a rectangle
around them,
and move it
to the left
so that the
sphere now looks,
as shown in
the figure.
Note:
Selecting
a group of control
points in 3D
Studio MAX (
3ds max ) by
drawing a rectangle
around them,
selects not
just the visible
control points.
All the control
points that
lies beneath
the ones that
are visible
also get selected.
Also note that
drawing the
rectangle and
making selections
in different
viewports make
selections along
different axis.
Experiment by
selecting different
groups of control
points in various
viewports.
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Now
that we have made
the beak, adequately
long, let's move
the control points
in a more refined
manner. So far
we have been drawing
a rectangle, using
the select
or move
tool in the front
viewport to select
a grid of vertices.
Now, using the
select
or move
tool, draw small
rectangles in
the front
viewport
around single
visible control
points. Notice
that, instead
of getting a grid
of control points
selected, only
an array of control
points that lies
below the visible
control point
around which we
drew the rectangle,
get selected.
You can see the
difference in
mode of selection
through the perspective
viewport. If you
feel confused
with the selection
of control points
in 3D Studio MAX
( 3ds max ),
please
download and view
the control point
selection training
video. |
Download
the FREE
Training
Video which
demonstrates
control
point selection
of FFD in
3D Studio
MAX ( 3ds
max ) here
|
|
The
download
is a RAR
file which
contains
the training
video file
compressed
using MPEG-4
codec. Click
here
for instructions
on viewing
the video. |
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As explained above, using
the select
or move
tool in 3D Studio MAX
( 3ds max ), draw small
selection boxes around
individual visible control
points in the front
viewport, and
move them to the positions
shown in the figure.
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Tip: Instead
of drawing selection boxes around
individual visible control points
in the front viewport, you can
also select by clicking on the
required control point in 3D
Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). But
it only selects a single control
point, which is immediately
visible. The control points,
that lies beneath will not get
selected. You can select multiple
control points by holding down
the Ctrl key
in the keyboard, while making
selections.
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Lets
continue with the beak construction
in the next page of this tutorial. |
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