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| This Lesson's / Tutorial's Contents at a glance |
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| Applying the Surface Modifier in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson |
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Now with the reference model / character selected, go to the modify panel of 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) and add the modifier ‘surface’ by selecting it from the Modifier List drop down. It gets added on top of the Modifier stack. You will notice that the reference model / character we created is now invisible in the viewport. Don’t panic. The surface modifier needs a closed mesh for proper display. Our figure is just an outline. Let’s now turn it into a mesh.
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| Subdividing the Mesh in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson |
Select the original outline of our model / character (not the reference) in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). Go to the Modify panel and select Vertex, within the Line in the modifier stack. Now all the vertices should be visible for you. We are going to connect the vertices using lines. Before that, click on the Snap Toggle button  on the main tool bar. If the button with the 3 on top of it is not visible, it may be hidden beneath. Holding your click on the button will display all snap modes, from which you can choose the 3D snap. The 3D Snap lets you snap objects in a 3D plane. We need to fine tune the tool for our present requirement. Right click on that tool button. From the dialog box that appears, make sure that only the End Point option is checked. This helps us to snap our lines between end points in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). You can now close that dialog box.
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Now our job of transforming the outline into a 3d spline cage begins. Be very attentive when you read the following sections. With the 3D Snap tool active, click the ‘Create Line’ button in the modify panel. Now move your mouse over the vertex near the nose of our model / character. It gets highlighted in blue color and snapped on to the vertex nearby. It is shown in the figure
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Click on the vertex. Now when you move your mouse, you will see that a line extends from the vertex. We need to connect the line to the back of the head. But the vertex that already exists on that side is slightly below. Hence let’s create a new vertex which is in alignment with the line we need to create. Right click your mouse to cancel the line we have just started.
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| Refining vertices in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson |
Click on the Refine button in the modify panel of 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ), and click on the line where you want the vertex to appear. Don’t forget to turn off the 3D Snap before you add a vertex. Otherwise the vertex will get added on top of the one already existing, since the snap tool snaps the new one to the existing one. After turning the 3D Snap tool off, click on the location shown in the figure with the Refine active.
This should create a vertex in the proper location. Now click ‘Create Line’ button. Turn on the 3D Snap tool and draw a line between the vertex at the start of the nose and the newly created vertex, as shown in the figure. When the line has been created, you will notice that when you move the mouse, the line extends in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). Simply right click the mouse to end the line. Refer the figure.
Now refine a vertex at the center of the newly created line. Also add a vertex at the center of the base of the neck. Refer the figures:
Note: When ever you create a line, turn on the 3D snap. When you are refining a vertex, turn it off.
Now connect a line from the top of the head through these vertices we have created as shown in the figure. When you move the mouse over a vertex, you will notice that it automatically snaps to the vertex. Simply click to create the line. Continue the line to the base of the neck and click on that vertex. Now right-click to end the line in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ).
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| Please dont forget to Save the scene. |
| Move on to the next page to learn more about refining the head of our model / character |
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