| Creating a Duck in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson |
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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 |
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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.
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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
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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.
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Download the FREE Training Video which demonstrates control point selection of FFD in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) here
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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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