3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists

Thomas Mooney

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781849692366
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Desktop Applications
• Index: Computer Science

In Detail

Production of 3D art is an exciting medium, but the task of modeling requires intense attention to detail, so speed and efficiency are vital. This book breaks down speed modeling workflow in 3ds Max into stages you can easily achieve, with a focus on hard surface modeling and methods you can apply to your own designs.

"3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists" will help level up your 3D modeling skills. It focuses on hard surface modeling, and shows the range of tools and techniques in 3ds Max 2013.

This book shows content creation methods aimed at 3ds Max modelers preparing to show their skill to the industry. The key feature of modeling that artists must exhibit is speediness while preserving technical accuracy. The author helps you follow set project guidelines while pushing creativity and outlines the entire workflow from concept development to exporting a game-ready model.

The book begins with introductions for new users to the interface and modeling tools, and progresses to topics aimed at users already familiar with 3ds Max, who want to improve their content creation process. You'll also see ways 3ds Max content is used with other applications, like sculpting software and game editors, and learn features of speed modeling, efficient workflow, re-use of content, and tips on getting more done, more quickly.

By the end of this book you will have learned key topics in modeling, ready to face professional level work with elan.

Approach

Step by step illustrated tutorials are supported by a focused commentary. The examples are designed to proceed from starting to model through model finishing to putting models to work within projects and presentation. The book shows both - the entire flow of asset creation and granular methodology.

Who this book is for

This book will appeal to anyone interested in 3D modeling who wants to improve their speed modeling ability, particularly artists whose work is relevant to industries where hard surface modeling or model prototyping is required, such as games, films, or visualization.

3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists

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Table of Contents

3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists

Credits

About the Author

About the Reviewers

www.PacktPub.com

Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more

Why Subscribe?

Free Access for Packt account holders

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Downloading the example code

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. First Launch: Getting to Know 3ds Max

Quick start: Jump into making models

Getting to know the User Interface

Default and custom UI schemes

Switching UI presets

Making changes to hotkeys

Customizing the Quad menu

Making changes to the view layout

Deciding on the best view navigation

Pan, Orbit, and Zoom

Navigation with the ViewCube

Making adjustments to the ViewCube display

Navigation with the Steering Wheel

Using the Steering Wheel

Displaying your model for modeling

Model display

Setting scene units

Searching for content in the scene

Creating your own selection sets with Named Selections

Common changes to 3ds Max default preferences

Determining the hardware shading settings to use

Summary

2. Model Shakedown: Make 3ds Max Work for you

Setting filters in the Display panel

Display panel filters

Hiding and freezing objects

Display Properties

Object Properties – Show Frozen in Gray

Freezing objects via Object Properties

Object Properties – Animation trajectories

Toggle trajectory

Object Properties – Render properties

Disabling shadow casting

Moving and rotating objects using pivot controls

Pivots

Local, Screen, and Pick spaces

Changing the axis direction of the gizmo

Cloning objects: Instances, References, and Snapshots

Adjusting Instances

Capturing a Snapshot

Adjusting modifiers in the viewport

Assigning a single Turbosmooth to all your models

Selecting objects that have a certain modifier

Setting different modifier attributes for views and rendering

Organizing a scene using Groups

Group functionality

Importing models

Using a template scene including lighting, turntable camera, and render settings

NVIDIA iray ActiveShade rendering

Summary

3. The Base Model – A Solid Foundation in Polygon Modeling

Introducing the project

Adding image reference

Viewport image planes

Forming the base model

The Quad menu's editable poly tools

Setting values with the Autodesk style caddy

Fitting the model to the artwork

Generating round forms from quad-based geometry

Detaching and attaching parts of a model

A preview of a sculpting workflow

Summary

4. Mod My Ride: Extending upon a Base Model

Marking Poly Loops

Soft modeling

Soft modeling with Soft Selection

Soft modeling with the Shift brush

Soft modeling with Free-Form Deformations

Relaxation techniques

Using Poly Select to apply modifiers to Sub-Object selections

Generating shapes from edge selections

The Lathe modifier process

Shape construction and interpolation

Comparing the Sweep modifier with the Loft object

Smoothing Groups

Generating model forms using Cloth

Setting up the Cloth modifier parameters

Summary

5. The Language of Machines: Designing and Building Model Components

A visual language for science fiction machinery

Spare parts

A Greeble factory

Getting started with Greeble

From primitive origins...

…Into outer space

A star ship construction walk-through

Summary

6. The Cutting Edge: A Closer Look at 3ds Max Polygon Tools

New modeling and UI features in 3ds Max 2013

Camera movement while a Cut operation is live

Customizable Workspaces

Tabbed Layouts

A gradient for the viewport background

Interoperability with AutoCad

Sub-Object level editing tools via the Ribbon

Getting started

Edge loop selection and growth

Loop mode and live select mode

Dot selection, growth, and Step selection

Sub-Object editing in Manipulation mode

Joining objects

Creating and cleaning Booleans

ProBooleans

Ribbon tools

Paint Connect, Vertex, and Distance Connect

Freeform: Shift

Freeform: Optimize

Summary

7. The Mystery of the Unfolding Polygons: Mapping Models for Texturing

The goal of UV mapping

Gaining familiarity with the Unwrap UVW editor

Combining texture islands to save draw calls

Just getting on with it...

Additional UV layout tools

Soft Selection

Setting UVW editor hotkeys

Aligning points

A handy script for fixing up UVs

Mirror and Flip commands

Packing the layout

Finalizing the layout

Making a Photoshop texture template

Send to Mudbox

2D View in Viewport Canvas

Summary

8. Custom Body Job: Painting using Viewport Canvas

Direct painting versus indirect painting

Starting a paint session

Channel selection

S...

Table of contents

• 3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists