1. Business and Computing Deanery 3D Modelling Tools Week 2 Parametric modelling, Transformations

2. 3D Modelling Tools 2 Today’s Contents Parametric modelling Creating primitives Naming objects Assigning colours Altering parameters Standard and extended primitives Selection of objects Transformations

3. 3D Modelling Tools 3 Last week Discussed the module guide Planning your model Software & hardware 3ds max interface Start Animated still life tutorial

4. 3D Modelling Tools 4 Tutorial tomorrow Your presentations List of groups List of subjects Any questions regarding the module guide

5. 3D Modelling Tools 5 3D space Rectangular coordinate system Known as Cartesian coordinates World or global coordinate system Each object can have its own local coordinate system

6. 3D Modelling Tools 6 What are primitives? Basic building blocks Can be used to start any modelling project First you need to create and move things around Each object has a set or parameters

7. 3D Modelling Tools 7 Primitive parametric modelling Numerical description of the object What are the parameters of: Box (or cuboid)? Size, 3 dimensions Cylinder? Height and radius Sphere? Radius

8. 3D Modelling Tools 8 Common 3D primitives Can you name them? Cone Sphere GeoSphere Teapot Box Tube Cylinder Taurus 3ds max v7, (2005)

9. 3D Modelling Tools 9 Important – name your objects Why? Default names are OK but what about a big scene?

10. 3D Modelling Tools 10 Different creation methods More than one way to create an object Click and drag Keyboard entry for precise dimensions Altering the object parameters Objects with a different number ot dimensions (parameters) require a difference number of clicks and drags How many for a sphere, box, cone? Create method Edge or centre for a sphere

11. 3D Modelling Tools 11 Activity – Standard primitives Start up 3ds max Draw a rectangular primitive shape Experiment with panning, zooming Change the viewpoints Experiment with ‘right clicking’ Draw a curved primitive shape Alter the umber of segments

12. 3D Modelling Tools 12 Extended primitive types AutoGrid Hedra Extended Primitive Torus Knot Extended Primitive ChamferBox Extended Primitive ChamferCyl Extended Primitive OilTank Extended Primitive Capsule Extended Primitive Spindle Extended Primitive L-Ext Extended Primitive Gengon Extended Primitive C-Ext Extended Primitive RingWave Extended Primitive Hose Extended Primitive Prism Extended Primitive 3ds max v7, (2005)

13. 3D Modelling Tools 13 Activity – Extended primitives Explore some of the extended primitives

14. 3D Modelling Tools 14 Units and scale English Feet an inches Metric Meters and centimetres Generic Decimal numbers

15. 3D Modelling Tools 15 Selection Select buttons Select by name Select by region Select by filter Paintbrush selection Multiple selection Isolate selection 3ds max v7, (2005)

16. 3D Modelling Tools 16 Setting object properties Properties panel Right click

17. 3D Modelling Tools 17 Activity – Change some properties Select some of the objects you have made and change the properties Size Colour Segments

18. 3D Modelling Tools 18 Working with objects Hiding and freezing objects What is the difference? Why use them? Layers “Separate scene objects into easy-to-select and easy-to-work-with groupings” Murdock K.L., (2005)

19. 3D Modelling Tools 19 Activity - Layers Organise some of your objects into layers

20. 3D Modelling Tools 20 Transformations Geometric transformation Mathematical operation What are the three possible methods of transformation? Position Rotate Scale

21. 3D Modelling Tools 21 Coordinate systems Max supports a number of coordinate systems View - default Screen World Parent Local Gimbal Grid Pick

22. 3D Modelling Tools 22 View View—In the default View coordinate system, X, Y, and Z axes are the same in all orthogonal viewports. When you move an object using this coordinate system, you are moving it relative to the space of the viewport. X always points right. Y always points up. Z always points straight out of the screen toward you. 3ds max v7, (2005)

23. 3D Modelling Tools 23 Transform tools Transform buttons Or type in the dimensions 3ds max v7, (2005)

24. 3D Modelling Tools 24 Gizmos The Transform gizmos let you quickly choose one or two axes when transforming a selection with the mouse. You choose an axis by placing the mouse over any axis of the icon, and then drag the mouse to transform the selection along that axis. To move or scale an object, you can use other areas of the gizmo to perform transforms along any two axes simultaneously. 3ds max v7, (2005)

25. 3D Modelling Tools 25 Pivot points The Use Center flyout provides access to three methods to determine the geometric center for scale and rotate operations 3ds max v7, (2005)

26. 3D Modelling Tools 26 Transform centre Rotation or scaling of an object around its pivot point 3ds max v7, (2005)

27. 3D Modelling Tools 27 Align objects Is very important for gaming modelling Meshes should never intersect can really upset the rendering engine Select an object Select to align it Select the target Important order

28. 3D Modelling Tools 28 Align Flyout Align Quick Align Normal Align Place Highlight Align Camera Align to View 3ds max v7, (2005)

29. 3D Modelling Tools 29 Other align options Use a grid Snap To a grid Other objects Bounding box Pivot point Perpendicular Tangent

30. 3D Modelling Tools 30 Activity – Make things Make a snow man Make a tray of ‘tea things’ Make a bendy straw Use 2 Tubes plus a Hose primitive

31. 3D Modelling Tools 31 Perspective transformations Perspective projection Happens automatically in virtually all 3D software A perspective view is created by projecting each point of the object onto a picture plane Parallel lines converge in the distance Creates a 2D image on the monitor/paper Axonometric projection

32. 3D Modelling Tools 32 Navigation transformations Motions or transformations that place the viewpoint or camera in different parts of the scene Position Point of interest Camera lens

33. 3D Modelling Tools 33 Architectural primitives Doors Windows Stairs Railing Wall Foliage 3ds max v7, (2005)

34. 3D Modelling Tools 34 Next week Tutorial Chess Set Lecture Cloning and arrays Modifiers

35. 3D Modelling Tools 35 Impendent study Directed reading 3DS Max 7 Bible Chapters 8 and 9 Finish off Modelling a Space Scene tutorial Prepare for next weeks tutorial Chess set Work on your presentation Start researching for your Elite models

36. 3D Modelling Tools 36 Self assessment What do the terms primitive and parametric mean? Name four primitives and their parameters? Why is it important to name objects? Why is it important to align things properly for gaming models? What are the 3 axes used in modelling? What are the three types of transform used in 3ds Max?

37. 3D Modelling Tools 37 References 3ds max v7, (2005) User Reference and Tutorials Murdock K.L., (2005) 3DS Max 7 Bible, John Wiley & Sons Inc, ISBN: 0764579711