Business and Computing Deanery 3D Modelling Week 3 Advanced modelling

3D Modelling 2 Aims of today Discuss your presentation Advanced modelling

3D Modelling 3 Last week Software Modelling concepts Polygon Spline Patch Parametric 3D parametric modelling Primitives Transformations Aligning Cloning Modifying primitives Boolean

3D Modelling 4 Plan your model Massing model? Use a graphic or scan? Set up your grid Set up a file/folder system

3D Modelling 5 Sketch or Storyboard Adventure Gamers : Dreamfall: from sketch to 3D model (2005)

3D Modelling 6 Accuracy Imagine a pen How would you model it? Now look at a real pen Details make a big difference Practice to be imperfect Why?

3D Modelling 7 References Using reference materials will improve the quality of your model Build a reference library The object itself Photographs Drawings Video

3D Modelling 8 2D One method of creating a complex 3D object Convert the lines into 3D objects Visualise and define cross-sections Proper scale

3D Modelling 9 2D to 3D - Extrusion 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 10 2D to 3D - Lathing Create a path Choose an axis 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 11 2D to 3D – Sweep or Loft Create a 2D shape Create a path Cap or close the ends? 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 12 2D to 3D - Skin Create a number of cross-sections Skin them 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 13 Activity Draw a 2D shape and extrude it Create another 2D shape and lath it Create a 2D shape, a path and create a loft Find out how to do a skin

3D Modelling 14 File formats for modelling Portable or universal file format DXF.dxf Drawing Interchange Format Widely used in CAD (Computer Aided Design) OBJ.obj Computer animation an visual effects Native May be converted 3ds max.max

3D Modelling 15 Exporting/importing files File conversion 3D Studio (3DS) Adobe Illustrator (AI) ASC Scene Export (ASE) AutoCAD (DWG) AutoCAD (DXF) Shockwave 3D FiLMBOX (FBX) Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGES) Lightscape Material (ATR) Lightscape Blocks (BLK) Lightscape Parameter (DF) Lightscape Layers (LAY) Lightscape View (VW) Lightscape Preparation File (LP) Stereolithography (STL) VRML97 (WRL)

3D Modelling 16 Edges Real objects rarely have a sharp edge Bevel or chamfer Radius Fillet 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 17 Surface Modelling More free form than geometric (parametric) modelling. A subdivision surface is a surface that has been divided into more faces while retaining the object's general shape Subdivision adds more detail to an object, or to smooth it out Use modifier stack to “collapse” a parametric model to some form of editable surface.

3D Modelling 18 Why surface modelling? Great flexibility in modelling Game engines expect a mesh Default model type During rendering polygons are ‘smoothed out’ Meshes allow the optimisation of models Reduce the number of faces Low polygon modelling Reduce rendering time Key part of successful production

3D Modelling 19 Mesh objects Early versions of Max used triangles All faces were coplanar Good for the rendering engine Over time rendering engines have been modified Polygon modelling without subdivision More efficient Eliminated extra edges More control over the polygon object

3D Modelling 20 Meshes Triangles Vertex Edge Face Polygons Vertex Edge Border Polygon Element 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 21 Mesh or poly - which to use? History lesson Initially Max only supported mesh objects Subdividing the mesh into triangular faces ensured that all faces were coplanar Guaranteed to render well Over time rendering engines have been modified to handle polygons Makes the model more efficient Eliminates all the extra edges required to triangulate the mesh Murdock K.L. (2005)

3D Modelling 22 Tessellation Subdivides the faces of the object into two or more: Polygons or Triangles 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 23 Converting to editable objects Use the Quad menu Or Right click the object in the Modifier Stack 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 24 Editing a polygon model Convert an object into a editable polygon Removes all parametric controls, including the creation parameters If a modifier has been applied to an object you need to use the Collapse All command first Combines the stack operations Cannot undo, save a backup file

3D Modelling 25 Editable Mesh Surface Polygon mesh 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 26 Edit face Faces provide the renderable surface of an object. 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 27 Extrude Soft selection Extrude Bevel 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 28 Activity Make a crown Create a tube Convert to an editable mesh Extrude polygons

3D Modelling 29 Soft selection The Soft Selection controls allow you to partially select sub- objects in the vicinity of an explicit selection This causes the explicit selection to behave as if surrounded by a "magnetic field" 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 30 Working with vertices Select one or more vertices Magnetic of soft selection Use for transforms of vertices The program applies a spline curve deformation to unselected vertices surrounding the transformed selected sub- object A magnet-like effect with a sphere of influence around the transformation 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 31 Activity Create a sphere Convert to an editible polygon Push and pull vertices to make a face Not easy!

3D Modelling 32 Edit Edge An edge is a line, visible or invisible, forming the side of a face and connecting two vertices Two faces can share a single edge 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 33 Optimization Simplifies a smooth model with a high number of faces Does not greatly change the model’s appearance 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 34 Building Organic Forms Humans are really hard to do Working with Meshes and Vertices Skinning Working with cross-sections Can be provided by a scan Magnetic Resonance (MR) 3D laser Metaballs or Blobby surfaces

3D Modelling 35 Metaballs or Blobby surfaces Build a form from various sized objects Blend the surfaces together into a single mass

3D Modelling 36 Terrains Terrain objects can be created from contour line data Editable splines are selected a mesh surface created over the contours 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 37 Low polygon modelling What happens to a game if the polycount in a model is too high? Too slow to play May crash the system Overlapping meshes or undeleted faces may affect the appearance Planning of low polygon models is important

3D Modelling 38 Spec-ing a low polygon model File format Number and type of polygons Use of texture maps Particular type? Colour depth? Specific size? Transparency? Examine any sample models

3D Modelling 39 Poly counts Total number of polygons that make up a given object 3D engines have limits Number they can move around in a given scene Software has a Polygon Counter utility You can set a budget fop elected objects Unnecessary polygons can be removed Use MultiRes Polygons can be made to look softer Use MeshSmooth

3D Modelling 40 Level of Detail Models are created in two or more levels of detail Use high polygon model when the object is large in the scene Swap for the low polygon version when zoomed out Used in VRML or X3D

3D Modelling 41 Billboard Define a flat surface which is camera aligned Apply a texture Renders faster than if a 3D object is used 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 42 Box models and textures Simple way to add detail Keeps model simple Box with a texture added More later with materials 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 43 Low poly techniques No new skills Greater precision Decisions on where to invest detail Decisions on where to simplify 3ds max v7

3D Modelling 44 Mesh structure Several meshes are attached to make a single object Either Weld the meshes together to form one mesh Or separate them by a fractional amount Do not intersect meshes Delete any hidden faces

3D Modelling 45 Game engines Real time 3D engines may use rendering which smoothes out your model You may need to take special steps to avoid this Detaching groups to make them sharp

3D Modelling 46 Self assessment What are the four types of modelling concepts used by modelling software? What is the most useful for gaming? Why is this used for gaming? Why does it not work well for Rendered views? Organic shapes? Discuss the four methods of converting 2D shapes to 3D Give an example of each for constructing everyday objects

3D Modelling 47 References Adventure Gamers : Dreamfall: from sketch to 3D model accessed 23/09/2005 Giambruno M, (2002) 3D Graphics & Animation, 2nd Edition, New Riders, ISBN: Kerlow I. V., (2003) The Art of 3-D Computer Animation and Effects, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc; ISBN: Murdock K. L., 3ds max7 Bible, Wiley Publishing; ISBN: Screen shots taken from 3ds max 7 User Reference and tutorials