Class 2/26

Critique

Class 2/19

Readings/Tutorials:
Lesson 8: Using Compound Objects (esp. Booleans), pp. 264-91
Modeling with Modifiers and Creating a Sky Dome, pp. 182-88

Restoring deleted faces

What if you have to delete a part of your object but don't want a gaping hole left where it used to be?

Choose the Border sub-object mode--it's the one that looks like a loop, between Edge and Polygon-selection buttons under the Modify tab. Click on the edge that surrounds the hole. This will loop around and select all edges touching each other.

Under the Modify tab, Edit Borders, click Cap. This should fill the area in with a polygon. If this doesn't work, perhaps the shape is too complex for filling in.

The image is showing, from left to right, the geometry in its pre-cut state, after the cut, and then after the Cap.

More Spline-editing Tips

Adding to a finished spline (2-dimensional line):

1. Using the Select Object tool, right-click on the finished spline and Convert To... -> Convert to Editable Spline.
2. Under the Modify tab, choose Vertex sub-selection mode.
3. Scroll down until you find the End Point Auto-welding section. Check next to Automatic Welding.
4. Above that, in the Geometry section, turn on Create Line.
5. Hover over the vertex on the line from which you want to continue. Your mouse pointer should change. Click on it to continue your line.

To add points in the middle of a spline, in the Modify tab under Geometry, turn on Refine.

Subtract points by selecting them and hitting Delete on your keyboard.

2/12 Class

Today we looked at assignment #2 as well as the techniques of extrusion and lathing. Please read and do tutorials on pp. 190-263 of chapter 2 in your book.

The assignment is due the week after next. I recommend sketching out a rough idea of what your scene might look like and creating two of your sculptures, so that you can ask next week if you are having difficulty. Next week we will cover Boolean compounds, creating terrain and skydome.

Presentation Schedule

2/12 Rob King
2/26 Kristy Keaton
3/5 Cliff Kooser & Mike Chrysovergis
3/12 Jonathon Sparks & Reuben Rosenberg
3/26 Alex Miller & Vlad Osipov
4/9 Ben Schaffhauser & Mike Woodward
4/16 Zach Dawson & Kyle Harris
4/23 Maureen Sullivan & Nick Natoli
4/30 Lance Harrington & Bryan Lee
5/7 Andy Stone & Marquel Lee

If you haven't signed up yet, there are a few spots next week, the week after, and exam day. Please let me know your choice.

Non-representational Sculpture

Click here for a slideshow of examples of non-representational sculpture.

Assignment #2 Examples

I will be posting a handout for Assignment #2 on the website shortly.

Here are examples from last semester. This semester the rules will be more strict as far as textures. The focus should be on the modeled form. We will be putting simple textures on the sky and terrain, but please wait until assignment #3 to assign materials to geometry. It will make it easier for us to compare the pieces based on the merits of the modeling rather than the materials.

Last semester I wasn't so strict, so there are textures on some of these models. They are all good examples of non-representational modeling, though. Try to imagine them as plain geometry. Which one works best? Why?


Michael B.



Jacob B.



Kashka L.


Mark T.

Feb 5 Class

Today we began working on Assignment 1, due by the beginning of class next week. If you do not have your book to complete it, I've posted the first chapter as a pdf on the class website.

Once you get to the Materials section, you will notice a problem. It asks you to look for something in the "Mtl Library", which you will find empty. The problem is that there are two "3dsMax" folders on your hard drive--one in Program Files and one in My Documents. Make sure "Mtl Library" is selected, click on Open... under File, then at the top choose the drop-down folder next to "Look In", choose the C: drive->Program Files->Autodesk->3ds Max 2009->Material Libraries->3dsmax. This should bring up a long list of materials.

We looked at interesting artists and historic 3D animation.

First we looked at a DVD of James Deusing's work, who unfortunately doesn't any full movies on the internet. Here you can find an exerpt from the movie we watched.

I will post videos of the rest that we watched. The names link to information about the artists:

Robert Abel and Associates
1977 Levi's Ad:



Cube Quest:



Ed Emshwiller
1979's Sunstone:


Symbolics
1987 Stanley and Stella in Breaking the Ice



Karl Sims
1988 Particle Dreams:


1991 Primordial Dance:


Simulation of Evolution by Natural Selection:


More Natural Selection: