Model Constuction

Model Construction

With my experience of 3DS Max I developed a much larger understanding of how 3D models are contructed. Adding more length/height/width segs to a box object gives it more faces (which also means more polys) so you can morph it onto more complex shapes using the 'edit poly tool'





I added 3 length segs and 3 height segs to my box. I am going to make it into a house.

Converting the object to an editable poly is simple. Using your cursor, right click on the object, select 'convert to' and then select 'convert to editable poly.




Converting my box into an editable poly.

When you convert the object to an editable poly, you are taken to the modifier tab where there are many options which you can use to edit your object. I'm going to be focusing on the selection tools. Slection tools let you select a certain polygon of the object (or multiple parts if you hold down ctrl). Below is a screencap of the tab with the selection tools labeled.

Now I'm going to start editing the object. I will start with selecting the middle polygon on the top of the object. Then, I'm going to click on the 'move' button so I'll be able to move the polygon up (which stretched the ends of other polygons connected to it).

Then, I'll select Edge tool and select one edge of the polygon and move it to the side a little, I will do the same with the other edge but I'll move it in a different direction.

The third set of edges that go through the sides, front and back of the box, I am going to move up a little. After that, I'm going to use the 'extrude' tool. Edxtruding a polygon means expanding it to either the front or back (this adds more polygons to the model)

The last thing I am going to do is select the bottom center polygon in the front and extrufe it backwards to create a hole for an entrance.

After doing that I deleted the selected polygon and made a render of my object.

 

This is a video of a rendered object I made in 3DS Max rotating.