3D MODELING

The perffered program for modeling in 3D is AutoDesk's 3DS Max. I learned to model in two different ways. The first was modeling with shapes. For this method I would create shapes and distort them get it as close as possible to what I was trying to model like using a sphere for a characters head and a square for the body. The second method was using a plane (flat line) with polygons and bending and distorting it to create a 3D object. This method takes a little longer but gets better results.

This first modeling project was to re-create a scene from a game or movie using the shape method. I chose to use Final Fantasy 7 Nibelheim Reactor.







Different Camera Angles

The second project involved texturing. Texturing is the process of flattening (unwrapping) a 3D object into UV maps, painting it, and then applying it back to the object. This insures the 3D object is painted with no distortions. This took two different programs and a lot of time and patients. Incorrectly unwrapping and object can lead to the colors or image being off or the object not reattaching correctly.












A few UV maps

The final project was recreating a level from an 8-bit video game. The goal was to take a 2D level and turn it 3D. Then we had to set up the lighting and texture it.

I chose an underwater level from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Manhattan Project. The rocks are a flat plane with some noise added to give it a stone feel. I also used a flat plane for the seaweed and twisted them. The electricity was created from cylinders being stretched in and out and given a glow. Finally the bomb was created using shapes and manipulating them.