How to model this with polygons (newbie)

[jupussi]

Hello

This is kind of a newbie question. I have a certain object that I wan't to model. I can do it with SubPatches. I attached a picture that shows the object in three states. First before subpatch, subpatched and freezed.

Now I'm trying to do it with polygons only.

How do I do the bevels with polygons? How do I get it to bend like that. I have tried with Bend, but I don't know how to limit the bending in another end of the object.

[Nakia]

can you use the Rail Extrude to do it then?

[hrgiger]

Rail extrude would be good.

Also, you can make the same shape with splines pretty easy. It's easy to control your density with the patches you make from the splines.

As far as the bevled edges, there is a great and very cheap plug-in called rounder that is amazing. I think it's like $40.

[Extent]

When you freeze your subpatch cage it does turn it into straignt polys, if you've got the shape you want already there's no reason to redo it from scratch. If you want what I would do is merge all the polys that are mostly flat in the middle of the object together, leaving the ones around the beveled edges that you want to get.

To limit bending of the object just select only the polygons you want to be effected, remember that when you're modifying geometry in LW you're only moving points, so if your object isn't subdivided enough you won't see what you want.

If I can ask, why do you need to do it with polys instead of subpatching?

[riki]

You could use Spline Guide. Or just Reduce Poly's on the Frozen version. One tip is to check the Sub patch Resolution before you freeze.

Check my modeling tuts below.

[Nakia]

If you want what I would do is merge all the polys that are mostly flat in the middle of the object together, leaving the ones around the beveled edges that you want to get.
If you can point in the diriction of doing that? I want to know how to do that. On my SGI box when I freeze the polygon count is so High its slows down the Box. I will love to drop the polys to only what is needed after I get the basic shape. Where in the LW 7.5 manual is info on controlling the Polygon count?
Thanks!!

[Nakia]

I found it, its the Reduce-Polygons in Construct Tab. Cool. I figure thats a much needed feature.

[meatycheesyboy]

On my SGI box when I freeze the polygon count is so High its slows down the Box.

If you press 'o' and bring up the modeler option, you'll find an option called 'Patch Divisions'. This number directly affects how many polys will be produced when you freeze an object. If freezing makes very heavy objects, chances are that this number is too high.

[Terrificfool]

Erm, do a simple subdivide like 1 step using the subdivide command, without converting to subpatch, and then turn up ur smoothing on the surface controls.. works wonders.. low poly things look quite smooth. Or just make it with rail extrude but that does tend to make lots of polygons.. u can use qemloss2 to really fix that(at least the manual says u can;) )

[prospector]

actually because of the object you can just make a 4 sided object and extrude and smooth shift to the one you have there and then just hit 'Tab" then tighten up the weights untill you have the corners you desire.
Looking at picture, you should end up with 16 polys.

[CF01]

Use bandglue on the flat areas of your frozen mesh.

[ruejos]

Hi,

i'm also a newbie here. I've been doing the basic 3d's but my work seems to be not that good specially with smoothin'.....i read in one of those free tutorials that one solution to this problem is to triple the polygons, :confused: but i can seem to find the know how of doing it.

Thanks in advance for the tips you guys will be giving....

[prospector]

click the triple button

[ruejos]

Originally posted by prospector
click the triple button

Thanks it worked!

I'll be continuing learning lw via those tuts, if ever i encounter problems again, i'll post it here. :D