Spider Webs

[ponder_it]

Does anybody have any good techniques for creating really nice spider webs?

[TEEJAY]

One simple way is to use wireframe render for the object.
If you want to model a web, then....
1. In Modeler make a disk with 5-8 sides, give it no depth!
2. In another layer, make a curve. here you (points mode)
line out the points for 1 strand of web (use the y view) or top
view to lay out the points. Set this off center just a little. After
you have laid out say 4 to five points in a fashionable line,
click Make Curve.
3. Now go back to the layer where the disk is and put
the curve in the background layer. You need to put your
disk at the first point you created the curve and face it away
from the direction of the curve.
4. In Modeler under (I think ) Construction or Multiply use
rail extrude in the Disk layer and you now have a single
strand of webbing.
5. Use the Array tool and make an Radial array on the Y axis.
6. Now pick various points from this to make the cross patterns
and copy them to another layer. convert them to a curve and
repeat steps 1-4.
I am not very good at writing tutorials, but I tried.
If you get this, use bones to position the ends of the cob web
and make it look attached to other objects. the cool thing is you
can keyframe or use motion plug in for effects of your spider
moving on the web....
Good luck and I hope have been some help. Never responded
to a post before.....

[dablan]

Good ideas.

here's one way as well:

First, find an image of a spider web. Load it into Modeler.
Then, create just points over key areas or corners. Then, select a point, and just the one next to it. Press p to make a polygon. By selecting two points and pressing the p key, you're making a single line polygon. Now select that last point, then another, press p. And so on. Go to Layout, and press F9, and you've got your spider web.

Now, if you need to fly up close to it, you might actually would want to model it as small tubes. But overall, the previous method works well.

A really easy way too is if you have a black and white image of a spider web, simply map it onto a flat polygon, and then clip map it!

Hope that helps.
Dan Ablan
www.3dgarage.com

[toby]

I was thinking about a clip map, (honest!) but drawing a web in illustrator - then you could change the thickness (by going back to illustrator and changing the stroke) and have a really hi-res, sharp clip map too.

[Jaycee]

http://www.digitalproducer.com/pages/creating_a_spider_web_with_light.htm

It actually worked!

[toby]

wow that's quick &dirty - nice&easy! good for those built-up-in-the-corner cobwebs

[ponder_it]

I'm gonna give it a go this week. I'll let you know how it turns out. Tried doin' it with particles, it was a no go with the IFW2's veign shader.