First Time Modeling Any Suggestions? [Archive]

Lance Oscar

01-21-2008, 12:21 AM

I purchased lightwave for the reason of making classic muscle car models.

This will be my first attempt. I have tried many other tutorial projects to learn lightwave I get frustrated and never complete tutorials.

I know that if I set out do do a vehicle I will have the interest to complete my first project.

Im sure this is going to take sometime. Im out of work with plenty of time on my hands!

For a beginer new to 3d Lightwave is a monster program. It makes learning photoshop about as complicated as making soup!

Any sugestions of how to get the flow of polygons or splines would be great!

Thanks,
Lance

CAClark

01-21-2008, 04:29 AM

Looks like a good start, sadly I can't offer much insight with the splines route, as I polymodel my cars.

Cheers!

colkai

01-21-2008, 06:45 AM

Do a search for any tutorials by "Lewis" - he is a master of car modelling using splines.
If you don't mind forking out some cash, I also heartily recommened getting the Kurv Car DVD's - they are very informative, easy to follow and use splines. :)

steamthunk

01-21-2008, 04:42 PM

Maybe splines are the way to go for cars, but I find them in general kind of fussy. I tend to get caught up in endlessly patching and re-patching so I only use them for a starting point and general massing and then switch to other methods asap.

Inside Lightwave 8 has a corvette modeling tutorial although it uses the poly-by-poly approach. Mr. Clark's tutorial on the Veyron in this month's 3DCreative is also worth checking out and its a good mag in general. As you suggested yourself, it all boils down to poly flow so even if you don't want to model that way its worth checking out the process because sooner or later you will drop down to the polygons. :)

colkai

01-22-2008, 03:43 AM

Hmm, might have to see if I can locate said mag in the bookshops around here - prolly unlikely though, I've noticed even 3DWorld has disappeared from most shops. Boring lot around here :p

Lewis

01-22-2008, 05:58 AM

HI !

Your spline cage looks very promising and it's well desingned (enough splines). I usually start wiht wheel wels (patching) to see how much polygons I need in that area since it's round and needs more than some flat surfaces. Be sure to patch near panels with same number of rows so that you can weld them properly and later cut in parts and have good polyflow for later rendering/reflections..

steamthunk

01-22-2008, 12:25 PM

Hmm, might have to see if I can locate said mag in the bookshops around here - prolly unlikely though, I've noticed even 3DWorld has disappeared from most shops. Boring lot around here :p

Its unlikely you'll find it in a bookstore because its an online magazine! :)
http://www.3dcreativemag.com/

colkai

01-22-2008, 01:21 PM

hehe, ahem, yes ..well... I knew that honest! :p :D
Bought it. ;)

Helder Evandro

01-22-2008, 01:25 PM

Hi Lancer!:)
Your modeling with spline this very good!
I'll accompany the modeling.:thumbsup:

Lance Oscar

01-22-2008, 06:19 PM

I a book fell on my laptop and distroyed my hard drive! I just replaced it and finished installing my software. Im ready to start over on my splines! Hopefully I'll make them even better!

Im going to see if the Boarders Bookstore has that 3d Magazine with the tutorial in it.

Thanks for the advice from everyone!

Lance

colkai

01-23-2008, 03:21 AM

Im going to see if the Boarders Bookstore has that 3d Magazine with the tutorial in it.
Lance
Lance, you buy it online ...as I discovered yesterday :p

Worth getting it but be warned, to follow the whole thing, you'll also have to buy the next few issues.

Lance Oscar

01-23-2008, 05:05 PM

I had a big set back when someting feel on my laptop and crashed my Hard drive. I lost my camaro lightwave file, along with a bunch of other things.

I had to start from scratch and do my splines again.

Thanks everyones help and advice!

No one in my area is working with 3d or Lightwave, at least any I know. Its great to be so welcomed here!

Ive read this Forum for over 1 year. I have been a big fan of a lot of talented people on this site.

Im going to subscribe to 3d creative magazine today!

Can I send someone my lightwave file to be checked or looked at for some advice, on making patches or spline problems?

This could help save me many hours. Im new to this... I dont know if Im asking something that is way out of line.

Thanks,
Lance

Lewis

01-24-2008, 01:53 AM

Don't worry about splines too much, they are just guides for patching and you always can Add new one where you need it as project move along.

Just don't forget that you can patch only 3 and 4 splines at once (not 2 not 5 or any other number). Preferably 4 'coz with 3 you'll got triangles and weird results. So make each ppatch area closed wiht surounding splines.

ice_blade_za

01-28-2008, 05:44 AM

I'm impressed with you grasp of the whole shape in 3D. Will be nice to see the whole thing taking shape.

Lance Oscar

01-30-2008, 06:46 PM

Splines are not easy to understand. They dont want to patch. Ive attempted to try to poly model this project. I just dont have a good understanding of when to spline model or poly model. A lot of trial and error at this point.

I have to give everyone alot of credit for understanding how to model in lightwave. Its a difficult learning curve!

Im still working it out. Its just going to take some time...

Thanks,
Lance

Lewis

01-31-2008, 01:29 AM

Splines are very very easy when you follow few rules.

1. you can patch only 3 and 4 splines at once (preferably 4 and quads only)
2. be sure that splines are WELDED (points) at their intersection or you will get "splines do not cross correctly" error.
3. don't use too many poins on splines (you've got this one OK from what I can see)
4. can't remember now :D :D :D.

pdrake

01-31-2008, 12:41 PM

the problem isn't the splines.

it's the subject matter.

you need to try something a little more muscley.

:D

perry drake
director of creative design
shelby autos, inc.

Lewis

01-31-2008, 12:45 PM

Yeah Shelby is always nice muscle car :) :)

I'll need to model Shelby GT 500 1967 soon so i could use some resources :D :D.

Surrealist.

01-31-2008, 12:51 PM

Also take a look at my tutorial on subpatch modeling. You might find it useful to get going with that angle of things.

Lance Oscar

02-01-2008, 01:26 AM

I have tried to model this car a few times in splines. To many problems with spline errors. Im tring the poly model method now. Im making a mess every time. This is where Im at now. What do I do to blend polys from two different directions.

As far as my choice of cars to model I like almost any 1965 to 1974 Muscle cars. These were the years that almost all the cars look great. Im such a big fan of almost all of them. I cant wait to figure out how to model them. Thats all I want to do. I want to make as many as I can... one of each!

I do love fords, I have a 1969 fake Shelby Conv. Ive had this car since I was 17. Its fast, loud and fun! I also have a 1969 Ford Ranchero. Ive had many other different muscle cars over the years. Camaros, Trans Ams, Chevelle, Buick GS, and even an AMX.

My Mustang convertible was always my favorite It came from the factory with a 351, 4 speed, with AC. Pretty much every other option except tilt wheel. I bought It in 1988 for $400.00 and drove it for years, pretty much the way I bought it except for new paint and new top. I dont think Ill be finding a deal like that ever again.

Thanks,

Lance

Lewis

02-01-2008, 02:09 AM

You merge/weld points as woudl you do wit splines :). It's same thing when you get to polys - always weld/merge to make it connected.

ice_blade_za

02-04-2008, 08:19 AM

Take a look at the Snap Drag Tool. I saw a video from newtek about it and when I hit a hitch recently I used it.
I have to agree with Lewis, welding the points down is important. Lastly, watch the two point polys, they throw every thing off at times. Just delete them, you can get to them from the Polygon Statistics window (just hit "W" key and the plus next to the "2 Vertices" item and then just delete)

Keep going your doing well and getting around these issues with no hassle just takes practice (and tutorial videos and the people on this forum kicking you around a bit) Ask me, my butt is quite sore. ;) But my skills are slowing getting better.

Lance Oscar

02-07-2008, 11:46 PM

Im still making a mess of polys. But Im starting to understand how to poly model!

Thanks for all the help!

Lance

Lewis

02-08-2008, 01:40 AM

Go to modeler display options and turn OFF "show cages" for each viewport to help you make nicer screen grabs (it will kill that dotted lines in subpatch mode).

cheers

liquidpope

02-08-2008, 02:08 PM

Lance Oscar

02-08-2008, 04:34 PM

Howdy, Lance.

First, you're doing really well so far. Keep it up.
The car is looking great.

I suggest making some changes to your poly flow. (I modeled a quick little area to show what I'm thinking.)
Some careful planning in this regard can save you hours of modeling time.

One easy way to plan out your poly flow is to take your reference photos into Photoshop and draw on them.
Another is to print them out and draw either directly on the print or on tracing paper placed over the print.
Making changes to the flow is much faster this way and leads to much more productive time inside Modeler.

Good luck, have fun and post more, please.

--- I have trouble understanding the poly flow in the roof line with all the curves and tappers. Also with the wheel wells. Im still new to lightwave and 3d.

This is the coolest progam, Ive ever seen! I wish I would have started on lightwave 5 years ago!

So much to learn.

This Forum is awesome!

I hope to create some amazing projects to share with everyone.

Thanks,

Lance

Lewis

02-08-2008, 04:45 PM

If you have will to learn you'll learn it FAST on this forum, no doubt in that, people here are willing to help :).

liquidpope

02-08-2008, 09:17 PM

I have trouble understanding the poly flow in the roof line with all the curves and tappers. Also with the wheel wells...

You're off to a great start. The only real problems I'm seeing are easily fixable.
Basically, you need to try to minimize triangles. A few here and there usually won't be a problem, but if you have two or three together, or if there's one in an area that has a tight radius, it can cause some pinching.
Just try to plan your flow ahead of time so you can use 4-point polys, or "quads", exclusively.

liquidpope

02-08-2008, 10:06 PM

(Sorry for all the posts. I should have done this one first...)

This is very close to what you have already, I just got rid of a couple of pinch points.

Lance Oscar

02-09-2008, 06:07 PM

liquidpope,

I could not figure out how to apply your poly sugestion to my mesh. I have one to many rows on my trunk & body to blend with my roof. I kept ending up with a triangle.

I started over again. I think the poy flow is right. Im going to try again.

Thanks,
Lance

Lance Oscar

02-10-2008, 01:12 AM

What should I do next?

Thanks,

Lance

liquidpope

02-10-2008, 01:34 PM

I really hope you're saving all the different versions you've been modeling. You never know when you may want to go back to a previous mesh.

I wouldn't worry about making your poly flow exactly like mine. I was just trying to show how I might plan ahead, and how you might get rid of some triangles. Sometimes triangles aren't bad, just depends on where they fall.

Over time, you'll start to find ways to do things that are right for you. I would suggest taking a little time once a week or so and try to model some compound curves and transitions. (I'll try to post some examples later.)
You can learn alot by doing little studies like that.

The best thing you can do is exactly what you're doing now. Get in there and try stuff out. If you think it's not working, try something else. And always save your attempts so you can go back and compare what worked with what didn't.

You're doing great so far, just keep it up! :thumbsup: