Must dos at the start of each modelling project.

# 1 05-10-2012 , 05:05 AM

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Must dos at the start of each modelling project.

Hello!

I'm starting modelling and I was wondering if there's any basic things you should do before/during the start of a model to make it easier in the long run/to avoid future problems. Just basic things that is easy for a beginner to miss.

Thanks.

Keflyn

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# 2 05-10-2012 , 10:24 AM

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Location: Australia

Posts: 4,255

First off get some good ortho images if you can and import into the scene. Adjust them in PS if you can, though this can also be done in Maya. There is a section in here somewhere about the import of ref planes.

Use as little polys as you can to get the basic shape...DONT try to model with a gazillion polys, this will just make life very hard for you. Concentrate on the 'main' shapes before trying to add detail.

Get as many images of the model off of the net as you can, say if its a car, get LOTS of pics of the car you are making. As many as you can, the more the merrier, you can never have enough ref images.

IF you are a beginner I would suggest a tutorial from here, the one I first did was Kurts Spitfire, one I havent finished due to work constraints was Jays Ramsay and Surfing with the Alien. They are all excellent tuts and offer both organic, hard surface, UV mapping and texturing in nice easy to understand packages.

Good luck with it...and also visit the Maya FAQ here in the forum...helps a lot.

Cheers bullet

bullet1968

"A Darkness at Sethanon", a book I aspire to model some of the charcters and scenes

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# 3 08-10-2012 , 04:47 AM

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Thanks for replying. I have another question.

I'm watching this video
Character Modeling Tutorial - YouTube

and he keeps smoothing out the models and models them in a smoother state. Is this the same as "smooth" mode and if so, I thought you shouldn't model in it? or is it a different thing he is doing? I.E just smoothing the model a bit?

Thanks again!

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# 4 08-10-2012 , 04:53 AM

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I dont have enough mobile to watch this. Essentially no you do not model in a smoothed state. You will however add more edge loops once the base form is done. He is probably using 'smooth preview' which is the 3 key on numeric pad to see what deformation he is achieving.

Cheers bullet

bullet1968

"A Darkness at Sethanon", a book I aspire to model some of the charcters and scenes

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# 5 08-10-2012 , 05:14 AM

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Thanks, that is what I thought but he seems to be keeping it smooth. (Starts with a square, does something and it becomes smooth(the screen is too blurry to see what exactly)).

Thanks again!

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# 6 08-10-2012 , 05:32 PM

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in this particular video he does use smooth, at least for the head. Everything else is just inserting edge loops from what I watched of it. I am currently trying that technique for modeling a head...not a fan.

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# 7 26-10-2012 , 06:23 PM

Chealey
Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: United Kingdom

Posts: 12

whats he doing is modelling with edge loops and using 3 (smooth preview) to see what it will look like when he smooth it (via mesh) into a higher poly model , its better to edit it lower poly before you smooth it to get the geometry right before the mesh becomes to over complicated.

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Must dos at the start of each modelling project.

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