Integrating 3D models with photography
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# 1 30-12-2007 , 03:39 PM
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modelling cobblestones? - MAYA

Hi, i'd like to model some cobblestones into a scene i'm doing. A bit like this:

user added image

I want to model them rather than make them by texturing a plane.

Obviously i could model each intervidual stone(!) but with a couple hundred to do its going to be a *bit* tedious.

Is the solution to model about 6 or 7 then 'dupliacate special'?

Or is there some way of creating hundreds of random stones?

# 2 30-12-2007 , 03:45 PM
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what about 'shattering' a huge cube - would that generate some nice organic blocks that i could then place into shape?

# 3 30-12-2007 , 04:16 PM
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There is a good way but it's very long winded and would take far too long to explain here ,but the basic idea is to create maybe 4 or 5 stones and then create a grid of particles and intance the 5 stones onto them using a random expression and then finally creating an exression for random scale and oriantation.
As you can see this can get quite involved for a new user so i am afraid you may be stuck with creating tileable patch of random stones and then duplicating them of course you do run the risk of being able to see the pattern but it does depend on your camera angle so you may be ok.




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Last edited by jsprogg; 30-12-2007 at 05:04 PM.
# 4 30-12-2007 , 04:51 PM
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sounds a bit too involved for a newbie like me lol!

I'm going to look into shattering a big flatish cube to create the sort of shards i'm after and then arranging 30 of them into a suitable formation and the duplicating them, rotating etc. It should be good enough for me i think

unless anyone else has an idea?

# 5 30-12-2007 , 05:10 PM
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well id probably do the partical thing that jsprogg just discribed
(its still fresh in my mind cause i did a turorial on it) if you go to tutorialized.com go to maya then effects
its the one about duplicating space ships and making them crash
it tells u how to do the particle thing in thte first few pages
its quite simple, u will have to check the tutorial out
let me know if you cant find it

# 6 30-12-2007 , 05:41 PM
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why do you want to model rather than texture them? with a decent color and bump map it should look fine and you'll save yourself a headache or two. user added image

# 7 30-12-2007 , 06:14 PM
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Id use a displacement made in PS, then you could say you are modeling it! hehe!


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# 8 30-12-2007 , 11:24 PM
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Originally posted by gster123
Id use a displacement made in PS, then you could say you are modeling it! hehe!

Was thinking the same thing. Could even convvert displacment to poly (though makes a nasty mesh) and tweek it a little to make it less noticable when tiled.

# 9 31-12-2007 , 05:53 AM
Radical Edward's Avatar
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make a plane, draw the cobbles on in zbrush and voila.

# 10 31-12-2007 , 03:27 PM
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thanks for responses!

I'm looking to model it as i'm still learning and haven't got round to doing texturing/displacement mapping yet! :blush:

Zbrush i haven't got much of a clue about.

I'm going to try my idea of shattering a flat cubeoid to create shards and arrange them into the formation i want. I think it should be straightforward enough!

I will post back tomorrow with pictures to show you how it went!

thanks again

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