Modeling a Character in 3Ds Max

by Steed, Paul

• ISBN13: 9781556220883
• ISBN10: 155622088X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-24
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Summary

This is the definitive start-to-finish guide to creating incredible low-polygon real-time video game characters using 3D Studio Max 5 and 6. The highly anticipated update to the best-selling character modelling book by Paul Steed (id, WildTangent, Microsoft Xbox group), this book is geared towards the beginning modeller. It establishes a flexible professional-level skill set for readers by guiding them through the creation of not one but three imaginative characters.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	x
Introduction	xi
Part I: Design
Design Fundamentals	3	(22)
Limitations	4	(6)
Make It Cool	10	(3)
Drawing Skills	13	(2)
Proportions	15	(4)
Reference Material	19	(2)
Influences	21	(2)
Work Environment	23	(2)
Callisto Designed	25	(20)
Background	26	(2)
Makeover	28	(1)
A Pose to Build By	29	(4)
Getting Her into the Computer	33	(12)
Step 1: Scan the Sketch	33	(1)
Step 2: Save It	34	(1)
Step 3: Resize the Images in Photoshop	34	(3)
Step 4: Darken It	37	(1)
Step 5: Save It Again	38	(7)
Part II: Modeling
The Guide Objects	45	(22)
Step 1: Bring the Image into max	46	(3)
Step 2: Create the Guideline Objects	49	(3)
Step 3: Attach the Lines	52	(2)
Step 4: Create the Rest of the Guidelines	54	(2)
Step 5: Scale the Guideline	56	(5)
Step 6: Make and Adjust the Head Reference Object	61	(6)
The Head and Face	67	(52)
Step 1: Create a Geosphere	70	(2)
Step 2: Scale the Geosphere to Fit the Guide	72	(1)
Step 3: Delete Half the Geosphere	72	(3)
Step 4: Tweak the Shape of the Geosphere	75	(8)
Step 5: Add Vertices by Dividing Edges	83	(5)
Step 6: Tweak the Shape Some More	88	(5)
Step 7: Switch Viewports and Tweak Some More	93	(7)
Step 8: Mirror the Head Half as a Reference Object	100	(2)
Step 9: Shape the Mouth	102	(7)
Step 10: Build the Eye Area	109	(10)
The Hair	119	(34)
Step 1: Extrude Faces from the Head	123	(2)
Step 2: Move the Vertices to Match the Guide	125	(5)
Step 3: Add Vertices Using Edge Cut	130	(6)
Step 4: Weld Excess Vertices	136	(2)
Step 5: Just Match the Guide	138	(1)
Step 6: Weld the Two Halves Together	139	(4)
Step 7: Make Final Face Tweaks	143	(2)
Step 8: Shift-Drag Edges to Add the Bangs	145	(1)
Step 9: Flip ``Wrong'' Facing Normals	146	(2)
Step 10: Connect the Bangs to the Head	148	(5)
The Torso	153	(38)
Step 1: Create the Spline Cage Object	154	(5)
Step 2: Apply Surface Tools	159	(2)
Step 3: Move and Adjust the Vertices of the Spline	161	(3)
Step 4: Delete Any Unnecessary Geometry	164	(4)
Step 5: Create the Breast Shape	168	(3)
Step 6: Boolean the Breast onto the Torso	171	(1)
Step 7: Cap the Faces of the Torso	171	(1)
Step 8: Perform the Boolean	172	(2)
Step 9: Clean Up the Boolean Result	174	(6)
Step 10: Add Some Clothing	180	(7)
Step 11: Use Soft Selection to Reduce the Chest Size	187	(4)
The Legs	191	(50)
Step 1: Make a Cylinder	192	(1)
Step 2: Shape the Cylinder to Match the Guide	193	(9)
Step 3: Boolean the Leg to the Torso	202	(4)
Step 4: Clean Up the Vertices of the Boolean Seam	206	(6)
Step 5: Shape the Hip Area	212	(8)
Step 6: Shape and Position the Rear for Attachment	220	(10)
Step 7: Attach the Rear and Complete the Shape	230	(5)
Step 8: Copy and Mirror the Lower Torso and Leg	235	(6)
The Back, Neck, and Shoulders	241	(54)
Step 1: Shape the Back	243	(8)
Step 2: Create the Neck Mass Using Face Extrude	251	(5)
Step 3: Refine and Optimize the Neck Mass	256	(6)
Step 4: Prepare the Torso for the Shoulder	262	(3)
Step 5: Extrude and Shape the Shoulder	265	(7)
Step 6: Copy, Mirror, and Attach the Shoulder	272	(5)
Step 7: Make More Refinements	277	(3)
Step 8: Build the Neck/Shoulder Strap	280	(6)
Step 9: Prep the Neck Surface and Attach the Strap	286	(9)
The Arms	295	(46)
Step 1: Merge an Arm from Another max File	296	(3)
Step 2: Shape and Attach the Arm	299	(15)
Step 3: Mirror-Copy the Arm to the Other Side	314	(7)
Step 4: Add Detail to the Left Arm	321	(5)
Step 5: Loft the Tubing for the Left Arm	326	(5)
Step 6: Build the Left Shoulder Pad	331	(10)
The Boots	341	(24)
Step 1: Merge a High-Res Boot	343	(1)
Step 2: Identify Key Vertices of the Boot	344	(2)
Step 3: Hide More Non-Essential Vertices of the Boot	346	(7)
Step 4: Build the Low-Res Boot	353	(6)
Step 5: Optimize the Low-Res Boot	359	(4)
Step 6: Mirror the Boot to the Other Side	363	(2)
Optimizing the Mesh	365	(76)
Optimization Explained	366	(7)
Consolidation	367	(2)
Hidden Geometry	369	(2)
Sacrifice	371	(1)
Relative Face Distribution	372	(1)
The Head	373	(10)
Step 1: Optimize the Hair	373	(4)
Step 2: Optimize the Forehead and Eyes	377	(2)
Step 3: Optimize the Mouth and Chin	379	(1)
Step 4: Optimize the Nose	380	(3)
The Body	383	(58)
Step 1: Detach the Arms	383	(1)
Step 2: Use Polygon Counter	384	(2)
Step 3: Optimize the Throat and Upper Shoulders	386	(2)
Step 4: Detach the Asymmetrical Chest Geometry	388	(4)
Step 5: Delete Half the Body	392	(1)
Step 6: Optimize the Back, Sides, and Midsection	392	(8)
Step 7: Optimize the Chest	400	(5)
Step 8: Optimize the Rear	405	(3)
Step 9: Optimize the Legs	408	(3)
Step 10: Give the Body One Last Look	411	(5)
Step 11: Copy, Mirror, and Join the Optimized Body Half	416	(2)
Step 12: Tweak and Attach ``Frontal''	418	(5)
Step 13: Optimize the Arms	423	(10)
Step 14: Optimize the Hand by Turning It into a Fist	433	(8)
Part III: Texturing
Mapping the Head	441	(64)
Texturing Explained	442	(3)
UVW and XYZ	442	(2)
Applying Coordinates	444	(1)
``Skinning'' Your Character	445	(7)
Method One	446	(1)
Method Two	447	(1)
Steed Method	448	(4)
The Head	452	(53)
Step 1: Apply an Edit Mesh Modifier	452	(1)
Step 2: Arrange the Elements	452	(6)
Step 3: Adjust the Vertices for a Planar Projection	458	(12)
Step 4: Apply a UVW Map Modifier	470	(1)
Step 5: Use Texporter to Create a Bitmap Template	471	(3)
Step 6: Create and Apply the Material	474	(3)
Step 7: Apply Unwrap UVW and Turn Off Edit Mesh	477	(4)
Step 8: Tweak UV Problem Areas	481	(3)
Step 9: Use Texporter, Make a New Bitmap, and Reload It	484	(2)
Step 10: Refine the Bitmap in Photoshop	486	(3)
Step 11: Load the New Bitmap and Tweak the UVs	489	(9)
Step 12: Assign Mapping Coordinates to the Bangs	498	(2)
Step 13: Create and Apply the Material to the Bangs	500	(5)
Mapping the Rest of Callisto	505	(34)
Minor Adjustments	506	(4)
Creating a Quick and Easy Leg Texture	510	(12)
Step 1: Apply an Edit Mesh Modifier	510	(1)
Step 2: Position and Adjust the Elements	511	(2)
Step 3: Apply a UVW Map Modifier	513	(1)
Step 4: Make the Bitmap Template with Texporter	513	(1)
Step 5: Align the Mapping Gizmo to the View	514	(3)
Step 6: Merge Lights into the Scene	517	(1)
Step 7: Apply a Material	517	(1)
Step 8: Set the Background Color to Gray	518	(1)
Step 9: Render the Scene	518	(2)
Step 10: Create and Apply a New Material	520	(1)
Step 11: Apply Unwrap UVW and Turn Edit Mesh Off	520	(2)
Arranging the Body Pieces	522	(17)
Step 1: Arrange the Torso Elements	523	(2)
Step 2: Arrange the Leg Elements	525	(1)
Step 3: Arrange the Right Arm Elements	526	(1)
Step 4: Arrange the Left Arm Elements	527	(1)
Step 5: Arrange the Boot Elements	528	(1)
Step 6: Arrange the Elements and Assign the UVW Map	529	(2)
Step 7: Attach Head to Body and Reorganize the UVs	531	(3)
Step 8: Make a New Bitmap Template with Texporter	534	(1)
Step 9: Create and Apply the Template Material	535	(1)
Step 10: Create the Final Texture/Material	535	(1)
Step 11: Copy, Mirror, and Attach the Missing Geometry	536	(3)
Final Thoughts	539	(8)
Design	541	(1)
Modeling	541	(3)
Texturing	544	(3)
Appendix Building Cover Callisto	547	(32)
Using the Push Modifier	548	(3)
Using Slice Plane	551	(6)
Lofting Callisto's Hair	557	(13)
Create the Loft Paths	558	(2)
Create the Loft Shape	560	(1)
Loft the Shape	561	(2)
Adjust the Loft Parameters	563	(2)
Deform the Loft Object	565	(2)
Add Edit Mesh and Delete Backfaces	567	(1)
Adjust the Loft Sub-Objects	568	(2)
Creating the Other Hair Strand Layers	570	(2)
Texturing the Hair Strands --- Tweak the UVWs First	572	(3)
Get Good Hair Textures	575	(4)
Index	579