Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 1
This course will look at the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. We'll look at what makes a good model in Maya and why objects are modeled in the way they are.
# 1 18-03-2008 , 08:09 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2

Pattern On Surface, Repeating certain pattern on a given Surface.

Hi, There!

I'm stuck with modeling a Sphere with frequently repeated patterned holes all over it.

Can someone please give me an advice, what would be the easiest way (automatically?) to model this, so the holes can be equally spread on the whole surface?

One of the problem is, that the Sphere is big and the patterns (holes) are small and doing this manually (one after another), would be a real waste of time.

I already tried with the following way: I made a pattern from PolyCube, and Duplicated it (function Duplicate Special, with rotating original pattern) so the patterns formed a shape of a Sphere. This caused a pattern overlaying/covering, which wasn't precisely. Then I combined this polygons. After this I made a Poly Sphere and wanted to make holes (with before mentioned combined patterns) with function booleans-difference.

The final outcome of duplicating was approx. 20.000 patterns (PolyCubes). Of course, this was a total blast for my poor system. And the other problem was, that after booleans-difference function everything disappeared.

After all the effort and time spent, I'm sure, there is a much clearer and simplier way of modeling this Sphere with holes all around.


Thanks for your advices!
Lea

# 2 18-03-2008 , 11:53 AM
arran's Avatar
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 3,708
why not use a bump and color map - this will work a lot better than actually modeling it - using booleans are just going to make you cry user added image - it's better to stear clear of them.

if you have to model them than you may want to look into using zbrush with radial symmetry turned on - but your model will have a really high poly count.

# 3 18-03-2008 , 10:22 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2
Thank you for reply arran!

I can't use bump and color map, because I have to model this sphere and make the holes in it (the result is actually 3d printed structure (sphere with patterned holes)).

Unfortunately I don't have any other software and knowledge for 3d modeling, than Maya. So I can't help myself with zbrush, for now.

Is there any other way, how to model this in Maya? Would be a modeling with Surfaces better solution than polygons? Maybe something with Curves? user added image

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