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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.

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# 16 07-03-2006 , 11:45 AM

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I've been so busy configuring computers, uni and my brain I have only just returned to this project. The trouble is I don't know which poly primitive to do the body with. Can someone make a suggestion, If I know which is best I will have the confidence to charge in. The wings were simple, extruding poly planes but the body?? I don't know, I'm sure it is obvious to you guys which I should use.

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 17 07-03-2006 , 11:49 AM

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Poly cube with a few sub divisions on it, then make it into a cylinder shape, by moving verts, that way you've got quad faces all over to start with rarther than using a cylinder and then trying to get rid of the tris at the front and back ends.

That's my guess.

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# 18 07-03-2006 , 11:54 AM

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I think I know what you mean, do you mean make it into the cylinder before extruding? then start extruding. Makes sense about the front end (and back) divisions. I'll give it a go and see what takes shape.

thanks mate. user added image

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 19 07-03-2006 , 11:57 AM

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I made a Aircraft and just used the box modelling method then extruded the wings via the extrude faces command.

I'll try and find a pic of it.

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# 20 07-03-2006 , 12:09 PM

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I'd dig to see it, I've done a few little star fighter s with the box method, it's great, I should have done that with this but I wondered how much control is poss with the poly smooth, but I guess there's the sculpt tool to finish i with. more research I think on how to use these tools.

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 21 07-03-2006 , 12:12 PM

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Heres a pic of the aircraft that I'm making using the box modeling method, it's nowhere near finished.

I would post a wire but my machines rendering (and has been for 4 days and probably will be for the next week!!! LOL)

Cheers

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# 22 07-03-2006 , 01:54 PM

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Lol what are you rendering?

My Work

https://www.angelfire.com/planet/3d/cg_album

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# 23 07-03-2006 , 01:57 PM

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That car crash scene, theres a pic in the WIP section.

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# 24 07-03-2006 , 09:30 PM

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looks great.

that started life as a cube eh? and you didn't click 'smooth' and wait to see what happened, or is it possible to know what clinking smooth will morph to? I guess I'll just mess around here for a while and see. I'm thinking you must have manipulated the verts. I'm wondering how polypoxy might work, At this stage (I just woke up) it seems a good option. anyway, onward...

ps; can you use a wacom for sculpturing??

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 25 07-03-2006 , 10:17 PM

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Yeah started off as a cube with a few sub divisions on the top and side and front, think about 6x6x6 the ndeleted half, created an instance and went from there alligning from the reference planes.

I mostly know what the poly smooth will do so if I want a sharp edge I just added edges round that point.

Heres a wire prior to smoothing

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# 26 07-03-2006 , 10:19 PM

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Think you can use a wacom for modeling, especially using the artisan tools as they are pressure sensitive.

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# 27 07-03-2006 , 11:35 PM

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thanks guys, something I have been wanting to know for 10 months, what's an instance. Heard of them, sounds important, sounds basic, sounds like something I should know about. user added image

sounds like the kind of question a sh...t hot guitar player would ask if he couldn't read music.., 'what's a 'bar'?

take it easy and life will be easy

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# 28 08-03-2006 , 07:46 PM

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Its a mirror image copy of an object, with the mirror being where the pivot point is (in the axis of your choosing)

It allows you to make a modification on one side (such as moving a vert) that is then copied on the other. Great for symetrical objects

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# 29 09-03-2006 , 03:28 AM

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slow going, the learning curve is steep (as always0

I understand what you mean about an 'incident' but i don't lnow how to make it happen. Does it workk sort of like 'relfection' with the paint tools?

anyway, this one is polys through and through. still battling with it.

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take it easy and life will be easy

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# 30 09-03-2006 , 06:01 AM

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I'm thinking of starting from scratch and making the image plans sharper in photoshop, they look so vague on maya?? The help you guys hace given has been great. It has got me thinking in 50 differant ways.

take it easy and life will be easy

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