Book Image

3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists

By : Thomas Mooney
Book Image

3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists

By: Thomas Mooney

Overview of this book

Production of 3D art is an exciting medium, but the task of modeling requires intense attention to detail, so speed and efficiency are vital. This book breaks down speed modeling workflow in 3ds Max into stages you can easily achieve, with a focus on hard surface modeling and methods you can apply to your own designs."3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists" will help level up your 3D modeling skills. It focuses on hard surface modeling, and shows the range of tools and techniques in 3ds Max 2013.This book shows content creation methods aimed at 3ds Max modelers preparing to show their skill to the industry. The key feature of modeling that artists must exhibit is speediness while preserving technical accuracy. The author helps you follow set project guidelines while pushing creativity and outlines the entire workflow from concept development to exporting a game-ready model.The book begins with introductions for new users to the interface and modeling tools, and progresses to topics aimed at users already familiar with 3ds Max, who want to improve their content creation process. You'll also see ways 3ds Max content is used with other applications, like sculpting software and game editors, and learn features of speed modeling, efficient workflow, re-use of content, and tips on getting more done, more quickly.By the end of this book you will have learned key topics in modeling, ready to face professional level work with elan.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
3ds Max Speed Modeling for 3D Artists
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Chapter 7. The Mystery of the Unfolding Polygons: Mapping Models for Texturing

This chapter demonstrates methods of UV Mapping and emphasizes the importance of becoming fluent in the process of preparing a model for texturing, a stage which bridges modeling and texture painting while calling on somewhat different skills. The challenge is simply to put a 3D surface onto a 2D image plane. 3ds Max's mapping tool set ensures the user is well-armed to meet the challenge.

The following topics are covered in the chapter:

  • The goal of UV mapping

  • Gaining familiarity with the UV editor

  • Combining texture islands to save draw calls

  • Just getting on with it

  • Additional UV layout tools

  • Soft Selection

  • Setting UVW editor hotkeys

  • Aligning points

  • A handy script for fixing up UVs

  • Mirror and Flip commands

  • Packing the layout

  • Finalizing the layout

  • Making a Photoshop texture template

  • Send to Mudbox

  • 2D View in Viewport Canvas