Modeling how-to: fundamentals

In 3D modeling we distinguish between core technology and modeling techniques. It is similar to grammar and semantics in a language. The modeling methodology greatly enhances the design power of the core tech. This and the following blogs will lay out some of these methods, insights, advance facilities, and tricks. This blog lists some fundamental practices to adopt, especially for the beginner. Al of these suggestion apply in the edit mode.

1. Do a flapjack. In camping the first pancake (flapjack) is used to test the heat of the grill and it is usually thrown away. Rough out your model quickly. In the head model above one would put in lips, nose eyes and ears (not nearly as nicely as above). This gives an idea of how dense to make the control mesh and what surprises might happen.

2. Check control points. After selecting mesh vertices to manipulate, double check. Make sure you have them all and no others. Go back to camera and move around, zoom in, if necessary. It can be frustrating to edit for a while and find you ave been changing an unwanted vertex.

3. Save! Standard advice for modeling with any program. Save your good milestones. You may want to do something similar, redo what you have, or just correct an error (point 2).

4. Use the camera often. Keep looking at your model from different views. It's 3D! If you don't change the view you are modeling in 2D, and it will show. It is a habit that will improve the model's quality and aesthetics. It will also help correct any inadvertent mistakes (Until you have experience, it is easy to move control points in or out of the screen. You won't see it until you move the viewpoint.)

5. The Axes. Pay attention to the little axes in the right bottom corner. It will help you build your intuition for 3D.

6. Practice makes perfect. The more you use the program the greater your speed, accuracy and intuition will be. You will find that you become a lot faster and better at converting ideas to 3D with a little experience.

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