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BeyondAlive · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 5:37 pm

Hey Everyone.

I'm new to the forum, and also quite to new 3D graphics. I've been experimenting with 3d studio max 3, and 4 for about a couple of months getting the hang of it. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to create a 3d character like this one. http://www.sijun.com/dhabih/gallery/eclipse.jpg.

I don't want it to look like this i just want tips and pointers on creating 3d characters. I would like to know how to create hair, body, and facial expressions. If anyone here knows of any tutorials on the web, or have one of there own it would be greatly appriciated.

Thank you very much

BeyondAlive · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 5:39 pm

sorry pic url is http://www.sijun.com/dhabih/gallery/eclipse.jpg

MikeP · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 5:53 pm

that pic (i believe) was done in photoshop, not a 3d graphics program. character modelling is probably the toughest thing to do with 3d graphics, but it is a great skill. since you have max, you will probably be modelling with polygon (although there are other ways to model...nurbs and subd are two of the other more popular ways). anyway, maybe this is a bad way to start an explanation, so i will only point you to some sites to check out:
www.renderosity.com www.3dcafe.com www.3dluvr.com

those are just off the top of my head. do a search for "3d studio max tutorials" or something like that and you will get plenty of results that should keep you busy. it will be tough at first, but don't get frustrated. just keep at it if you really want to learn how to do character modelling.

Ben Barker · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 6:07 pm

Those are all good links, MikeP. But remember, BeyondAlive, there are no tutorials that will make you a good modeler. Simply because there are no major tricks or hints or shortcuts that will make it a snap. Only practice (and repeated failure

) will make you good.

[edit] Yeah, that made a lot of sense. Pshh.

[This message has been edited by Ben Barker (edited April 12, 2001).]

Delucubus · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 9:36 pm

Actually that made a ton of sense Ben. You just have to do it to learn it.

One thing i've learned along the way though is don't try to throw every little trick or plugin int to one model. I've been using lightwave a while now, even taken classes and I probably only know half of the programs capabalities (if that!). Just learn what you need to get the model you want done finished. Then move on to the next and learn a few new tricks.

Darklighter · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 10:18 pm

yeah, for now just stick with getting the most out of max, start the advanced stuff (anything that has to do with characters) when you're 100% sure you know how work in max efficently

BlackPool · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 10:50 pm

Getting started in 3D graphics and modeling is a daunting task. At least it was for me. I was like there is so much to learn where do I start!? I would say after learning the basics of the transform tools and creating primatives, the next thing I think I use most often is stitching--learn how to plot points in space and connect them to make polygons. Connecting primatives together is the biggest part of modeling most things I believe. Especially characters.

I would like to end by saying that I disagree that character modeling is the most difficult aspect of 3D modeling. Some of the most difficult things I have had to model have been non-organic.

BeyondAlive · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2001 12:48 am

Thanks everyone. I agree with all of you, and thanks to everyone for the tips, but does anyone know here how to make detailed hair. Cause its the most difficult thing that i have come upon as of now. I was wondering whether i should make the hair in photoshop, and then import it into max, or something else.

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by BeyondAlive (edited April 13, 2001).]

waylon · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2001 2:18 am

As far as I've seen, there are two good ways to do hair. First, get a hair plug-in for max. I don't know which ones are good, you'll just have to do a little research. The second thing you can do is to do most of your work with textures and opacity maps. A lot of new dreamcast and ps2 games use this method, because it works well with a relatively low number of polygons. If you can find any Sould Calibur screen shots or movies (or, hell, the game itself), just looking at how they did it could be very useful.

Hope this helps.

Darklighter · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2001 4:14 am

Shag:Hair from digimation kicks ass

frostfyre · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2001 7:41 am

To see just how far you can take Max (v2.5 no less) check out the mpeg animations on ths site, if you have the bandwidth. Some of the best Max character work available IMHO.
http://www.anibyte.com/gallery2.htm

Oh, and another good site for technique-
http://www.3drender.com

its platform agnostic, so you may have to hunt to find the controls in your particular software. Have fun!