HELP needed - Splines versus Polygons

[Waldo3D]

Hi there,

 

I've bought AM a few days back, so I'm a newbie here...

 

I can model basic stuff so far, extruding splines, connecting and so on. No problem.

The video-tutorials are very helpfull so far.

 

I work also with polygon modelers like Silo, Wings and Strata, so there is a big differents in working with splines.

 

What I really need (and don't find) is a basic tutorial how to:

 

- add points on a spline (If I have points, i can connect them, but I need new ones)

- how to connect curved edges to a flat surface (like a tube on a cube)

- how to make sharp edges

- how to smooth out hard connection/extrusions

- how to add tickness

- and so on.......

 

Working with splines is a bit confusing in my polygon mind

 

Any help or directions to a (video)tutorial would be nice!

 

Waldo

[robcat2075]

- add points on a spline (If I have points, i can connect them, but I need new ones)

the y key will add a point on a spline next to a selected point.

 

 

- how to make sharp edges

the p key will "peak" a spline for sharp corners

- how to add tickness

patches and splines are infinitely thin. for thickness you need to model an inner and outer surface.

[Waldo3D]

Wow!

That was a fast reply. THANKS!

 

How do you divide an existing square (I din't want to use the word polygon here )?

Like as you would add an modeled arm to a body, but the 4 splinepoints are to far from eachother and I need a smaller square.

 

Sorry for the bad technical terms. I'm learning here.

 

Waldo

[robcat2075]

Have you done the giraffe tutorial in TAoA:M? part of that is attaching and splicing two parts together.

 

How do you divide an existing square (I din't want to use the word polygon here )?

 

you could use the y key to add a CP on each side and then draw new splines to connect them across the square

[Waldo3D]

Will do that giraf-tutorial this evening!

 

I just found more info in the manual (Working with splines P206, 261)

Strange it's located almost at the end of the manual, because it's the first thing you need before texturing, rendering and finally animation.

 

Thanks again for the input!

AM seems very powerfull!

 

Waldo3D

[robcat2075]

If you've been doing polygon modeling before, i'd recommend doing all the modeling tuts in TAoA:M (#8-11) to get that out of your system.

[Caroline]

Couple of other places might help too:

 

Basic Splinemanship

 

and

 

The Wannabe Way Comic Tutorials

[Waldo3D]

Wow!

These links will help me a lot with understanding splines-modeling!

This is a very helpfull forum!

Thx!

 

Waldo

[Waldo3D]

How do you divide an existing square (I din't want to use the word polygon here )?

 

Hm... Giraffe tutorial is offline. Any idea where to get my hand on it?

 

Waldo

[robcat2075]

How do you divide an existing square (I din't want to use the word polygon here )?

 

Hm... Giraffe tutorial is offline. Any idea where to get my hand on it?

 

Waldo

 

the print version is in "The Art of A:M" book which you got with your CD or in a downloadable pdf file if you bought a "subscription" i believe.

[Caroline]

I assume you went here:

 

http://www.hash.com/2007web/reference.htm

 

The pdf appears to be online now.

[Waldo3D]

I assume you went here:

 

http://www.hash.com/2007web/reference.htm

 

The pdf appears to be online now.

 

 

Nope, I was looking for the video-tutorial. Still offline.

But I'm reading the PDf right now ;-)

 

It stays a real challenge to come from polygonmodelers to this spline-modeler. (Also because I'm still modeling in other apps )

But I'm getting there.

I just needs exercise, exercise... and exercise!

 

Waldo

[robcat2075]

Nope, I was looking for the video-tutorial. Still offline.

But I'm reading the PDf right now ;-)

 

I suspect a video version of giraffe hasn't been made yet.

 

But dont' start with #11. Start at #8. The earlier ones cover important concepts that you'll need for #11