3D Modeling for Accuracy 3DMAX

[marineimaging]

I was just wondering if there is anybody on here who works in 3D modeling, specifically AutoCAD and 3DS Max that might want to discuss techniques and compare tools?

 

[Rigatoni]

I've done a lot of 3D modeling over the years, and took a class on AutoCAD in the past. It's a difficult program to learn in the beginning, but is a very powerful tool, especially for creating plans and schematics. I've also worked with Revit, Milkshape 3D, Blender 3D and Google SketchUp.

SketchUp is free for personal use, and is one of my favorite modeling programs to use. Unlike many other programs, it's not solid / object-based, and it's incredibly easy and intuitive to use. Once purchased, it also comes with another piece of software called LayOut, which is meant for breaking building plans; SketchUp is excellent for architectural-based renders and plans. Blender 3D is completely free for both personal and commercial use, and in my experience rivals anything else on the market. It's difficult to create anything using precise measurements, but can be used for nearly everything: renders, animations, game models, movies, textures and even allows for video editing.

 

[marineimaging]

My techniques are to develop models for dimensional accuracy. 3D Max has the ability to develop hair, external influences, cloth, and organic models but I am more into the architectural, marine, machine modeling such as this 3D model was used on brochures to promote the barge to Venezuela interests, and then the barge was built later. So it didn't even exist when I developed the model. The actual vessel they built a year later is in the image below.

 

[mark kennedy]

I've been interested in 3D modeling for some time for smaller projects. The biggest problem I keep running into is simplifying the design. When you sculpt you start to get a lot of points, lines and faces, it can get into the millions of points of geometry. This gets awkward when when it comes time to print, or maybe make an animation. So you have to put a new skin on it that is a more simplified geometry. I'm just dabbling right now but that's been the biggest issue for me so far.

 

[marineimaging]

I've been interested in 3D modeling for some time for smaller projects. The biggest problem I keep running into is simplifying the design. When you sculpt you start to get a lot of points, lines and faces, it can get into the millions of points of geometry. This gets awkward when when it comes time to print, or maybe make an animation. So you have to put a new skin on it that is a more simplified geometry. I'm just dabbling right now but that's been the biggest issue for me so far.

It has always been the issue in some form or another. when I started I built my own computer and jammed as much ram as I could. I would still set my animation to render and 12 hours later take a peek to see and some would have only 300 more hours to go. I began to learn a new process which was to a. build smaller models with fixed set points so that I could cluge them together later.