Zeeshan's DISTINCTION STANDARD blog for unit 41

Unit 42: 3D Modelling

Applications of 3D

File types used in 3D Modelling:

.3ds: An older form of 3D is a common way of transferring 3d models across platforms, converted into a different form in final.

.MB: Is a very basic type used to create a base for mesh work, it's commonly used with corel but has minor applications in other software.

.Blend: file type for blender but easily converted into file types suited for other software.

.c4d is similar to .blend however it is only compatible with its base program which is cinema 4D.

.DXF is a universal file type developed by cad, allowing a large range of applications to access auto cad files.

Due to being complex it can be converted into many other file types.

Product Design:

Involves designers to group up and suggest designs that would suit the target audience. Several designers may be working on the same product or several designers creating different products.

Architecture:

3D modeling can be used to plan large and small building projects such as office buildings (large scale) and interior design for buildings (small scale). This allows people to see what the building will visually look like and check for errors that might occur in the drawings when properly constructed. 3D modeling in architecture improves coordination between the architects, engineers and contractor.

The products that are sold to customers are exaggerated, they look better than the actual thing, so that the audience is prone to buy them after looking at the product. When using 3D models the product can be described and shown better, this can show more advantages of the product. finally, it is more cheaper to create 3D models instead of taking real life shots with the product, this can save a lot of money.

Cinema Animation:

Animations are made to suite certain audiences, such as children. There are some movies which heavily rely on 3D modelling, such as Toy Story and Shrek. There are also more complex animated films such as the Transformer series of movies, CGI was used to make the robot/cars look real in the movie, tracking was used to make the robots movie in the film.

Gaming:

3D modeling adds more depth and detail of the game, it makes the game look sharper and more realistic. The basic technique allows you to connect different sets of points with lines, curved surfaces, and other geometric data to make wire frame models, (a 3D object in white lines). Computers can handle 3D Modelling quite well which is why it is commonly used.

Education:

In education animation can help to show many things in little time, such as how to assemble a computer desk. Using 3D models will attract younger audiences as they will be keen to see how the thing is made. This doesn't only apply to disassembly guides it also applies to teaching too. It can help improve children's imaginative and rational thinking.

Polygons relating to 3D

Polygons:

Polygons are actually mesh faces that have lines joined together to make bases. Polygons can be used to create certain shapes, due to the way the lines are joined together anything can be made, such as a faces, shapes and other objects.

Geometric Theory

Point Cloud:

Point Cloud is a large collection of points acquired by 3D laser scanners or other technologies to create existing structures. These are usually represented by X, Y and Z coordinates. Point Clouds can be created by 3D scanners creating 3D CAD models.

Vertex Points in 3D space:

3D models are shown to have lines that intersect in a triangle shape. This forms a triangle mesh which makes an object, such as a sphere look like a sphere, due to triangles being used the curvature of the ball can be achieved and made to look real.

Splines:

A spline is a curve that connects two or more specific points and also refers to the ‘mathematical equation’ that defines curve. The most common signs used in 3D art are bezier curves and NURBS.

Face-Mesh construction:

A face is obviously a 2D surface which makes up a mesh, for example a cube has 6 faces on it. They provide flesh to wire frames in order to give an appearance, textures are then applied along with detail.

3D Development Software

Blender 3D Modelling Software:

Blender is an open-source software, this means that it is free software that can be modified by you to suite your needs. It allows you to create animations, it does a very good job of it. It also allows camera tracking, this is a very useful feature if you want people to view your animation from a certain angle. Also like every other modelling software it allows you to composite videos and edit them.

Google Sketch-up:

It comes free but you can pay for additional features, it allows you to model objects just like any other modelling software. It also has an open source library software of 3d images, this is useful if you need to access other peoples models without exiting the program. The models can be taken from 3rd party plugins and your models can be put on google earth if you want to.

Cinema 4D:

Cinema 4D offers a lot more features than normal 3d modelling software, it allows you to model in a procedural and polygonal way, this means modelling in more precise detail. The rest of the features are similar to every other 3D modelling software, this includes: lighting, texturing, rendering etc.

This is the end of my detailed explanation on the 3D modelling presentation.

Annotation of my TEMPLE is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8zmc907ncmahyqf/evidence%20-%20Zeeshan%20Akhlaq%20%281%29.docx?dl=0

Update - The models I have produced in my CASTLE:

So I have developed a few models in a castle that I produced for my assignment, you can see all the ones I have made here:

If you want to download/see the walkthrough of my castle click this link below:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4Lwbrjux-jXNFhBTUJQUVhSUjQ

What I did:

So what I did was I created a castle using a guideline specification given by the teacher. I used different techniques/tools in 3ds Max to create them such as: box modelling, pyramid modelling, extruding, using the spline tool etc. After I created the castle I made my own models as you can see from the picture above. I then applied some textures to the models, the textures had to be relevant so I mostly used wood and metal to make the models look 'realistic' to viewers. After I had done this I added in a daylight system so that I could add a certain shade to the castle. After all this was done I created the walk through by adding a line which went around the whole castle, I then attached a camera to this line (which was the path of the camera). The camera then went around the line to show all the models I created and that was it.

Overall, I was happy with the assignment, it took a long time to do but I got it done to a good standard, it helped me develop my 3ds Max skills, which would be useful for further animation work in the near future.