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Smoothing question

  • Thread starter Thread starter george7378
  • Start date Start date
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george7378

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Hi all,

I am still expreimenting with Gmax, but I want to know how I can make a coarse model(below)look smoother, and look curved, but still similarly shaped, like a plane fuselage.

Picture1.jpg


I used MeshSmooth, but it just squashed the fuselage into a very strange shape(below):

Picture2.jpg


I want the plane to look 'proper', instead of every single side being overly smoothed. I also tried smoothing one polygon at a time, but it looked worse. So I couldn't use MeshSmooth. What do I do? Do I model using splines? If so, I have no knowledge of these either, so can you please explain them to me?

Thanks very much!
 
That's where you start experimenting with either spline modelling (as Lionheart mentioned in another thread), or for your next "test", instead of a four point box, start with an eight point cylinder - move/scale THOSE points around, until you want more....

Also, consider, in edge mode, selecting edges and chamfering them. It "rounds out" the corners.
 
Hey guys,


George,

Oddly, Mesh Smooth will backfire with extremely basic objects, like a box. It needs a few more lines in it. Not many. As Felix said, experiment a bit.

Making models from base 'basic' objects takes some getting used to. You have to sort of play around with it, like its clay. Try adding some edges in there, chamfer the side edges, and give it another try.

Also, I always experiment with the 3 types of smoothing engines. One is classic, I think one is Nurms (cant remember) and one more. Switch between those as you 'experiment' and shape your plane.



Bill
 
OK, thanks very much. I always find that flattening the tops of cylinders is quite annoying - is there a tool for this?

Thanks.
 
If you mean a tool for Chamferring,

Go to Edge mode, select the edges you wish to chamfir, then select Chamfir button (RH command panel in the Edges list) and simply mouse/drag the Chamfir out of the line of Edges.

You can keep redoing it by back-stepping or Control/Z if its not working the way you want or if you over-do it, etc.

Bill
 
george7378 said:
OK, thanks very much. I always find that flattening the tops of cylinders is quite annoying - is there a tool for this?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes. Select the vertices you want to "make flat" and click on Make Planar to flatten 'em!
 
metro752 said:
Is GMAX much better to use than FSDS3.5?
Click to expand...

Gmax is a more powerful modelling program overall. SOme people find it easy to learn, other's (present company inlcuded) can bend and abuse a mesh but not accomplish much.

In the end, it's the artistry of the modeller rather than the tool.
 
metro752 said:
Is GMAX much better to use than FSDS3.5?
Click to expand...

I think Gmax is better as you can do tons more to models then with FSDS.

I started out with FSDS and it was very easy to learn. However, with the basic tutorial that Gmax has, I found Gmax to be the hardest thing in the world to learn. Luckily for Fr. Bill and Felix and a few others, I got through it, and I am glad I did. Fantastic program.

But, many modellors in the industry stand with FSDS, including Bill Lyons (now retired, who learned Gmax and still appreciated FSDS more), and other greats (Wozza).

So they each have their good points and bad points for making Mesh. One has more tools, one has simplicity, and simplicity can be your best friend.

:cool:
 
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