First time modelling a house in max

[ZFact]

Hi All;

Decided to take the plunge and start learning max. I have a few simple questions:-

 

1. What is the best modelling method? Boolean, Extrude Spline or box & Slice

 

2. When you import the line work from Autocad is there any setting I should be aware of.. i already figured out the scale thing. Should I group the line work or send to back...? or anything else i should be aware of.

 

3. Can you subtract or add one extrude to another?

 

4. Can you give a spline a thickness, just so that it stands out from the imported linework?

 

5. When drawing a spline how can you pan around the linework with your spline still open?

 

Thanks, thats all for now.

[Trevor Tizard]

I import elevations from autocad, then freeze them and trace over with 2.5d snap with a spline and convert closed areas to editable polys.

 

There are lots of ways of modeling, this is just one.

 

A bit vague I know, but should get you started.

 

PS move your autocad drawing to 0,0 before importing.

[ZFact]

Thanks Trevor;

When i freeze the imported linework.. i cant get the splines

to snapped to it... snapps fine when not frozen

[ZFact]

its ok Trevor;

Figured out the problem... cheers

[Trevor Tizard]

make sure you are using 2.5d snap - should be fine

[ZFact]

one last thing trevor

what do you mean by closed areas and can you subtract and add

editable polys to one another?

 

thanks again

[Trevor Tizard]

OK closed as in closing a ployline. So very briefly, try this:

 

Draw a rectangle, deselect "start new object" and draw another smaller rectangle inside the first. Right click and convert to editable poly.

 

You should now have a plane with a window in it. This is how I model buildings.

[JamesTaylor]

Check out ted boardmans video tuts about modelling a house in max... it'll give you a very good intro the methods used, definately worth the time if you want to learn max.

 

infact just start from the beginning and work thro and you'll be fine