Favorite method to model walls?

[archkre]

What is your favorite(fastest and cleanest) method to model walls , doors, windows,and the like after you have imported the clean cad dwg to 3ds max to trace over them?

Thank you

[Nic H]

edit poly - extrude, connect edge, bridge etc, but thats just me as i like clean square geometry.

[whitetr]

Different techniques for different objects. I love poly modeling mostly, but tend to start with splines for walls and facade work. For roads, curbs and barriers, I use Loft and sometimes Sweep. On occasion, I'll use Patches for terrain.

[Dave Buchhofer]

I lean towards poly modeling most of the time also, and closed edges and tight models where I can get away with it speedily. (Throwback from the radiosity days, sloppy models make me anxious ).

 

Though I tend to find myself more often working with some form of existing model from the schematic design phases. so theres a whole different set of challenges in trying to not waste too much time re-building things that are already done.

 

the technieque used really depends mostly on how much editing and adjusting of model geometry you expect to be doing on that specific project. a 1 off marketing piece is going to be approached much different than for instance an ongoing design study

[nelpiper]

In my opinion, box/poly modeling is the way. It's flexible, powerful and fast. Of course that you can (and should) use lofts, sweeps and sometimes nurbs. Bottom line, I would say box modeling is the best.

[pajalmeida]

I usually use poly modeling, i start from a plane and convert it to edit poly and after that is just working with the sub-objects, extrudes, inset,....

For curbs and roadsi usually use sweep.

[Nic H]

yep anytime you need mapping along a path then lofts are great.

 

i read there was a new remapping feature in 2009? where you can draw a spline and the mapping will follow that, much like loft mapping? anyone tried this. Sounds great for remapping accidentally collapsed loft models

[archkre]

edit poly - extrude, connect edge, bridge etc, but thats just me as i like clean square geometry.

Where can I get a good tutorial covering all that techniques, please?

Thanks

[archkre]

Anybody uses native walls, windows, etc from 3ds max or ADT anymore?

[Dave Buchhofer]

Where can I get a good tutorial covering all that techniques, please?

Thanks

 

searching for box modeling should find some for you.

[redzuan3828]

Anybody uses native walls, windows, etc from 3ds max or ADT anymore?

 

I'm not use native Wall cause as What I'm experience till now use Line+shell modified is better way. Then when to come to create opening use proboolean.

By using proboolean I can add or remove opening and adjust wall layout. Then later on the line can be use to create floor, Copping and Others. Hope this will help:)

Edited August 15, 2008 by redzuan3828

[SandmanNinja]

I scan the floorplan, figure out the right scale to bring it into 3DS, trace it with a spline, outline it, extrude it, add an editable poly modifier, do the floor and ceiling, make box primitives the size of windows and doors, UNION them into a single object, proboolean the walls for windows and doors, add a gray texture, then get stuck in.

 

 

Dammit, now I want to start a new room! hehe

[Fran]

The Autodesk Area forum has some basic tutorials for epoly modeling.

[Guest FlaviusC]

I scan the floorplan, figure out the right scale to bring it into 3DS, trace it with a spline, outline it, extrude it, add an editable poly modifier, do the floor and ceiling, make box primitives the size of windows and doors, UNION them into a single object, proboolean the walls for windows and doors, add a gray texture, then get stuck in.

 

 

Dammit, now I want to start a new room! hehe

 

This is exactly the way I work! exactly what he said. I wasn't enrolled in any forums and I had no idea what is the best way to create walls,doors etc.I tried AEC extended walls,and it was complete crap. Then...when I had my first project,the client,which was a friend of mine,brought me the plans on A2 paper..So I had to make them a photo (keeping the camera as parallel as I could with the ground) then I put them in max,the splines etc...

[SandmanNinja]

Great minds think alike, eh?

 

 

I'm a box modeller from my very early days in 3DS, but when it comes to ArchVis, I try to use splines whenever possible.

 

OBVIOUSLY there are many, many ways to do the SAME THING in 3DS (that's why I love it so much), but I find the method you and I use gives me the best flexibility and control. I can easily and accurately change my wall height (go to the stack and fiddle with the extrude modifier), etc, etc.

 

I did many, many, many tutorials and I think what sold me on using splines was Ted Boardman's videos and 3DQuakers videos.

[archkre]

The Autodesk Area forum has some basic tutorials for epoly modeling.

I am trying to master that technique, modeling at subobject level, but the most difficult thing is not to move wrong vertices and create chaos, any ideas, please?

[Fran]

I am trying to master that technique, modeling at subobject level, but the most difficult thing is not to move wrong vertices and create chaos, any ideas, please?

 

Did you see the little tutorial that Smoke3d has in the Resources section here? That is worth looking at if you haven't.

 

If you have a screen shot of a typical situation where you get into that kind of trouble, then post it and I'm sure there is a solution. Some things to remember when working in max:

 

- snap modes will override the transform gizmo directional constraints. Find the Ortho constraint button in the Customize UI dialog and pin it to your main toolbar.

 

- in subobject mode, enable Ignore backfacing if you are accidentally picking hidden points, edges, or polys. Hold down Ctrl while picking to add and Alt to subtract from your selection.

 

- sometimes vertex mode is the best for moving things around, sometimes it is better to use the other modes. With some experience you will quickly learn which mode is best for a particular task.

 

- learn Extrude, Chamfer, Inset, Quickslice, Connect, and why welding vertices is important.

 

- when you select an edge, find out what Ctrl-L does.

[ankit4d]

I start with tracing by splines from the floor plan, than extrude them and convert to poly. add some edges to the places where there are windows and doors, than i delete the faces at doors and windows and select edges and bridge them.

[andstef]

Usually I import the dwg file and trace a line over the walls and extrude (extrude modifier), other times, if it isn't much work I draw a polyline in autocad over the walls, and extrude that, but since i started to use AllPlan for my projects I don't need that any more, I just model the furniture.

[nelpiper]

Go to http://www.3dbuzz.com an look for the free videos that introduce the student to the MAX fundadmentals course. You can learn a lot with those tutorials. There's a lot of free stuff on MAX and Buzz and Zak are very good in teaching. Good luck.

[THINKTANK]

You CAN NOT beat ADT Walls, doors and windows, that is of course you can afford the Licence :-)

[Peter M. Gruhn]

Anybody uses native walls, windows, etc from 3ds max or ADT anymore?

 

It takes me ten minutes of failure and document reading every time I try to insert one of those doors or windows. Then it's still hit or miss. Then I quit and go do something productive. They just weren't meant for me.

[WAcky]

Anybody uses native walls, windows, etc from 3ds max or ADT anymore?

 

I use doors and windows and railing and that stuff but I stay away from the walls. They're far too messy and after everythings said and done, sweep/loft is faster anyway.

[redzuan3828]

I use doors and windows and railing and that stuff but I stay away from the walls. They're far too messy and after everythings said and done, sweep/loft is faster anyway.

 

I'm use this method and it works well to me.

I will happy to use it until I get a new method.

[WAcky]

I've got a doozy atm. Curved walls and windows are difficult when the plans come through and none of the curves were preserved when the architect exploded the plans.