how to build 3d-geometry effencietly?

[max.m]

this is an image of my last project. the geometry doesn`t look too complicated, but it took me a lot of time to build the 3d-model. i struggled with the fact that all 3 houses are rotated to each other.

would it be usefull to make a coordinate system for each house?

can you tell me about your ways to build 3d-geometry like this efficiently in max?

Edited January 12, 2010 by max.m

[Peter M. Gruhn]

Seems like an excellent opportunity for xrefs.

 

I had one of those on the project I'm currently working on.

 

But you can't select and modify an xref scene.

 

So I (finally) have another look at it; see if I can help the both of us.

 

First attempt:

- Don't xref scenes, xref objects. Works great. Apply materials. Position where I want. lovely. But I am suspicious about the name. "xref objects". Sounds like maybe it doesn't work as well for whole huge buildings? Don't know.

 

Second attempt:

- Make xref scenes work. OK, I read the help. On the xref scenes dialog is a button that says "Bind". I had skipped this button because, hey... I know all about bind from AutoCAD and I don't want that. ... That's not what it does. It's transform linking. Slap a couple dummies into the scene, one for each building. Select xref in list, hit bind button, select dummy. Now I can position my buildings where I want.

 

I promise you each of the included buildings here was created in a separate file, orthogonal to the world coordinates, at the origin at roughly the same size and brought into this scene which contains actual geometry only for the ground as full scene xrefs. A bit of dummy binding and la, I have a nice little cul de SAC. They are separate colors to emphasize that I could not apply the material in this file.

 

Obvious shortcoming is that positioning with clever snaps and stuff might not work and you'll have to eyeball building position.

[1d2d3d4d]

Build from the plans, it is easier and then edit each extrusion's face...

 

A coordinate system, xref, or rely on editable polys which will more or less keep a coordinate unto themselves...

 

Modelling things on angles is super easy in sketchup...in max or cad it is a lot more frustrating...

Edited January 12, 2010 by 1d2d3d4d

[brightlight]

I generally model in Archicad (taking advantage of all the parametric window/door libraries of course). It's great for modelling multiple storeys

(floors) as well.

Archicad now has parametric curtain walling if you need it as well.

But others in my office model in max from the start.

[CJI]

I build straight in max from imported linework. I find it easier as it's what i have been doing for a while. Although i have modelled and exported from ArchiCAD as well as using the Link manager to AutoCAD. Use whichever way works for you. In terms of modelling at angles in Max, this is easy enough as long as you remember to change the axis mode when necessary, from parent to local or world etc. Or if you prefer, model most of it orthogonally first and rotate into position when your finished.

 

As peter said Xrefs or even proxy objects would be great considering the houses are essentially identical. You could even Group one whole house and instance the group if you must although if you want to make changes it will only change existing geometry. If that was the case i would go with the xrefs.

[max.m]

thanks for the informative answers.

@peter: i never worked with xrefs before, but dealt now for some hours with them. to build each house in a seperate file(they are not identical!), make a xref object and to import this xref object in the "main" scene seems to be a good opportunity to deal with geometry where modelling at angles would be necessary. i could manage it that geometry and material changes in the original scene get updated in the main scene.(will take a deeper look into this in the next days)

 

my actual workflow in buildíng 3d-models for achitecture is to make polygons of all kinds of objekts out of the elevations of the plans. then i import these polys(each on another layer) into max and extrude them to their final height, position and rotate them correctly.

 

this works fine for most of the geometry my clients are designing, but when it comes to more complex geometry this i not a good way to do a 3d-model.

 

i know archicad a little and think that building the 3d-model in a cad programm with all the drawing opportunities a cad program has, could be a way to do this fine.

more and more i also get infos that modelling in sketchup should work fine, but i have no experiences with sketchup.

Edited January 15, 2010 by max.m

[CJI]

Sorry about that, i never picked up on the subtle differences. Good luck with the xrefs and let us know how they pan out. Sketch up is very good and simple to pick up and can be imported into max fairly pain free. Good way to go, as the thousands of people who use this workflow can attest to. Whichever works for you and gets the job done in budget and on time.