Arched Window -How do I create angled mullions on

[Ausmax]

Would someone be able to share with me how to create angled mullions in an Arched window using max. Attached is an arched window similar to what I would like to create.

 

I have used FFD 4x4 box to create the arch and I then used the outline tool to create the inside edges. My question is how do I create angled mullions that cross between the outside and inside outlines?

 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[Ricardo Eloy]

You can do it simply drawing some splines and extruding them. Or am I missing something?

[Tommy Burns]

I think he is looking how to divide it. how i'd do it would be sub-divide the two arcs by 5 and this will give you 4 spaces when you join it all up using the vertices.

[Ausmax]

You can do it simply drawing some splines and extruding them. Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks Rick and Tommy,

I had another go at welding vertices in max and I had a little success - I will persist.

 

I was trying to create a window etc.starting with using the 'create shape' command on a Primitive (kind of working backwards to create a closed spline that I was happy with). I trying to create it this way because I haven't had any confidence in being able to weld vertices (sometimes they have welded and other times they haven't). I also heard that there is a bug in this part of the program that hasn't been fixed yet. Is this true, I am not sure.

 

Is Autocad better for creating line work. I get the feeling that it is heaps better. Its also another learning curve for me. Could be worth it.

 

Thanks for you help

[Ausmax]

I think he is looking how to divide it. how i'd do it would be sub-divide the two arcs by 5 and this will give you 4 spaces when you join it all up using the vertices.

 

thanks - will have another go a working with welding vertices etc.

[alfa smyrna]

You can't weld vertex if you have poly in between. If you first erase the poly, then you can weld them.

[Peter M. Gruhn]

Depending on your needs, you may be able to get away with just running a single spline for each one and setting it to renderable with four sides. You may need to rotate, I think there's a setting for that.

[ihabkal]

 

Is Autocad better for creating line work. I get the feeling that it is heaps better. Its also another learning curve for me. Could be worth it.

 

Thanks for you help

 

definitly.

What I found awkward at my last employ, that my colleagues had Autocad, but they didn't use it, they exported the dwg into an image, and traced it in Max.

Almost wished I was dead when I saw that.

[Ausmax]

definitly.

What I found awkward at my last employ, that my colleagues had Autocad, but they didn't use it, they exported the dwg into an image, and traced it in Max.

Almost wished I was dead when I saw that.

 

Thanks Ihabkal,

Yes, I think it best to prepare linework and trace in Autocad rather than max. Perhaps more accurate as well. In my opinion, I think this would be a good working style.

What is the learning curve like - to learn Autocad drawing tools?

[Andrew1]

you could simply draw the lines in any vector editing application like illustrator or corel draw, exposrt as ai format, import into max, convert all to spline, add outline to your spline creating the desirable width of your frames, weld all the outline splines - extrude all by 2" now you gor your mesh , convert to poly, go to edge mode select all the depth edges and detach them as clone, now close the faces and you got the glass for you window...,

 

Hope this helps.

 

CHeers !!

[ihabkal]

Thanks Ihabkal,

Yes, I think it best to prepare linework and trace in Autocad rather than max. Perhaps more accurate as well. In my opinion, I think this would be a good working style.

What is the learning curve like - to learn Autocad drawing tools?

 

it is real easy in IMHO to learn the basics, and the basics are all you need really, just to draw lines, arcs, circles, closed polylines and export those to max. if you want to go deep in the program it takes time and effort but I never needed more than the basics to make it a great companion to max an dI have been doing this since 1995.

[Peter M. Gruhn]

re: AutoCAD

 

I tell students "There's only like five tools you need to learn." "AutoCAD is about ////THIS//// big, but you can draw quite well on just /this/ much.

[Ausmax]

you could simply draw the lines in any vector editing application like illustrator or corel draw, exposrt as ai format, import into max, convert all to spline, add outline to your spline creating the desirable width of your frames, weld all the outline splines - extrude all by 2" now you gor your mesh , convert to poly, go to edge mode select all the depth edges and detach them as clone, now close the faces and you got the glass for you window...,

 

Hope this helps.

 

CHeers !!

 

Andrew,

Thankyou! I am very familiar with Illustrator. I had stop using Illustrator as for line work because some of my imports were looking weird (Extra vertices, size and curves were weird). You have restored my faith enough to reinvestigate this importing issue. I will follow what you are suggesting.

 

I came across this article titled:

Taking the Surprises out of Importing an Adobe Illustrator File into 3ds max 4

 

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=23690

(I am yet to test the suggestions made in the article but it sounds like good advice).

 

If you come across similar literature on this importing issue or related, could you let me know?

 

Andrew, thank you for such clear instructions

Cheers

[Ausmax]

re: AutoCAD

 

I tell students "There's only like five tools you need to learn." "AutoCAD is about ////THIS//// big, but you can draw quite well on just /this/ much.

 

Thanks Ihahkal and Peter,

It is good to here that about Autocad and its drawing tools. I think you have taken a load of my mind. I had this picture of me having to learn a monster of a piece of software in order to extract the drawing skills that I needed.

 

Cheers

[kts_pc2]

you can export from cad to max if I understand