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Glass and Gold Box WIP
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These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Glass and Gold Box WIP // Work in Progress
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 19, 2009, 12:23pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Hi everyone! I'm totally new to the 3D thing, but I thought I would have some fun. Some of you might remember my lava lamp some time ago, but I've decided to do something perhaps a little simpler, now that I have time to work on some 3D things again. So, it was suggested to me that I try something like a simple box. I've just started, but I'm making a glass box with gold trim. I've just done the feet (which need major work) and the bottom layer. What do you think? Can you offer some tips to someone totally new like me? (Now, I'm using all pre-loaded materials, but I think I made some good choices for colors and all)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/AnitaAngelo/Box1.jpg |
Post by frootee // Feb 19, 2009, 12:27pm
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Looks good so far marie! :) |
Post by kena // Feb 19, 2009, 9:25pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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Doing very well so far.
Most boxes like this are just about as tall as they are deep, so keep the hight equal to the short side and it will be in proportion. |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 20, 2009, 4:41pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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^_^ Thanks guys. A dumb question...I was figuring the box should be about the same height as it is wide, but I was wondering, if I were to copy one of the side pieces from the base and rotate it up, would I then have to create separate cylinders, or is it possible to cut one object into smaller segments? |
Post by kena // Feb 20, 2009, 5:17pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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rotate the bottom this way.
Then you can rotate it sideways and re-size it along the axes to fit.
18405 |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 20, 2009, 6:41pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Yes, I do understand that. I mean that once it was up, could it be cut into two pieces, so that there was a lower segment for the bottom, and then the upper segment to be a lid. |
Post by kena // Feb 20, 2009, 6:57pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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would just copy the bottom and move it up to become the top myself... Unless you wanted to model a lid with a peak to it.
18409 |
Post by robert // Feb 21, 2009, 6:31am
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robert
Total Posts: 609
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Yes, you can cut it into pieces using the boolean tools. |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 21, 2009, 6:38pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Thanks for the tips guys. ^^; I know I seem to have a lot of questions, but can separate shapes be glued together? I think it would be easier to move some of the pieces if I could keep them together as a set.
EDIT: Nevermind, I found it ^^; |
Post by Finis // Feb 21, 2009, 6:55pm
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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You mean a box like in this image? The upper and lower segments are the parts of the sides and ends right?
I made this by making a cube and scaling it into a thin box. Then I copied, scaled, and rotated it to make all the pieces.
On model side shapes can be glued together. They act as one object but can still be separated. Maybe there is a workspace glue tool. They can also be permanently put together with the Boolean tools.
Another way to move several objects as one (model side) is to use ctrl drag selection. If you hold the ctrl key down and move the mouse holding the left button down you get a "rubber rectangle" that selects all the objects inside of it. Select some other object to exit this mode.
You might find a 4 view set up useful -- top, side, front, and perspective. That makes is easier to place objects. |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 21, 2009, 7:03pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Thanks! Yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to do! I'm trying to make a box with a hinge, so that as I learn to do more things, I can add to it, like make a cushion to fit inside the bottom, and maybe add some mechanical aspects, like hinges, a lock w/key, and (when I know enough) a music box. |
Post by Mr. 3d // Feb 21, 2009, 7:06pm
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Mr. 3d
Total Posts: 747
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Hey Marie,
Currently, I do most of my modeling from the model side.....here are some helpful diagrams and tips that may help you along.....(http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showthread.php?p=93525#post93525)
To help you unglue an object... use the down arrow key to initiate, the left arrow key to select, (this also initiates the unglue tool to also be used in unition), and the up arrow key to re-glue. |
Post by TomG // Feb 23, 2009, 3:46am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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"Encapsulate in 3D" glues items together so you can move them as one, without fusing their geometry (you can still go down into the hierarchy and manipulate the elements separately). Boolean Union glues them together and causes their geometry to merge (you cannot access pieces separately, as there is no hierarchy, it is now just one solid object). Booleans run the risk of causing problematic geometry, so unless it absolutely must be one item (eg you are rigging a character with a skeleton, then the arms must be fused into the geometry of the body), then you might want to go the Encapsulate route.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Finis // Feb 24, 2009, 2:23pm
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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That's what Encapsulate in 3D is! Thanks Tom.
When you have made the music box it can be your project to learn animation. |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 26, 2009, 5:32pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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^_^ Yes, thank you Tom! And Finis, I think that's a great idea.
Alright, update! Well, I raised two sides (not re-sized yet) and put the top where it is supposed to go. I think it would be aesthetically best if I made the bottom 2/3 of the height and the lid 1/3 of the height. That's my next step. I was debating if I wanted the gold trim around the part that opens to be a thin strip of gold, or if I wanted to try to take same trim around the top and the base and split it in half (then, if I wanted to go into extreme detail, I would hollow out a thin rim on the side of the split and put a black strip that looked like rubber...you know, so as the the lid opens and shuts, the glass doesn't break ^_~) And I still need to do new feet...>.> haven't decided what I want to try...I was thinking just simple spheres, to go with the edges of the trim.
Also, is there a scale or rulers setting of some sort that will help you tell if the objects are up and down? (If you look at the picture, I think the sides might be crooked, but I'm not 100% sure...)
So, what do you think guys? Any new tips?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/AnitaAngelo/Box2.jpg |
Post by robert // Feb 26, 2009, 5:41pm
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robert
Total Posts: 609
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If you are running in the default context the bottom right corner has the object info box and you can see all rotation, scale, and location values there. :) |
Post by Mr. 3d // Feb 27, 2009, 1:08am
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Mr. 3d
Total Posts: 747
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If you use the copy tool, you can ensure that all opposite sides are the same....make one side, glue it together, and copy it to use for the other side. |
Post by TomG // Feb 27, 2009, 2:28am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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As mentioned, object info dialog is shown in the bottom right of the program, and you can see (and set by typing) rotation in there. Things should be in 90 degree increments, ie 0, 90, 180, etc, to be exactly rotated to horizontals, verticals etc.
You can use snapping while rotating to ensure things snap to 45 or 90 degree increments, or you can just type in the desired rotation in the object info dialog. I'll often begin the rotation and stop, see which number is changing, then just type in "90" or whatever I need in there, and I have my desired end result.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by MarieBergantz // Feb 27, 2009, 12:09pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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*looks* Ahahahaha...XD I am such a n00b...
Awesome, thanks guys! I intend to work on this tonight, I hope to have some updates soon (perhaps even the sketch of what I hope it looks like too! ^^; I drew it out while proctoring a test today) |
Post by marcel // Feb 27, 2009, 12:19pm
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marcel
Total Posts: 569
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*looks* Ahahahaha...XD I am such a n00b...
Awesome, thanks guys! I intend to work on this tonight, I hope to have some updates soon (perhaps even the sketch of what I hope it looks like too! ^^; I drew it out while proctoring a test today)
when we start, we can not stop! I do not sleep much :) |
Post by kena // Feb 27, 2009, 12:47pm
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kena
Total Posts: 2321
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As mentioned, object info dialog is shown in the bottom right of the program, and you can see (and set by typing) rotation in there. Things should be in 90 degree increments, ie 0, 90, 180, etc, to be exactly rotated to horizontals, verticals etc.
You can use snapping while rotating to ensure things snap to 45 or 90 degree increments, or you can just type in the desired rotation in the object info dialog. I'll often begin the rotation and stop, see which number is changing, then just type in "90" or whatever I need in there, and I have my desired end result.
HTH!
Tomlol - that is exactly what I do. Start the rotation - see what changed and then type it in the rest of the way. :D |
Post by MarieBergantz // Mar 1, 2009, 6:52pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Okay, another n00b question...>.> how do I select more then one object at a time? I'm trying to do the Encapsulate in 3D thing, but I can't figure out how to select more then one object. (I know, I know...I need to go back and re-watch the training videos...>.< maybe tomorrow, since it's a snowday)
Anyhoo...some updates. You'll see the dumb feet are gone, but all the sides are now in place, and the sides are nice and straight. The gold is a little thinner and the glass a little bigger, but that was so I could have good, nice, even numbers to work with when putting things together.
Next step: cut/scale sides into 2/3 and 1/3 pieces, make "flat top and bottom" spheres for the new feet, trim for lid.
Also included...I did a quick sketch of what I hope the box will look like when it's done...on graph paper...I might try to do a quick pencil sketch so you can see what I want it to look like.
Ciao!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/AnitaAngelo/Box3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/AnitaAngelo/BoxSketch.jpg |
Post by Dragneye // Mar 1, 2009, 8:38pm
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Dragneye
Total Posts: 602
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Hi Marie
So far, the only way I know is to pick one of the objects from the group you want to make, and then hold down Control key while clicking on the rest of the individual objects that will make up the group. |
Post by noko // Mar 1, 2009, 9:09pm
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noko
Total Posts: 684
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When I encapsulate in 3d:
I select the objects in the Link Editor (Hold left mouse button down, drag mouse which creates a box around objects I want selected).
This selects all the objects inside the bounding box and then I select the encapsulate in 3d button.
A title bar will appear top left on your selection box which you type in your new combined object name.
Then hit your keyboard enter key to commit.
I usually have to arrange the objects in the Link editor so as to more easily be able to do this as a note. Which over time I automatically arrange my LE objects similar to scene objects locations but that is my way of working. Hope this helps. |
Post by MarieBergantz // Mar 2, 2009, 6:34am
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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noko: Ah...it does, thankies.
Dragneye: Ooooh..^^; the control key...I kept trying to hold down 'shift' and clicking on more then one object. |
Post by robert // Mar 2, 2009, 12:56pm
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robert
Total Posts: 609
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Yeah, I generally do what Noko does.
The box looks good, nice sketches.
Now for the hard part, getting it into 3D exactly how you want it. :p |
Post by MarieBergantz // Mar 6, 2009, 7:19pm
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MarieBergantz
Total Posts: 81
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Update!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/AnitaAngelo/Box5.jpg
So, I have the sides, and the spheres in place, but I've hit a snag...the cylinder. I want to have them around where you can see the bottom of the lid/top of the box is, creating another complete cylinder when the box is closed (refer to my sketch below) Only problem...I am having a hard time creating a half-cylinder...you know, rounded on one edge, flat on the other. Any tips on what to do? |
Post by Finis // Mar 7, 2009, 6:10am
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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Here are two ways for model side but there should be similar tools on workspace.
Easy way, and what I would do, use Boolean subtraction to subtract a box from a cylinder. Make a box and a cylinder and position them so that the part of the cylinder you want to remove is within the box but the part to keep is not. Select cylinder, click Boolean subtract tool, click box.
Point edit method. Goal is to select the parts of the cylinder to remove and delete them. Right click on object to get point edit panel, select Rectangle Select and Context Selection tools, use "rubber rectangle" to select half of the cylinder (best to do in end view, example has green part selected), click delete vertices tool. Note: don't select any vertices that you want to keep. This is why less than half of the cylinder is selected.
Do this on copies of objects and save your scene before every operation when doing these things.
Using the 4View or top, side, front, perspective views helps to position objects. |
Post by trueBlue // Mar 7, 2009, 6:18am
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trueBlue
Total Posts: 1761
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In Workspace you can use the Radial Slice = 180 |
Post by Finis // Mar 7, 2009, 6:34am
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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I like that radial slice thing! I like to use the model side primitive panels to make shapes like the crystal shown. It started as a cylinder. You can make many interesting shapes with this panel but radial slice isn't an option for cylinders. Good that workspace has it. |
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