3DVIA 3D Model Blog » Tips & Tricks http://www.3dvia.com/blog The Official Blog of 3DVIA 3D Modeling Community Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:56:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 User Submitted Tutorial: Building a Car in 3DVIA Shape http://www.3dvia.com/blog/user-submitted-tutorial-building-a-car-in-3dvia-shape/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/user-submitted-tutorial-building-a-car-in-3dvia-shape/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:06:33 +0000 cmedling http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=9932 shodiq38User Shodiq38, from Indonesia, created a full sports car using 3DVIA Shape.  We asked if he would create a “how-to” video for the model, and he impressed us with this video, which highlights how easy a car can be built in 3DVIA Shape.  Shodiq showed us some great tips-and-tricks that we were not aware of.

3dviatv_blog_USER-car

Also, if you have tips and tricks you would like to share, create a video, and we could post it as well.  The reason we are the best 3D web community is our users, and their ability to encourage others, so send us your videos!

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/user-submitted-tutorial-building-a-car-in-3dvia-shape/feed/ 8 Cliff’s Clips – Texturing Fundamentals http://www.3dvia.com/blog/texturing-fundamentals/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/texturing-fundamentals/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:12:22 +0000 cmedling http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=9873 One of the best ways to create realistic 3D models is by incorporating good textures. Textures can make a model more realistic by adding details that would be hard to model in as geometry. This is a tutorial on the basics of texture mapping.

This video details the texturing functions within 3DVIA Shape, but these fundamentals could be used within all 3D modeling applications.

Cliff gets some help in this video from one of our favorite user-submitted (textured) models: Texturesaurus-Rex.

3dviatv_blog_CC_TexRex

For more detailed Texturing tips using 3DVIA Shape, check out tip numbers:

Now, let’s hear from you;  Any other texturing tips you want to add?

Special thanks to IsaacMiller1993 for the T-Rex model.

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/texturing-fundamentals/feed/ 4 Enhance Any Map with 3DVIA Shape for Maps http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-for-maps/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-for-maps/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:06:49 +0000 cmedling http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=9641 With the introduction of Microsoft’s new Bing search engine and maps comes 3DVIA Shape for Maps.  It’s basically 3DVIA Shape with some navigation tools, but it can really add some excitement to your maps, and a great way to display any building models.  You can build your own models, or use any public model from the 3DVIA library.

Take a look at this video that highlights how easy adding 3D models to any map is: 

Video_pic_4_CC-Maps

…as always we want to hear from our users.  What other great ways can you use 3DVIA Shape for Maps?  Show us some of your creations, and add a link below.

Also, if you are new to 3DVIA Shape, we have a great collection of tips and tricks which should get you started.

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-for-maps/feed/ 6 3DVIA Announcement: Now supporting COLLADA .dae Downloads http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-announcement-now-supporting-3d-dae-download/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-announcement-now-supporting-3d-dae-download/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:52:20 +0000 cmedling http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=8941 An exciting announcement from 3DVIA: We now support Collada’s DAE format for our library of 3D models.   Watch this Cliff’s Clips video on 3DVIA.tv to see how this will benefit you:

CC_PLAY_DAE

The process is very simple: ANY model in ANY format you upload to 3DVIA.com gets automatically converted into a DAE file as well as a 3DXML file. The
DAE format includes any model you create in 3DVIA Shape, which is a great quick tool for creating 3D content.  This content can now be used in most digital content applications like Adobe Photoshop and 3D applications used for film and gaming.

Yippee!

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-announcement-now-supporting-3d-dae-download/feed/ 14 3DVIA Shape 3.1 is now available for download! http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-3-1-is-now-available-for-download/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-3-1-is-now-available-for-download/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:50:11 +0000 marcd http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=8020 3dviashape3

This latest update contains stability, quality and performance improvements.  Also, be sure to check out the latest 3DVIA Shape Tips and Tricks layout.  We’ve made it easier to navigate through our 30+ short and informative videos. 

One of my favorites is the “How to build an Umbrella” video (Tip #34).  This video is more like a 5 minute tutorial demonstrating many of 3DVIA Shape 3.1’s great features like freeform deform, revolve, and many others.

 

Let us know if you would like to see specific “How To” videos on 3DVIA Shape!

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-3-1-is-now-available-for-download/feed/ 10 3DVIA Shape 3.0 Tips and Tricks http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-30-tips-and-tricks/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-30-tips-and-tricks/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:32:17 +0000 marcd http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=3894 Here are more than 30 video tutorials filled with tips and tricks on how to get the most of 3DVIA Shape 3.0’s amazing new features! Check them out now, gather your ideas and start making them real. Refer back here often to be reminded of the wealth of new ways to create 3D models in ways you never have before!

3DVIA Shape Tip #1

How To Box Select

Easily select complex objects without selecting what is on the other side of the object.

3DVIA Shape Tip #2

How To Select an Entire Component

Select entire components with a single click.

3DVIA Shape Tip #3

How To Use Sketch Points

Split line segments by adding sketch points.

3DVIA Shape Tip #4

How To Revolve Geometry

Create cones, spheres, and donuts/torus.

3DVIA Shape Tip #5

How To Create Tangent Elements

Draw lines tangent to circles. Create arcs tangent to two intersecting lines. Sketch two circles tangent to each other.

3DVIA Shape Tip #6

How To Fill a Hole

Fill holes on surfaces by redrawing border edges or through the center of circles, etc.

3DVIA Shape Tip #7

How To Use Existing Elements to Draw

Inference or reference existing lines and/or points by hovering over them before or after starting to sketch a line.

3DVIA Shape Tip #8

How To Draw a Perpendicular Line

Draw perpendicular lines on existing geometry or out in space using inferencing. Rotating the grid can also help with drawing perpendicular lines.
]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/3dvia-shape-30-tips-and-tricks/feed/ 29 Video – Create Realistic Models Quickly from Pictures http://www.3dvia.com/blog/create-3d-from-pictures/ http://www.3dvia.com/blog/create-3d-from-pictures/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:48:45 +0000 cmedling http://www.3dvia.com/blog/?p=7498 Need to create realistic 3D models quickly? The best way to accomplish this is to build from pictures (textures). This short video will walk you through how easy this is to do using 3DVIA Shape:

We want to see your 3D models that you have created from pictures. Reply to this post with your examples.

Remember, we have a large library of 3DVIA Shape tips and tricks.

Any questions? Send those along too.

]]> http://www.3dvia.com/blog/create-3d-from-pictures/feed/ 16