3DVIA Shape 3.0: Tip #4 - How To Revolve Geometry

The following techniques for 3DVIA Shape 2.0 are still quite valuable to help improve your 3D modeling skills:

Dhiraj Patil is well known to 3DVIA visitors as DPV1. His models have been in Top 10 – 005, – 007 and – 008 with a second model as an Honorable Mention in – 008.

Dhiraj also knows his way around 3DVIA Shape like few other modelers. The Honorable Mention model happened to be of a volleyball and I included an image of his wire frame because so many 3DVIA Shape users had been asking how to make a sphere using Shape.

Dhiraj has even kindly sent us the following illustrated tutorial that will easily step you through the process to create various spherical objects using 3DVIA Shape 2.0.

These are his own words and images with just minor edits. You did a great job Dhiraj!

“This tutorial is aimed at letting users of 3DVIa shape 2.0 create spherical objects which cannot be created using a direct command. The example taken is that of a volleyball which eventually can be applied to any other object spherical in nature.

1 – Create a rectangle using the rectangle tool.

2 – Extrude it to create a block by using the push-n-pull tool.

3 – Create a circular surface on one of the vertical faces.

4 – As we need only half the surface, delete the unwanted part.

5 – On the top surface, create a triangle by drawing lines exactly from the center to the two opposite vertices.

6 – Remove all the surfaces except the triangle on top and the semi-circular surface on the side.

7 – Using the push-n-pull command, extrude the two surfaces so that they intersect totally.

8 – Now remove all the unnecessary surfaces to keep only the semi-circular wedge created after the intersection. The faces of the wedge also should be deleted.

9 – Provide a Texture or color. Doing this at this step will save adding it to the individual circular faces later as there would be a larger number of them (depending on how many wedge segments you use).

10 – Select the object and click on the manipulate command.

11 – Drag the vertex of the manipulator axis to the corner of the wedge. This shall be the point of rotation.

12 – Now we need to rotate the wedge around this point, simultaneously making a copy. Click on the CTRL button and drag the horizontal rotation arc of the manipulator axis.

13 – The wedge gets copied with a rotation around the selected point. Repeat this step until the whole spherical object is formed.

Your completed sphere will look something like this.

14 - Since (after rotation) the left edge will not snap exactly on the right edge, there might be intersection between them. To remove the intersected elements, join the edges of the intersecting surfaces by drawing a line to connect them. This will create distinct intersection surfaces.

15 – Now delete the unwanted surfaces.

The object that is created is very much spherical in nature. The number of discrete wedge elements determine the smoothness and the smaller the angle of the wedge the smoother the object will be. However, with more discrete elements there would be more triangles and the file size would eventually be greater.

I have followed a similar method to create flowers and plants in 3DVIA Shape 2.0.”

Thank you Dhiraj for sharing your techniques with us! I’m always amazed that each user will find a way around a problem that so many others have not thought of. We can all apply this set of tools and the inspiration of your example to make sure we bring our imagination to our own modeling.

Why do things more than once? Whatever your passion is in 3DVIA Shape 2.0 modeling, you can create template files like gsmith has and save enormous amounts of time. He shows us how valuable it is to create a single model containing a bunch of common elements that we can then select, copy, re-position and re-texture to make a new model. Then we just delete the leftovers and publish it as our own custom model.

It’s like having a 3D catalog of housing choices that we can use to build just what we want. His Colonial House Template file is complete with instructions too!

The yellow highlighted “Secret tip for aligning extensions” is very valuable, so I’ll add some images here to hopefully help make it even easier. Please pardon so much scrolling to see the images, but it’s important to see the difference between one action and another and what it is that you should be looking for.

First, an important note about selecting:

If you just select a face or line, as in the left hand picture above, you won’t be able to move or change anything except what is highlighted with a blue dashed outline. If you select the box inside the blue circle, then you select the whole item, as shown in the right hand picture above. Once you’ve selected the whole object then you can copy and paste it and use the “Secret tip”.

I’ve rotated the model a little, but if you select the whole object, then copy and paste it ( ctrl-c / ctrl-v ) it will look like it does above.

This is the “Secret” – after you paste the selected object ( ctrl-v ) and before you do anything else, PRESS THE SPACE BAR. Now your object has the measles – oh, I mean it’s covered with orange spots that you can now choose as anchor points. The anchor point that I want to use is circled in green.

Now that I’ve left clicked to select an anchor point, as I move the copy closer to the original, the original gets blue spots all over it (some of which are highlighted with green circles). This shows potential points that my selected anchor point can be latched onto. The one that I want to match up with is circled in red.

The yellow dashed line shows that the copy is aligned horizontally with the original using the center of both objects – just like I want it to be.

As I move the copy closer to the original, it will snap into place and indicate with a blue square that the alignment is complete.

* It is important to note that once you have joined one object to another (like we just did), you cannot disconnect it as a unit later. If you are lucky and realize it soon enough, you can use the undo button. You can also delete it face by face if you have to, but it can be time-consuming.

So, now you know the secret and can start making custom houses that are all yours without having to do all of the work from scratch. Thank you gsmith!

NEXT – we explore the “texture as desired” part of his instructions. It’s kind of like a recipe where the instructions say “salt and pepper to taste”. Adding textures can be a lot of fun and make all the difference in how your house tastes – I mean looks!

This is not only exciting news for Shape users but for every 3D artist looking to promote their work online. Now there is no telling how far your 3D artwork and name will reach. Especially because every remix on 3DVIA provides credit back to you the artist. Just look under each model for the “Models used in this remix” panel for your 3D models.

However, not all 3D models can be used in a 3DVIA Shape remix. Here are some guidelines to ensure that your model will be available (or not available if you prefer) for other 3DIVA Shape users.

Keep Your File Size Under 2MB:
Regardless of the application that you used to create your content, make sure the “3DXML” file size of your model does not exceed 2MB. We automatically convert all content to our 3DXML format and use this to import content into Shape.

You can find this information on the right-hand side panel when you view your model.

Use the correct Texture Image Format:
Use JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG or DDS formats for your textures.  Avoid using TGA and TIFF image formats.

Make Your 3D Models Public:
The 3d model must be a public model; private models will not show up in the 3DVIA search functionality. All YOUR own models, private or public, will show up for YOU when you are using 3DVIA Shape.

Use the Commons Attribution:
When you upload a model, you must use Creative Commons Attribution (Default) license from the license pull down menu for your content to show up in Shape.

Shape Users, Turn the Remix Tag to TRUE:
When you publish a model from 3DVIA Shape to 3DVIA.com, the Remix Tag must be set to True.

Older Versions of 3DXML
Older version of certain applications that publish 3DXML will not show up in Shape today. We are in the process of providing a patch that will allow both of these types of files to be found by 3DVIA users.

Still need help? You can always leave a comment here or join the 3DVIA Shape group to ask your question.

Most of us realize that 3D is an abbreviation for three-dimensional— a concept we apply to everyday life and understand. We live in a 3D world where we can walk around objects, pick them up and see them from all sides. But how does this relate to computers, movies, brochures and all the media we see everyday claiming to use 3D? Perhaps the best way to understand 3D is to start with 2D.

Below we see a 2D image of a bowl of water with floating tea lights. In this image, the artist has given the illusion of depth through shading techniques. It looks as though the bowl is three dimensional, but it in fact is not. The bowl and its surrounding environment are flat, and for eternity will only be viewed from the perspective they were painted (unless the artist sketches from another angle).

Here we see several images of a house created using 3D software. Next to the house is the 2D image described above. As we move around the house we can see that it has depth, whereas the 2D image is flat. Unlike 2D, 3D objects can be viewed from infinite angles, as well as moved from place to place, just like objects in the real world. The images we see below are merely “photographs” (known as renders in the 3D industry) where a 3D artist has navigated around the house on the computer and taken snapshots from interesting angles.

Hopefully, the above example better defines what 3D is, but perhaps you’re now wondering why even bother. Why spend the time to build a 3D object and render it when you can take two seconds to snap a photo of its real-world counterpart and get the same result? The reason is control. It’s true, 3D can produce the same photorealistic effects a digital camera can; however, with 3D every variable can be controlled and manipulated. Imagine a photographer who could control the weather, add more branches to a tree, change the color of the sky, etc., and you would have a 3D artist. In addition to realistic objects, 3D software has the ability to create believable, non-realistic objects as we see often in movies (e.g., the fantasy characters in The Lord of the Ring movies, the cities in the latest Star Wars movies, etc.).

When trying to understand 3D, it is best to think about it in the context of real life. While 3D objects and their 3D environments may not exist outside of computer confines, they behave in the same way real-world objects do, and for all intents and purposes, can be thought of as such.

Next, we need to be sure that we really know what we’re seeing. If you are drawing an object on a piece of paper, you always know where your lines are – on the paper. You’ll never be surprised that one of the lines you just drew is actually on the back side of the paper, or on its edge, or has just plain disappeared. In 3D space there are all kinds of such surprises.

That’s why being able to confidently move around in 3D space is so important. If I draw a simple rectangle, a line from corner to corner, and then a vertical line without changing my viewpoint – I can end up not knowing where it went. The first image below demonstrates this confusing state of affairs. I can change my model color, as I’ve done in the second image, but that takes time. If I simply change my viewpoint, as in the third image, it’s easy to see where the line is and that it went where I wanted it to go.

If I have a more complicated model, it is even more important to be able to zoom around and in and out to check up on what I’m really creating. In the first image, I think that I’m drawing a line across the gray face of the model. Once I move my viewpoint, I see that my line is heading somewhere else entirely. If I had continued to model without checking, I would have been really surprised later.

The value of knowing where you are is even more apparent when you see the whole crazy asteroid that this is part of:

“What?”; you say, “Of course it’s hard to see – where did all the lines go?” That brings up the importance of knowing about the “Environment” button (or just use F4 and be done with it) to be able to see all of the edges to help guide your modeling.

“Enough already! You’ve convinced me. Now, how do I do all of this amazing rotating and zooming and everything?” I’m glad you asked.  Depending on which part of your brain you like to use, we have multiple tools to help you.

For those who love video presentations with avatars; there are video tutorials created using TVnima.com. (The “Navigation” tutorial is, oddly, at the end of the list, rather than at the beginning.)

If you prefer more traditional tutorials, we’ve got a bunch of those too. (The “Viewing in 3D” section is the first item under the “Using 3DVIA Shape Tools” heading.)

And we have a quick synopsis right here from an excellent and more complete blog post on the subject done by Rodd back in November.

By now, I hope you are ready to find your way around your model in 3D space and avoid some of the more likely surprises. Then again, there is always my favorite button on the screen:

Undo!

P.S. If you have specific questions about this blog post or previous ones, you can ask me directly, now that we have Messaging!

Go to Episode 2!

Go to Episode 1!

As in any endeavor, he had to start at the beginning and learn how to exploit the strengths and work around the foibles of Shape. The available online video tutorials are a start and also a good place to return when you’re frustrated/confused or if you just want to know more about a particular tool. The online documentation is another good place to look.

One very valuable source of help for the Shape modeler is that the program itself is eager to help you as you work. Shape is constantly providing you with onscreen choices to help you quickly get your ideas down. Most things that we want to make as humans have square corners and flat or vertical surfaces. We want our walls to stand up straight and our rooms to have flat floors and doors that work. Shape knows this and tries to help.

The most basic thing we can create in Shape is a line. Seems simple enough, right? Well, sort of…because one simple thing can take away the help that Shape is so eager to give.

In the earliest version of Shape, a line was drawn by selecting the line tool and then left-clicking where you wanted the line to start and then holding the button down while you dragged the line to where you wanted it to end. Then you released the button and you had your line. Shape helped you make sure that your line was flat and square to other parts of your model by providing feedback. The line would change color and show angles as you moved the mouse.

Unfortunately, usability studies showed that that is not the way that most people intuitively used their mouse to draw a line. So, it was changed.

The black line was drawn using the old method and looks parallel with the grid and good to build off, but when you draw your next line, you’ll find that you’re off by 1 degree, which will cause no end of problems throughout the rest of your model.

Now, the method is to select the line tool, then left-click at the start of the line AND THEN RELEASE THE MOUSE BUTTON before you drag your line to where you want it to end – then left-click again to finish the line.

As you move your mouse, you will see the clues that Shape provides. The line turns yellow when it is parallel or perpendicular to surfaces and other parts of your model as well as giving angular measurements and showing you which plane you’re drawing on. If you hold the left button down while dragging, you’ll lose all of those helpful clues.

If you use the new method, Shape will help you by showing the line in yellow when it really is parallel with the grid. So, when you put your next line in it will be a true 90 degree angle and you can continue modelling with confidence that everything will be square.

So, remember to click and release to start and end a line and you’ll be square (in a good way, I mean).

Go to Episode 1!

Go to Episode 3!

Without trying, he has exemplified what 3DVIA is all about – trying to help 3D become an enjoyable part of people’s lives – in the way that they want it to be.

He has employed his substantial creativity and imagination to use Shape in ways that few users have. In particular, his use of curves as a central part of his models is very sophisticated.

BBD Class Star Fighter                                         TD Class Star Fighter

 And it’s not just a couple of starships…it’s a whole slew of them!

Now we get to the humble pie part. I tried to recreate just one of his models in order to encourage more curvy modeling in a post – and I couldn’t figure it out. Wah! So, rather than crying in the corner, I flat-out asked him how he did it and he most generously provided over 100 pages of how-to tutorials (with lots of pictures for slow learners like me).

This whole series of blog posts will be based on that mega-doc from m2morgan64, with his permission and consultation as needed. I’ll also be adding in some other basic tips that I find from experience, learn from other users (feel free to send additions, corrections, and improvements) and from re-visiting the available online tutorials. We’ll also follow his game development process as it evolves.

m2morgan64 realizes that his game is quite an endeavor for one person, so he’s hoping others will check out his blog about his plans and contribute models if you want to. There’s a group discussion thread where he outlines what he’s looking for.

So, fasten your zero-gravity belts and stay tuned as we head for piracy in the heavens!

Go to Episode 2!

Go to Episode 3!

Just a few detail shots (while Remixing in Shape) give a better idea of how far he went to create the details. Since I was already in Shape, I could use his model to see new possibilities and start modifying his model and learning from that as well. He put a LOT of work into this tractor trailer (articulated lorry)(camion).

The first thing I did was to replace the detailed textures with something that was visually easier to work with. I then selectively deleted bits and pieces, big and small, so that I had just the cab and just the trailer to work with. As I worked I incrementally published the results so that I could always go back and head in a new direction if needed.

Then I took the cab by itself and started playing with that to make a shorter wheelbase cab that I can use with lots of different trailers. (Rguyen already has a new log hauling trailer that he put up today!). Here I’ve removed the sleeper/living quarters section and then shortened the side tanks and reduced the number of lights.

Then the hardest part was ‘box selecting’ the rear axles, tires and other goodies so that I could shorten the whole wheelbase. Not everything moved the way I expected, but with a little fussing I got it to look pretty good.

Then I started to make some changes to simplify and just make it into a 3DVIA cab. Less dressy and more like a fleet vehicle (although the six headlights are pretty odd). Adding some different textures to the grille, stacks and air cleaners made it different very quickly. Shortening the bumper and adding some holes and, of course, dishing the wheels and adding some interesting (although certainly not traditional) wheel textures also helped change the overall look.

From start to finish I had a great time. I started with the best I could find, learned a lot from Rguyen’s modeling techniques and now I have a few different models to start with the next time I want to use the power of Remixing.

Have fun! Make more cool stuff!

We have tried very hard to ensure that 3DVIA Shape is a product that is simple enough for the average consumer to express their ideas in 3D.  However, as an experienced Solidworks modeler, I have to remind myself that even the longest journey sometimes starts with a single step.  In this case…it’s creating your first shape (no pun intended).  These simple steps will also show you how easy it is to get started in 3D. 

Creating the Main (or Your First) Shape

First open 3DVIA Shape on your desktop.  In this tutorial, we are going to draw the very simple shape of a house.

Let’s get started by using the application’s navigation features.  To rotate your point of view to look down at the ground, press and hold down the left mouse button over the Rotate area then drag the mouse around in the desired direction.  (For more information, see Change Viewpoints using the Pan, Rotate and Zoom Tool).

Click Rectangle

To draw the bottom face or foundation of the house, click to define the first corner “A” then drag diagonally to the opposite corner “B”. A face is automatically created.Note: If the rectangle is not drawn on the ground, change your point of view to do that.

Click Push 'n Pull

To create the house walls, grab the face and drag upwards in the direction of the arrow.

Click Draw

Draw a break line from midpoint A to midpoint B on the top face. This line will serve to create the roof.

Click Manipulate

Select the break line.Manipulation axes appear to help you.

Select the vertical axis and drag up to create a triangular roof.

 Enjoy! 

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Marc is our resident expert on Microsoft Virtual Earth, online mapping applications and 3D modeling applications.Visit:   mdigregorio Profile on 3DVIA   |   mdigregorio Website

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Technorati Tags: 3D,Free 3D Models,Free 3D Modeler,3DVIA

A basic mistake we see many first time Shape users make, is trying to create a model, before they even know how to view that model. We call this mistake “Running before you can walk”. If you do this, you can still learn 3D modeling, but you are going to “fall down”, many (many!) times.

A better approach to 3D (and to learning any 3D application) is to “learn to walk” before trying out more complex functionality. In 3DVIA Shape, “learning to walk” is called “Changing Viewpoints”, and basic instructions can be found on this page.

Viewing objects in 3D is more complicated than 2D. If you have extensively used 3D (in games, or CAD applications), you will already know this. If you haven’t used 3D before, it will take some time to understand and master the basic concepts that allow you to “move around” in 3D space. I thought I would give you a quick overview of 3DVIA Shape object navigation, explaining 3D navigational concepts and providing tips on how and when to use them. This should get you going quickly.

There are 4 basic navigational functions in 3DVIA Shape:

1. Center (“center” the viewpoint on an object)
2. Pan (move an object up, down, left or right)
3. Rotate (rotate around an object)
4. Zoom (move viewpoint closer or further away)

3DVIA Shape has 2 ways of using the mouse to control the viewpoint navigation functions.

One way is to use the Pan, Rotate and Zoom Tool, which is located at the bottom of the window.

The other way is to the middle mouse button, which on most pointing devices is the scroll wheel. [Yes the scroll wheel can be clicked, and when clicked is called the “middle mouse button”.] This blog entry provides detailed instructions on how to use the middle mouse button to navigate Shape 3D models. While this technique is harder to learn, it is the best technique to learn if you want to learn how to build models.

Centering

Of these functions, the most important concept is “Centering.” Centering is hard to understand, because it doesn’t have an exact 2D equivalent. Centering allows the user to reset (and relocate) the exact of part of a model that they want to work with and look at more closely.

To learn to use Center, it’s a good idea to practice on an existing model. You can do this by going to a model page and using the Remix link to bring that model up into Shape for viewing and editing. I have setup a model for you to use here.

After you have logged in, click the “Remix” link right next to the model on that page.

To Center the view point, you point to an object and click and release the middle mouse button. Try this now, first on the Pyramid and then on the Cylinder.

Centering on the pyramid places the pyramid at the center of the window and centering on the cylinder places the cylinder at the center of the Shape window.

If this didn’t work as expected, you should try again. This time be careful to depress the middle mouse button without moving the position of the mouse on the desk. This should work now. If you press the middle mouse button, but move the mouse (even slightly), then the centering action doesn’t happen. This is because the combination of holding down MMB and moving the mouse causes viewpoint panning (horizontal or vertical displacement).

Pan

To pan means to move objects on the screen horizontally or vertically, following movements of the mouse. The easiest way to Pan in 3DVIA Shape is to click and hold down the middle mouse button and “drag”. This is identical to click and drag in 2D (like Google Maps) and should be easy to learn. One point to keep in mind is that Pan does not change the Center location, so you are moving the Center when you Pan the viewpoint. Please try panning the test model now. Move the viewpoint so that the Brick is near the center of the window.

Rotate

Rotation changes the angle from which the 3D model is being viewed. The viewing angle can be changed in either the horizontal plane, or the vertical plane (or both at the same time).

You rotate by holding down the middle and left mouse buttons at the same time. The order in which you depress the buttons is important. First click and hold the middle mouse button. Then click and hold the left mouse button. Now drag the mouse. Vertical rotation happens when you drag the mouse forward and backward. Horizontal rotation is controlled by dragging the mouse to the left and right.

Zoom

Zooming allows you change your distance from an object. Activate the Zoom function by clicking and holding down the middle mouse button, and then, clicking and releasing the left mouse button. Now when you drag the mouse forward and backward, you will get closer and further away from objects on the screen.

Zoom with Scroll Wheel

You can also access Zoom at any time, by rotating the scroll wheel. Zooming in using the scroll wheel works a little differently than zooming out. If you position the pointer at the top edge of the cube and scroll the wheel forward, the zoom in motion keeps the pointer location in the same place. Note how you end up with the edge of the cube at the center of the window.

I hope you find this overview of Shape Viewpoint Navigation helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to post comments in the blog.

Now how to update your texture?
You can edit your texture online by updating an existing texture.

1 . Download the original texture
2 . Go to your texture page press the “Edit this texture” button.
3 . Re-upload your texture press the “save & rebuild your model” button
4 . Then wait for processing and that’s it your model has a brand new texture.

Enjoy

Now how to Edit/update your texture?
You can edit your texture online by updating an existing texture.

5 . Download the original texture and modify it
6 . Go to your texture page press the “Edit this texture” button.
7 . Re-upload your texture press the “save & rebuild your model” button
8 . Then wait for processing and that’s it your model has a brand new texture.

Enjoy

Now how to update your texture?
You can edit your texture online by updating an existing texture.

1 . Download the original texture
2 . Go to your texture page press the “Edit this texture” button.
3 . Re-upload your texture press the “save & rebuild your model” button
4 . Then wait for processing and that’s it your model has a brand new texture.

Enjoy