I got 3D Studio Max 9 and I've been dicking with it. I've encountered my first general annoyance while trying to make the Riddler's staff (Batman shit, going nuts with it due to Dark Knight coming out). So I made some cylinders, bent them around and positioned them into it. Blah blah, it's total shit but it's my first time touching a 3D program so it's acceptable blahdy blah.







This is where I hit the problem. How do you make things connect decently in 3D art?



No matter what, I can't make the visible separation between each shape go away. Obviously there has to be some way to make things flow smoothly between shapes, but I have yet to find it. Also the light source seems to be affecting each shape separately as opposed to everything as a whole, which I'd also like to know how to fix. If any one of you epic 3D makers could give me some advice, or link me to a site that could perhaps help, that'd be spectacular.

So your using several different basic shapes to make it?
If so then you'll probably want to learn how to use the edit poly modifier. It's basically one of the key things you'll need to know to model in 3ds max.
I'm sure 3ds max has a helpful documentation on edit poly. Not sure how to actually navigate to it through the menus but just press F1 and go have a search for edit poly.
Now if you have done edit poly for this then you might want to use the smooth modifier. Apply it from the modifier list and set it to the autosmooth option along with the degree it'll stop smoothing at. This gets red of all the unwanted flat bits or mucked up areas witht he shading. Usually helps if you've extruded something and it's shading has come out a bit flat.

Yeah, 7 basic shapes. I tried using the help menu but I didn't know what I was looking for, hahaha. Thanks, I'll give all of what you said a shot.


Would it even be possible to make it without using several basic shapes?

Quote from: Flux;1357742Yeah, 7 basic shapes. I tried using the help menu but I didn't know what I was looking for, hahaha. Thanks, I'll give all of what you said a shot.


Would it even be possible to make it without using several basic shapes?

yes it would be recommended actually,
i would glady show but maya is being a bitch right now so i need to re-install.

basicly you take a poly cillinder, select the top face, and choose "extrude face"

this is how i would do it in maya anyway.

In most 3D applications you work mainly by extruding or tweaking from a base primitive. Some, I think, use only Z-Brush tools, though.

Let me be frank, I really have no idea what the hell I'm doing (and by consequence what you guys are talking about) but I really want to learn. Also, Fireman, I searched "edit poly" in the help and about a million things came up. I still didn't know what I was looking for...

Quote from: Flux;1357944


Let me be frank, I really have no idea what the hell I'm doing (and by consequence what you guys are talking about) but I really want to learn. Also, Fireman, I searched "edit poly" in the help and about a million things came up. I still didn't know what I was looking for...

This might help you out. Basically edit poly lets you modify the shape in just about anyway possible. So you could make your staff doohickey with one shape.

[u2]NzaNoQc7wGM[/u2]

This fucking guy does not shut up. He has that cliche annoying computer guy voice. It's 3 and  a half minutes in and he still hasn't done anything.

Quote from: SpinningCubeClock;1361677This fucking guy does not shut up. He has that cliche annoying computer guy voice. It's 3 and  a half minutes in and he still hasn't done anything.

Watch this guy's videos to lower your standards.