Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Patch Modeling: A Locomotive Detail
With NURBS modeling, you frequently need to attach surfaces
so that a model doesn't split at the seams. This process of
aligning and attaching NURBS patches is called
stitching
, and
this kind of modeling is called
patch modeling
.
In this exercise, you'll jump back in time to create an ele-
ment for the locomotive modeling exercise in the previous
chapter. You'll create a pump for the polygonal locomotive you
made in Chapter 4, “Beginning Polygonal Modeling,” using
patches that you'll stitch together. This exercise gives you more
of an idea of how patches work to pull together an organic
shape using NURBS shapes. To show you what you're seeking
to build, the finished model is shown in Figure 5.21.
Keep in mind that patch modeling is a fairly involved pro-
cess. If you don't feel comfortable with modeling quite yet, skip this tutorial and move
on to the next section in this chapter, “Using Artisan to Sculpt NURBS.” You can always
return to this section to bone up on your patch modeling later.
Figure 5.21
The finished pump
elements for the
previous chapter's
locomotive model
are created in
NURBS patches.
Starting the NURBS Pump
First, create a new project called Locomotive, or copy the Locomotive project from the
CD to your hard drive and set it as your current project.
To start creating the locomotive pump, follow these steps:
1. Create a NURBS cylinder with no caps by choosing Create
➔
NURBS Primitives
➔
Cylinder
r
. Under Caps in the Options box, select None to create an open-ended
cylinder. Set Axis to
Z
to create the cylinder on its side, and then click Create.
2. Size the cylinder down to 0.72 in
X
and
Y
and to 0.9 in
Z
.
3. Reset the cylinder so that its attributes are set back to normal. With the cylinder
selected, choose Modify
➔
Freeze Transformations
r
. In the Options box, choose
Edit
➔
Reset Settings to set to reestablish the defaults, and then click Freeze Trans-
form. The cylinder, resized and after the application of Freeze Transformations, is
shown in Figure 5.22.
Figure 5.22
The first NURBS cyl-
inder, after Freeze
Transformations
