Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.34
Select the four end hulls, and move them to line up.
Figure 5.35
Shift+click the edge isoparm.
Figure 5.36
Lofting the end cap to the cylinder
Stitching and Tangency
In the next series of steps, you'll get further into the real meat of patch modeling, which
is all about creating smooth seams. Smooth seams are essential to organic modeling. The
trick in creating a good patch model is to make sure all the patches line up; this is called
tangency
. In animation setup, it's important—for characters that have been made with
NURBS patches and for textures, to name but two instances—that tangency be correct;
otherwise, you may notice tearing at seams during deformations or texture maps that
don't line up quite right. It's a tedious process, but here is a taste of it. To continue with
the patch model of the locomotive pump, follow these steps:
1. Create a smooth piece that connects the cylinder and the end caps using the lofts
created in steps 7 and 8 in the previous section and shown in Figure 5.36. Select the
cylinder and the connector loft, as shown in Figure 5.37, and attach them by choos-
ing Edit NURBS
➔
Attach Surfaces
r
. Make sure the tool is set to default (choose
Edit
➔
Reset Settings). Turn off Keep Originals, and click Attach. This blends the
two surfaces into one, creates a smooth transition between them, and deletes the
original surfaces.
