Modeling 1: Polygons - An Introduction to Computer Graphics for Artists - page 86

detail. There are several ways to simplify the background, some of which will
be discussed in Chap. 8 .
• Foreground. The foreground elements are provided as a structure for detailed
texture maps. Because they are in the foreground, these maps will be seen at a
different resolution than maps that are farther away. This aspect of the exercise
will be dealt with in Sect. 11.5 .
• Special effects (VFX). The waterfall in Escape-proof prison and the meteors in
Meteor viewing platform are both VFX elements. They can be approximated
with 3D models, but are more appropriately made with particle systems or some
other kind of effect. These are not critical to the modeling assignment so they are
optional. More ambitious students may want to try and make them.

6.5.7.1 No Box Modeling

Artists are asked to not use box modeling for this project. There are two reasons for
this. The fi rst is that box modeling will increase the poly count unnecessarily.
Second, part of this exercise is to learn how to logically organize scene elements.
Box modeled scenes combine elements that could otherwise be grouped. Instead of
box modeling, build each piece of the scene as a separate object, then group and
name them appropriately. To give an example, if there is a staircase, do not make a
“staircase” object. Instead, make a tread and a riser. Name each separately. Group
these as “step01.” Then duplicate the steps as many times as needed for the staircase
and group them as “steps”. Then, build the stringers the steps are attached to and
group these together as “staircase.”

6.5.7.2 Large Number of Parts

One of the goals of this project is to have a large number of parts, to make this a
good grouping exercise. When in doubt, make more parts, not less. This does not
mean that you should break things down to individual faces. To use the staircase
example again, the tread is made of a single board. You cannot separate the faces of
a real board, so you wouldn't do that to the one in your model either. However, you
can separate the tread from the riser because these are separate boards. Therefore,
they should be built separately.

6.5.7.3 Scope of Project

This project will be modifi ed several times in different chapters of this topic. For
this stage of the project, you are only meant to build the model and group it. In later
sections the model will be optimized, mistakes corrected, texture coordinates will
be added, materials and textures will be applied, and it will be rendered.