3D Tutorials

3D Tutorials
Basic Polygon Modelling

Tutor: Robin Sloan r.sloan@abertay.ac.uk
This series of tutorials will cover the basics of 3D modelling, texturing and
animation in Autodesk Maya 2008. However, many of the core concepts will be
applicable to other versions of Maya and other 3D packages.
1. Introduction
This tutorial focuses on basic polygon modelling techniques, using a range of simple
tools that can be used to add or subtract vertices, edges, and faces from polygon
meshes. If you are new to Maya, it is recommended that you first read the tutorials
Interface, Navigation and Transformation Tools and Creating and Manipulating
Polygon Primitives.
Before you begin this tutorial, make sure that you have Polygons selected in the
Menu Selector on the status line. In older versions of Maya, this menu set is called
Modelling. For the duration of this tutorial, you will be accessing tools from the
Create and Edit Mesh (Edit Polygon in older versions of Maya) drop down menus.
2. Split Polygon Tool and Cut Faces Tool
The split polygon tool is used to add new edges to a polygon mesh. Firstly, create a
simple polygon cube like the one shown in the image below left. Now select Edit
Mesh h Split Polygon Tool. The cursor should change to an angled arrow.
Left click and drag on a edge of your choice. You will see a green dot move along
the edge. This will be the first vertex of your new edge. Release the left mouse
button, then left click and drag on an opposite edge. When you release the left
mouse button, you should see a new edge appear, as in the image below right.
You can select the last used tool by pressing ‘G’ on the keyboard. Press G now, and
try creating a few more edges using the Split Polygon Tool.
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You can access the tool options for most tools by clicking on the next to the tool
in the drop down menus. Select Edit Mesh h Split Polygon Tool to bring up the
window shown below.
From the tool options, change divisions to 2. Now, when you create a new edge,
you will have a midpoint vertex on the new edge, which can then be selected and
manipulated (as shown below).
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3D Tutorials
The Cut Faces tool can also be used to add new edges. Create a new simple cube as
shown below.
Select Edit Mesh h Cut Faces Tool. Left click and drag on the cube. You should see
a line appear across the viewport, as shown below left. When you release the left
mouse button, the line will cut new edges, as shown below right.
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3. Insert and Offset Edge Loop Tools
Another way to add new edges is to use the Insert and Offset Edge Loop tools.
Create a new cube as shown below left, and select Edit Mesh h Insert Edge Loop
Tool. Left click and drag on an edge. You should see a dotted looping line appear on
the cube, as shown below right. When you release the left mouse, a new edge loop
will be created.
You can create subsequent edge loops by continuing to left click and release where
you want the loops to appear.
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3D Tutorials
Create a new cube, and select Edit Mesh h Insert Edge Loop Tool . From the tool
settings, select Multiple edge loops and set the number of edge loops to 2. Now,
when left click to create an edge loop, you will see 2 edge loops appear on the
cube, as shown below.
You can use the Offset Edge Loop Tool to add more loops around existing edge
loops. Select Edit Mesh h Offset Edge Loop Tool. Now left click and drag on an
existing loop, to create new edge loops on either side.
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3D Tutorials
4. Add Divisions
You can create new faces across an object or within a region of an object using the
Add Divisions tool. Create a new cube, and select one face (hold the right mouse
button over the object and select Face to enter face mode). Select one of the faces
on the cube, and click Edit Mesh h Add Divisions. The default settings should add
new faces as shown below right.
To change tool settings, go to Edit Mesh h Add Divisions . You can alter these
settings to create more or less divisions, and change from quads to triangles. For
example, the settings below left will create new faces as in the image below right.
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3D Tutorials
5. Extrude
The Extrude tool is one of the most basic yet powerful tools for polygon editing. It
works by adding new geometry extruded from your selection. Create a new cube
and select the top face, as in the images below.
Now select Edit Mesh h Extrude. You should see transformation handles as in the
image below left. Left click and drag the blue (Z) handle to pull the new extruded
face out from the cube, as in the image below right.
You can change Extrude settings by going to Edit Mesh h Extrude . Try selecting a
new face and changing the Extrude settings to match the image below.
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You will see that increasing divisions adds more levels of extrusion, while offset
affects the scale of the extrusion, as shown below.
Using Extrude repeatedly in conjunction with move, rotate and scale is an effective
way to quickly create simple 3D geometry.
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3D Tutorials
6. Bevel
Bevel is used to add in new faces around edges, and can be used across a whole
object or selected areas. With a new cube selected, click Edit Mesh h Bevel . Try
changing the Segments to 2 and clicking Apply. This should bevel all of the edges
on the cube, as shown below.
You can also choose to bevel edges in a specific part of an object, for instance by
selecting a face and clicking Edit Mesh h Bevel, as shown below.
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3D Tutorials
7. Bridge
The Bridge tool is used to create new geometry between two edges. Create a new
Plan object with three width divisions, as shown below left. Select and delete the
middle face, so that your objects consists of two unconnected faces.
Select the two edges that are parallel to each other, as shown below right, and go
to Edit Mesh h Bridge . Set Divisions to 5 and click Apply.
You will see 6 new faces appear between the edges – effectively filling the gap with
new polygons split by 5 divisions.
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3D Tutorials
8. Append to Polygon Tool
Like Bridge, Append to Polygon is used to add new polygons where there is space
or gaps. Create a new cube 3 x 3 x 3 divisions, and delete one of the faces, as
shown below.
Now select Edit Mesh h Append to Polygon Tool. To create a new face, you need to
indicate where you want the corners of the new face to be by clicking on existing
vertices. Click on the points around the gap until a new face appears, as shown
below.
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9. Wedge and Poke Face
Wedge Face is used to create new geometry extruded from a face around an edge.
Create a new cube, then select a face and an edge on the face, as shown below.
Now go to Edit Mesh h Wedge Face . Set Arc angle to 90 and Divisions to 4, then
click apply.
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As you can see, the new geometry is a wedge extruded from the selected face,
around the selected edge at 90 degrees with four divisions.
Poke face adds a new vertex and corresponding edges to the selection. Try
selecting a face on a cube and clicking Edit Mesh h Poke Face to achieve the result
shown below. You can offset the new vertex by going to Edit Mesh h Poke Face .
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3D Tutorials
TASK
Using the polygon primitive shapes, transformation tools, and the polygon editing
tools described in this tutorial, try to model a few of the following objects
• A Small Table
• A Pen
• A Stapler
• A Bottle of Wine
• A Hardback Book
• A Desk Lamp
• A Flatscreen Television
• A Graphics Tablet
• A Kettle
• A Cuddly Toy
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3D Tutorials - Basic Polygon Modelling

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Basic Polygon Modelling

2. Split Polygon Tool and Cut Faces Tool

3. Insert and Offset Edge Loop Tools

8. Append to Polygon Tool

9. Wedge and Poke Face

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