3ds max: T-Rex organic modeling
written by: Damian 'Szymeq' Szymański

09-30-2004
info@evermotion.org

Hello all you organic-modeling lovers and tjose who are just making the very first steps in the world of 3D. In this tutorial i will show a whole proces of creating one of the biggest stars of the big screen ever - Tyranosaurus Rex also known as T-Rex. I hope that everything will be easy to understand and that you will have no problem with this tut.

ok enought of this bullshit - it`s time to start!

Oh and i`d like to notice that tutorial is meant to show you the basics of 3dmax and the way of using some of his tools. You can use them in many other projects, not only T-Rex







Part 1: References - key to the success




One of the most important things while creating digital character are references. If you don`t have enought skill to create them by yourself, then one of the biggest source of blueprints and refs is www.google.com
Once you`ll find desired references it is important to place them correctly in the sceene. There are many ways to setup blueprint. One of then is: choose left viewport and in menu VIEWS search for VIEWPORT BACKROUND


In the new window click FILES.... and search for your reference and open it


Next select MATCH BITMAP, DISPLAY BACKGROUND and LOCK ZOOM/PAN. Click OK


Horay! Out T-Rex is right where it should be

Part 2: Modeling




Crate box in menu CREATE > STANDARD PRIMITIVES > BOX


Next click RMB and CONVERT TO > CONVERT TO EDITABLE POLY


Now you`ll have to create symetric box to the one which is selected so that during the modeling proces both halfs will be modified at the same time. You can do that by selecting the object, selecting TOOLS> mirror and checking X axis and CLONE SELECTION > INSTANCE.


Mirror is done, now let`s go on further. Extrude sides of the box and move its vertexes to create the overal image of the jaw.


The Draft of a upper jaw is done, lower should be done the same way as upper was (proced as in 5th,6th and 7th point)


Now select edit polygons and cut polys along the most important elements of the trex`s face.


bla bla bla


Lets move on to an eye creation process. Im using a 2in1 technique. It means that i create the eye from the separate plane and then i link it with the rest of the model. Create PLANE as it is shown on the pic.


Build a frame of the eye by extruding edges which you can create by holding SHIFT button and LMB


Select edges around the eye and scale them also by pressing shift button


Now in the base model, using CUT tool and REMOVE in edge edition mode, do exacly the same count of cuts as you`ve created around the eye so you can later weld them easly.


Deleten polygon in a place where the eye will be placed and then connect the eye with our base model (lets call him REX ) using ATTACH option.


During edge edition process connect edges that fit rex and eye`s plane. WELD option


There it is - connected eye with REX.


Now we`ll move to adding some details to the model, using again CUT tool and remove plus some sens of dimention .


GO GO GO GO GO remember to do everything around the most important parts of rex`s body parts eg. eye-sockets , nose etc.


...


Further do details.


Always when I modeling organic model try to do 3 or 5 vertexes poligon as least as posible but sometimes they are very usefull.


View from bottom...


I remind to test model with MESHSMOOTH modifikator how look mesh and if you find the bug fix it:) ...


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Cut rex farther


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Now tool CUT cut last poligon same in the picture.


Go cuting...


Ok we finish "eyebrow" rex and we do the neck now.


Now we must to connect bottom part of the rex with top...


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With tool CONNECT connect oblong edge on bottom part as we see


Do another detail


I do the beard with moving vertexes created by connect


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Now we take care of a membrane between jaws which is causing many problem to few of you but you`ll see that it is very easy to create it.
Select all edges till the end of the membrane on the blueprint (on "lips") and using CONNECT tool divide it on 3 parts. Move them closer to inner side of the jaw and delete the inside the way it is shown on screen.


Now while pressing SHIFT button extrude selected edges and connect them with bottom and upper jaw using TARGET WELD


gogogo.


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Extrude behaind poligon on neck.


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Now with Vertexes around leg do the border as the same in picture.


Extrude and scale poligons on leg...


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Extrude bottom poligons and scale them to adapt to reference.(its very very important )


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With fingers you have manage


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Now do the detail of leg.


Ok leg is done now arms.


As the same as leg do border around arm.


Extrude the poligons that most adapt to reference.


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And again...


Now select center edge and use CHAMFER.


Extrude fingers ... the arm is done:D


That is our T-rex done in 6h, thats long but ...:) cya.

all rights reserved 2004 @Evermotion Team