Introdution to Modeler

Target Audience:

Those wanting a thorough introduction to Modeler's powerful geometry creation and modification tools.

Course Description:

This course covers object creation tools (such as primitives, hand sketching, and the Text tool), object modification tools (including the positioning group, the flexing group, the deformation group, and Booleans), geometry creation tools (such as Lathe, Mirror, Extrude, Bevel, and Clone), polygon editing tools (such as Subdivide, MetaNURBS, Merge, and point editing tools), and plug-ins (installing, renaming, and a survey of important plug-ins). Instructor-led demonstration, student exercises, and hands-on practice help reinforce the concepts learned in class.

Course Prerequisites:

Familiarity with LightWave's Modeler interface. Basic understanding of polygonal 3D geometry including the relationship between polygons and surface attributes. Ability to load and save objects, to move and resize the views, and to change tool panels. The Fundamentals of LightWave 3D course meets these requirements.

* indicates student tasks

2. Review of Modeler interface and 3D object geometry
      a. Interface functions
            - tabs and menus
            - File pop-up
            - the views, grid, and cursor position
            - layers (make ice cream cone)
      b. 3D geometry
            - about 3D geometry, points, polygons, surfaces
            - selection: points, polygons, volume
            * load cow, select and cut legs, fit all, cut horns by polygons, paste in layer 2

3. Object creation tools
      a. The "make template/make geometry" cycle
            - show with Box and Ball tools
            * make boxes and balls in different layers
      b. The other primitives
            - Disc -> skateboard
            - Cone -> ice cream cone
            - Sketch -> wine glass teaser
            - Text -> 3D logo teaser
            - Pen -> trace leaf
            * make a few things
      c. Numeric panel
            - Box, Ball, Disc, Cone, Sketch, Text
            - show how panel remembers mouse action
            * make something using the numeric panel (tessellated sphere? star?)
      d. Everyday objects made of just primitives
            - pencil (disc, cone)
            - table (box, disc)
            - TV rabbit ears (ball, disc)
            - face with dunce cap (ball, cone)
            - doorknob (box, disc, ball)
            * make Christmas tree (box, ball, disc, cone, text)

4. Object modification tools
      a. Positioning tools
            - Move, Rotate, Size, Stretch, Drag
            * practice these tools
      b. Flexing tools
            - Shear, Twist, Taper1, Taper2, Bend
            * practice these tools
      c. Deformation
            - Magnet, Vortex, Pole1, Pole2, Dragnet
            * practice these tools
      d. Booleans
            - what they are
            - how to do a Boolean
            * make an apple with an arrow hole in it

5. Geometry creation tools
      a. Tools which add new polygons
            - Knife, Bevel, Smooth Shift
            * make something with Bevel
      b. Tools which make one new object
            - Extrude, Lathe, Mirror
            * make an object using one of these tools
      c. Extruding along a path or spline
            - Path Extrude, Rail Extrude
            * create a spline and extrude along it
      d. Tools which make multiple copies of an object
            - Clone, Array
            - the path options
            * make a brick wall with array/clone

6. Polygon editing tools
      a. Tools which subdivide polygons
            - Split and Merge, Triple
            - Subdivide, Metaform, MetaNURBS
            * subdivide something
      b. Tools which alter polygons
            - Align, Unify, Flip
            - Surface
            * alter some polygons
      c. Tools that affect points
            - Create, Add/Remove, Merge/Weld, Jitter/Smooth
            * affect an object's points

7. Plug-ins
      a. Installing and renaming plug-ins
      b. Survey of some plug-ins

8. Conclusion
      a. Reiterate any weak areas
      b. Course synopsis
      c. Where to go from here
      d. Questions?

Appendices
      a. The Modeler config file
      b. Selected keyboard shortcuts