3D World

TuTorials

Sculpt a character for 3D printing

12

MoDel the Gun

Activate ZModeler using B, Z, M. To use it you

need to hover over either an Edge, a Point or a Face and

press the space bar. Most of this first section is created by

hovering over a Polygon Face then using QMesh, which

is a powerful extrude tool. To make a multiple selection

hold Alt and paint a temporary selection set. You can

then pull out using QMesh.

11

ZMoDeler For hArD SurFAce

One of the best features ZBrush has gained in recent years is ZModeler,

which has made it incredibly easy to create hard-surface models. We can use

this method to make the guns and bow. Open up a standard Cube3D and

make it a Polymesh3D object. Drag it open on the document window and

make it editable (T). Use Shift+F to see the wireframe (Polyframe). Now select

Tool>Initialize and then QCube which gives us a regular cube to start with. We

will use Symmetry throughout this section, which is activated with X.

14

the Bow AnD AcceSSorIeS

For the bow start off with a cube but use Symmetry

along a different axis to make the top and bottom at the

same time. To create the hole in the middle use ZModeler

and hold over a point. Then use Split and create a

circle of polygons. Go to the back of the bow and make

another. When you QMesh that area it will punch a hole

through the bow. Create an arrow using the same toolset.

15

uSe lIVe BooleAnS

Create a cylinder in the main Tool panel. From

the Initialize menu, change the settings to make it into a

hollow tube. Now append in a cube that you have made

Polymesh3D. Make sure Live Boolean is switched on at

the top of the interface. Now click the third button along

(two circles). This will subtract one model from the other.

In the Boolean menu you can make that permanent.

using DynaMesh

DynaMesh is well

established in the

CG modelling world

for a good reason.

Learn to sculpt and

create your characters

and creatures with

DynaMesh and you will

find that you speed

up and start making

some braver design

decisions.

13

leArn BASIc ZMoDeler

coMMAnDS

It is beyond the scope of this tutorial

to teach all the commands available

to you in ZModeler. Once you have

learned the basic way to activate the

tool it becomes much clearer. The

main actions you need to learn are

QMesh. In the Line menu you will

need Insert set to Single Edge Loop.

In the Point menu you will use Split to

add holes. With these basic functions

you can construct the body shape

of the gun. Once you have the core

shape pulled out add more models,

by either duplication or starting the

cube process again and appending

the result into the Gun ZTool.