Surface Tool Modeling - Part 3

In Part 3 of this tutorial we add the sails and spikes to our dinosaur head.

Open the model you created in Part 2 of this Tutorial or click here to download the sample model.

Double click the object to open it in the Surface Tool.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling1.gif (16573 bytes)

 

We will now be working on the full dinosaur head so we will need to use an uncropped version of the image.

Click here to download the full image.

Click Button-SideView.gif (138 bytes) on the main toolbar to select the uncropped image of the dinosaur.

Alt-Select the head. This will select all of the surfaces that make up the head.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling2.gif (44409 bytes)

 

Scale and move the head so that is positioned over the image.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling3.gif (45115 bytes)

 

Add the sails. These are simply surfaces added and deformed in the same way as in the previous tutorials.

These surfaces should bet linked to each other, but should not be linked to the main object in any way.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling4.gif (45051 bytes)

 

Add the horns. Again, these are just surfaces added and deformed in the same way as in the previous tutorials. To make the tips of the the horns simply place all four edge control points in a single location.

The horns should not be linked to each other, the sails, or the main object.

Add depth to the horns. Also add a very small amount of depth the the sails.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling5.gif (34132 bytes)

 

We have now completed the modeling phase.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling6.gif (39700 bytes)

 

When we divided surfaces, we created uneven sized surfaces.

If you wish you can divide further surfaces to ensure a more equal distribution of points on the final model.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling7.gif (34066 bytes)

 

We can now start merging surfaces.

Merging surfaces is not required, but will result in a smoother model with much fewer creasing problems.

We'll start with the sails. Click on a surface, click Button-Toolbar-Boolean-Merge.gif (924 bytes), and then click the neighboring surface. This will merge the surfaces.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling8.gif (40343 bytes)

 

Surfaces can be merged vertically as well as horizontally. As long as they share an edge and their control points are linked, they can be merged.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling9.gif (39700 bytes)

 

Merge the surfaces of the head horizontally first.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling10.gif (35881 bytes)

 

Now merge the surfaces vertically until there is a single surface.

Do not merge horns or sails with each other. Only surfaces that make up what could be considered a single unit should be merged.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling11.gif (34066 bytes)

 

Mirror by clicking Button-MirrorSmall.gif (143 bytes).

Click on the right side of the face and then merge with the left side of the face. This will smooth the nose and create a contiguous surface for the head. Note that these two surfaces were actually linked to each other on all four edges. In the case where surfaces meet on more than one edge, 3D Canvas prioritizes based on which surface is clicked first during the merge. If you are not happy with where the merge occurred, simply undo and merge in the opposite order.

Merge the left and right sides of the horns also. Do not do this for the sails as this will result in unacceptable results.

In this example, I vertically divided the head surface and re-merged in order to even out the size of the surfaces which were too wide.

Close the Surface Tool.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling12.gif (34066 bytes)

 

Here is our completed dinosaur head.

As a final step, I scaled the head since it was a little too narrow. I also applied the Crease Operation-Crease.gif (514 bytes) operation to adjust the creasing of the head.

Click here to download the model completed in this part of this tutorial.

 

TutorialSurfaceModeling13.gif (26081 bytes)