3D Kingdom -- Free ....

So, this is the second part of my tutorial on how to create a spline-head in 3dsmax. As this is the second part, I have not exlained every detail again. If you get any problems take a look at part I again. If that could not solve your problem just write an e-mail, and I will add a few more lines to this tutorial. (eumel3d@3dkingdom.org)

1. Alright, I hope that you didn't have any problems with part one. Since now we have created the basic-spline cage, and have modeled the eye. Befor we re-start modelling, you should learn some key-shortcuts for 3dsmax to optimize the workflow:

"ctrl"+"shift"+"alt"+"b"

Perhaps you have seen: When you open the last saved max-file again, you can not see the background/images. Click these buttons to re-load the pics. (You have to select the viewport first, which-one you will reload)

"i"

by pressing "i", the activated viewport will be centered to your mouse-cursor. That means: for example, when you create a line and you get to the edge of your viewport, press"i" so your mouse-cursor is in the center again.

"F5"

restricts movement to x-axis

"F6"

restricts movement to y-axis

"F7"

restricts movement to z-axis

"F8"

restricts movement to xy-axis

"F9"

renders the activated viewport

2. Ok. That should be enough at the moment. The last thing you have created was the eye. If you have applied the surface-modifier - delete it.

3. Next, create a new line [create-splines-line] like shown below. Best thing will be when you draw the line in your front-viewport. When finished, change to the right-viewport and move the vertices. Restrict movement to x-axis!!

Click to enlarge

4. When done, select the original spline-cage, click the attach-button and attach the just created line.

5. Now activate your perspective-viewport. Select the spline-cage, go to modifiy and select vertex (first pic below). Now activate 3dsnap (second pic below). Zoom and rotate your perspectiv-viewport till you see something like the 3rd pic below.

6. Select the vertex- shown in the third pic above and snap it to the nearest point. Explained in tutorial part I step 9!! - Do that with the second endpoint of your last created line. (Should be somewhere at the chin). Again: That is necessary because the surface-modifier needs 3 or 4 edge splines to create a polygon out of it.

7. Befor we can start to connect all the points we need an other line. Deactivate 3dsnap and look at the pics below, to see where to place it. (It is exactly the same you did befor!! point 2-6) Dont forget to snap the endpoints to your spline-cage at the end!!! (Click on the pics to enlarge) When finished you should have one spline-cage which looks like 3rd pic below

Click to enlarge

8. Next step is to connect all the points just created with the old ones (...the surface-modifier... :))

Therefore click on the button "create-line" (You should find it somewhere in the modify-menu). !!3dsnap must be activated!!; Now create the lines in your perspective-viewport. Move your mouse-curser over a point. A blue line shoud appear; Click left-mouse-button, move mouse-curser to next point,..... (Have explained all that in first-part - eye-modelling). Alright take a look at the pics as there is not more to say.

Click to enlarge

9. To stop drawing the line just right-click. Ok; that is not that complicated, do that with all the other points from the eye. (3 more lines) at the end you should have something like the pic below:

(Hint. The blue line always shows the line where 3dsmax will append the new line. Therefore try that the blue line points at that line from which the new line should be the follower (only necessary at the first point!!) (When you create the next line, start at the eye and move your mouse-cursor, so that the blue line points down into the eye))

Click to enlarge

10. It could happen, that you get sharp corners. If that happens just select all vertices, right-click and select smooth.

11. If you now add the surface modifier, you should see something like this:

12. You can see, that there is a hole in the forehead (red-circle in the pic above). That is because this is 5-edge-spline. To avoid that our girl must run around with a hole in the forehead, we have to refine this part.

If added, delete the surface modifier. If still activated, deactivate 3dsnap. Now activate vertex in modify-menu. Then scroll down till you find the button "refine"; click it.(pick below)

Hint: This allows you to add vertices!! Now refine the lines, by clicking them there, where you want to place the new point (pic below). Add two points.

Hint: When you move your mouse cursor over a line - it should change from an "arrow" to "2 lines with vetices".

And it is very important that 3dsnap is deactivated, because, if activated 3dsmax will place the new point above the nearest existing point, and that is not what we want!!

Click to enlarge

13. Now; activate 3dsnap, and create a line. (2nd pic above). like explained in step 7. At last, deactivate 3dsnap (you only need 3dsnap when you work in perspecitve-viewport!!!), change to left viewport and move to 2 last created points a few units up (y-axis), so that you get a smooth line (3rd pic above). (perhaps you have to apply smooth again - step 9.)

14. Can you see the difference? (first pic below)

15. Alright, by now we can create 3 more lines: (again: "create line"-button, 3dsnap,... you should know that by now). Look at the second pic above.

16. Next step is to create the nose. For that, we have to create a new line (create-splines-line). Draw it in your front-viewport and move the vertices in the right-viewport. (like befor in step 3) (Deactivate 3dsnap!!)

Click to enlarge

17. I think you know the next step: Select your spline-cage, click the attach-button and attach the just created line. After that activate 3dsnap. And snap the endpoint!! (3rd pic above)

18. The last two lines for this tutorial:

19. Now the boring thing starts. Try to move the points so that you get smooth lines. The better you do that now, the better will look the final result. Especially around the eye. At the end add the surface-modifier. You should get something like this.

Hint: Only move vertices in front and side-viewport!! - and when you have moved all vertices in front-viewport, restrict movement to x-axis befor moving them in your side-viewport!!

Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV (F.A.Q.)