Day 2 - Mesh Modeling Introduction
Today we’ll be looking at the “rule of thirds”, and work through video lessons that get us started in mesh modeling by creating a rocket.
Due tomorrow:
A new assignment will be due Thursday:
We will spend tomorrow on additional lessons in mesh modeling and another mesh modeling assignment.
Rule of Thirds
Talk about the Rule of Thirds.
Take a look at the images from How did Sintel Use Art to Communicate? and see how they use “The Rule of Thirds.”
Changing a Scene
Talk about the following two images:
“Somewhere in Japan” by Miguel Cruz
“Somewhere in Japan Sunset Version” by Miguel Cruz
Discuss the following points:
How does the mood change between the sunset and daytime photo?
What does the artist change in the scene to make things different? List them.
What items are the same, that might not first be obvious?
One of the things that a good 3D artist can do to be more effective is reuse assets. You can see this in movies where movie sets and props are reused in different movies. This is even easier with 3D graphics. Take some time to list the different “assets” from this scene that the author could reuse somewhere else.
Explore assets from:
Intro to Mesh Modeling
Rather than just work with primitive objects, like cubes and spheres, we want to edit and create our own shapes. This group of points, lines, and planes is called a mesh. Creating this custom mesh is called mesh modeling.
While these mesh modeling tutorials were made with Blender 2.8, they still work fine with our current Blender. You’ll notice a few changes in the interface, but it should still be easy to follow.
Mesh modeling
Rocket Building
It is easier to learn mesh modeling if you are building something. Let’s build a rocket.
The videos are from CG Cookie’s Build and Animate a Low Poly Rocket in Blender for Beginners
Building the Environment (At one point, you use a Subdivision modifier in this tutorial. It is necessary to turn off optimal modifier. If when you extrude, your landing pad slopes down instead of staying level, select ‘median point’ instead of ‘3D cursor’ at the top. Ask the instructor where this option is.)
Have extra time? Really into doing 3D? Here are some extra things you can work on. (They don’t count towards the grade, but are great for learning more.)
Assignment 3
Turn in your rocket, created from the tutorials. Assignment 3 - Mesh Modeling a Rocket.
