New to 3dsmax plz help :)

[MrMan]

Hi guys, i'm learning max and i'm trying to make this:

So far what i have looks like this:

Great eh :\ Anyways, you'll notice that in my picture above everything, walls, the buildings etc are all on the same level...i was wondering how i'd go about slanting some of those walls and adding the ground, as you can see in the top pictures.

I think i need to first convert what i have into a complete mesh, but am also unsure of how to do this.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ti133700N]

Everything can be done with editable polies and vertex manipulation. For the terrain I would start with a cube, then convert it to an editable poly, then add some cuts, then move some vertices, then add more cuts (details) until it would roughly look like that terrain and finaly add a mesh smooth (if your not making this model for any games or MODs).

For the wall you can do the same. Just convert them to editable polies then grab the vertices and move em up or down using the perspective view or side view.

 

[chu]

is that gmax? i need to get that.

 

[MrMan]

3d studio max not gmax...

Thanks Ti, i'll get back to you with more questions soon no doubt

 

[MrMan]

So, whats the best way to make all those objects shown in my pic into a single mesh?

 

[Ti133700N]

You convert them all to editable poly, then you select one object, then click on the little button next to the attach button (right pannel) to select all the object you want to attach together with a listbox. Then in the list you select all the objects you want to put on the same mesh and click attach. There you go

 

[chu]

3d studio max not gmax...

Thanks Ti, i'll get back to you with more questions soon no doubt

which version? I'd like to try and buy an older version but I don't know how much they sell for.

 

[mindless_moder]

tile sells them you should ask him for a good price

 

[MrMan]

You convert them all to editable poly, then you select one object, then click on the little button next to the attach button (right pannel) to select all the object you want to attach together with a listbox. Then in the list you select all the objects you want to put on the same mesh and click attach. There you go

Cheers, someone else told me the best way was to delete the face of one of the buildings, then extrude the face of the one next to it, delete the new extruded face leaving just the edges of the extrusion, then target weld the first building to the edges of this extrusion. And repeat for each building until the whole thing is a complete mesh.

Is your way still valid? Just wondering why theyd have told me such a long winded way round if your idea does the same thing :\

 

[Ti133700N]

If you want to physically attach the buildings together with polygons you would use the method the other guy told you (if I understand correctly what hes saying). I thought you meant you wanted to put all the building onto the same mesh so my method allows you to create one "model" from many. After you've done that, if you want to physically attach the building it's easy since you can manipulate all the vertices, faces, edges of all the buildings at the same time and weld them together if you wish.

 

[MrMan]

Ok, i just started on the ground, i made a cube under the castle, converted it into an editable poly...where are the options for the vertices? And how should i go about cutting it? :\

 

[MrMan]

Ok nevermind that found the option i needed...having problems with the joining buildings thing still tho...i understand the method of attaching them, but 3dsmax won't let me zoom 'inside' the buildings, so i can't find a way of seeing the faces i need to delete and the points i need to target weld...any help with this plz?

 

[Ti133700N]

screenshots please. If you have difficulties seeing a particular poly, select the faces that prevents your from seing the poly, then go to the display tab and click on the hide selected button. Do your things and when you`re done click on the unhide all button.

 

[MrMan]

That'll do thanks, again

 

[MrMan]

Ok, last question i think, how can i set up the render options to produce a picture as shown at the very top of this post (white background, grey model) ? Thanks...

 

[Ti133700N]

Put a skylight in your scene and render.

 

[MrMan]

Cheers, how come my vertex paint isnt showing up? Is there an option i havent ticked?

 

[mindless_moder]

ur what ? lol .....ur getting things way too complicated all u have to do is hit m click a grey ball make sure ur model is selected and click the insert button .. then put in a omni or skylight and ur good to go .

 

[MrMan]

I meant my colours don't show up when i render, i applied the vertex paint modifier to the model and painted in grass, and coloured the rooftops and buildings differently...but these effects don't show up when i render...

 

[Ti133700N]

Don't use the vertex paint modifier, use the material editor.