3D Model Design

Welcome to 3D Model Design

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:22:25 +0000

3D Model Design makes 3D models and designs in 3D Studio Max, Flash and Second Life. We can make static models or virtual worlds for you and your customers to explore.

This site has a range of examples we have made and also acts as a place for our thoughts and tutorials on 3D modeling. Keep coming back and you will always see new examples and articles underneath this one.

Using virtual worlds in architectural presentations

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:02:30 +0000

For years architects have used 3D mockups of their buildings to present their customers with understandable visuals. These used to be sketches and have since become 3D models generated from CAD programs (Computer Aided Design). As computer processing power has increased, so too has the ability to render (generate into 3D) better 3D models. This all depends on what your end user requires and what stage you are at with your design (both the following examples, each have their use, click the images to enlarge):

Some architectural firms are now adding fly-throughs to their list of outputs. Allowing the client to watch videos of what the building will look like from certain angles and with certain light.

However, the latest client request is to allow the customers or those your proposing the plans too, to have the ability to navigate and virtually look around the building or urban space. By this, we mean that you can allow the council, the client, the customer, the planners and builders and anyone else involved in the building to see what it is they are going to get by allowing them to navigate the space on a computer.

To do this we integrate game 3D technology with the building or urban space and allow the user to play the game (be it, without weapons or certain game features that make it a game). People have tried doing this with Quake and SIMS games. However, the best place seems to be Second Life’s virtual world software (shown by the number of architectural firms investing in it).

With Second Life the user can do the following:

fly and walk around the building and thus fully explore the space occupied by it
have an inventory of items that they can add to the space and move them around (i.e. an office table and chair)
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) experience
network with the architect and other people involved in the program
everyone can have the ability to edit the objects (i.e. move walls and adjust anything in the space)

As you can see it offers the user and those involved a great tool to produce a better designed architectural project. The program is free to download and you can install it on display machines for users at exhibitions and meetings. We can’t rave abut it more, it is our program of choice and the most popular for this job.

The following video shows architects at work in second life. These architects are getting together to create a building using a wiki method (collaborating together to build something quicker). If you need a someone to create you a building or urban space then please click contact us.

3D Models and how to make them

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:20:22 +0000

Basically, a 3D model is a computer simulated wireframe representation of an object. You will need a computer and some software to make a 3D model. You can then output your 3D model by rendering it. A process that allows you to create a flat image of the model with textures and lighting added to the model. You can also output the model to a 3D printer that can laser cut the shape. Alternatively, you can output a fly-through (a preset video of the object, recorded from different angles). You will need a 3D engine to present the object in a virtual world.

The following information will help you get started at building 3D models:
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Making Models from scratch

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:18:52 +0000

A client will normally ask for a model to be made from a plan, a detailed drawing, a CAD or schematic. In most cases it involves a real life existing object or something that is about to be built, so there is always a blueprint of some sort available. If there isn’t then one will be needed. A range of blueprints can be found at http://www.the-blueprints.com. You can see an example of the Sony Aibo Blueprints below, this simple blueprint can be used to create the 3D wireframe and then modified and textures added to produce a 3D model.

Video Tutorials on building in Second Life

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:14:09 +0000

The following 3 tutorials will show you the basic steps to get you building objects in second life:

Basic Building in Second Life:

Applying textures to objects:

What are Prims and how to use them wisely:

Watch out for more tutorials coming soon.

All about Second Life

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:28:04 +0000

Second Life is an online virtual world entirely created by its Residents. It uses a stand-alone viewer to give the user access to the 3 dimensional world. Each user is given an avatar (character) to use and can customise every aspect of second life, as follows:

your character shape and clothing
exchange currency and then buy and sell products
convert earnings to real money
explore vast worlds and islands (built by other users)
buy/rent islands and land and create worlds for other users to explore
build objects, buildings and spaces.

Second life gives every user the ability to create 3D objects in the virtual world. It allows the user to see the objects they are building (virtually and in the 3D space). Acting as a great tool that works in line with every humans tacit knowledge of living space and how objects should fit in space.

As well as it been a great virtual world and fun place to network with other people, it’s 3D build tools now give anyone online the opportunity to design 3D objects.

If you are keen to learn more then please sign up here:
https://secure-web20.secondlife.com/join/
or read more here:
http://secondlife.com/

We highly recommend that you explore the Nuub island to train yourself on the vast range of tools you can use in Second Life.

When you have finished you can then visit our office here:
Lets Design Virtual Office

Or learn how to build objects using our tutorials found on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=paperclipping

Thanks and feel free to email us any questions.
Click play on the video below to see Second Life in full swing (made for the CSI series) using real life and actual virtual world footage:

3D Models in 3D Studio Max

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:21:45 +0000

Here are some models we have made in 3D studio max:

Sherman Firefly tank to be used in a new flash 3D game (click here).

Click More to view more models:
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