3D Modeling - Exercises
28.8.2023 - 18.9.2023 (Week 1 - Week 4)
Vanessa Kei Kurniadi / 0360525
Bachelor
of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
3D Modeling - Exercises
LECTURES
Week 1
In the first week, Mr Kamal gave us an introduction about him and about the
module. He started by showing past works and what we are encouraged and not
encouraged to do with the tasks.
Afterwards, we started by getting to know how to navigate through Blender.
Week 2
In the second week, we were taught how to make simple objects by using
primitive shapes such as spheres, cylinders, cones, cubes, etc. Mr Kamal
also taught us how to do the rendering and the lighting techniques. We were
also given the task to make a primitive model in Blender due next
week.
Week 3
In the third week, Mr Kamal gave us more in-depth techniques we can do to
cylinder shapes. We learnt about the edit mode, vertex, edges, and faces. We
were told about inset, lop cut, etc., to further modify the shapes of
cylinders.
Week 4
In the fourth week, we were taught how we do box modelling on a blender. Mr
Kamal gave us some tutorials on bridge, symmetry, combine, etc. We made a box
car during our practical session, and we will need to make something different
for our exercise submission.
Week 5
In the fifth week, we were taught about the Boolean tool. We were also taught
about the slice tool to help maintain the original shape when we use the
smooth tool on them. Our next task was the karambit, and we were given the
chance to work on it in class with the help of Mr Kamal, so when class ended
we just needed to figure out how to do the rest of them,
Week 6
In the sixth week, we were taught about rendering. Mr Kamal gave us an
explanation of what a good rendering engine is, what the safe location for the
objects to be placed on camera, etc. We were also experimenting on textures
and new effects such as glow, lights, and reflections. On that note, Mr Kamal
also gave us a new assignment which is our new project. We need to make hard
surface modelling, be it robots, machines, weapons, or vehicles. We were given
2 weeks to work on the project.
Week 7
In the 7th week, we didn't get any additional assignments. Mr Kamal just
taught us more about rendering with images and uv wrap.
INSTRUCTION
Exercise 1: Primitive Modeling (Week 2-3)
For the first exercise, we were instructed to try to make a simple object
using primitive shapes. I looked through some references on the internet and
decided that I would make a simple single bed.
I started by making the base of the bed using a cube shape. I used the bevel
modifier to smoothen out the edges and then duplicated it to make the bed and
scaled it down a bit.
fig 1.1 the bed base
Then I continued by making the footing and the boards on the front and
back of the bed. I used cubes to make the boards and cylinders for the
footing. I also added another cylinder to make a round shape on the
bedboard to decorate it.
fig 1.2 The board and footing of the bed
I also added cones on the bottom of the footing, so in real shape
it'll help so the board won't be scraped against the floor. I also put
some balls on top of the cylinder to decorate the bed even more.
fig 1.3 Balls and cones for the bed
Last but not least I added a pillow as an add-on on the bed so it
will look more like a proper bed. For this, I used another cube and
flattened it a bit so the rough shape looked like the size of the
pillow. I then used the bevel modifier but this time on the
vertices. It's not the most cosy-looking pillow one can make, but at
least it resembles it.
I found a way to make a proper pillow from the internet, using cloth
material and using pressure, collision, etc. and it turned out
really nice but I'm not sure if it's allowed in the current task, so
I tried to do it in my own way.
fig 1.4 Adding pillow on the bed
Lighting
It took me hours to work out how to do the lighting. No matter what I
do the lighting won't work on the object. I tried so many things on
the internet and it still wouldn't work.
Only until I copied and pasted the whole object on the new file, did
it finally work. It might be a bug or something I wasn't aware of, but
I'm so happy I finally managed to do it.
However, I also realized that the lighting effect only works on the
Eevee render engine. As soon as I changed it into the Workbench render
engine, the lighting didn't work, but since we are instructed to use
Workbench render engine, I had to choose the given lighting
effects.
Edit: After consulting with Mr Kamal, apparently I was tweaking the
wrong thing. By clicking the arrow icon next to the render mode, you
can see the shadow option and check it so the shadow will appear.
Final Look
fig 1.6 Primitive Modeling Exercise Solid
fig 1.6 Primitive Modeling Exercise Solid + Wireframe
Exercise 2: Cylindrical Modeling
In this task, we were instructed to make a cylinder model and do some
composition with them. Mr Kamal gave us a blueprint of a bottle to try out. We
also need to adjust and create a nice composition with the several shapes that
we have made.
First off, I tried to work on the bottle blueprint we were given. We clicked
the Y axis and imported the image so the image stands perfectly straight on
the axis. Then we can turn down the opacity so it can be seen from both sides
as guides.
fig 2.1 Bottle blueprint as a guide
Next, I started by making the basic shape first. I created a cylinder and adjusted the scale according to the blueprint. Next, I used inset (I) and extrude (E) to further make the bases, whether they increase or decrease in diameter.
For the edges that don't need more shapes, I can smoothen the edges a bit by
using the bevel tool (ctrl B). For the rest of them, on every shape change, I
should use a loop cut above and under it to maintain the shape. For the little
curves on the bottle body, I created loop cuts on every curve and used scale
to push them inwards. I then gave additional loop cuts to maintain the shapes
just like the other edges.
When the shape was done, I switched to object mode and pressed CTRL 3 to
smoothen the shape. The additional loop cuts above and under the cuts help to
hold the desired shape of the model. When it looked satisfactory, I gave it a
colour. Here's how it turned out.
fig 2.2 Finished shape of the bottle.
I was gonna keep duplicating the bottle to make the whole composition, but I figured it wouldn't affect nicely on my mark. So I tried to create more shapes using the cylinder shape. I made 2 more shapes using the same techniques, but this time straight from my memory, without any blueprint. For the brown bottle/vase (I don't know what I should call it), I managed (somehow) to delete the face and make it hollow inside.
fig 2.3 Additional Shapes that I made
I felt like it was too stiff, so in the end, I decided to try to add 1 more
of the green bottle but knocked it down on the base of the axes. To help
with the view, I also added some planes as backgrounds and coloured them
with dark colours so they'll stand out more.
fig 2.4 Final composition
Final Look
fig 2.5 Final Composition Solid Wireframe
fig 2.6 Final Composition Solid non-Wireframe
Exercise 3 - Box Modeling
This week we were taught some new techniques: bridge, symmetry, combine, etc.
Our exercise in class was to do a simple box car to practice our new methods.
But our exercise submission for next week requires us to create a different
box object.
So after some thinking, I decided to create a Polaroid camera for my work.
fig 3.1 Polaroid Camera
I made the shape from a cube and used a loop cut to make several new lines
within the cube. I then used extruded and moved some edges and faces to
create the overall shape of the camera. I always try to use the magnet and
merge vertices that are in the same area, so the overall shape will look
neater and easier to edit.
fig 3.2 I made a lot of lines to help me edit the cube into the
desired shape.
Lastly, I added some colours, and I've recently learned how to give new
colours to certain parts of an object by using the assigned tool.
fig 3.3 Camera details.
Final Look
fig 3.4 Final look without wireframe
fig 3.5 Final look with wireframe
Exercise 4
In this task, we were told to recreate a 3D model of the karambit image
given by Mr Kamal. We need to remember that we need to use the slice tool to
help maintain the desired shape when the object is smoothened out.
The first thing we did was make the blade part aligned on an axis so we can
mirror it. We then used a cube and shaped it into the grabbing part of the
krambit, and a cylinder with another cylinder for the hole with the boolean
tool, to make the part where you spin it around.
fig 4,1 The first half of the karambit
After that, We joined the hole and the gripping area by making a bridge edge
on it. When we were done, we started on the blade part, but then I had to do
it at home since class had ended.
I started by making the first quarter part of the blade, which is the right
top side of the blade. I planned to mirror the left side, and mirror both of
them again to create the bottom side of the blade.
fig 4.2 making the blade
When the quarter part of the blade is done, I finally mirrored them to make
the full blade. However I had to tweak the vertices here and there because
they are not joined. Maybe the blade isn't perfectly in the axis or
something, but I managed to fix them just fine.
Here is how it looks after coloring:
fig 4.3 Completed shape
I personally like how it looks without the smooth tool, but since I might
need to do it, I smooth it to level 1, making the overshape okay, but
there's a minor dent in the grip part. I tried to tweak them but some of
them just won't disappear so I just let them be.
Final Look
fig 4.4 final look with wireframe
fig 4.5 final look without wireframe
REFLECTION
Experience
The exercises these past 7 weeks have helped me a lot in getting to know about the tools and techniques in Blender, from the basics to more complicated tasks. Mr Kamal has been really patient and kind in teaching and assisting us in our project. He was really patient and kind when I asked him about my problems and difficulties, which boosted my motivation and initiative to learn more about the platform.
Observations
I noticed that my peers did great work in their exercises, some even probably have much further expertise in Blender than I do. But I can also observe what they made and Mr Kamal's feedback of it, so I can note it for future works.
Findings
I found Blender to be difficult when I first jumped into the platform, It has so many tools that I can use which can make the practical session a bit difficult, but when I have someone who can tell me how to do things and where to find it, I find the platform surprisingly meticulous on the amount of features it gives to make the shape modifying much easier. It just takes a bit of practice and maybe learning from other tutorial videos, and with some time I'll get the hang of it pretty well.
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