Populate has developed a great plugin that helps when generating terrain meshes in 3ds max. The plugin will take nearly any splines you throw at it and create a mesh grid. Take a look at the plugin, it is free.
Creating the topography of your plot is the first step you have to do for project 5.0. After researching about your landscape and its typical topography, consult the classmates that have the plots right next to yours. Make sure you plan your topography according to the one’s of your “neighbors”, by defining elevations around the […]
This tutorial shows you how to add detailing objects to your landscape by using the “object paint” tools Open the file containing your landscape model Create an object that you want to paint Make sure that the created object is just as detailed as it needs to be (decrease height, width and length segments to […]
This tutorial explains how to prepare your file for the 3D printer Once you are done with the digital model of your landscape, it is time to prepare your file for the analog model. At first you have to decide which components of your digital model you will use to create your analog model. Open […]
This tutorial explains how to prepare your file for the laser cutter. Once you are done with the digital model of your landscape, it is time to prepare your file for the analog model. At first you have to decide which components of your digital model you will use to create your analog model. […]
For our digital model, each person’s plot is 3200 feet square and contains some combination of terrain, water, vegetation, and architecture. For our physical model, each plot will be 8 inches square and contain only terrain. This necessitates simplifying your digital model and scaling it down to 8 inches square, in preparation for using the […]
Overview The curve editor is a feature in 3ds Max which allows the user to visualize and modify an object’s parameters over time. Anything which can be animated (changed over time) can be controlled in the curve editor. In the editor, objects’ parameters are mapped on a 2d graph. Time is represented on the x-axis […]
3ds Max 2011 introduces a new way of configuring materials, the slate material editor. Though the older material editor (now referred to as the ‘compact material editor’) is still available, the slate material editor offers a more efficient and intuitive interface. The relationships between a scene’s materials and the ‘maps’ which define their parameters are […]
3ds Max Loft Tutorial The “Loft” tool provides a simple and highly versatile method to create 3d objects from 2d splines. This tutorial shows you an implementation of “Loft” in Landscape Architecture, by showing you how to create a road. First you have to create a series of splines which will serve as the shape […]
Editable Mesh/Editable Poly This tutorial describes the process of editing objects as an editable mesh or poly. When creating complex objects the standard primitives are often too simple to create a unique and abstract form. Editable mesh/poly gives you the opportunity to manipulate each component the object is composed of. These are vertices, edges, faces, […]