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Car Modeling - New Minicooper

how to modeling car - new minicooper

Rated: with 1442 hits  Added on: Nov 30, 2007

How to sample color at any given point in a ramp

From our website: www.tjgalda.com Skill level: intermediate How do you query the colour in a ramp at any given point? Frustratingly, this isnt quite as simple as it sounds. Even the technical documentation from Autodesk states: Currently the routines to get the value of a ramp structure (with interpolation) are not available through MEL, which limits the use of this control by end users. So, we have to work around it in this case. We are able to sample the ramp and get back i)how many colour entries there are, ii)where they are in the ramp and iii) what colour they are. From that data, we can approximate fairly well what the ramp looks like. Lets build the tool for our example to do so on a relatively simple scale. You can add complexity later, but to keep things simple, were going to sample a simple ramp with two colours and a linear interpolation between the two colours. A ramp such as this mel code will create: Note: you can view all the mel on the website. www.tjgalda.com Create the gradient using a ramp: string $tempName = `shadingNode -asShader ramp`; string $tj_rampNode = `rename $tempName tj_gradientColour`; string $tj_rampWin = `window -t tj Ramp Viewer tj_rampWin`; columnLayout; rampColorPort -node $tj_rampNode; showWindow $tj_rampWin; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + .colorEntryList[0].color) -type double3 0.988 1 0.8 ; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + .colorEntryList[1].color) -type double3 0 0 0.235 ; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + .colorEntryList[1].position) 1.0; removeMultiInstance -break true ($tj_rampNode + .colorEntryList[2]); showWindow $tj_rampWin; Now that we have the ramp, we can gather information about the ramp. We need to determine where are they and what colour, create an array to catch each position and match the entry in the list of the ramp. Finally we will create an array to catch colour, use a vector array to maintain match in the list of the ramp. Where are they and what colour? Create an array to catch each position and match entry in list. int $entries = `getAttr -size ($tj_rampNode+.colorEntryList)`; vector $entry_colour[]; for ($i = 0; $i < $entries; $i ++) { $entry_pos[$i] = `getAttr ($tj_rampNode+.colorEntryList[+$i+].position)`; float $entryList_colours[] = `getAttr ($tj_rampNode+.colorEntryList[+$i+].color)`; $entry_colour[$i] = >; } //and print back the results print ("n$entry_pos[] is n==================n"); print $entry_pos; print ("nn==================n$entry_colour[] is n==================n); print $entry_colour; $entry_pos[] is ================== 0 1 ================== $entry_colour[] is ================== 0.988 1 0.8 0 0 0.235 In our example now, we can see that we have the two colour entries at 0 and 1, with the associated colour mix. Now we can work with some basic calculations to deduce what the colours are between. After we know the colour information, we can then begin to deduce what the ramp is like. The first step is to find the difference or delta between the two colours on each channel. From there, we can divide up the colour on regular intervals and determine what the exact colour is at any specific point on the map. This is a sampling step. How many intervals should we break the ramp into? int $step = 20; Find the delta/difference for each channel. Use temp vectors to get data out of the array easily. For our example to keep it simple, we can make some assumptions about where each entry is and what colours they are. We will assume only two colours, and that the first colour is brighter. Of course, one should build in robustness to remove these assumptions with true data. vector $tempTopV = $entry_colour[0]; vector $tempBotV = $entry_colour[1]; Use absolute to ensure its not a negative value float $differenceR = `abs($tempTopV.x - $tempBotV.x)`; float $differenceG = `abs($tempTopV.y - $tempBotV.y)`; float $differenceB = `abs($tempTopV.z - $tempBotV.z)`; Divide up the delta per step. This is the amount of change per step that each colour travels. float $deltaStepR = $differenceR / $step; float $deltaStepG = $differenceG / $step; float $deltaStepB = $differenceB / $step; Now, start number + (delta per step * the number of steps) = end number, in other words, we have broken down what the difference can be at each interval. Finalize by building the arrays. float $colourStepsR[], $colourStepsG[], $colourStepsB[]; $colourStepsR[0] = $tempBotV.x; $colourStepsG[0] = $tempBotV.y; $colourStepsB[0] = $tempBotV.z; Each new step is the old step + the delta for that colour. for ($i = 1; $i

Rated: with 863 hits  Added on: Nov 20, 2007

How to make a fun pause screen using mel

From our website: http://www.tjgalda.com How to make a fun pause screen using mel. - TJ Galda, CG Supervisor There are times when you may need to create a pause screen to entertain the users while you fetch something or do some work in the background. This is probably one of the more interesting times that you can make use of a gradient. This tutorial will show you how to create a screen that slowly turns green as the job is completed. Once the designated pause time is done, the window goes away and returns control to the user. The first step is to create a gradient or ramp node: //Create the gradient using a ramp: string $tj_tempName = `shadingNode -asShader ramp`; string $tj_rampNode = `rename $tj_tempName "tj_gradientColourTemp"`; After that, we need to set up colours. Were using a black ramp that fills to green, so we need three colours. A black to fill, a green to go to, and one that makes the transition. setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[0].color") -type double3 0.2 1 0.2 ; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[1].color") -type double3 0.2 0 0.2 ; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[2].color") -type double3 0 0 0.2 ; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[0].position") 0.0; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[1].position") 0.0; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[2].position") 1.0; After that, we need to create a window and display the ramp to the user. //create window string $tj_winName = "tj_winName"; string $tj_winTitle = "TJ Fun Pause Screen"; if ( `window -exists $tj_winName` ) deleteUI -window $tj_winName; string $tj_rampWin = `window -t $tj_winTitle -wh 258 258 $tj_winName`; columnLayout; rampColorPort -node $tj_rampNode; showWindow $tj_rampWin; Now we need to take control away from the user, and have something happen. As shown above, we achieve this by having our ramp slowly change from black to green and fill in. It can be all done with a simple loop. By slicing the counter smaller and smaller, the pause will increase. As noted in the comments below, were using a slice of 0.005. //do timer by filling in ramp with greenfloat $tj_i = 0.0; while ($tj_i < 1) { float $tj_newPos = $tj_i; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[1].position") $tj_newPos; setAttr ($tj_rampNode + ".colorEntryList[1].color")0.2 $tj_newPos 0.2 ; // the smaller this increment, the longer the pause // using 0.005 tends to get us in around 15 seconds $tj_i = $tj_i + 0.005; showWindow $tj_rampWin; } Thats all there is too it. All we have left is to clean up what weve done. Delete the window and ramp nodes: ///////////////////////////////////// // 15 seconds passed, all done pausing //kill window if ( `window -exists $tj_winName` ) deleteUI -window $tj_winName; //delete ramp delete $tj_rampNode; print "n -=-=-=-= Finished pause screen. =-=-=-=- n"; //done More tutorials also available at our website: http://www.tjgalda.com .

Rated: with 702 hits  Added on: Nov 20, 2007

Introduction of Custom Props

This video tutorial shows you to take your 3D model from Maya and turn it into an active video game prop

Rated: with 1696 hits  Added on: Nov 20, 2007

Secrets of Swimsuit Babe

Making an attractive woman is always a goal for most CG enthusiasts and here are the secrets

Rated: with 1529 hits  Added on: Nov 20, 2007

modeling human

modeling human character from head, hand, leg (foot)and body

Rated: with 3193 hits  Added on: Nov 16, 2007

full body modeling

modeling human toon from head until foot ...

Rated: with 1373 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Rendering in Layers in Maya

This tutorial shows you how to use render layers in maya for composition of the final image. ...

Rated: with 917 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Breaking Subsurface Scattering into Render Layers in Maya

Method to break Miss_fast_skin_maya subsurface shader into render layer and compositing them in post. ...

Rated: with 855 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Volcanic Eruption - Modeling

In this part 1 tutorial we will learn some tips and tricks on our way to model a volcano from scratch! So enjoy the lesson! ...

Rated: with 1021 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Model a Rocket with Particle Trail in Maya

This tutorial shows you how to create a rocket using NURBS, animate its movement using path curve and make a simple smoke trail. ...

Rated: with 2400 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Using Sun and Sky in mental ray with Maya

This tutorial will teach you to use Maya8.5 new Sun and Sky system wuith Mental Ray. ...

Rated: with 1388 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Low Poly Character Series: Modeling the Legs

Low Poly Character Series: Modeling the Legs Tutorial by: Ben Mathis...

Rated: with 1098 hits  Added on: Nov 12, 2007

Making of the Giant

This article will take you through the various stages I used to create Keith Thompson's Giant character, from initial setup and block-in all the way through to final renders in Unreal3 engine.

Rated: with 1489 hits  Added on: Nov 11, 2007

fishing hook modeling

The tutorial shows how to create the model of a fishing hook, in Maya

Rated: with 919 hits  Added on: Nov 07, 2007

using Pelting Tools for uv unwrap

The tutorial shows how to use PELTING TOOLS plugin for Maya. this plugin is very useful in unwraping the uv's in Maya texturing process.

Rated: with 6410 hits  Added on: Nov 07, 2007

Jaguar - Panthera Onca - Model/UV/Texture Tutorial

This tutorial comes in PDF format (71 pages), with Maya scene files and texture images to supplement the text. It covers Modeling, UV Mapping and Texturing. Brought to you by Chris Harkins @ www.charkins.com

Rated: with 3737 hits  Added on: Nov 06, 2007

creating a UV map (video tutorial)

The tutorial shows the basic steps in creation of a UV map in Maya.

Rated: with 7812 hits  Added on: Nov 01, 2007

extrude the face of a cube using a curve (video tutorial)

The tutorial shows how to extrude the face of a polygon using a curve (Maya video tutorial)

Rated: with 3835 hits  Added on: Nov 01, 2007

modeling hand

modeling detail hand with polygon

Rated: with 6265 hits  Added on: Oct 18, 2007