Organic Modelling...Advice, software ideas and encouragement
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Hello all,
When it comes to "organic modelling", I am stumped. With all the rubies that have been written, the possibilities have greatly improved. I don't want to purchase new software so I can create models that I can't create in Sketchup. Is it more hours I need to spend? There are a lot of factors I suppose. One must have a specific project or outcome in mind before you can start. I have bought a few 3D modelling mags recently and I look at the images in them and wonder if they could actually be modeled with SU. At what point does one move on and purchase other software? I know most people on this forum use more than one or two programs to achieve what they want. I am wanting to make a transition in my work and get to the point where most of my work is on the computer and less in the shop building. I know I have asked members on the forum before for help but I just can't seem to get over the hurdle. All thoughts, ideas and suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jeff
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Jeff, can you give me an idea of what type of modeling you have in mind?
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Hey Pete, Thanks. Well, at this point my models would be more towards product design, maybe a little bit with exhibit design. I would love to do character designs but I think that would be best in another program, even though you have proven that characters CAN be done easily. I know you have countless hours invested in your learning so I'm sure I need to be more patient with myself. I downloaded Mudbox yesterday which looks quite cool, but I feel I would be giving up if I try to learn another program to do organic modelling when I haven't even scratched the surface with SU. I learn best by seeing something done once and then I can go from there. Having a hard time with this makes me question my ability at times and I don't like that feeling. I'm not laying on a couch typing this by the way
. Any thoughts doctor? -
My dad always said " if you want to eat a mountain you take it one bite at a time", the same goes for complexed organic modeling.
My suggestion is to use this forum, when you get to a point that you cannot continue or just stumped, post here and a solution will be found.
I would suggest SDS, Bool tools, Sketchy FFD, Sculpt, Fredoscale and all the extrude rubies to start with. -
Thanks Pete. Definitely SDS is one ruby I need to use and practice more with. I know I've mentioned this before but, I would love to travel to a Sketchup seminar that was put on and taught be the people here. I don't care where, I would make it there. I just got back from France so travelling is not an issue. Maybe like the base camps but a much smaller scale. Maybe this is something worth your while to offer a private course or something. I hope I'm not stepping on toes here by suggesting this. Just a thought.
Cheers,
Jeff
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@solo said:
I would suggest SDS, Bool tools, Sketchy FFD, Sculpt, Fredoscale and all the extrude rubies to start with.
I would suggest to use the appropriate tool, at least for product and industrial design = a NURBS based (= exact) 3D CAD modeler which btw can be found as an intuitive useable representative for an incredible pricing here .
further information here .
hth,
Norbert -
@click draw said:
I just got back from France
Hope you have had a nice travel in our country (I'm afraid weather was not so (and is not actually) fine)..
I can add to Pete selection:
TIG_Extrude Edges by Railsclf_Simple Loft alpha 0.1b -- UPDATED May-15-09
Kirill _ 3d mesh from construction points... ver 1.1
BTM_Point Merger tools v1.2 UPDATED@ 23/06/09
There are surely some other very useful tools for organic matters....
++simon
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Sketchup does pul pull kind of modeling fantasticly. Especially if you can use the Sketchy output or further render those models in all kinds of render app's. Vectorworks does wonders in 2D, Photoshop with jpg files, Excell with numbers, Word with text and so on.
Modo among others is your modeler for organic forms or product design. If you just want to stick with Sketchup try to write a letter with it. Its possible and in case there is nothing else ok. But its not handy or smart. You can use plugin's to sort of model organic forms in SU but they are written to use now and then to add functionality while modeling typical Sketchup models.
Francois -
Thanks Guys for your input. Simon, France was awesome and the weather was perfect. I hope to return there some day. I have most of the plugins mentioned and will also look at the CAD program. I do already have Solidworks tho and it probably doesn't get much better than that, for mechanical drawings. I might be asking for too much out of one program as all programs have their strengths and weaknesses. I'll continue practicing and putting in the time with Sketchup. One thing that does bother me is that SU gets bad press as far as its limitations. A mag I bought this week was rating some programs and SU was one. It was obviously rated without the knowledge of all the rubies that have been written. Kinda pissed me off. Anyway....thanks guys.
Cheers,
Jeff
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@frv said:
Modo among others is your modeler for organic forms or product design.
forget all mesh-based polygonal modelers as e.g. Modo or SU etc. if you wanna get exact models for e.g. going into production or sharing w/ other CAx systems, i.e. if a more CAD/CAID based approach and not mesh dragging is required.
hth,
Norbert -
@click draw said:
I do already have Solidworks tho and it probably doesn't get much better than that, for mechanical drawings.
sure, SWX is great especially for parametric driven assemblies in the MCAD area. For a direct 3D modling without the need for fiddling/wrestling around with constraints/formulas other products are more suitable.
hth,
Norbert -
Thanks Norbert,
I watched the video from the link. Looks very good. I wonder how much that program differs from Solidworks other than cost. One feature I would love to see in SU is the "Shell" feature....
Jeff
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JPP is close by not quite it. With Shell, you can take a shape, select the sides to remove and add thickness to the remaining model. Not sure if that explains it good enough? Goto the link in Norbert's comment "Blending with ViaCAD" and it will show that feature. It's quite handy...
Jeff
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@click draw said:
I wonder how much that program differs from Solidworks other than cost.
see above and the Novedge Blog (bottom).
hth,
Norbert -
@click draw said:
JPP is close by not quite it. With Shell, you can take a shape, select the sides to remove and add thickness to the remaining model. Not sure if that explains it good enough? Goto the link in Norbert's comment "Blending with ViaCAD" and it will show that feature. It's quite handy...
Jeff
I saw that - but wouldn't selecting the appropriate faces do the trick?
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I am just a 3d hobbiest and have only ever used sketchup. I tried other programs but the learning curve was too big. I've only found two things so far I can't do with sketchup. 1.) I can't rig a model so I can pose it. For example, I made a model of a man in a space suit and wanted him to be posable. I couldn't make something like an elbow bend. To get around it, I made the upper arm and lower arm two groups on layer 1. The two groups overlap each other so as one moves, the overlaped parts of the other are exposed to fill in the empty space. I built a rig on layer 2 and grouped parts of the model to the rig in layer 3. It works, but it doesn't look great. 2.) I can't unwrap my models in sketchup to texture them. I think the pro's call it UV mapping. Whatever it's called, I can't do it in sketchup.
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