3D Max tutorial - Spline cage modelling (Part 2)

3D Studio Max tutorial. This is part 2 of a 2 part tutorial showing how to create spline cages, using the surface modifier to complete the model. Spline cage modelling is the process of drawing out complex shapes using splines and then adding a surface to the object. This is a real easy way to model complex objects and gives you control over your polly counts and the easy to go back later on and make either minor or major changes easily.

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• 3D
• studio
• max
• tutorial
• spline
• cage
• modelling
• part
• 02

[cepomwa]

hey mate, i just wanted to know whats the main difference between spline modeling and mesh modeling?

I mean with spline we can model an object faster and with high poly count why bother doing a model from a mesh then?

Can you explain it to me please?

[chriscook1981]

@cepomwa

I guess its up to you but with poly modelling we can make tiny adjustments to our model and re-order the poly flow to create more intricate shapes..

[barrrometr]

at last i see this method.

Thank you!

[chriscook1981]

@barrrometr no probs

[VespaGijs]

Wauw!

[TheOnetwothreed]

Hello I have Small problem with Material in 3d MAX 2009 and 2012. There is a short video on my chanel so if U can give me the answer Ill bee very gratefull.

[Videshi2001]

@chriscook1981

I've been looking for tutorials on this, myself. Thanks man!

[SwedishBerzerker]

As you can imagine, since it's a Viking ship, it's a very complex shape. Lots of curves in different directions and it took me weeks to make. It's just a quarter of the ship, which I'm going to mirror later. It consists of a hull shape (seen from above), attached to seven different profiles, tied to together with lines and so on, plus additional curves to make it even more detailed. Thanks!

[SwedishBerzerker]

Great tutorial! I'm making this Viking ship using this technique, I'm a beginner basically but I've done some modeling in Solidworks before, so I'm very comfortable with making sketches/splines first and then extruding/surfacing. Anyway, I've made a cage, so it represents what I want it to look like, in all dimensions, but it still won't surface properly. Since you can't weld more than three directions to one vertex, how can I make sure there's no gap besides copying/pasting coordinates?

[filipserban]

one question. What if I already have the splines drawn in AI and imported to the scene? Hw can I connect them? is there a way to do that?

[PriyankaKashib]

i was wondering if there is an option to scale vertices into a straight line? maya has an option where you can hold down on 'J' and scale the vertices. There must be somin similar in Max too right?

[JamboyStu]

Thanks Chris. Nice comprehensive tutorial.