Problem with modeling building

[Xagoth]

Okay, I`ve got a problem: I had to model my school. Generally the interior of it, and i don`t know where I should start . H E L P :(

[andoy]

Probably a good idea to start with the exterior walls, so you can get the scale and perspective right. Then do the interior walls, then each specific room with chairs, tables or whatever.
Just get a simple workflow for the project and it should be pretty simple to layout.
If there are more than 1 floor, do it floor by floor but make the exterior walls the correct height ( 3 storeys, 2 storeys or whatever they are)

[Xagoth]

Okay, but I don`t know how to start:( I`ve never made any building, even without the interior, so what I want is :
- some sort of example
- tutorial
- hints with screenshots
I need ANY help :( :( :(

[Xagoth]

50 views and no one replied :((
I REALLY NEED HELP !!!!!!
I`ve got only 1 MONTH!!!

[andoy]

Draw a ground plan, then from the top viewport build the walls using boxes to the right height.
change the boxes to editable poly, cut in the doors and windows.
put in any furniture thats needed.
build a roof
texture it all
render it
hey presto it's done !!!

Thats about it really, just take your time and if you are a little bit used to max it should not be too hard to get a basic building down, after all it's just basic shapes really.

[Xagoth]

Thanx mate, but I`ve got question: these "ground plans" - could I use Evacuation Plans ??

[Joey B]

Originally posted by Xagoth
Thanx mate, but I`ve got question: these "ground plans" - could I use Evacuation Plans ??

Yeah, you could... How you do it depends on the form of these plans. If they are on paper, you could scan them and trace them with illustrator or Autocad, or directly build on them in 3d studio or whatever you are using.

If you can get them in a digital format, things are even easier, then you won't have to draw them yourself.

Here (http://www.3dtotal.com/team/tutorials/jozef/jozef1.asp) is a tutorial on how to model a building using AutoCAD and 3d Studio. When you are using illustrator instead of Acad it should mostly be the same thing, draw, rotate and extrude. For more info search on google for: building, model, 3d studio and so on, tonns of references there...

But I'm wondering, why do you accept such an assignment when you don't know the heck about modelling? And what is the exact assignment? Do you have to MODEL the schools interior, or do you have to make a 3d DRAWING of it? Not that I doubt you, but if you only got one month, you'd better go the easy way instead of learning stuff, that takes time, you know! :)

[Xagoth]

It`s like this:
My teacher said, that if I want 6 on the certificate, I had to do something related to school. So I`m modelling school and my friend is going to open it in his engine, and then you`ll able to walk in it. Cool, doesn`t it?? :D
About this 1 month : I`ve got time to 10th January, but I doesn`t had to have all model. Only part, so I can show my teacher what I meant at the beginning.

______

I forgot: I`ve done this tut earlier, it`s really good, but I want to model in poly from the beginning

[Dozer]

Wow Xagoth, that's an aweful lot of help you seem to need... It's really not as simple as "how do I model a building?" because every building is completely different from each other.

The first thing you need is references; either from bluprints or photos. If it's blueprints then you have the exact measurements you need, if it's just pics, then you will need to make an educated guess on the numbers.

Have you modeled anything in 3d before? If you're unfamiliar with planes I find it very hard to show you how to do it...On the other hand, you could also just start with a box and make it the length and height of the wall, make a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th box of the same length and height and you now have the beginning of a rudamentry building.

How much work have you done previously? A basic knowladge is definately a prerequasite to modelling something as complicated as realistic architecture.

Sorry in the long delay in responding to your PM, The forum page always says I have 0 new messages and I only checked on a whim.

[Xagoth]

Originally posted by Dozer
Sorry in the long delay in responding to your PM...

I`m very gratefull, that you have answered me :)

OK, as I posted before (or not :D) I had to do a model that is VERY LOOOOOOOOOOOW POLY. It had to only look like my school. Nothing extra, super,mega etc. :D
I need information how to start with that thing. I`m posting a photo of my school. It`s the back door, where the "game" will start. About modelling- I`m used to 3D Studio Max. I know about most of the things (i think :) As I said before I want to model it ONLY in poly, because i`m used to it, and it will be the fastest way (for me of`koz :D)

[Vancent]

You wan't a tutorial with pics? I'll see what I can do from that one image you posted...

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Vancent]

Okay, here it is, part one, the doorway. This is how I would do it, not how you should do it.
(Tell me if you want me to continue making these "tutorials" after reading this one.)


http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic1.JPG
1)First I started witha box, segmented 3 length 3 width.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic2.JPG
2)I moved the inner vertices into approximate positions.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic3.JPG
3)I then took the center vertex and chamfered it out then moves the resulting vertices till it looked right.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic4.JPG
4)I then extrued the selected polygons in a ways.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic5.JPG
5)Next I extruded the bottom left an right polygons downwards to "ground level".

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic6.JPG
6)I sliced the inside polygons (highligted) I then chamferd the resulting edge (not shown).

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic7.JPG
7)I moved the selected verts inwards (scaled in from the sides then moved the top ones down).

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic8.JPG
8)Here I created a new box that will become the doors crazy window-filled frame, segmented 3 width.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic9.JPG
9)After adjusting the vertices, I once again extruded the bottom left and right polys downwards.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/pic10.JPG
10)Finally I added in two more boxes that will become the door itself, and that little one beside it.

My plan in to just make the windows and such with texures since it's low poly.

End of part one.

CONTINUE?
Yes No

[Vancent]

Please excuse my mesiness, I'm new at tutorial making.

Also, you should know that I may forget to check this thread again, if so, email me at:
vancentkhron@hotmail.com

[Xagoth]

Man, U R the greatest:D:D lol

I`m so happy, that you`ve helped me. About the doors-they are great !!!

I would be soooo gratefull, If you could continue these tutorials.

You`re a blessing from god :D
Next thing I had to do, is the way behind the door. In the attach file you can see it. It`s not so hard to do, but i really dunno how to do it. The question is which angle should I choose to make the stairs?? Sorry bout the bad quality, but I haven`t got any software, i was formating my disk :\

[Xagoth]

OK in attach file, you can see the stairs I was talking about. Dunno how to do them.. :grr: Any sugestions?? Or tutorials?? Vancent, can you try to do it?? I would be very thankfull :D

[Vancent]

Hmm, to do the stairs I think I might need a lower photo showing all of the stairs to make sure I get the right number of stairs and such. Also the pictures of the inner door has me confused, I think it has 2 doors and one swings inwards and one swings outwards? Thats an interesing setup...
Now from your first few posts I've gathered that you've only got about 1 or 2 weeks to finish this project, you can't wait for me do do tutorials on every part of the building, you need to do most of the work on your own or you wont finish in time.
Here is what I want you to do, go around your school and find the 4 most difficult to make areas and take pictures of them, at least 3 for each area, from different angles. I will do tutorials on those 4 areas, but only those 4 so choose wisely.
Also 3D Total (http://www.3dtotal.com) has an archive of tons of free tutorials that you can refer to, you might also check out 3d Palace (http://www.3d-palace.com/) for more tutorials, incuding many free video tutorials.

Now go get me those pictures! Thats more pictures of the stairs and 4 more areas. Go go go!

[Xagoth]

Yeah, right, but you haven`t seen the most important thing. I`ve got to do SOMETHING to the next Wednesday. I think i will need only the entrance and basement.

About the stairs: Who said it should be completely the same?? :D
I don`t have time to look how many stairs does my school have :cool:
As I said before, it had to only look like my school, it doesn`t had to be the same.

About photos: I don`t have camera, to make photos, but I`ll get one as fast as I can :D. Before weekend I should have it :D

[Vancent]

Okay, well I'll do a tutorial on stairs.
Should post it in about an hour, except I think I'm gonna be eating supper soon so maybe later.

[Vancent]

Part 2, Attack of the Shift-key
(Yup, supper.)

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs1.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs2.jpg
1) Okay, so first you make a plane that with become your floor, as shown in this spiffy render and not so spiffy screenshot.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs3.jpg
2)Next slice in an extra edge and selected it.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs4.jpg
3)Hold down the Shift key and drag the edge up vertically.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs5.jpg
4)Still hoding the Shift key, drag it horizontally.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs6.jpg
5)Continue this process till you get then number of stairs you want.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs7.jpg
6)Continue draging out edges to start on your hallway.

http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs8.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/apfevens/gallery/3d/stairs9.jpg
7)Throw in some walls, maybe a celing, and your set. (I'll let you figure out how to do that on your own.)

end of part 2.

[Vancent]

Hmm, something seems to be wrong with my links. Gimmie a minute to try and fix them...

[EDIT]Still not working for some reason, oh well, just open a new browser window and copy and paste the adresses into it to see the images.

[Xagoth]

Heh. Man, you`re the greatest :D

Yu`re the boss :D:D:D

How can I ever thank U ??
I know. If U want you`ll be the first one, who will see the game I`m making. It`s not trully a game, but U can walk in my school :D

[Vancent]

I take it you know some programing then? Or you know someone who does?
I've been wanting to make a video game for a while but I don't know a line of code. I just can't seem to learn any languages or anything language like.
As for playing through your school "game", that would be niffty.

[Xagoth]

I know (not much, but learning :D ) C++, and my friend Delphi. He will be a programmer, and me a modeller. He`s making an engine to our "game", and I`m making model. Pretty simple, but not working :D I`m loosing time playing GunBound, and he`s talking with his friends. I`ve made one game. If U want to see it ( don`t think so, because no one ever wanted to see it :) ), then tell me I`ll send you an e-mail with my "masterpiece" :D

PS.what does niffty mean??

[Vancent]

I'll try your game. I like trying games made by non-big-game-company people.

"niffty" is kind of a cross between neat and spiffy, basicly it's something that is cool and/or interesting or enjoyable. I'm not sure I'm spelling it right but I use it anyhow, I just like the word.

Anyways, is there anymore tutorials you need?

[Xagoth]

Originally posted by Vancent
Anyways, is there anymore tutorials you need?

Right now - not, but when I`ll get a camera into my hands :D
In about 3-4 days I should have a camera, then I`ll make photos, and show U another problem :)

PS.About the game: It`s not really a game. You will be able ONLY to walk in this school. Maybe my friend will add some options to do in this "game", but I don`t think so :(

[Dozer]

Xagoth, it's called a "virtual walkthrough"

[Xagoth]

I knew it, but didn`t know how to tell it in English
I`m not talking in English language 24/day, so I making mistakes :o

[Vancent]

I didn't even notice that you didn't speak english well, though now I guess it seems obvious. I guess I should have clued in when you asked what "niffty" meant.

[Xagoth]

And the truth came out :D

"I didn't even notice that you didn't speak english well"
This is the best comment I could get :o Thank you sooooo much:D

[Vancent]

Umm, your welcome.