3ds Max 2010: The Graphite Modeling Tools, Day 1

on Jul 27th 2009 with 33 comments
Tutorial Details
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series 3ds Max 2010: Graphite Modeling Tools

3ds Max 2010 introduces a vast array of new tools and features, not the least of which, are the new Graphite Modeling Tools. In this two part tutorial video tutorial series, professional game environment artist, Kaleb Aylsworth, will walk you through all of these new tools, and show you how to use them effectively in a practical, every day workflow.

In the first part of the series, Kaleb will spend over an hour demonstrating a majority of the tools and their various functions, and in the second part, he will spend two hours modeling a tropical jungle tree, using the graphite and freeform modeling tools in place of his traditional methods.

This is part 1 of the series: The Tools, and Their Functions.

Final Effect Preview

Tutorial Video 1

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Tutorial Video 2

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

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By

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Kaleb Aylsworth is the old Cgtuts+ editor. He is also a video game Environment Artist with over 3 years of professional experience. He is currently employed at Digital Extremes in Canada, and working on an un-announced AAA title.  

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  • http://www.blog.exxcorpio.com Luis Lopez

    it looks really cool these new tools, the result is great. I hope i can get the 3dsmax 2010 soon.

  • http://laranzjoe.blogspot.com lawrence77

    going to see soon…. ;)

    You do good job Editor…. hats off…

  • http://www.evanschaible.com Evan Schaible

    I am not sure if everyone is aware, but the “Graphite Modeling Tools” are actually not developed by Autodesk, they were a plugin for Max 9 – 2009 called Polyboost. All Autodesk did was add this plugin to its native UI. They are great tools nonetheless.

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth
      Author

      Yep I knew it, but just didn’t think it was relevant to the purpose of the tutorial, which was to show how to use the tools. Thanks for the bit of history though!

    • John Doe

      I find it hard to learn the modeling tools in MAX. For some reason it doesn’t seem to be very intuitive to me. I find Maya to be easier at modeling but I like the material management in MAX much better. Damn it.

  • Brick Top

    A lot of tools in Max were ‘invented’ by the community. When they are popular, Autodesk buys them so they can put them in their newest releases.

    Thx for this tutorial!

    • gorillamilk

      3rd party vendors and the community at have always been the leaders in Max’s innovations. That’s the way any good poduct should be developed! It’s definitely not a bad idea to listen to users!

  • ghost

    I thought you said you weren’t going to spend much time talking about the native tools, however, an hour of that tutorial could have been avoided if you stuck to that. Anywho, the new tools seem cool and time saving but certainly don’t validate a reason to update to the new max for me personally.

    Are there any other major changes that might be worth the cost?

    • Kaleb Aylsworth

      Yeah…I know I did spend a bit of time showing the viewers what the repeat functions were in the Graphite Tools ribbon, and where they used to be before…but that was so they would know that they were in fact repeats, and not get confused as to why I was skipping them. I also hardly think that it was 80% of the tutorial, as you stated.

      You can find a list of the new features in 3ds Max 2010 here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7658360.

    • Bez

      @ghost, I agree/

      Mr. author, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, thank you for the tut and your time, really.
      but most of the first tut is just basic poly modeling tutorial in my eyes.
      indeed an hour of the tut could have been avoided easily.

      sorry if I was too harsh
      cheers :)

      • Bez

        just for good measure,

        The second video is what I was after, very good tut, thank you :)

        I just think you should write that in the intro text since probably many people who
        watch the first video already know basic poly modeling and would prefer to skip
        an this one hour long video.

        again sorry and thank you.

      • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth
        Author

        @bez No you were not too harsh. It was, however, actually mentioned in the tutorial description that the first 1 hour was a demonstration of each of the tools, and then the rest of the tutorial was on how to make the tree in the preview.

        “

        In the first part of the series, Kaleb will spend over an hour demonstrating a majority of the tools and their various functions, and in the second part, he will spend two hours modeling a tropical jungle tree, using the graphite and freeform modeling tools in place of his traditional methods.

        “

  • noiser

    Here you can see exactly what’s new in 2010: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7658360

    Some of the really nice new features are PFlowAdvanced Particle Effects, Review 3 and C# and .NET Support.

  • http://www.enatom.com Enatom

    this is cool, but im still waiting for the 3ds max “intro to basics” video series …. please kaleb

  • omardex

    Hi, only an observation in the video#1 the pin stack feature only allows to select other objects without losing focus on the command panel of the object pinned, is not for seeing early levels on the stack or tho not see the effects of turbosmooth (you can move rotate or scale the box but not losing the modifier stack of the cylinder); or even test an effect (say noise) and checking the position of the other object but without losing the parameters of the noise object.

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth
      Author

      Thanks for that extra bit of insight:)

      • omardex

        no prob, cool video by the way

  • http://www.chitwanchadha.com chitwan chadha

    this is really a good tutorial I also have some tutorials…….

  • john

    Kaleb could you do a character tutorial ?

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth
      Author

      I am an organic and hard surface environmental artist by profession, and as such, would not be the most suitable candidate to teach others how to do characters. I will, however, ask some of my character artist contacts if they would like to do one:)

  • john

    OK, sounds good also could you have any of your friends that do gun modeling post a tut, oddly I looked around the web and I can not find any good Gun modeling tutorials.

    Normally you would think Gun tutorials will be all over the web

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth
      Author

      I’ll ask around:)…I may even do it myself if I can fit it in to my schedule…

      • john

        thanks your great

  • Alhadis

    Does anybody know why the Editable Poly toolset now *adds* vertices to the geometry if you miss clicking on a vertex? I just upgraded from 3DS Max 9 and I’m finding this incredibly annoying… the wealth of tools is nice, but the changes to the pre-existing ones I’ve been used to since 3DS Max 7 is worrying me.

    Is there any way of turning it off, somewhere? It’s like it’s started taking after Patch modelling all of a sudden (which I found meticulous and tricky).

  • Mr. I/Y

    I really love this tutorial, but the quality of sound is terrible,. I find it hard to concentrate on what youre saying, but not that I dont understand you, tho. Thx anyway! :)

  • http://www.mxhviet.com an

    i don’t see video huuuuu

  • BatNips

    I’ve been looking for a decent tutorial for 3ds max for yonks. You made it feel very easy to get to grips with. Really good tut. Would like some more when you have the time!

  • Peter

    Both Max and Maya have their advantages, I like Max’s modeling much better, Maya’s UV editing is still way better.
    Another bad thing about Max is the grid snapping, it sucks!

  • AnIndianCTZen

    You guys are really a grrrrr88888888888 help for those who don’t have money for such courses, depends on free versions but have the will to learn. Thanks a lot Kaleb.

  • Poopascoop

    Geopoly is great for creating cirlcular holes in your models for detailing. Great and essential for any high poly hardsurface work.

  • JOHN H Rambo

    wow mind blowing post

  • dadds

    Pin stack – You could also just press the eye button on the modifier list. Another option just makes you forget which you used. But that’s not your fault of course.

    Actually a repeat option has existed in Max for a while now. It’s called repeat last operation and has the short cut “;”

  • karol

    in video 2 you r showing how to extrude along spline but this spline i GM TOOLS doesn’t work at all!!! maybe if you try like 20time how come??!!! it is mistake in this program why i ca not drag the line????i try everythink and i just loose control!!!!!