3ds Max 2010: The Graphite Modeling Tools, Day 2

Kaleb Aylsworth on Jul 28th 2009 with 27 comments

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.

This tutorial is Day 2 in a series – Go to Day 1

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 2 of the series: Using the Tools in a Practical Workflow Environment.

Final Effect Preview

Video 1

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

Video 2

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

Video 3

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

Start at the beginning – Go to Day 1

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By Kaleb Aylsworth

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

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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Discussion 27 Comments

  1. Brick Top says:
    July 28, 2009 at 7:46 am

    Thx again man, much appreciated!!!

    Reply
  2. Lee says:
    July 28, 2009 at 8:54 am

    cool

    Im still wondering if there will be any xsi tuts coming up.

    I am happy about the 3dsmax tuts.

    thanks for the hard work Kaleb

    Reply
    • Kaleb Aylsworth says:
      July 28, 2009 at 9:37 pm
      Author

      It has been hard to find authors for XSI tuts, as there are not quite as many of them out there anymore, but not to worry…I have one in the works right now, and it’s gonna be a good one:)

      Reply
  3. lawrence77 says:
    July 28, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Kaleb thank you very much…..

    Much appreciated for this series…..

    Soon going to watch it in my busy hours… ;)

    Reply
  4. Andrew M says:
    July 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    Awesome tutorial! I can’t wait to get my hands on the graphite tools. Perhaps we could get a new tutorial to build on the scene, with grass on the island, texturing and lighting for an outdoor scene?

    Reply
    • Kaleb Aylsworth says:
      July 28, 2009 at 9:00 pm
      Author

      I hadn’t thought about that, but it is a definite possibility.

      I could pick up where the last one left off, and show how I actually added the leaves. Then I could optimize the trunk for realtime, Unwrap, and texture it (with normal maps for the bark and alpha planes for the grass), and finally add some lights and a skybox environment. If enough people say that this is something they would like, then consider it done:)

      Reply
      • Andrew M says:
        July 29, 2009 at 2:09 pm

        People need to speak up then =D. It’s always great to get a mixture of different areas of composing a scene in one tutorial.

      • Kextype says:
        July 30, 2009 at 10:52 am

        Getting this into a game engine would be great at a poly count thats viable too for current generation games + uv texturing normal mapping it would be great. Im a maya user but would happy to see how its done in max .

      • valentious williams says:
        October 22, 2009 at 7:27 am

        hey
        i do a good job modeling
        but i need a great tut for texture and uvw unwrap

      • AMc says:
        December 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm

        that would be cool

  5. Skellie says:
    July 28, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    Wonderful work Kaleb! :)

    Reply
  6. Leviathan says:
    July 28, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Very Beautiful Tree !!!
    Thanks

    Reply
  7. Cristian Pop says:
    August 1, 2009 at 3:03 am

    Nice tree ! It’s beautiful !

    Reply
  8. Mac says:
    August 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Do you know that this whole graphite is nothing else that all features and functions that were allready in edit poly object gatheret in some tabs and some icons added ?

    Reply
    • Kaleb Aylsworth says:
      August 10, 2009 at 12:38 am
      Author

      Not entirely true. Although many of the button in the Graphite tools ribbon are repeats of functions that were already in the edit poly modify panel, many more of them were merged in from “Poly Boost” (previously a 3rd party plugin), and many others are completely new to 3ds Max 2010.

      Reply
  9. daniel says:
    August 18, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Hi Kaleb,

    Your tutorial was really helpful for a tree concept i am doing.
    I was wondering if you could tell me if it is possible to extrude a cylinder to a spline the same way you did for the trunk of the tree, but on a pline with x, y and z coordinates (in 3d if you like as opposed to only a 2d spline like you used in the front view)? I am having trouble exploding the trunk on a more complex 3d spline, it doesn’t follow my it. It works if you use the render in viewport option, but you cant taper or surve it.
    could i have some suggestions please ?

    thankyou

    dan

    Reply
  10. timmy says:
    September 13, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    thanks dude!nice

    Reply
  11. fasal says:
    September 14, 2009 at 2:41 am

    good job kaleb…

    can we possible some other easy methods..
    thanks…

    Reply
  12. Mia says:
    November 11, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Thank you sooooo much Kaleb! All your tuts are stunning! (and the tree is cute!)

    Reply
  13. saaaed says:
    January 24, 2010 at 9:22 am

    thaaannnnnnnnk aj ???iwont to kenw about that vfx you used it &tansltion from car to anoth er plese whowwwwwwww

    Reply
  14. Nana Yaw says:
    April 17, 2010 at 11:28 am

    Good stuff gonna try that in 2Hrs later

    Reply
  15. Lola says:
    September 15, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    the links are not working =C i was looking forward to try this

    Reply
    • Matt Brealey says:
      September 15, 2010 at 9:48 pm
      Staff

      Hi Lola,

      Sorry to hear you’re having trouble. I’ve just double-checked the tutorial and everything seems to be working here. What exactly are you having trouble with?

      Thanks,

      Matt

      Reply
  16. Evgeny says:
    September 29, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks from Russia!
    For this simple and VERY USEFUL tut-l!

    Everything is explained lucidly with literate speech (without any accent!))).

    Vote for a continuation of this lesson: apply materials (stem, leaves, sand) and lighting.

    Thank you again for the lesson. Now I know how to optimally simulate the trees!

    Reply

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