Re: Spline to vertex 2004-04-24 - By ccoles_avengers
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Hi Luis,
There are some differences and similarites to both modelers.
In a nutshell, the Spline modeler is based on the concept of
"extruding" with 2D type shapes drawn on a cross section being
extruded into 3D shapes. The Vertex modeler is based on "sculpting"
and manipulating vertices, edges, and faces of polymeshes, polylines,
or predetermined primitive type shapes.
Determining which modeler to use for creating which objects can depend
upon the user's personal preferences and familiarity with a modeler's
tools, but can also depend upon the object you are trying to achieve.
Sometimes there are similar tools in both modlers such as the Lathe
tool. However, where I notice a key difference is in being able to
use what is called "shading domains" in your object, which is
exclusively a VM function. For instance, let's say you want to create
a bowl. Well, both spline and vertex modelers would work just
fine for this. However, let's say that you want different color
textures for the bottom, middle, and top of the bowl. Then you
will basically, in the end, use the vertex modeler because this allows
for shading of different areas in an object to occur by use of either
shading domains or UV mapping. Actually, you can create the bowl in
SM, but you will have to *convert* it to VM to take advantage of
these features. Or you can create the bowl in VM from the onset.
Here is an example I did just now of a simple bowl created in SM but
converted to VM to apply different textures:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Carrara/files/Carrara%20Files_Images%20%20-%20CC
/Bowl_SM_to_VM.jpg
IMHO, choosing which modeler for creating a particular object comes
with time and familiarity with the modelers. You may be able to model
a hand, let's say, faster or more comfortably in the vertex modler,
than in the spline, however, both modelers may achieve the similar
results.
Overall, I go by the shape and type of object. For instance, I was
working on a bee model this past week and decided to see if the VM
would suite my needs for creating the legs. Well, for what I needed
(varying, symmetrical shapes), I found that the SM was better for this
and I got pretty satisfactory results. Actually, my entire bee was
formed with the SM: only the wings were formed with the vertex
modeler, because I wanted to apply a specific texture to it.
Wings done in VM:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Carrara/files/Carrara%20Files_Images%20%20-%20CC
/bee_wing_wip1.jpg
The manual gives some good hints of what to think about when choosing
a modeler in each of the two respective modeling chapters. Also, an
exercise that might be handy for you to do is to take out your CS3
content CD and open up some of the free models and take a look at how
each section of a particular model was formed and in which modeler
(you can simply double-click on an object and it will open up in the
modeler that was used last to manipulate it).
I tend to find myself using the spline modeler for organic or fluid
shapes like animals, etc., and the vertex modeler for more inorganic
shapes such as books, mirrors, pencils. But then again, I created an
orange a few weeks ago in the vertex modeler, so this is not a hard
and fast rule.
Well, hope this helped a little.
Cheers.
Claudia
"Selocic"
(a newbie)
--- In Carrara@(protected), "L&T Mederos" <ltm@(protected)> wrote:
> Greetings
>
> I am a newbie to both CS and 3D.
>
> a recent msg mentioned converting from spline to vertex modeler ---
which
> made me wonder what is the real difference?? or when should I use
one vs.
> the other?
>
> Thx for your patience !
>
>
> Luis Mederos
>
>
> ps: prior attempts kept bouncing; sorry if a duplicate
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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