3D Modeling and Animation
( CSG3008)
LP -3
Module 3
Polygonal Geometry:
Basic Polygon Concepts, Triangulation and Polygons, Polygon Primitives,
Sub-Object Editing, Chamfer and Bevel, Extrude, Combining and Merging Multiple
Polygon Objects, Advanced Polygon Modeling Tools, Smoothing
Curve-Based Geometry:
Curve and NURBS Curve, Projected Curves and Trim Surfaces, Convert NURBS into
polygon
WHAT IS A MODEL?
A model is anything in your 3D software package that is constructed of geometry.
Geometry is an offshoot of math that deals with shapes.
The one, single important shape that is the building block for all others, the “atom” of
the 3D geometrical world, is the triangle
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
WHAT IS A MODEL?
A model is anything in your 3D software package that is constructed of geometry.
Geometry is an offshoot of math that deals with shapes.
The one, single important shape that is the building block for all others, the “atom” of
the 3D geometrical world, is the triangle
A triangle is just what is seems. It is a shape with three sides. In 3D
graphic-speak we call this a polygon.
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
WHAT IS A MODEL?
A polygon is any multisided object that consists of triangles, which is the basic building block
of all 3D shapes. Here are the components of the polygon:
1. Vertex: The most important aspect of a polygon, the vertex is a
point in space that has coordinates. These points in space are
connected and create the objects you see.
2. Edge: An edge connects two vertices together.
3. Face: The face is all of the space in between the connected
vertices. This is what is turned into pixels and displayed on your
screen.
4. Normal: The normal is the perpendicular, or 90-degree angle
to the face. The normal is a derived value, or something that
changes because of the positions of the other sub-objects.
It cannot be transformed by itself.
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
WHAT IS A MODEL?
Generally the modeler sees the object in terms of points, even
when there are thousands of them. This is because everything about
a model is dependent on these points.
The vertices exist independently of one another. All of the other
sub-objects, edges, faces, and normals, are completely dependent on
a vertex to exist.
An edge requires two vertices, and a face requires at least three
vertices. A vertex, however, requires nothing but itself.
A model consists of those points, strung together by edges, which
form faces, which are defined by the space in between the edges.
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
Triangulation and Polygons
Everything, that has been created in 3D at one point is broken down into triangles. The reason for this is that the computer
does not understand anything else in terms of 3D graphics. In order for any object to be displayed on your screen, it must be
broken down into the simplest element possible, which is a triangle.
Even when you have quads, which are four-sided polygons, they are being broken down into triangles for you. Take the
sphere in Figure, for example. It has six sides, each side having four faces. If you notice, however, when I turn on “show
triangles” you can see that the computer is secretly subdividing the sphere into triangles in next Figure. This is called
triangulation, and it can happen automatically or you can manually convert it.
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
Merge Objects in Blender:
Things You Should Know
Join two objects by selecting them in Object Mode and pressing "Ctrl + J."
You can use the Union Boolean modifier to combine two objects into a single shape.
To merge the vertices of two joined objects in Edit Mode, select both vertices, right-
click them, and select "Merge Vertices."
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Understand merging in Blender 3D. Joining objects together links multiple
objects together as a group, with the last object you select being the new
parent object. When one object in a group is selected, all joined objects will also
be selected and act as one object. This does not modify the geometry of any of the
objects. Objects do not have to be touching to be joined.
Joining objects together is useful if you are dealing with complex shapes,
character models, or complex scenery. It is not particularly useful for 3D
printing, where the geometry of the joined objects needs to be merged into a
single object.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Make sure you are in Object Mode. You need to be in Object Mode to select
multiple objects. Check the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner to see if
it says "Object Mode." If it does not, click the drop-down menu and select "Object
Mode."
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Select an object you want to join. To select an object, simply click it with the
mouse. It will be highlighted in orange in the viewport.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Hold ⇧ Shift and select other objects you want to join. You can select
multiple objects by holding the "Shift" key and clicking them. All objects you
select should be highlighted in orange.
Select the object you want to use as the parent object last.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click Object . It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen. This displays a
drop-down menu.
Click Join . This joins all selected objects as a group. When you select one
object, it will select all objects in the group.[1]
Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + J (or Command + J on Mac) to join
selected objects together as a group.[2]
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Method 2 of 3:
Using a Boolean
Modifier
Understand the application. The boolean modifier takes two different objects
1 and can apply one of three modifications. Unlike joining two objects,
the boolean modifier will create a new object with modified geometry. The three
types of boolean modifications are as follows:[3]
Union: The Union boolean combines the primary and secondary object into a
single shape. All intersecting internal geometry is removed. This is the one you
use to merge objects.
Difference: The Difference boolean subtracts the shape of the secondary
object from the primary object where the secondary object overlaps with the
primary object. The geometry of the secondary object is completely removed.
Intersection: The Intersection boolean creates a new shape where the
geometry of the primary object overlaps with the secondary object. All the
geometry that is not overlapping is removed.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Make sure both objects are overlapping. You can move objects by clicking
them to select them and press G to grab them. Move them with the mouse
and click to set them down. Move the two objects you want to merge so they are
overlapping in a shape you want to create when they are merged.
You may need to adjust the viewport camera angle and look at the shapes
from different angles to move them into the exact position you want.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Select the primary object. When using the Union boolean, it really doesn't
matter which object you select. Select whichever one you want to be the
primary object.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click the blue wrench icon. This is the Modifiers icon. It's in the button panel
alongside the panel to the right. This displays a drop-down menu at the top of
the panel to the right.
Click Add Modifier . It's the drop-down menu at the top of the panel on the
right. This displays a menu of modifiers you can select.
Click Boolean . It's the third option in the menu below "Generate." This
displays the Boolean Modifier menu in the panel to the right
Click the Union tab. It's the tab in the middle of the Boolean modifier
menu.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click the blue wrench icon. This is the Modifiers icon. It's in the button panel
alongside the panel to the right. This displays a drop-down menu at the top of
the panel to the right.
Click Add Modifier . It's the drop-down menu at the top of the panel on the
right. This displays a menu of modifiers you can select.
Click Boolean . It's the third option in the menu below "Generate." This
displays the Boolean Modifier menu in the panel to the right
Click the Union tab. It's the tab in the middle of the Boolean modifier
menu.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click the blue wrench icon. This is the Modifiers icon. It's in the button panel
alongside the panel to the right. This displays a drop-down menu at the top of
the panel to the right.
Click Add Modifier . It's the drop-down menu at the top of the panel on the
right. This displays a menu of modifiers you can select.
Click Boolean . It's the third option in the menu below "Generate." This
displays the Boolean Modifier menu in the panel to the right
Click the Union tab. It's the tab in the middle of the Boolean modifier
menu.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Select the secondary shape in the field next to "Object." It's in the
Boolean Modifier menu. You can either click the field next to "Object" and
select the secondary object in the drop-down menu, or click the eyedropper icon
next to "Object" and then click the secondary object. Both objects should be
highlighted, and the secondary object should be listed in the field next to
"Object."[4]
Both objects may combine, creating a preview of the combined shape. This
may look a little weird at first.
Do not select both shapes in the viewport. This will result in an error message
when you try to apply the modifier.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click . It's the icon that resembles a bracket pointing down. It's in the
upper-right corner of the Boolean Modifier menu. This displays a drop-down
menu.
Click Apply . It's at the top of the drop-down menu. This applies the
modifier and merges the two shapes.
Alternatively, you can press Ctrl +A (or Command + A on Mac) to combine
the two shapes.
Move or delete the secondary object. The modifier does not delete the
secondary object. It is still intact and overlaps with the combined objects.
You can either select the secondary object and move it out of the way, or press the
Delete key to delete it. You should now see your two objects combined into a single
shape.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click . It's the icon that resembles a bracket pointing down. It's in the
upper-right corner of the Boolean Modifier menu. This displays a drop-down
menu.
Click Apply . It's at the top of the drop-down menu. This applies the
modifier and merges the two shapes.
Alternatively, you can press Ctrl +A (or Command + A on Mac) to combine
the two shapes.
Move or delete the secondary object. The modifier does not delete the
secondary object. It is still intact and overlaps with the combined objects.
You can either select the secondary object and move it out of the way, or press the
Delete key to delete it. You should now see your two objects combined into a single
shape.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Click . It's the icon that resembles a bracket pointing down. It's in the
upper-right corner of the Boolean Modifier menu. This displays a drop-down
menu.
Click Apply . It's at the top of the drop-down menu. This applies the
modifier and merges the two shapes.
Alternatively, you can press Ctrl +A (or Command + A on Mac) to combine
the two shapes.
Move or delete the secondary object. The modifier does not delete the
secondary object. It is still intact and overlaps with the combined objects.
You can either select the secondary object and move it out of the way, or press the
Delete key to delete it. You should now see your two objects combined into a single
shape.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Method 3 of 3:
Merging
Vertices
Understand the application. Merging vertices from two shapes is a more
1 precise way to merge shapes together. It takes a little longer to do it this way,
but it gives you more control over the cuts and polygons that will be created.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Move the two shapes you want to merge close together. You can move a
2 shape by clicking it with the mouse and pressing G on the keyboard. Move
the shape and then click to put it down. Place the two shapes so that the faces you
want to merge are facing each other. You can rotate a shape by pressing R.
It's not necessary that the two shapes be touching each other, but the two
faces you want to merge should be close to each other.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Move the two shapes you want to merge close together. You can move a
2 shape by clicking it with the mouse and pressing G on the keyboard. Move
the shape and then click to put it down. Place the two shapes so that the faces you
want to merge are facing each other. You can rotate a shape by pressing R.
It's not necessary that the two shapes be touching each other, but the two
faces you want to merge should be close to each other.
Select both shapes. To do so, hold Shift and click both shapes. They should
both be highlighted in orange.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Move the two shapes you want to merge close together. You can move a
2 shape by clicking it with the mouse and pressing G on the keyboard. Move
the shape and then click to put it down. Place the two shapes so that the faces you
want to merge are facing each other. You can rotate a shape by pressing R.
It's not necessary that the two shapes be touching each other, but the two
faces you want to merge should be close to each other.
Select both shapes. To do so, hold Shift and click both shapes. They should
both be highlighted in orange.
Join both shapes together. Press Ctrl + J (or Command + J on Mac) to join
both shapes as a group.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Switch to Edit Mode. To do so, click the drop-down menu in the upper-left
corner and select "Edit Mode."
Switch to Edit Mode. To do so, click the drop-down menu in the upper-left
corner and select "Edit Mode."
Make sure you are in Vertices Select Mode. To do so, click the box right
next to the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner. It's the box that
resembles a dot on the outline of a cube.
Select two vertices on both shapes across near each other. The vertices
are the dots in the corners of the polygons and edges. They resemble black
dots in the corners shape's polygons. Hold Shift and click two vertices across from or
touching each other on both shapes.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Switch to Edit Mode. To do so, click the drop-down menu in the upper-left
corner and select "Edit Mode."
Make sure you are in Vertices Select Mode. To do so, click the box right
next to the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner. It's the box that
resembles a dot on the outline of a cube.
Select two vertices on both shapes across near each other. The vertices
are the dots in the corners of the polygons and edges. They resemble black
dots in the corners shape's polygons. Hold Shift and click two vertices across from or
touching each other on both shapes.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Switch to Edit Mode. To do so, click the drop-down menu in the upper-left
corner and select "Edit Mode."
Make sure you are in Vertices Select Mode. To do so, click the box right
next to the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner. It's the box that
resembles a dot on the outline of a cube.
Select two vertices on both shapes across near each other. The vertices
are the dots in the corners of the polygons and edges. They resemble black
dots in the corners shape's polygons. Hold Shift and click two vertices across from or
touching each other on both shapes.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Right-click one of the vertices and click Merge Vertices . This displays
8 a menu with options on how you can merge the vertices.
9 Select an option to merge the vertices. The options are as follows:[5]
At Center: This will merge the vertices at the center between the two vertices.
At Cursor: This merges the vertices at the cursor. The cursor icon resembles a
crosshair with a red and white band around the center. You can move the cursor
by clicking the cursor icon in the menu bar to the left and click where you want to
put the cursor.
Collapse: This merges vertices on a single shape that are connected by a
line or edge. This is not applicable when merging two separate shapes
together.
At First: This merges the vertices at the location of the first vertex you
selected.
At Last: This merges the vertices at the location of the last vertex you
selected.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Right-click one of the vertices and click Merge Vertices . This displays
8 a menu with options on how you can merge the vertices.
9 Select an option to merge the vertices. The options are as follows:[5]
At Center: This will merge the vertices at the center between the two vertices.
At Cursor: This merges the vertices at the cursor. The cursor icon resembles a
crosshair with a red and white band around the center. You can move the cursor
by clicking the cursor icon in the menu bar to the left and click where you want to
put the cursor.
Collapse: This merges vertices on a single shape that are connected by a
line or edge. This is not applicable when merging two separate shapes
together.
At First: This merges the vertices at the location of the first vertex you
selected.
At Last: This merges the vertices at the location of the last vertex you
selected.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Continue merging all subsequent vertices. Continue merging vertices
10 two at a time using the same steps as above until the faces you want to
merge are completely fused together.
Adjust the position of any vertices you want to move. When merging
1 the vertices, it may change the vertices' position and deform the object's
1
overall shape. If you need to move any merged vertices, click them with the
mouse and press G on the keyboard to grab them. Move them with the mouse
and then click the set their position.
Switch back to Object Mode. Once you are happy with the merged shape,
12 click the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner and switch back to Object
Mode.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Continue merging all subsequent vertices. Continue merging vertices
10 two at a time using the same steps as above until the faces you want to
merge are completely fused together.
Adjust the position of any vertices you want to move. When merging
1 the vertices, it may change the vertices' position and deform the object's
1
overall shape. If you need to move any merged vertices, click them with the
mouse and press G on the keyboard to grab them. Move them with the mouse
and then click the set their position.
Switch back to Object Mode. Once you are happy with the merged shape,
12 click the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner and switch back to Object
Mode.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
Continue merging all subsequent vertices. Continue merging vertices
10 two at a time using the same steps as above until the faces you want to
merge are completely fused together.
Adjust the position of any vertices you want to move. When merging
1 the vertices, it may change the vertices' position and deform the object's
1
overall shape. If you need to move any merged vertices, click them with the
mouse and press G on the keyboard to grab them. Move them with the mouse
and then click the set their position.
Switch back to Object Mode. Once you are happy with the merged shape,
12 click the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner and switch back to Object
Mode.
[Link]
Merge Objects in Blender:
[Link]
Exercise: MODELING WITH POLYGON TOOLS
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
Exercise: MODELING WITH POLYGON TOOLS
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
Exercise: USE Trim to Build this gear
Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman - Essential skills for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation-Taylor & Francis (2015)
