Category: 3D

The Razorback – Part 32: Adding XPresso to the Kickstand Hoses

As the overall modeling of the Razorback project nears maturity, we’re starting to focus on some of the more detailed and nuanced areas of the model. For instance, let’s consider the kickstands. We know that they will be Pneumatic/Hydraulic, and we know that actuated stuff in sci-fi renditions must have hoses leading from the mechanism into the depths of the robot… it’s just cooler that way.

Having said all that, we need a way for the hoses to move and flex with the machine, and Read More

Sesame Seeds with a Cloner

This tip focuses on the placement of sesame seeds on a baked treat.

One of my readers commented on my Constraining Objects to a Surface tip and mentioned that he’d found it particularly useful. He also referenced placing sesame seeds on a burger bun and I immediately thought of achieving that effect using the MoGraph Cloner. Granted, there are many circumstances under which the subsequent tip won’t be ideal but I think it could be a real time-saver.

Check out the rest of the post for some still images and the short video tutorial.

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The Razorback – Part 31: Refining the Kickstands and Adding Hoses

In this part of the Razorback video series, we tackle the kickstands and the hardware/hoses that connect them to the machine’s central systems. The hoses provide a challenge to us that we’ve not seen since the steering mechanisms.

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Vertex Weight and Deformers

A quick tip that shows how to use a Vertex Weight Map to restrict the influence of a Cinema 4D deformer.

When applying a deformer in 3D software, the limitations of the deformer are considered in the decision to use it. For instance, if we wanted to bend an object we would obviously use a bend deformer. This gets more complicated as we look for ways to influence only part of an object (typically we want to bend the entire object). In Cinema 4D, we can use the Vertex Weight tag/a Vertex Map to define the area of influence that a deformer can affect.

The general idea of this tip is: We want to twist the lower half of David, while leaving the sword in his hand straight. The Vertex Weight Map and a restriction tag can help us in this case.

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The Razorback – Part 30: Adding Cabling for Some of the Sensors

In this part of the Razorback video series, we create a few cables for some of the instruments. In particular, we focus on the GPS antennas and the FLIR turret’s cabling.

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Cupcakes Wallpaper

This wallpaper was inspired by some of the Windows 7 wallpapers and was quite fun to create. It uses the new-ish Physical Renderer in Cinema 4D R14 for the depth-of-field effect. There are sizes for various desktops, the iPad 1 and 2 (1024×1024), the iPad 3 (2048×2048), and the Macbook Pro Retina (2880×1800).

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Set Selection and Materials

This tip focuses on the simple yet powerful Set Selection command in Cinema 4D and suggests a few practical uses for it. We also look at how Cinema 4D automatically creates one of these selections for you if you apply a texture in a particular way.
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The Razorback – Part 29: Setting the Thickness of the Armor Panels

In this part of the Razorback video series, we tackle the armor plating and consider just how thick it should be, as well as deciding how it bolts to the underlying machine.

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Selections for Caps and Rounding

This tip focuses on the hidden polygon selections that exist on most of Cinema 4D’s NURBS objects. Even the MoGraph Text object.

Some of the generated objects in Cinema 4D have hidden selections that are automatically generated in real-time. These selections can be used to apply materials to individual classes of surfaces.
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The Razorback – Part 28: Adding an Armor Bracket to the Lower Cowl

In this part of the Razorback video series, we add a simple metal bracket that will support the removable armor plates.

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The Collision Deformer and Falloff

The collision deformer continues to amaze me with all of its options and possibilities. I’ve already shown how you can use it to shrink-wrap one object to another in my cables tutorial, and this tip focuses on a more abstract use of the deformer.

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The Razorback – Part 27: Adding Detail to the Instrument Brackets

In this part of the Razorback video series, we add some bolts to the LIDAR and Hazcam brackets.

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