3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [196]
FIGURE 14.38
The Paint Fill mode places objects along a selected edge loop.
Painting with animated objects
If the object that you are painting with has some animation associated with it, then you can specify an offset for the motion of the object. The options for how the animated object plays are in the Paint Objects panel and include Consecutive, which plays the animation on each painted object in order offset by the By # Frames value. For example, if you have a box that spins and you set the By # Frames value to 2, then the first box in the painted line will start spinning at frame 0 and the second will start at frame 2, and so on. The other Offset Transform Motion option is Random, which randomly starts the animation for each object.
Tutorial: Painting a scar
Although medical companies are searching for an easy way to remove scars, we're going to use the Object Paint feature to add one to our character.
To add a character scar using the Object Paint feature, follow these steps:
1. Open the Futureman with scar.max file from the Chap 14 directory on the CD.
2. Click the Graphite Modeling Tools button on the main toolbar to make the Ribbon appear, and select the Object Paint tab.
3. Click the Pick Object button in the Paint Objects panel, and then click the scar object. Select the Paint On option, and select the futureman's face object.
4. Click the Paint button, and drag across futureman's face to place the scar.
5. In the Brush Settings panel, enable the Lock Axis (Uniform Scale) button, set the Scale X value to 17, and drag the Spacing value until the scar is equally spaced out at a value around 11.5. Figure 14.39 shows the applied scar.
6. Click the Commit button in the Brush Settings panel to apply the scar to the face.
FIGURE 14.39
Applying scars on the surface of a character is easy with the Object Paint feature.
Summary
When modeling with polygons, the Graphite Modeling tools become your best friends. With all the tools at your fingertips, you can model faster and with greater ease. In addition to the base modeling features, the Freeform modeling tools, the Selection tools, and the Object Paint features make modeling a delight. More specifically, this chapter covered the following topics:
• Accessing and using the Graphite Modeling tools
• Modeling in the various subobject modes
• Using the Freeform tools to sculpt surfaces
• Making specific selections with the Selection tools
• Painting with objects and filling edges with the Paint Object panel
This chapter concludes Part III, “Modeling Basics.” You're now ready to learn about dressing up objects with materials, cameras, and lights. The next chapter covers the basics of applying materials.
Part IV: Materials, Cameras, and Lighting Basics
IN THIS PART
Chapter 15
Using the Slate Material Editor
Chapter 16
Creating and Applying Standard Materials
Chapter 17
Adding Material Details with Maps
Chapter 18
Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers
Chapter 19
Configuring and Aiming Cameras
Chapter 20
Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques
Chapter 15: Using the Slate Material Editor
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding Material properties
Working with the Material Editor
Using the Material/Map Browser
Working with libraries of materials
Using the Material Explorer
Materials are used to dress, color, and paint objects. Just as materials in real life can be described as scaly, soft, smooth, opaque, or blue, materials applied to 3D objects can mimic properties such as color, texture, transparency, shininess, and so on. In this chapter, you