Update

This is an update to just explain the process that I am at.
















This is going to be the stair case which is the entrance into the casino, I am yet to post the plans for my animation but it is going to be set in a casino. As you can tell from the image it looks like a staircase and I am using Boolean to make sure it fits tight with the wall. The first thing I had to figure out was completing the Boolean on more than one object, I tried to make the staircase from one primitive shape but extruding the segments out was not working correctly so I had to use individual shapes and use proboolean to merge the objects so they became one. This was done by selecting merge on the parameters and selecting the objects that I needed. Once all the cylinders were attached I could then use the boolean to square off the sides of the staircase to fit against the wall in my casino. The casino so far consists of 3 poker tables the stair case and the walls with wallpaper as you can see below. The next step is explaining how I created my further objects and how I am going to animate.

Introduction to animation

This is my first attempt at animating objects in 3Ds Max, I am going to be using the Auto key technique for this animation. Auto Key animation allows the user the simplicity of changing the shapes and the time on the time line with the computer adding the key frames in. First I started by making a cylinder in the front viewport, then I bent the object to one side and dragged the frame slider to a new frame. This added a key frame into the animation and this acts as a key to what the object will look like by that frame, I then rotated the object and added a new key frame in later in the time line.

Above is the rendered copy of the animation.

To render the animation out to view in a video file you have to change some of the render settings. You have to change the 'time output' to 'active time segment' or 'range', if you select range you have to specify which frames you want to render. Once you have that selected you can select what size you want the video frame size to be. Then finally you have to select a file destination for the video to be saved to.

StoryBoard

Today I handed my 3 Models in and I am going to develop the ideas that I have had for the animation by making a storyboard. This storyboard will include the models that I have created and maybe some more that I intend to make for the final animation. The main point I am going to portray in the storyboard is a bullet being shot and smashing the Martini bottle, the scene will be placed on a poker table which will be another model I will create. The difficulty with this animation will be getting the bottle smash to look realistic, in the storyboard I will try to show the scene as it will play out.

Completed Golden Gun

This is the golden gun finished with the texture, I looked on-line for a gold texture and found a handy tutorial which explains step by step on how to achieve the gold look. I am really please with how the gun has turned out and it has made me think that I should change the material on the Martini bottle and have the texture as glass and figure out how to add the decals over the glass. Overall I am happy that I have three models and I look forward to animating them and improving them, I am currently thinking of ways that I can improve on what I already have.

Golden gun without texture

This is the basic shape of the golden gun, I started by placing a reference plate with a picture of the gun so I could scale the components accordingly. I started off with the cigarette case which makes the hand part of the gun, I had to indent the top and round the edges to get the right shape. To round the edges I made a cylinder and aligned it with the shape, I then used the vertex's to manipulate the shape so it aligned with the cylinder. I then added the top of the cigarette case which is placed under the the barrel and connects to the trigger, for this I cloned the case and just cut the size of the main rectangle. I added the trigger by creating a cylinder and extruding a pin out which is what connects with the cigarette case and causes the gun to fire. The next stage was the lighter which sits on top of the cigarette case, this was simply a rectangle, with a different compartment coming out to make the attachment for the barrel. The last part to construct was the barrel, I simply used the cylinder tool to make the main part and extruded at the end to enhance the look. It was hard to get the detail into the model such as the detailed texture on the lighter, but hopefully this can be added during the texturing process.

Golden gun

Here is a picture of the golden gun, as you can see there is a pen, also there is a lighter, these objects will have to be incorporated into the design when I come to modelling the gun.

Golden Gun

The third and final model I am going to create is the golden gun. This was inspired because I like the gadget side of 007 and also the action side with guns and fighting, so this combined two elements of James Bond which I really enjoy. Also I am planning to have my final animation based around a poker table and the gun could rest on the table with the other models.

The golden gun is made up from different components that can easily be found, it is an ingenious idea using a lighter, pen, cigarette case and cuff links and the fact that its 24 carat gold tops it off. I think the challenge with the golden gun will be to get across which parts are which.

Card texture faces

An error occurred when I tried to submit this post. This is the texture faces document that you can save from 3Ds Max which you can use in Photoshop to apply textures. By filling in the faces with what textures you want it is a very simple and flexible way to add texture to the model. These are the texture plates for the playing cards. As you can see the front and the back of the playing cards are easy to edit and you can fill it in with what you want on Photoshop. It was more tricky with the bottle because it was rounded which complicated the process a lot more. Using the texture faces document that you can save from 3Ds max I feel that you can add decals very easily, and it is very effective for square of non rounded objects.

Playing Card

This is the first card that I created I used the square tool to create the shape of the card and used the 'unwrap uvw' to apply the texture, the picture I chose for the back of the cards reminded me of the intro to Casino royale which I quite like. Because I used the same texturing technique to apply to the Martini this card was quick to make. I am now becoming more familiar with the tools which is helping with the construction of the models. When I come to make my animation I want more than the three standard models because I would like to make a poker table for them to sit on and adjust a few things to make the models look right.



Update.

I have a picture to show the Royal flush, I added the floor surface in to help the cards stand out from the plain background.

Rendered Martini Bottle

Here is the rendered copy of my Martini bottle. Although I am happy to have my first model complete I do not feel satisfied with the final result, I spent a lot of time editing the textures and getting them to look correct that I feel it would be a small step backwards to get a large step ahead by adding the glass effect.

In this image you can see to the right there is a box which you can click to edit the parameters, when you click the box you get the object faces outline on a grid, this is where you can get the outlined mapping shape for the object to edit in Photoshop.

With the Martini bottle now complete I am going to move on to my next model which is going to be a royal flush poker hand. I am inspired to do the cards as I really like the intro from Casino Royale and for my animation I may create a poker table to put the Martini bottle and the playing cards on.

Martini Bottle skins

I managed to find a way of applying the texture to the whole bottle, it was by using a technique called 'unwrap UVW' , what this does is take the object and makes the faces available to edit, a window below the shape tabs appears and comes up with editable options. When you click the edit key a new window appears and you can see see the faces on a grid with more options, you can flatten the image and make the outlines solid, this give you a nice platform to take into Photoshop and create the texture.

As you can see in the image I have imported the unwrapped bottle parts and have painted them in Photoshop, this gave me many options with colour and which decals I would put on. The problem doing it this way is that it won't let me just put the decals on with transparent bottle, as the grid pattern will just be applied to the bottle. I will have to find a way in which this does not happen so I can get the desired glass effect for the bottle with only the decals added.

This is my first attempt at applying a texture to the bottle but it wasn't very successful, I used the material window to drag the Martini decal onto the bottle but it wouldn't align correctly. I now have to find a way to get the material to sit correctly onto the bottle.

Martini bottle

This is the first model I decided to create, it is to be a Martini bottle, the main shape is done but there is more to do with the texture of the bottle. I created the shape of the bottle by getting a picture of a Martini bottle and placing it on a 'plane' to make a reference plate. I then drew the line round the shape and used the lathe technique to complete the shape, this was the best technique to use for the bottle because it is round and symmetrical. I now have to find a way to add the texture to the bottle to finish it off.