sti0003 - Create a squid model using polygon and curve modeling techniques | Softimage Experts

In this tutorial, you will create a squid model using polygon primitives and curve. Also, you will use deformers to give the shape. Figure 1 shows the final model of the squid.

Figure 1

1. Choose Model > Get > Primitive > Polygon Mesh > Sphere from the main toolbar; the Scene_Root : sphere (General) property editor is displayed. Now, close the property editor. Press F12 to view all viewpots.

2. Press X to activate the Scale Tool and then scale it along the Y axis. Press ESC to exit the Scale Tool and then the drag the cursor in the empty area of the viewport to deselect the sphere. Figure 2 shows the scaled sphere in the viewports.

Figure 2

Next, you will create the tentacles of the squid.

3. Choose the Display Mode button from the Camera Viewport menu bar; the Display Mode menu is displayed. Next, choose Shaded from the menu; the geometry is displayed in shaded mode in the Camera viewport.

4. Choose Model > Create > Curve from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Next, choose Draw Cubic by CVs from the flyout; the shape of the cursor changes to a pen shape. Now, draw the two different shapes of curve in the Top viewport, as shown in Figure 3. Press ESC to exit from the Draw Cubic by CVs tool.

Figure 3

5. Create the 6 copies of the curve by pressing CTRL_D and then rotate them using Rotate Tool in the Top viewport. Now, press M to activate the Tweak Tool to edit the curves. Next, tweak the curves as required and then align them viewports, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

6. Select sphere in the Camera viewport and then press U to activate the Polygon mode. Next, select a polygon, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

7. Choose Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Choose Extrude Along Curve from the flyout; the shape of the cursor changes to pick. Now, select the curve in the Camera viewport; the mesh is created in the Camera viewport and the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Op property editor is displayed, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

8. In the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Op property editor, enter 8 in the Subdivs edit box in the Extrude tab. Choose the Transform tab and then enter 0.75 in the X and Y edit box in the Scaling area. Now, close the property editor.

9. Follow the steps from 6 to 8 to create other arms of the squid. Press the + (plus) key twice; the squid becomes smooth. Figure 7 shows the tentacles of the squid in the Camera viewport.

Figure 7

10. Select the curve in the viewport and then activate the Rotate Tool. Next, rotate the curve in the Front viewport, as shown in Figure 8. Now, select all curves one by one and rotate them in the Front viewport. Figure 9 shows rotated arms in the viewports.

Figure 8

Figure 9

11. In the Camera viewport select the squid and then activate the Polygon mode by pressing U. Next select the polygon of the squid, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10

12. Choose Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Choose the Extrude Along Normal from the flyout; the selected polygons is extruded and the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Normal Op property editor is displayed.

13. In this property editor, enter 2, 3, and -0.458 in the Length, Subdivs, and Inset Amount in the Extrude Normal Op property set. Now, close the property editor. The shape is shown in the Figure 11.

Figure 11

14. Press X to activate the Scale Tool and scale the extruded polygon upward along the Y direction in the Camera viewport, as shown in Figure 12. Now, activate the Translate Tool by pressing V and move the selected polygon upward along Y direction, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 12

Figure 13

15. Select the top most polygon of the squid and choose Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Choose the Extrude Along Normal from the flyout; the selected polygons is extruded and the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Normal Op property editor is displayed.

16. In this property editor, enter 1.88, 0 and 2.947 in the Length, Subdivs, and Inset Amount in the Extrude Normal Op property set. Now, close the property editor. The shape is shown in the figure 14.

Figure 14

17. Press E to activate the Edge Tool and then select the edge, as shown in Figure 14 and then press CTRL+D to duplicate the selected edge.

Figure 15

18. Press SPACEBAR to activae the Object mode and then drag the cursor in the empty area in the viewport to deselect it.

Next, you will create the fins of the squid.

19. Press F12 to view all viewports and then create two curves using Draw Cubic by CVs tool in the Front viewport, as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16

20. Select squid in the Camera viewport and press U to activate the Polygon mode. Select polygon of the squid in the Camera viewport, as shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17

21. Choose Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Choose Extrude Along Curve from the flyout; the shape of the cursor changes to pick. Now, select the curve in the Camera viewport; the mesh is created in the Camera viewport and the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Op property editor is displayed, as shown in Figure 18.

Figure 18

22. In the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Op property editor, choose Extrude tab and then enter 8 and 0.8 in the Subdivs and Inset Amount edit boxes in the Extrude tab. Choose the Transform tab and then enter 0.5 and 1.2 in the X and Z edit box in the Scaling area. Now, close the property editor. Now, select the curve and then press C to rotate the curve slightly in the Front viewport.

23. For second fin follow same steps 16 and 17. Figure 19 shows the fins of the squid in viewports.

Figure 19

24. Select the squid in the viewports and press U to activate the Polygon mode. Next, select the polygons of squid as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20

25. Make sure the polygons are selected. Next, choose Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Choose the Extrude Along Normal from the flyout; the selected polygons is extruded and the Scene_Root : sphere : Polygon Mesh : Extrude Normal Op property editor is displayed.

26. In this property editor, enter -1, 2 and 0.88 in the Length, Subdivs, and Inset Amount in the Extrude Normal Op property set. Now, close the property editor. The shape of the eyes is shown in the Figure 21.

Figure 21

27. Choose Model > Get > Primitive > Polygon Mesh > Sphere from the main toolbar; the Scene_Root : sphere1 (General) property editor is displayed. In this property editor, enter 1.5 in the Radius edit box in the Sphere property set. Now, close the property editor. Press V to activate the Tranlate Tool and align it, as shown in Figure 22.

Figure 22

28. Make sure the sphere1 is select in the viewports and then press CTRL+D to create a copy of sphere1 and then align it. Next deselect the sphere2 and then choose Model > Create > Curve from the main toolbar; a flyout is displayed. Next, choose Draw Cubic by CVs from the flyout; the shape of the cursor changes to a pen shape. Now, draw the two different shapes of curve in the Front viewport, as shown in Figure 23. Now select the bottom of the polygon of the squid and exturde it by using the Extrude Along Curve tool. the final output of the squid is shown in figure 24.