Anyone know any good 3d exercises for practice?

tynew

Hi guys,

I feel like I've found myself opening up 3dsmax everyday and not knowing what to model. I'm looking to work on my skills and challenge myself. I've been wanting to exercise my modeling brain everyday as someone that sketches and paints.

Anyone know any exercises? Looking for something short and sweet. I don't mind if it's under 2 hours. I am also looking to build up the complexity of these exercises over time.

I want to improve my skills as hard as I can and I think exercising 3d and actually making something in Max everyday would do it. I've already watched countless tutorials/dvds and I feel like the best way to learn is to do it myself! I just don't know what to start making.

maximumsproductions

Whatever you're passionate about! Though if you're looking for short and sweet you may try things with many different approaches to modeling like complex shapes for example soccer balls and tires.

ToffeeApple

Well when I first started creating game assets I went for a gun -

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgy0lBdJK0&list=PL925958D31D8D30C7&index=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgy0lBdJK0&list=PL925958D31D8D30C7&index=1[/ame]

And then I tried a fire hydrant -

http://www.chrisalbeluhn.com/Hydrant_Tutorial.html

For texturing Racer's tutorial is a good start -

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnh01WJOK8o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnh01WJOK8o[/ame]

You may have already tried these objects but hopefully it'll give you some ideas

tynew

@maximumsproductions
Hard surface is my thing. Yeah something like a tire or soccerball, those types of objects are things you would only model with a certain technique once and probably never again. I was looking for more things where techniques which would improve overall workflow.

@ToffeeApple
Yeah I've seen both of those already. Both of these are also extremely simple to make/model. I wouldn't call them very good exercises with modeling as the techniques are so simple. I did a very similar hydrant almost 5 years ago!

Tim270

Something I have been doing for "warm ups" is using this site.

http://944foot2thefloor.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2010-06-07T21:55:00%2B01:00&max-results=1&start=7&by-date=false

https://plus.google.com/photos/110780284280562107210/albums/5340570703876533489?banner=pwa

And just picking different engine parts that look complex and attempting to replicate those shapes. A lot of them for me keeps me referencing back to the "how do you model them shapes" thread as there are some tricky ones theres.

martinszeme

Not really an exercise, but I do it once in a while. Basically when you model in max and are doing some hard surface stuff you obviously have a stack of modifiers, like Symmetry, FFD maybe and a Turbosmooth on top. Most people including me model low poly, dragging verices around and then turn on Show End Result, to see Turbosmoothed model and how the general smoothing is going, maybe add a supporting edge loop, add edge loop for tighter chamfer etc. Well What I do is I model blindly without Turbosmooth and basically try to predict how it will smooth, how supporting edge loops are reacting etc. At the end I just add Turbosmooth and see how close was I for my imagined final model. Really helps to understand smoothing and topology.
Obviously I try to do it on some simpler objects and not big props.

Fingus

Do "sketches". 1 hour models, not necessarily speed models but rather spend one hour modeling a variety of stuff you usually don't do. This will make you run into problem areas you might not have encountered earlier, and will overall teach you how to quickly assess different shapes. I HIGHLY recommend working from real life rather than photos or concept art. Pick anything from around your house. A kitchen knife, a padlock, a ballpoint pen, a coffee mug, a TV remote, your car keys, etc. Preferably something small enough that you can keep it on your desk and easily look at it while working. This will make you run into all sorts of topology challenges you'd never expect, and most importantly will train your observational skill and sense of shape and form.

Did it for a hard surface class in college and it was immensely rewarding. Not great portfolio material, but boy did I learn a LOT from it!

http://www.fingus-stuff.blogspot.com/2011/03/daily-3d-models.html

HappyEverline

.

SuperFranky

The Weekly Hard Surface Challenge is all the exercise in modeling you need. Just after doing a dozen of those models you will be a much better modeler.

monster

http://www.turbosquid.com/Models-to-Make

This list used to be updated more frequently. But it's practice and you can make money off them if they come out good.