Clean hard edges for stuff n' things

ericdigital

I imagine this is seemingly simple but I suppose I really just haven't done anything besides organic stuff in a while and this has been something kinda bugging me.

I just modeled out this quick helm to try and assist along here.



Say this is a base helm I want to use for a high poly, but I want to maintain the hard edges of the cut out area. Obviously just sub dividing rounds it out so what is the best way to have something like a cut maintain shape? Throwing tighter edge loops at it gives you hard seams where you don't want them, unless you start with it close and then spread it out, it gives weird shading error like the middle helm. Which is kind of the same result I get by using two loops and terminating them with a cute little triangle as well. While something like the two above examples work fine for a flat surface it falls apart on something round. Maybe I approached it complete ass backwards, that's where you come in!

So any tips from you hard surface guys on how you approach areas like this would be greatly appreciated, especially when the intention is to bring it into a sculpting package.

Thanks doods!

Ben Apuna

I think it's just a matter of starting off with more geometry in the base shape so that you don't have to add any extra loops to control those edges and the helmet remains round once it's subdivided. Not saying it'll be easy or anything just that's probably the best approach.

See this post from the How u model dem shapes? Hands-on mini-tuts for mechanical sub-d thread by Johny:

http://boards.polycount.net/showpost.php?p=898449&postcount=277

also this one by jocose has some insight into this problem:

http://boards.polycount.net/showpost.php?p=911575&postcount=306

Be sure to check out the whole thread here:

http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=56014

It's full of great info. Good luck.

bugo

Anyway, i did a sketch on top of your model, lemme know if you get it.

claydough

It's hard to tell if yer Maya model has depth or is jes a shell...

however,

if a shell.

The Border Edges of the hole can be used to preserve the shape of the Cut Out.

mesh> smooth> option box>
choose:

preserve geometry borders.

If the mesh hole is not a border but has extruded depth...

Smooth by selected faces instead of by object. ( de-select the depth's faces ).

mesh> smooth> option box>
choose:

preserve selection borders

generally I keep both options checked on ( maya default behavior )

ericdigital

Thanks fellas, very much appreciated!

yup makes sense Bugo, going to give it a try. Jacose's post was almost the same situation, very interesting!

Clay thanks as well! I had no idea smooth had as many options as it did, had fun playing around with different things, there is actually a box called hard edges that preservers them perfectly when you smooth, was quite impressed!