When modelling from a reference..

Chaos

Hi,

Im new around here and im currently learning max, I've noticed that when modelling from reference blueprints some people like to use viewport backgrounds and others like to create image planes then freeze them.

Viewport backgrounds seem the most logical way of modelling from a reference blueprint so im wondering why people go to the trouble of creating planes and then applying the image as a material, are there any benefits from doing it that way or is it just down to personal preference ?

MaD

Never use viewport backgrounds. It's just easier to line up your different backplates with planes and you have got some reference in your perspective view as well

SyncViewS

Hi Chaos,
I prefer to create planes, put them in a separate layer and freeze it. Then create materials with references and apply them. There are several reasons why I find this procedure better:

- You can hide all references by hiding the layer (if you set them in a separate layer)
- You don't have to worry about viewport dimensions, just set the planes in the right proportions relative to your reference image height and width in pixels. It requires much less pre-work in image editors to make them match
- You can have more than one reference for a particular view
- You can use the plane as a clipping plane by moving it across your 3d model
- If you rotate the viewport the model remains aligned to the reference, provided you put it along one of the models main planes
- You can alter materials transparency and self-illumination to adjust them to your needs
- You can use the same reference to see the model from both sides and are not tied to a single viewport. Let's say you got a car view from one side, you'll see the car from the other side too, like left/right.

There are for sure many other benefits. I just like reference planes
But the best is, as always, run some tests and find out what's better for you.

Calabi

Well if you use the backgrounds you have to make sure the references are perfectly(reasonably) aligned in an external program. They have to be exactly the same size and ratios and everything has to line up.

Also you cant see them in the perspective view, I'm not sure that really matters though, as you cant line them up in the perspective view anyway.

There's no really penalties for either way just most tutorials seem to focus on using image planes. I've used the backgrounds, for a few things, as its quicker.

Chaos

Thanks for the tips, I'll experiment with both but it seems from most folk I've asked that planes are the preferred method.

Valandar

Viewport Backgrounds are VERY difficult. I zoom and pan all the time, and with VPB's I'd lose my reference if I do either. With a plane set back from the axis, it's still there in the right place. And as said before, I can also see them in the perspective viewport.

mLichy

I vote for planes too. It's better if u can just model from just looking at the image, but that can take time to learn/acquire. Try to use both, modeling from planes/Background, and also just free modeling basically, by just looking at the ref, and see what you can do.

It will train your eyes to see shapes easier in a broad sense I think, and also make you less dependant on good ref images, or nothing at all if need be.

Sort of got off on a slight tangent, but you know what i mean

Racer445

Valandar wrote: »

Viewport Backgrounds are VERY difficult. I zoom and pan all the time, and with VPB's I'd lose my reference if I do either. With a plane set back from the axis, it's still there in the right place. And as said before, I can also see them in the perspective viewport.

In max you can lock pan/zoom for viewport backgrounds. Set it it match bitmap then lock zoom/pan and it works great.

gsokol

I prefer to create planes, put them in a separate layer and freeze it. Then create materials with references and apply them.

How do you keep the material visible when you freeze? for me it always turns grey...

Racer445

Motion tab > uncheck Show Frozen as Grey

Yozora

Or just make a script to disable the grey when freezing things and hotkey it/put in a menu/toolbar;

(
$.showFrozenInGray = off
freeze $
)

Xoliul

If anybody cares, I made this years ago:
http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/blueprint-creator

First script I ever did, still works pretty well. It automates the task of setting up planes and materials.

killingpeople

it's all about projecting the orthos directly onto the geo mmm butter

boyluya

Yeah just ordinary planes with xoliul's dx shader applied. ^^