Extuding in 3Dmx 7?

[Snubs]

Can some one tell me the proper way to extrude a shape within a shape? Every time I try and assign a material ID it looks like this .

[wombie]

you have the right idea you just have to clean up the stray vertex's after you boolean. Make sure you weld any strays togeter and make sure all your edges go somewhere and don't just stop.

If its still a bit faceated add the smooth modifier. autosmooth normally does the trick just play around with the angle.

[Snubs]

I made that by adding a shape within a shape then extruded it then I added a edit poly assigned a material ID and it turned into that mess and does it every time. I got know clue how to get it to work right. IF some one is well experienced and has 3D max 7 ill send you the file so you can look it over for me. Just PM me . It would be a big help.

[wombie]

you need to connect the vertices with lines. once you have the shapes convert them to edit spline and attach them to each other. then use the create line tool with snap to vertex on to join them together. You have to make sure that each poly is 3 or 4 sided and no more.

Then try extruding again.

[FistMaster]

I find the best way of producing the type of thing you show there using paths created in Illustrator or Photoshop, then import the AI file into max and use Extrude in the modifier list, gives you beautiful and accurate shapes which don't hammer max, as booleans tend to.



Here's a boolean created spline ready in Photoshop for export, I created 2 shapes, a rectangle and a circle, ensure that you have paths only option, rather than filled paths selected.

The rectangle has the subtract modifier selected at the top, whilst the circle has the add to path area option, select both paths and click combine and you should get them showing as a single path when selecting them.

Export as paths to Illustrator...

Open max, import > select the AI file, pick "as single object" and then use the "extrude" modifier from the dropdown and away you go.



You then end up with this, bear in mind I used a 300dpi res when creating the path in PS so when it imports into max the object is very very small and has to be scaled up.


Jimmy

[Snubs]

So how do I import the Photo shop file into Max?

[FistMaster]

You select the splines you have created in Photoshop so they highlight as in the first image, then goto file > export > paths to illustrator

You will get the usual save location request screen, choose somewhere you can readily find and give it a filename.

Open max and goto file > import then change the filetype drop down to illustrator (ai) files and browse to your saved file, open it and you will be asked if you want to merge with current scene or replace, merging being the option you want if you are adding to an existing model set.

Max will then ask if you want to imprt as a single object or multiple objects, use multiple if you have more than one "shape" in your ai file, ie you have 2 or more of the shapes I have in the example above within the same file.

Your shape will then sit happily in Max and you can use the extrude modifier.

I'd advise you to scale the object first as it will be tiny on your grid and fine adjustments within extrude will be difficult.

[Snubs]

Would making the photo shop file bigger, Make it bigger when I open it in max or no?

[FistMaster]

Yes, you just alter the resolution to increase the size of the vector, however this is not important since the vector is fully scalable and there's really no use in creating a 25000px image in photoshop or indeed illustrator, as this makes memory usage insane within the package while you're creating it.

Just create it comfortably at a reasonable resolution and dpi (I use 300 force of habit for printwork) but it doesnt really matter too much for Maxs' benefit, then simply scale the object once it's in Max itself.

[edit] the example above was done in 800x600@300dpi and I scaled it ~13000% once it was in Max [/edit]

[Snubs]

Its telling me Improper file format. Can you break down how you made them in PS with pics ? I know I'm doing somthing wrong in it .