b. FAQ

Well, this tutorial has been up for a while now so I figure it would be good to make a little FAQ for some of the questions I get asked... frequently:

Q: Could you email me the blueprints?, sooner would be better.

A: Nope. I made a whole chapter telling you where to get them, here.

Q: Why do you bother making the spline guide? Seems like a waste of time to me, I just start with the box modeling straight away.

A: It depends on how you want to model. I found this way to be the most accurate. And doing this way you are modeling on top of a 3D object rather than flat planes. Everyone models differently, there really isn't a set right or wrong way.

Q: After I make the spline guide, I put the surface modifier on top of the whole spline and it doesn't do what I thought it would!.

A: Don't put the surface modifier on the spline guide, it is only a guide for you to model over, it is deleted at the end of the modeling process.

Q: Could you email me the blueprints?, sooner would be better.

A: No.

Q: Is there a downloadable version of this tutorial so that I can look at it offline?.

A: No. Good idea though, I'll see what I can do!.

Q: I put the NURBS on the spline but ... I don't understand!.

A: That's because we are talking about NURMS not NURBS. They are VERY different. When I say NURMS here I really mean "Mesh smooth", though different software calls it different things.

Q: I put the images in the appropriate view ports and (left in the left, rear in the rear), but everything is all wrong! Why doesn't it line up?

A: I don't know why your view ports are out, but this is why I use a spline guide, because image backgrounds in max are not so perfect. I actually put my front image in the left view port, and so on, I don't know why that is the way it had to be, but it worked.

Q: How long have you been doing 3D?.

A: At the time of starting this tutorial only a few years. But everything in here is very basic really, there is no IK, animation, rigging, wacky lighting, scripting or anything like that, box modeling really is quite simple and a good way to start learning 3D.

Q: What school did you go to to learn 3D?

A: I learnt 3D in my spare time, and also in the industry. i'm actually a designer/illustrator. Though everything in here I learnt at home, there really isn't anything in here you can't teach yourself.

Q: I'm using quad patches. You should use quad patches.

A: Cool. This is a box modeling tutorial.

Q: Could you please mail me the model including all the textures. Sooner would be better.

A: I'm happy to share everything I know about this subject, but no, the model stays here.

Q: Could you please mail me the model so I can change it to advertise our local strip club/antichrist convention/pro war meeting?. Sooner would be better.

A: It is a RAYBRIG NSX, it is just destiny that it is that way, so, no.

Q: Can you tell me the steps involved in doing...

A: This tutorial is deliberately not a step by step instruction set. The reason for that is because if you have to figure these things out you are more likely to learn about what you are doing, rather than just following text. And I cant be bothered writing every little detail, and as software changes, steps now will be outdated tomorrow.

Q: The gray renders in the images section, how did you do them? HDRI? GI? Etc?.

A: I used some spotlights for those images. The final renders are Light tracer GI.

Q: How much do you want to make my web site?.

A: I'm not a web site builder, I made this, and my site, just to show my work.

Q: Check out my model, why does it look $#!+?.

A: I'm keen to see your models, and I always look at stuff I'm sent, though I don't always get a chance to reply. Sorry guys!

Q: You should do a Skyline / Beetle / 206 ....

A: Oh should I now?

Q: Could you email me the blueprints?, sooner would be better.

A: No. Grr!