3D Theory

[3dpassion]

Hi 3d palace.

Iv just started modeling and am a bit confused about a few of things in the Dreadnought modeling dvd and was hoping someone could help me get something clear.

1) I notice you use ngons allot, does this not cause any problems? I have done a couple of models for use in games (non professionally) and I have always heard you should use only triangles and quads (quads preferred). is this irrelevant to this type of modeling? By that i mean modeling animation as long as you don't intend on using any smoothing algorithm such as turbo smooth?

That sounds a bit confusing. Basically what I'm trying to get to grips with are the does and dont's of different types of modeling. Am i right in thinking that ngons can and are widely used in models strictly made for animation that have no intention of being smoothed. And they are not used at all in games or anything that will result in the object being smoothed such as a modifier or zbrush etc?

2) Iv watched the maya dreadnought tutorial and you don't smooth the object at the end so I'm guessing you don't intend on doing so?

Thanks for your time i hope someone can answer this as its been driving me crazy.

[sandmanninja]

Hi and Welcome...

I think the purpose of the Dreadnaught tutorial is to teach you the basics of working the interface and actually making a pretty cool model when you're through with the 3 videos.

Yes, you are correct - unwrapping really prefer quads. Not to say you have to have 100% quads - not sure if that's really do-able in the real world of modeling. There are tricks to fix the mesh, so I'm sure it's possible to reduce the number of non-quads.

[ragupasta]

1. N-Gons andf tris are bad if you are using any form of smoothing algorithm like meshsmooth/turbosmooth. Back in the day of ancient 3d applications the render engines wasnt able to render non-planar faces, so things like that used to be a real bind, however technology is sweeter now, so its not really an issue, unless you are wanting a moving rig part to deform that area of polygons, then you may get some funky issues.

2. I dont think ive seen many tutorials from here where meshsoothing is applied, so I wouldnt worry.

[olblue]

Meshsmoothing...tsk Real men make polygons themselves.

[Lanceafer]

I have heard the same thing in regard to game engines. Is it still true that you can’t have anything other than a quad for most game engines?

[ragupasta]

Originally Posted by Lanceafer

I have heard the same thing in regard to game engines. Is it still true that you can’t have anything other than a quad for most game engines?

Game engines convert quads to tris on import anyways, or they did do last time I looked.

[FLUXITY]

Game engines are basically all tris, can model in quads but will count as tris when you chuck it in.

SubD modelling: Model all in quads or errors occur.

Modelling without Turbosmooth: Generally use all quads where you can but Ngons at the ends of cylinders, flat pieces with rounded edges, chamfers or hinge from edges don't really matter/cause any problems at all.

I have quite a few 24 sided polygons on my Baneblade, gogo.