Anim8or lamp tutorial

Bravo · Anim8or lamp tutorial

Lets do a tutorial using anim8or, we'll keep it nice and simple, to help you get started.

First, download anim8or from here. Make sure you get version 0.90

We'll make this lamp:

Now, I've edited the lamp a little, copy this picture into your computer somewhere:

(I know the image isn't perfect, but it doesnt really need to be. The greyscale makes it easier to see later, you'll see...

ok, now fire up anim8or...

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File>new

In the main window, where it says 'front' click on the front and select 'all'.
Click on the 'perspective' and select 'ortho' (I prefer that to perspective).

You now have 4 windows.

Lets add the reference piccies...

press anywhere in the 'front' window, a white border should come around it...

Build>reference image

Load the grey lamp up.

Repeat this exercise in the 'left' window.

Press the eye button, and then press the 'frame all views' button (it looks like 4 squares on the bottom right of the left menu).

Now press the 'object/edit' button (the arrow to the left of the eye button)

Now there is another arrow button a few buttons underneath the arrow button you just pressed, press that.

Click on the lamp pic in the 'front' window, a yellow border should go around it.

Now, we want to move it back, but only along the 'x' axis, so lets disable the 'y' and 'z' axises. To do that, just click on the 'y' and 'z' buttons to switch them off, they are a toggle.

Now, under the select arrow, there is a 'move' button, press that.

Now we want to move it in the 'left' window....move it to the right until it is past the other image.

Now select the image in the 'left' window and move it to the left in the 'top' window. You should now have a screen that looks like this:

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Now, let's start modelling!

Ok, look at the lamp, it is basically three cylinders (the bottom one being a fattened out cylinder but a cylinder nonetheless).

So...lets make a cylinder!

Press the 'add cylinder' button to activate it, and click and drag a cylinder in your front window, don't worry about getting it straight, there is an easy way to do that Wink

To get it straight, while the cylinder is still selected, go to edit>rotate>rotate none.

Now double click on your cylinder and make it:

Now, reactivate 'y' and press the move button and move your cylinder in the top and left windows until it looks like it is in the middle and level with the bottom.

Now we need to convert it into an editable mesh.

Build>convert to mesh

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Now, we need to edit the points on the model, so select the 'object/point edit' button (looks like 3 dots).

Disable 'y' again, and press the drag select button (looks like a hashed out square), and drag select (in the top window) the bottom row of points.

Then press the 'non uniform scale' button (looks like a square with 2 arrows inside it), and in both the top and left views, move the points until they fit the base of the lamp.

Drag select and non uniform scale all the points until they hug the lamp in both views.

You'll end up with something a little like this:

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Ok, lets do the shade...

Wouldnt it be easier to do the shade if we couldnt see the base?

Yes, I think so too. Go to object editing mode (the arrow next to they eye)
select the base model.
edit>hide

Wuhoo!

To see it again (make sure you are in object mode) go to edit>show all Wink

lets build another cylinder then, drag an anysize cylinder and do the edit>rotate none thing and double click the cylinder and make it like this:

Now, we dont even need to move any points, as we set the start and end differently, so all we need to do is move it in the top and left windows until it fits our reference image Smile

Still, we want to make it thicker, which is easier said than done weirdly enough...

Build>convert to mesh

While it is still selected, edit>copy (or CTRL+C), then edit>hide.
Now paste (edit>paste or CTRL+V).

Ooh, we have an exact replica!

We need to extrude it (make it bigger), and you do that in point edit mode (click the thing with three dots on again)

Now this time we dont want to edit the points, we want to edit the faces; 2 buttons under the 'z' there is a little triangle, press it.

Now, whenever we select stuff, it wont be points, but faces we are editing Wink

Drag select all the faces of the shade.

Tip: to add to a selection, use right click, to take away from a selection, use ALT+right click.
To drag select a face, the square must cover the entire face or it wont select it (this is the best way, trust me).

All your faces will go yellow.

Press the 'extrude faces connected' button (the one under the UV button), and click and drag in any of the windows, let go once you think it's got to the right thickness.

On the toolbar at the top, to the right of the scissors button, there are three buttons, have a little experiment with those, see what they do.

Now, when you extrude like we just did, it deletes the faces that you originally started with, which is in most cases useful. Here, we still wanted them but anim8or didnt know that.

So, that is why we created the copy earlier Wink

Go to object mode and edit>show all.

Now hide the base again.

Select both of the shade models, and build>join solids. They are now back together.

Now show all again.

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Lets give our lamp a name:

Go to settings>object and call our object 'Lamp'.

Now drag select all the objects (including the reference images) and edit>locate>stand on ground

Oops, hehehe.

Click they eye and centre everything and go back (the arrow next to the eye)

Select just the shade, and move it on the 'y' axis only, so it is back where its supposed to be.

Now, lets get a render...

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Go to mode>scene

Glick on the 'front' and select 'all' so we see 4 windows.

Now one of the windows is 'camera'...oooooooooh

Now build>add object and select the lamp.

Click somewhere in the camera window to activate it.

Select Render>preview (just go with default settings for now) and you got your first render!

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Have an experiment with adding and placing lights etc (via the build menu).

To get your object casting and receiving shadows double click it.
Double click your light and go to advanced so it casts shadows.

Have fun!

Any questions just ask Wink

mdcowboy93

sweet I should get anim8tor

Darkfrost

Get it then, Its free!

http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html

Very Happy

Thanks bravo, im going to try this out NOW, but not with a lamp Very Happy

Bravo

Darkfrost

I cannot Drag the points with non-uniform scale on, With point edit on,

Im using a cube, Please help Smile

Oh, i just tried it on a cylinder, Doesnt work either.

Im using 0.9
And i did make it into a mesh =)

EDIT: Ooh, Never mind, i had to drag point select them, Silly me =P

Bravo

You need either x, y, or z to be pressed down. Check at least one of them is on

[edit: just seen your edit]

Darkfrost

Anyway, Ill post a pic up of my model once im finished,

But this IS my first model (Unless a cube counts a model Razz

) So it may take a while

EDIT: How do i go about texturing it?

Can you guess what it is? Very Happy

Lol

eZay

psp? lol took me about 5mins though

Darkfrost

Hah! Yeah! Very Happy

It will look more like one if i can texture it... And add the shoulder buttons

eZay

i tihnk the screen would make it alot easier to notice what it is lol

Darkfrost

Yeah, But im going to do that with a texture Razz

Oh, Bravo, How do i do alpha on a material?
Wanted to make the shoulder buttons with 50% alpha

eZay

Its coming ALIVE!!

mdcowboy93

pretty good

Bravo

by 'alpha' do you mean transparencies?

Texturing tuts coming soon...

Bravo

btw add an extra light Wink

Darkfrost

Yep, I mean Transparency,

And i just widened the angle of the current light Very Happy

Bravo

An easy way is to just set the 'trans' of the texture to 0.5 Wink

Darkfrost

Ah, thanks, i set it to 50.. lol

Coming along nicely now, Thanks bravo! Very Happy

Oh, and bravo,

Points: 1398
Edges: 2608
Faces: 1296

Are these bad? They look it too me Very Happy

eZay

That looks great dark

Bravo

For your first model that is excellent mate Very Happy

See? Once you got the basics of it, it's easy Wink

eZay

Im so confused when i move on X axis it just goes up off screen.. and also when i click theres no yellow border

Bravo

Make sure you are in the correct mode:

eZay

I get to where you want it to get moved and then i get confused

Bravo

I dont know which part you are struggling with mate, be a bit more detailed so I can help you better. A screenshot always helps too.

Will be tomorrow now though, cos I am off to bed

eZay

Alright ima keep working at it its only 6pm here O.o so hope fully iget it by tommorow thankz for help tho Very Happy

eZay

I got too the end but i couldnt figure out the lgihts and on my render it was SOOO small Help pls?

Bravo

for lights:

Build>add light

Infinite, is like a sun
local is like a bulb
spot is like a torch (flashlight)

Double click and go advanced to set it to cast shadows.

Usually you would have more than one light for each render, possibly an infinite (not casting shadows) and a local (casting soft shadows, ray trace).

Selecting a light and build>face target followed by clicking on whatever you want the light to face, will make the light face that target (this can either be a model, or it can be a special target you can add also via the build menu).

You can also set the camera to face a target, so if you are doing animations, you could do matrix style effects if you wish it Wink

eZay

And how come when i render its soooooo tiny?

Bravo

When you render>preview you can set the size of your render there

Make sure you have the camera window active when you render

To increase the size of your model, select it and use the enlarge tool (the icon looks like two boxes, one bigger than the other)

eZay

Got it and i tihnk im doing good with the program lol modelling a gun now cuz it looked simple Very Happy

Bravo

post up a WIP somewhere.....in fact, gonna make a WIP's thread...

eZay

Ok. remember im TOTAL Nublet at 3D

EDIT: I used Cylinders and that stuff to model but when i go to Mode>Scene NOTHING shows up except camera..

EDIT2:Lol i never put the object into scene

Bravo

of course, the WIP section should help you Wink

eZay

Hmm im so confused Very Happy

Kasey

Points to WIP Section

eZay

I want too its jsut when i save its jsut blank liek it cant read the image.. lol ill try again i guess

eZay

Nevermind jsut figured it all out posting it up soon

eZay

Here is what i got

Darkfrost

Ooh, cool, add a light though

eZay

I know its pretty bad but its my first model Very Happy

eZay

Lgiht and colored i think its a lot better

Kasey

Keep working on it, you'll get there. Smile

Bravo

If you select your light, then go build>face target, then click on your model the light will now face your model.

Darkfrost

Ah, thats better now i can see it!

Hehe, Nice work Very Happy

keep working on it

eZay

Alright i was going to try a tougher model today but i have TONS of Algebra Homework... Confused

mdcowboy93

I hate homework

eZay

Algebra is SO annoying

Darkfrost

Need any help? lol Very Happy

Sarge

Hahaha I hated algebra for one reason and one reason only.... It's too simple. All it is is common sense. You've been using it your whole life. This is just the time to understand how and why ^_^

eZay

Lol it is simple its jsut a pain to write each STEP ahhh took me 2 1/2 hrs last night Sad

Sarge

Lol isn't it nice how one algebra problem can take up a whole page in your notebook. ^_^ I always found that amusing.

eZay

lol my last ngiht homework took up 9 pages and only 30 questions