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Date: Fri, 21 Jul 1995 11:25:52 -0400
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Subject: Re: Modeling Suggestions
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from [e-mail] (Carl Andrew Johnson)

--------------snip
 I'm working on a feature where I have to create an alien that looks nothing
at all like a human. I'm sure that Metaform would be a good tool to use,  but
can anyone point me in the right direction for creating smooth, organic
figures.
-------------snip

Carl,

I've been successful with Metaform creating everything from cartoon
characters to 4WD vehicle bodies.  I haven't tried an alien (I'm working on a
personal project to produce a TRex) but I'm sure metaform can do it for you.
 Metaform can be tricky, though.  There are some things you must be careful
of.

1a. Use a simple, boxy figure as the source.  The more detail you try to put
in to the source, the less metaform will affect the outcome.

1b. If you use TOO simple an object (not enough polygons for control) you
will wind up with a blob.

2. You can control the process by how you place polygons.  the more polygons
in an area the "stiffer" the metaform process will be in that area.  That is,
metaform will affect the resultant object less, and it will look more like
the source object.  (This is how you get around the too simple vs too complex
source object problem.)

3. Metaform can produce "flipped" polygons.  If this happens you will see it
when you render the object and will then have to hunt them down by zooming
and using "hide unselected".  This is a major pain.

4. Triple polygons AFTER you complete the metaform process.  Triple polygons
are too "stiff" and won't metaform well.

5. Try a small amount of jitter after you complete the object to get a less
perfectly smoothed object.

6. This will probably only work for the major shape of your alien.  Details
such as eyes, teeth, toenails will have to be added later.


Bart Palamaro
Dark Horse Productions
[e-mail]
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