Math 155B - Introduction to Computer Graphics - Winter 2004
 

Project #1 - Introduction to 3D Studio Max

    The purpose of this project is to give you an introduction to the use of geometric modeling tool, in particular, 3D Studio Max.   You will learn about modeling geometric objects, including splines and NURBS surfaces.   There will be an introduction to 3D Studio Max on Monday, January 12th, in the PC lab in APM B337/B349; after that you should work on your own to do the tasks in the tutorial I have prepared.  Feel free to ask fellow students, or Peter Schwer or I, for help on completing the tutorial.

Due date: Friday, January 23.  You should be GRADED by Peter Schwer or me by this date: the work should be done before this date.

Tasks:

  1. Download my 3D Studio Max tutorial.  (This will also be handed out in class on the first Friday, January 9 and/or on Monday, January 12.)

  2. Attend the Monday, January 12 meeting in the PC lab at 1:00.  Get started going through the tutorial.

  3. Finish going through the entire tutorial, including a lot of the "optional" items in the notes.  Experiment and try out features that are not explicitly describing the tutorial.

  4. Pay particular attention to the splines and NURBS surfaces part of the tutorial.  Notice the distinction between control points ("control vertices") and interpolation points.  Note how the control points of a Bezier curve or NURBS curve can be modified.

  5. Save two screenshots: one of a NURBS surface and one of another scene you have created during the process of going through the tutorial.  (To save a screenshot, use CNTL-ALT-PRINTSCREEN to capture an image of the currently open window in Windows.  Then paste it into a Paint document, for instance.)

  6. For grading
        a. Show us the two screen shots.   
        b. Discuss, with me or Peter Schwer, the problems you encountered in going through the tutorial, and/or the features you discovered while doing the tutorial,

  7. This first assignment is graded on a P/NP basis.