Hat from a simple cylinder

Posted by admin on January 13, 2008

Sometimes, in 3dsmax, you can make good 3d models/animations with a very
little effort. Here is an example. We will make a Hat from a simple cylinder in
Max.

Start 3dsmax and in Top viewport draw a cylinder.

Maximize the Perspective viewport. Go to modify panel and set the parameters
of the Cylinder as Radius = 6, Height = 6, Cap Segments = 3. All other
parameters should work fine in default values. Click “Zoom Extents” icon zoom-in
the cylinder in the viewport.

Apply a “Stretch” modifier to the Cylinder and set the parameters as Stretch
= 0.3 and Stretch Axis = Y.

In the viewport, right-click on the Cylinder and choose Convert to > Convert
to Editable Poly.

Using the “Arc Rotate” tool, rotate the viewport so that you can see the
bottom of the Cylinder. Then go to Polygon Sub-Object mode of the Editable Poly
in the modifier stack.

Now using the “Select” tool and “CTRL + Click” method, select all the bottom
polygons of the Cylinder. Ensure that other polygons except the bottom ones are
not selected.

Press the DELETE button in keyboard to delete these bottom polygons. Click
“Yes” when “Delete isolated vertices” message box appears.

To see the opposite side of the Cylinder in the viewport, right-click on the
viewport label and choose “Configure..”.

In the Viewport Configuration dialogue box, check “Force 2-sided and click
OK.

Go to “Border” sub-object mode and click on the bottom border (which is the
combination of the open edges after deleting the bottom polygons in earlier
step). Then activate “Scale” tool in the main toolbar.

Now, within scale gizmo, scale down ( around all axis) the selected border
while pressing the SHIFT key in keyboard. In this process, our border will be
extruded to a new level.

Now, again use the Arc Rotate tool to rotate the viewport to see the
Cylinder’s other areas. Then, activate the “Move” tool in the main toolbar.

Now, move up the selected border a little (by Z-axis) to resemble the
side-shape of a conventional hat. Pressing SHIFT key is not necessary this time.

Now, move down again the border a little (by Z-axis) while pressing SHIFT
key.

Using again the Arc Rotate method, rotate the viewport to see the Cylinder’s
bottom side. Activate the “Scale” tool in the main toolbar.

Now, scale down the border while pressing the SHIFT key. Do it two times.

Again arc rotate to see the opposite sides of the cylinder. Activate the move
tool.

For the next step, it is convenient to see the Cylinder in wireframe mode.
So, right-click on the viewport label and choose “Wireframe”.

Now, while pressing SHIFT key, move up the border (in Z-axis). If you want,
you can do this “SHIFT + Move” twice this time also. But, as you are able to see
almost all edges now (while Wireframe view mode is in the action), don’t move
the border too much. Keep it below the top of the cylinder.

Wireframe mode will not be needed now. So, choose the “Smooth + Highlights”
view mode.

Arc rotate the viewport again to see the bottom sides of the Cylinder. You
can clearly see that we need to close the whole (i.e.the border) now. To do
that, click “Cap” in the Edit Borders roll-out in the modifier panel.

Our Hat’s basic geometry is now ready. But it needs smoothness. For this, go
further down to the modifier panel and in the Subdivision Surface roll-out,
check “Use NURMS” Subdivision and set the Iterations = 2.

Adjust the viewport by Arc Rotate and zoom tool (if necessary).

Click “Render Scene” icon. Check “Force 2-sided” and hit “Render”. Thats’
all.