| TUTORIAL

PART 2 IN
ISSUE 10
2 OF
ON SALE COMPUTER ARTS PRO
13 SEPTE JECTS
MBER

ON THE CD
You’ll find all the files you CINEMA 4D PART 1 OF 2
need to complete this

VIRTUAL VINYL
tutorial in the folder
marked Tutorial\Vinyl

TIME NEEDED
The vinyl toy is now a truly iconic form of design, but it can be difficult and expensive to create a one-off
3 hours
original. Chris Weston shows you how to make a life-like design using Cinema 4D
SKILLS
• Symmetry The vinyl toy is a medium that you’ll be able to create a virtual
• HyperNURBS has flourished in the past three representation that captures every angle
• Polygon years with designers such as Pete and detail of your design.
• Add Points Fowler and Tado exhibiting their The technique I’m going to use is
• Bridge creations worldwide. If you’re looking called point-to-point modelling and it
to show the full potential of your enables you to mould any conceivable
INFO concept, but feel limited by software 3D shape. To do this you’ll need to
Chris Weston such as Photoshop and Illustrator, then work with three tools: Add Points,
is a creative
currently
this tutorial is the answer.
3D applications can give you the
Bridge and the Structure Manager.
Using these tools you’ll be able to draw
1 Open my lighting setup, which can be
found on the CD in Tutorials>Vinyl>
Lighting.C4D. You need to prepare a
working at freedom to create any shape without the the outlines of each shape and convert polygon that will hold your points. The
integrated agency mess and technical aspects that come them into a 3D polygon. When the Symmetry function will reflect every point
Billington Cartmell based with clay and plastic prototypes – you basic model is built, you can finish it you add, so that it takes only half the work
in London. To find out can also make as many as you want. with a slick graphic texture. to make your model. To do this go to
more, go to www.chris I’m going to show you how to build a Objects>Modelling>Symmetry. Now you
westondesigns.com. virtual vinyl toy using Cinema 4D. By Illustration and tutorial by Chris Weston should see the Symmetry icon appear in
employing just one simple technique www.chriswestondesigns.com your Objects Manager.

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 TUTORIAL |

BRIDGING
The Bridge tool works
best when you
concentrate on linking
four points at a time.
With the Bridge tool
selected, click and drag
over the first point in
parallel lines from left
to right. This should
give you a clear polygon
block. If there are any
diagonal lines start
5 The next stage of
the model is to
duplicate and nudge
the outline to create
again, as this will cause
problems later in the the 3D shape. Simply 8 Now you have a full 3D vinyl toy you
can view from any angle. Apply a

2 Put a HyperNURBS inside the

Symmetry function. A HyperNURBS is
great for making organic-looking shapes
and giving your polygons a nice smooth
finish. To do this, go to Objects>Nurbs>
HyperNURBS then drag it over the
Symmetry icon in your Objects Manager.
building process.
Remember that you
should always work in
copy and paste your existing points using
the Structure Manager. Then nudge the
duplicated points to create two outlines.
plastic texture and a graphic of your choice
to it. I created a camouflage graphic using
Photoshop, which can be found on the CD
parallel lines and Repeat this process until you have a 3D in Tutorials>Vinyl>Tex>Texture.tif. I also
groups of four points. shape made of points. Remember to keep added a 20% noise bump map to give the
them in an even number. model a better level of realism.

6 You can really start to see results

here. Using the Bridge tool from the
9 Before you render your model give it a

3 Now you need to add a polygon object

inside the HyperNURB icon. Go to
Objects>Polygon. You’ll need one polygon
object for each part of your toy. This will
enable you to move and colour the pieces
individually if you need to.
Structure menu, link your points by clicking
and dragging in parallel lines, always
working in groups of four. This will give the
final check to make sure there are no
stray points and the texture works at
different angles. It’s worth duplicating the
shape its layer of grey skin. Keep doing this model and changing the angle to show off
until you’ve joined up every point. You can the detail. Finally it’s time to render.
ADDING POINTS always add extra points later if you need to.

When adding points to

your polygon object
always hold down the
Ctrl key and then click.
If you don’t your point
will not register in the
Structure Manager. You
should use points in
even numbers, as this

4 It’s time to build the first polygon. The

same technique will apply to each part
of your toy. Highlight the polygon object in
the Objects Manager. Then select the Add
Points tool by going to Structure >Add
Points, hold down the Ctrl key and draw an
even number of points outlining the shape
you want to make.
keeps your model
smooth and clean. It’s
also a lot easier to add
7 Now you have your basic shape, you
can push and pull any stray points. I
added extra points under the head to give it 10 Congratulations – you’ve completed
your first model. To take your
points than to remove a wavy edge. When you’re happy with your character to the next degree of realism,
them, so always first shape repeat steps 4 to 7 for the body, get issue 102 of Computer Arts Projects,
underestimate the arms and legs (the technique remains the on sale 13 September. Feel free to send
amount you’ll need. same). Spend a couple of hours building me your best results at chris@chrisweston
the body carefully – it’ll be worth it. designs.com.

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