Progress

Since my last post ive made some real great progress. I mentioned that I couldnt find any tutorials that I was really getting, but I found one that Ive managed to get along with really well. It involved modelling supercar Bugatti Veyron (my model features no badges or logos). The tutorial can be found here. I have just finished the modelling stage and the body of the car is completed. I now have to create the tires, apply material and render. The tutorial has been a really great guide and has taught me so much invaluable information about max. Files of the model are provided at each step of the guide but I have created my own to ensure ive learnt the techniques for my other cars and also to avoid plagerism.

In other news, I have been researching how I will implement the showroom. I made a post on some 3DS max forums and one user thinks that it should be done in flash, which each possible movement animated. This sounds like a good idea to me and I will investigate it some more. The forum can be found here. 

Here are 4 screenshots of my car in its current state. I hope to have it, and 2 others done in the next 2 weeks. 

Problems

Im having problems creating my cars. Whilst there are endless tutorials on the net I cant seem to make a breakthrough and all my projects seem to be ending up with a mess of mesh! Ive spent around 30 hours in the last week or 2 on the project but all i have to show is half a poorly modelled car! I am enjoying working with Max though, however I am worried that it is taking me too long to get to grips with it. I must have achieved the car models by the end of the holidays. Hopefully once one is made, the others will follow more easily.

Tutorial

I have decided that for the first car I will follow this tutorial that I found. The blueprints are ideal and there are no badges or logos on the car so I can use it in my final project.

Modelling the Cars

It is the start of the Christmas period, the time which I have set aside to model the cars that will feature in my showroom. After doing some more research and looking around, I have decided that I want my showroom to contain 3 different cars. These cars, for ease of design, will be based closely on real cars, but obviously not wearing any logos, badges and with slight differences to the real things.

Below is a useful video I found that will help me with my modelling. It is clear, that before I start I must create blueprints for my vehicle, as in the video. 

I have chosen 3 cars because creating a car to the standard i have envisioned is not going to be an easy process. I am not a experienced modeller having only taken out one project previously, so I do not want to bite off more than I can chew.

Research and Christmas plan

The last two weeks, scheduled for research and modelling research have been slow due to other deadlines and also the snow which has prevented me getting onto campus and using 3DS max. However, next week the 4 week christmas holiday begins and this period will be solely devoted to getting the modelling stage started and almot finised by the start of the spring term.  I have managed to get a bit of research done and I have made some sketches of what I want my cars to look like.

The web services course I have been working on has also given me more knowledge of internet languages such as HTML, XML, JavaScript, CSS and others which will be very useful when creating my website.

Questionnaire

Here is the link to the survey that I created for my interim report. I made it Monday and so far Ive had 4 people reply to it. I hope to get a few more before tommorows deadline.

http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=kdzx1d2si0a4spv835917

Deadline Week

The interim report is due this week and the majority of my time will be spent working on it. I still have the project plan to complete and also the requirements analysis to finish off. I have idetified my users as being men and women aged 17 and above, with a heavy focus on people aged 55+. I dont have the time to complete a thorough report with features such as questionaiires, but there are many considerations i can make in regards to easy access.

I plan to spend alot of time completing the project plan section of my report. For many reasons detailed in the report I have to get this section right. There is not much room for lag time and if I dont follow a strict schedule I could get into serious problems.

BCS issues

I have completed the professional consideration section of my interim report and the only real issue I came accros was the fact I was required to understand all relevant legislation with my project. The fact I am creating cars and logos means that I could potentially be infringing the copyright and trademark acts. To avoid any complications I will be using entirely fictional cars and logos. There where some other complications but none are serious and/or require much attention.

Interim Report

The interim report is coming along well, and the introduction section, setting goals and directions has been completed. This was finished in week 5, but I decided to revisit it after my original objectives changed.

Change of Software + Objectives

After speaking to Martin White, who runs the course 3D Web Applications, I have decided to abandon the use of WireFusion.

Instead, he suggested the use of the AutoDesk Education Suite, found here.

This software contains AutoDesk Maya which exports to X3D - a web 3D programming language. This is then translated to VRML (another similar language, translated using the many translators available) which is then input into the Cortona3D player, found here. This player is then put into my website that I will still make in Dreamweaver CS5.

I have decided that I will plan my project so that I begin the process of exporting my 3D to the web as I am doing the 3D web applications course next term. If I run the two in parrallel both it will save valuable time and also make things alot easier for me as I will have direction from the course tutors.

Secondly, Martin made the point that my project and the module, 3D for web applications, are both quite similar, but my project is worth 4 times as many credits, therefore there must be substantial differences in quality. Below are the suggestions he made as to what these differences could be -

1. More substantial 3D modelling, both is quantity and quality
2. More substantial rendering and illumination models, though you need to realise that 3D game engines will dictate their illumination model and local illumination is only possible in X3D/VRML.  However, some very good 'faking' techniques can be applied.
1. You can still use global illumination model, such as those used on Mental Ray (supplied with 3ds max) but you would be then using the render images as photographs  for your web site
3. Other technical solutions, e.g. dynamic versus static web site
4. Database considerations: XML stack versus say PhP, mySQL, etc.
5. Flash
6. Communication mechanisms between the 3D scene and model.  How do you get the 3D in the 3D player embedded on the web site to communicate with the web site and vice versa, example.  Database changes to cost of a car, how does this price increase or decrease get communicated to the pricing details stuck on the car windscreen in the 3D model?

 The point that interests me the most is point 6 and I feel there is alot of possibility here. Being honest, some of the points, such as points 2 and 3, are slightly bewildering and I must begin researching as soon as possible.

Demicron WireFusion

The software I want to use is called Demicron Wirefusion. The plan is to create all my 3D in 3DS max and then use WireFusion to put this onto a website. The software can be found here. I have emailed the university to try and obtain a copy of this software.

Project Direction - Week 4/5

With the proposal for my project completed, it was time to get some real direction with the task at hand. I needed to answer some basic fundamental questions such as -

• What is the aim of the 3D Showroom?
• What is already out there - what websites already exist? 
• What are my goals for success?
• How will I evaluate my project - what will constitute success?

Last week was spent answering these questions and beginning the interim report due in week 7. With the answers to these questions in mind and good overall view of where I'm heading with my project, I plan on spending week 5 getting further into the report.