using 3DS max 6 book from Philly's tuts - questions?

[AlienBZ]

Using the tut 3.1, I'm trying to get the clouds2.jpeg bitmap from my max\maps\skys directory to create the sky background but although i can find the maps directory, i cannot find the skys directory, also my sky render looks more like a sky that's made up of fish scales instead of a real sky. What am I doing wrong and how to I fix this?

EDIT - Here's the screenshot of this render:

Since I couldn't go any further in this tut, I started the next tut (Philly book) shows how to create the jail cell-block (to be another thread, if necessary) - but I'd like to finish this tut first, and then do a scene of my own using what I learned from tut 3.1, then after that, go to the next tut (jail cell-block).

[Cad64]

Your rock texture is way too big and your sky texture is way too small. You're going to have to learn how to apply and use UVW modifiers in order to get your textures to behave. I'm not sure if I have already posted this link for you, but this tutorial explains the basics of UVW mapping pretty well: http://waylon-art.com/uvw_tutorial/uvwtut_01.html

How did the book tell you to do the sky? Is it a texture applied to a flat plane or is it a background environment map? Either way, you're going to have to learn about UVW mapping and make adjustments to the size and tiling of your textures in the material editor and in the UVW mapping parameters.

[AlienBZ]

Thanks for the link, Cad64. Is there any way to print out these tuts without getting that back background (and using up a lot of black ink) in the printouts? Maybe save it as .pdf and print?

[Cad64]

When I print to pdf directly from Firefox, I get a white background with black text, see below.

[AlienBZ]

Thanks, for the link to the tuts on uv mapping. I'm going to try to get them printed out & binded later today. In the mean time, I started a new tut, its tut 3.2 "Building Cell Block Zebra" in this book. So far, the furthest I got was making a jail cell door with the bars. But how do I select the individual bars to create a space for the jail cell's door (Step 3 of this tut)? And I have absolutely no idea of how to build the cell block (walls, floor,). Also, when I created the cell door yesterday, it was laying flat on the ground in my Perspective Viewport, I was (still am) stumped on how to make this cell door stand upright instead of laying on the ground - help, please?

EDIT - Just converted this jail cell door to Editable Mesh.

[Cad64]

EDIT - Just converted this jail cell door to Editable Mesh.

Don't convert to editable mesh. Convert to editable poly. Editable poly will allow you access to a lot more tools than editable mesh.

[Cad64]

when I created the cell door yesterday, it was laying flat on the ground in my Perspective Viewport, I was (still am) stumped on how to make this cell door stand upright instead of laying on the ground - help, please?

Use the "Rotate" transform tool and rotate the cell door 90 degrees so it stands up straight.

[Cad64]

how do I select the individual bars to create a space for the jail cell's door (Step 3 of this tut)? And I have absolutely no idea of how to build the cell block (walls, floor,).

How did you create the cell door? Is it all one object? If so, switch to "Element" selection mode to select individual bars within the object.

As for building the walls and floor, doesn't the book give you instruction on that? Maybe this tutorial will help: http://www.cgarchitect.com/2010/12/e...teriors-part-1

[AlienBZ]

Yes, it does. I guess I'll have to study the jail tut more thoroughly. To tell the truth, I was rushing thru the tut b/c Mom was due to pick me up at the coffee shop where I was working at (with my laptop) at 6 PM and btw, I was anxious to read the new book I had bought from the coffee shop (actually Barnes & Noble; I was at B & N's cafe when I posted the above), I was hoping to finish a good part of the tut before reading the book I bought.

However, btw I just bought (online) at Barnes & Noble's website a 3DS Max 2011 Bible for under $10. Do you have this book, Cad64?

I do hope it'll be a staple max book for a beginner like me?

[Cad64]

I started using Studio Max a long time ago and one of the first books I bought was the 3ds Max 8 Bible. Every Max user should have a copy of the Max Bible in their library. It is a great reference book and you will get a lot of use out of it. I can't believe you got a copy for under $10. That's a really great deal.