Creating a custom shape in 3ds Max typically involves accessing the shape-creation tools and then using different methods like drawing splines or modifying existing standard shapes to achieve your desired form.
Accessing Shape Creation Tools
The first step to creating any shape, standard or custom, in 3ds Max is to locate the appropriate tools within the interface.
- Go to the Create panel and click Shapes. This panel houses all the tools necessary to generate 2D shapes, which are the foundation for many custom 3D objects or path animations.
Types of Standard Shapes Available
Once you are in the Shapes section of the Create panel, you will find different categories containing various standard shape types. These standard shapes can often be a starting point for creating something custom, or you can use tools within these categories to draw freeform shapes.
Based on the reference, the shape categories include:
- Splines: This category contains common geometric shapes and drawing tools.
- Examples include Line, Circle, Arc, Donut, Text, Rectangle, Ellipse, Star, Helix, Section, Egg Shape, and NGon. These are the most frequently used tools for drawing custom paths or outlines.
- NURBS Curves: These offer more mathematical precision and control, particularly useful for smooth, complex curves.
- Includes Point Curve and CV Curve.
- Extended Splines: This category provides pre-defined shapes representing common architectural or engineering profiles.
- Includes WRectangle, Channel, Angle, Tee, and Wide Flange.
Here's a quick overview of where to find these:
| Category | Common Shapes/Tools |
|---|---|
| Splines | Line, Circle, Rectangle, Arc, Text, etc. |
| NURBS Curves | Point Curve, CV Curve |
| Extended Splines | WRectangle, Channel, Angle, Tee, Wide Flange |
Creating Your Custom Shape
While the categories provide standard shapes, making a custom shape involves either drawing from scratch or modifying these standards.
- Drawing with Spline Tools:
- The Line tool under the Splines category is ideal for drawing arbitrary custom shapes. You click in the viewport to place vertices and define the shape's outline.
- You can combine multiple standard shapes (like circles and rectangles) using Boolean operations or attaching them and editing the resulting spline.
- Editing Existing Shapes:
- Once a shape is created (either a standard one or a line you've drawn), you can modify it using the Modify panel.
- Select the shape and apply modifiers or access its sub-object levels (Vertex, Segment, Spline) to move points, adjust curvature, add new vertices, delete sections, or refine the shape precisely.
- Tools like Fillet and Chamfer can be used on vertices to round corners or bevel edges, adding detail to your custom shape.
- Creating Shapes from Geometry:
- Another way to get a custom shape is to select edges from an existing 3D object and use the "Create Shape from Selection" command (often found by right-clicking or within modifier settings). This generates a 2D spline outline based on the selected edges.
By utilizing the drawing capabilities of tools like the Line tool and combining them with the extensive editing options available in the Modify panel, you can create virtually any 2D shape imaginable for use in your 3ds Max projects.
