[Video Tutorial] Modeling a modular level piece

[LlamaMaster]

So yah, since nobody else has made a decent map modeling tutorial I did. I only modeled a small piece, but it still filled up about three freaking hours of video. I think I explained everything well, but the noobs have to determain that.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8443/tutorialmodelrenderao4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Download:

http://files.filefront.com/modeling+a+modular+level+rzip/;8789242;/fileinfo.html

The video is 400mb, sorry. I tried everything to make it smaller without crapping up the quality, but this was as small as I could get it. It took 2 days to compress this video, so I REALLY don't want to split it up into smaller videos. Enjoy. (yes, I know my voice fails)


Update; Split Download:

First (123mb):

http://files.filefront.com/part+1+llamas+video+tut/;8819648;/fileinfo.html

Second (118mb):

http://files.filefront.com/part+2+llamas+video+tut/;8823331;/fileinfo.html

Third (137mb):

http://files.filefront.com/part+3+llamas+video+tut/;8844674;/fileinfo.html

I'm not making the videos any smaller. Most people who will use these have high speed internet, and the download should only take a few minutes.

[Tweek]

lmfao.

you know you can just have the video play at what, 600% speed, and only have it no normal speed when you're doing something that's not totally boring.

pur some damn effort into editing it man, nobody is going to download a fucking 400MB video when you can do the same with a less-than-1-mb tutorial with a few images and text.

too much effort?

[LlamaMaster]

lmfao.

you know you can just have the video play at what, 600% speed, and only have it no normal speed when you're doing something that's not totally boring.

pur some damn effort into editing it man, nobody is going to download a fucking 400MB video when you can do the same with a less-than-1-mb tutorial with a few images and text.

too much effort?
Too much effort? I never thought I would hear that from you Tweek. I don't know how learning modeling was for you, but for other people it can be damn hard. You know how fucking worthless those videos which were sped up were when I was a noob? I couldn't learn shit from them, nor could I learn much from a text tutorial with a few pictures. The whole point was to make a tutorial which explained every fricken boring detail. Basically, the tutorial I was dieing for when I was a noob. Also, conscars told me to explain it really well.

I agree with you 100% on the file size though. I've been trying to trying to find a good video compression method, but the best I've got is a little over 2mb a minute. I'll split up to video into smaller pieces.

[Leiukemia]

Too much effort? I never thought I would hear that from you Tweek. I don't know how learning modeling was for you, but for other people it can be damn hard. You know how fucking worthless those videos which were sped up were when I was a noob? I couldn't learn shit from them, nor could I learn much from a text tutorial with a few pictures. The whole point was to make a tutorial which explained every fricken boring detail. Basically, the tutorial I was dieing for when I was a noob. Also, conscars told me to explain it really well.

I agree with you 100% on the file size though. I've been trying to trying to find a good video compression method, but the best I've got is a little over 2mb a minute. I'll split up to video into smaller pieces.

Hey, good job on making a tutorial! I'll see if I can have it downloaded by tonight. Want to work together on breaking it up? You do first half I'll do last half?

[Roostervier]

Too much effort? I never thought I would hear that from you Tweek. I don't know how learning modeling was for you, but for other people it can be damn hard. You know how fucking worthless those videos which were sped up were when I was a noob? I couldn't learn shit from them, nor could I learn much from a text tutorial with a few pictures. The whole point was to make a tutorial which explained every fricken boring detail. Basically, the tutorial I was dieing for when I was a noob. Also, conscars told me to explain it really well.

I agree with you 100% on the file size though. I've been trying to trying to find a good video compression method, but the best I've got is a little over 2mb a minute. I'll split up to video into smaller pieces.I think tweek was asking if it was too much effort for you to speed up through the parts where you said nothing so the size would go down.

[Patrickssj6]

I love vid tuts but...sweet Jesus what have you done? 400MB??

You have SO many options...either you compress it CORRECTLY or you SPLIT the video into multiple parts. Isn't this common sense?

[Anton]

Ahh thanks man. I agree with everyone the size is a bit big, but it only took me 8 minutes to download so I'm not complaining. Anyway, Gonna go check it out now, I'll leave a comment on this later.

[Shadow5561]

400mb :eek: I would look and be a critic on it but I'm not going to download something that big. Heck that's bigger then the Halo Custom Edition installer exe.

[OmegaDragon]

400 MB ain't that bad. I once recorded 6 minutes in Fraps and it was just over 4 gigs >.<

Anyways, it takes around 7 minutes to download it, so I am going to watch it and comment on it. :)
Also, the final results look pretty good.

[Shadow5561]

400 MB ain't that bad. I once recorded 6 minutes in Fraps and it was just over 4 gigs >.<



Fraps doesn't compress the files corrrectly so the files end up being very big. To fix that problem go into Windows Movie Maker and save it again, the file should save ten times smaller then what fraps saved it in. Also it took me 45 minutes to download the Halo CE installer (I have high speed but it isn't really fast but faster then dial up).

[LlamaMaster]

Hey, good job on making a tutorial! I'll see if I can have it downloaded by tonight. Want to work together on breaking it up? You do first half I'll do last half?

Thanks. ^_^ Thats a very generous offer, but I compressed it as a flash file. (camtasia studio, don't think you have it) I'm going to look into other compression types (divx mb) to bring it down. Also going to split it into 4 parts or more.


I think tweek was asking if it was too much effort for you to speed up through the parts where you said nothing so the size would go down.

I pretty much never stopped talking.


I love vid tuts but...sweet Jesus what have you done? 400MB??

You have SO many options...either you compress it CORRECTLY or you SPLIT the video into multiple parts. Isn't this common sense?

Common sense it is young one. [/Yoda] Like I said, I'm going to split it up. The only reason I released this huge file is because I already made it, and I didn't want 2 days of compression to go to waste. If you think about it, the size really isn't that big. It's 800x600 by about 8 frames per second for three hours with fairly good quality. Thats a little over 2mb per minute, which isn't TOO bad.


Ahh thanks man. I agree with everyone the size is a bit big, but it only took me 8 minutes to download so I'm not complaining. Anyway, Gonna go check it out now, I'll leave a comment on this later.

Yah, it really depends on your internet. To some people this file means death, to others it's only a minor inconvenience.

As much as I don't want to, I'm going to split it up now...

[legionaire45]

400 megabytes? You pansies :awesome:. Try somewhere shy (http://tutorials.moddb.com/291/creating-a-weapon-for-source/%22) of (http://tutorials.moddb.com/296/creating-a-weapon-for-source-part-2/%22) 2 gigabytes (http://files.moddb.com/8633/download-creating-a-weapon-for-source-pa/) just for a weapon.

I'll watch the vid after homework maybe and judge it.

[LlamaMaster]

I'm breaking it up into thirds. Please don't start complaining that the file size is to big, as it's about the same as a cmt map (120mb).

Here is the first third, the other two are on their way:

http://files.filefront.com/part+1+llamas+video+tut/;8819648;/fileinfo.html

Second: http://files.filefront.com/part+2+llamas+video+tut/;8823331;/fileinfo.html

Third: http://files.filefront.com/part+3+llamas+video+tut/;8844674;/fileinfo.html

[LlamaMaster]

Updated my first post with the new videos. If anybody watches them, please rate it.

[demonmaster3k]

level modeling that detailed takes a while but 400 mb, kinda big
the end result looks like the piece from the h2 trailer, where mc grabs a gun b4 "giving the conventant back their bomb"

have you bothered of hosting P2P links, it's not illegal unless you're distributing copywrighted material and it's faster than using a http server.
just upload a .torrent association too (if you do i'll help seed)

[LlamaMaster]

I'd dl the 3rd but i'm getting max atm (gmax doesn't have half the tools you use D: )

it's well done. glad to see someone taking it slow and going indepth for those of us who suck at modeling :D

(though you should have mentioned you need to go counter clockwise when creating faces. I know that from another tut but you don't seem to mention it).

make moar tbh.
Glad I could help! :D One thing though, you don't need to go counter clockwise in editable poly. No matter how you create it, the poly will always be created with the normal facing you. I only went counter clockwise in the video because I used to use editable mesh, and now I do it instinctively.

Moar videos eh? Suggestions?

[Sel]

Too much effort? I never thought I would hear that from you Tweek. I don't know how learning modeling was for you, but for other people it can be damn hard. You know how fucking worthless those videos which were sped up were when I was a noob? I couldn't learn shit from them, nor could I learn much from a text tutorial with a few pictures. The whole point was to make a tutorial which explained every fricken boring detail. Basically, the tutorial I was dieing for when I was a noob. Also, conscars told me to explain it really well.

I agree with you 100% on the file size though. I've been trying to trying to find a good video compression method, but the best I've got is a little over 2mb a minute. I'll split up to video into smaller pieces.


Holy shit, you win a free blowjob if this helps me out, which It looks like it will :D

[Ingulit]

Too much effort? I never thought I would hear that from you Tweek. I don't know how learning modeling was for you, but for other people it can be damn hard. You know how fucking worthless those videos which were sped up were when I was a noob? I couldn't learn shit from them, nor could I learn much from a text tutorial with a few pictures. The whole point was to make a tutorial which explained every fricken boring detail. Basically, the tutorial I was dieing for when I was a noob. Also, conscars told me to explain it really well.

I agree with you 100% on the file size though. I've been trying to trying to find a good video compression method, but the best I've got is a little over 2mb a minute. I'll split up to video into smaller pieces.
QFT

Trust me, this is what the community of noobs needs, not some goddamn speed modeling run. You can't learn shit from those, for serious.

Though it is just part of a level, it looks amazing. You've come a loooong way, and have definitely surpassed most of us 3DS newbies who lurk around here :P

[Sel]

It may be a piece of a level but most parts of the halo levels were used in many places, the rooms connecting halls in aotcr all bear a striking resemblence, those big halls at the end are identical.

So pretty much a small piece like this could be used over and over again.

[LlamaMaster]

do something totaly origional.. like a gun! :downs:
naa, IDK but I like this one ;)
I would, but it's already been done. :( I've been meaning to make a map. Somehow I know all this crap yet I've never released a a single map. (tiny-ass doesn't count) So I guess I'll model a small outdoor map, in hope to bring an end to maps with the dreaded jaggedy cliffs.

Also, does anybody know where I can "spread the love" of my tutorial to other modders? I can't find any good sites.

[Sel]

Halomaps
Halomods
Here

Thats about it D:

[LlamaMaster]

Halomaps
Halomods
Here

Thats about it D:
I'm talking about non-halo sites.

[~ZMT~Trace]

Moddb :?

[LlamaMaster]

^
file front.

but seriously, give it to those tards at halomaps, they need the help :|

also, is there a name for this type of modeling?
Plane mb? I don't think there is, I've developed my own style. I know I used edge mode alot, if that makes any difference.

[Sel]

Plane mb? I don't think there is, I've developed my own style. I know I used edge mode alot, if that makes any difference.

Holy shit thanks.

You win +rep :D

[demonmaster3k]

lama master, this site and maybe gbx are probably the only intelligent active halo-related boards these are the only two places i can think of

[Sel]

but he needs to post it at halomaps so perhaps a couple of them can fail less.

Kirby linked it to them.

[PopeAK49]

nice job i like it alot.

[SnaFuBAR]

I thought that modeling modular sections was fairly obvious? To be honest, this looks rather simple. All that really has to be kept in mind is that the connecting points are identical. This way you can take a bunch of objects like these:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3083/3steproomkm6.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6932/3wayroomtn4.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2167/councilchambersfk0.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1506/curvedhallleftcj2.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5403/curvedhallrightyv4.jpg
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/5481/gravliftroomve7.jpg
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/2512/outsidecchp2.jpg

to make something interesting like this:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/433/4lv8.jpg
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8766/3pe0.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1724/2lh2.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8582/1vp6.jpg

[Sel]

I would give snafubar my friends parents 8 year old daughter if he made a modelling tutorial :D


And + rep

[LlamaMaster]

I would give snafubar my friends parents 8 year old daughter if he made a modelling tutorial :D


And + rep
A snaf tut may be epic, but I doubt it would happen. Pretty much how it works is the better you are at modeling, the more you don't want to make a tutorial. The better the model, the more effort and time goes into the video. Plus once you have been modeling for a while, you forget (tweek) what it was like to learn. So you begin to think leaving out some stuff may be acceptable. (I had to force myself not to) Plus theres the pressure of doing it as fast as possible and explaining at the same time, which can be a big pain in the ass... Put all those factors together and 99% of the times you get no tutorial, or a crappy one.

[SnaFuBAR]

Selentic that is gross you are gross.
Llama, I don't know what to leave out, since I use only about 4 tools O_o I wouldn't make a very good vid tut since my method is tedious.

[LlamaMaster]

Selentic that is gross you are gross.
Llama, I don't know what to leave out, since I use only about 4 tools O_o I wouldn't make a very good vid tut since my method is tedious.
Lol really? I use almost every trick max has to offer when modeling. I rarely ever create faces by hand. If there is any way of doing something without "doing it", thats what I'll use.

[Sel]

Selentic that is gross you are gross.
Llama, I don't know what to leave out, since I use only about 4 tools O_o I wouldn't make a very good vid tut since my method is tedious.

I was dropped as a child :D

Even if your method is tedious you have some of the best outcomes, and thats why we all love you.

[SnaFuBAR]

Llama, your models very often look under worked, and overly-modified. Perhaps if you familiarize yourself with actual hand manipulation, your dependence on modifiers will reduce, and your model quality will raise.

Selentic made a good point in his post. It's the outcome that matters, and well, to be honest... your dependence on modifiers isn't producing what could be done much better.

[LlamaMaster]

Llama, your models very often look under worked, and overly-modified. Perhaps if you familiarize yourself with actual hand manipulation, your dependence on modifiers will reduce, and your model quality will raise.

Selentic made a good point in his post. It's the outcome that matters, and well, to be honest... your dependence on modifiers isn't producing what could be done much better.
Under worked? What exactly does that mean, not enough detail? Overly-modified? 99% of the time I don't use modifiers, but if your talking about my use of all the tools editable poly has to offer, I can't see how that can harm me. I'm open to whatever it is your trying to say, I just don't understand what that something is. I believe my problem isn't my dependence on tools, rather my imagination. I can model pretty much anything, it's just thinking of something decent thats difficult. Please explain.

[SnaFuBAR]

I'm trying to say that your models (like your modular piece there in your opening post) look too much like you're depending on results from inset, extrude, bevel, chamfer, etc etc to get a detailed model, rather than knowing what you're doing in order to achieve a goal. It all looks like "uh...i guess I'll try.... INSET.. here..and... yeah OK I guess that works". Nothing really looks deliberate or well thought out.

Well I guess I'm trying to say you don't really know surface manipulation, you rely on features too much to achieve a rather unrealized goal. So, work on your creativity and your surface building techniques.

[Sel]

The tutorial was still great, used some helpful tools I never would have thought of using before :D

So snaf, you gonna make us all a tut too, so we can all become awesome

[SnaFuBAR]

i dunno, i might think about it.

[Botolf]

I've watched the first 70 minutes of it, it's been very informative so far, I wasn't aware of a handful of useful tools until now :embarrassed:


@Snaf: Spread teh awesomes!

[Sel]

i dunno, i might think about it.

Think about thinking about it :D

That doesnt exactly work out right does it?

[Tweek]

I'm trying to say that your models (like your modular piece there in your opening post) look too much like you're depending on results from inset, extrude, bevel, chamfer, etc etc to get a detailed model, rather than knowing what you're doing in order to achieve a goal. It all looks like "uh...i guess I'll try.... INSET.. here..and... yeah OK I guess that works". Nothing really looks deliberate or well thought out.

Well I guess I'm trying to say you don't really know surface manipulation, you rely on features too much to achieve a rather unrealized goal. So, work on your creativity and your surface building techniques.

what he's trying to say is all your shit is a freaking extruding/inset frenzy, and dont know the basics of what makes a model "good".

also, i made a few tutorials, i just didn't post em here.

[Rob Oplawar]

heh, I decided to do it like that before I knew what the hell I was doing. I feel special.

[n00b1n8R]

:words:

also, i made a few tutorials, i just didn't post em here.

links?

[Sel]

links?

Yes please :D

[Gamerkd16]

Well I must say, being 50 minutes in the video so far, this is very good. I like how you explain every detail, because your right, those speed models are useless where they assume you know stuff. Even though I have a pretty good background with the tools I did learn some new stuff. Who knew you could make so many interesting structures with just the editable poly tools.

lol at 39 minutes in. That would really suck if it were true.

Also the fact you kept messing up and redoing things wasn't that bad. It shows what a real modeler has to go through, and how to fix the problems. A little bit unprepared is a good way to go in a way.

[Sel]

I did notice a few parts where you couldve achieved the same result in less time, but I guess whatever floats your boat is good.

[Gamerkd16]

Apparently he didn't do this in one sitting either. I can notice cuts in the tape, especially when he talks really loud at first. Looking at the clock it has been a 3 day process so far.

Oh and please tell me you know was 12/3 is....lol

[LlamaMaster]

Apparently he didn't do this in one sitting either. I can notice cuts in the tape, especially when he talks really loud at first. Looking at the clock it has been a 3 day process so far.

Oh and please tell me you know was 12/3 is....lol
Lol, yah, many, many cuts; I filmed it over about a week. Sorry bout that, but I was very busy. :)


Also the fact you kept messing up and redoing things wasn't that bad. It shows what a real modeler has to go through, and how to fix the problems. A little bit unprepared is a good way to go in a way.
Yah, believe me messing up wasn't part of my plan, but I didn't edit it out for that exact reason. So....mediocre is good I guess! :downs:

[PopeAK49]

i learned how to use several tools now thanks llama...i like the edge connect thingy it helps alot...

[Gamerkd16]

i learned how to use several tools now thanks llama...i like the edge connect thingy it helps alot...
Yeah, same. But personally, I was hoping for an outdoor model tutorial. I have never really understood how to make those properly. Indoor maps are so much easier because the verticies are all nice and lined up and its organized. That is the way I like it, because I need things perfect like you. But outdoors has random ground and elevations. A lot of loss in organization.

[Tweek]

links?
theyre not really tutorials, theyre more in-depth explainations of advanced and specialised techniques and tricks. it's more advanced stuff, wich i don't think anyone on these forums have a use for, exept for a few individuals.
it's 80&#37; talking, and a few short clips to illustrate what's being said.

[Sel]

Hey they might be helpful, cmon post them :D

[Anton]

Hey Tweek, Can you pm me the links? Even If I don't understand it, I will atleast get something out of it. Any little bit helps.

[LlamaMaster]

Hey look, I made this three years ago. Wow. Anyway, somebody asked me to reupload the video, so I figured I might as well repost the new link in this thread.

http://filesmelt.com/dl/modular_level_piece_tutorial.rar

[Sel]

wow I remember using this when I was terrible

[LlamaMaster]

wow I remember using this when I was terrible

So you just rewatched it?
couldn't resist

[Hr3shy]

ill check it for entertainment later, maybe ill learn a thing or two :)