Design, Visualize, and Create with Autodesk Mudbox

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1 Craig Barr - Autdesk Media & Entertainment AV5314-P Autdesk Mudbx is nw available in Autdesk Design Suites spanning many different and diverse industries. The use f Mudbx has expanded beynd feature film and games t ther industries, including architecture, manufacturing, design, and science. This class will examine hw Mudbx is being used in a variety f creative and industrial disciplines. We will cver using Mudbx fr cncept creatin, design, visualizatin, detailing, texture map extractin, sculpting, and painting. This class will explre the pwer f Mudbx as a unique, diverse, and tactile digital cntent creatin tl. We will als discuss hw yu can extract data frm Mudbx t use in Autdesk 3ds Max, Autdesk Maya, Autdesk Alias Design, and ther applicatins. Learning Objectives At the end f this class, yu will be able t: appreciate hw Mudbx, as an effective digital cntent creatin tl, can vercme practical design and wrkflw challenges...integrate Mudbx int any wrkflw...utilize Mudbx as an effective cncept design and visualizatin tl use Mudbx t prduce and extract high-reslutin detail maps fr use in ther applicatins Abut the Speaker Craig Barr is a Technical Marketing Specialist at Autdesk specializing in Mudbx and Maya. Befre jining Alias/Autdesk in 2005, Craig wrked in feature film, cmmercial, and games prductin. Craig has mst recently been published in 3D Wrld magazine (April 2011 issue) presenting a creature design, sculpting and painting wrkflw as well as a chapter n vectr displacement mapping in Mudbx fr the bk Game Develpment Tls (May 2011). He als runs the Mudbx blg n The Area Craig.Barr@autdesk.cm

Fcus 1 Cncept Explratin Strategies in Architecture Mudbx prvides an excellent way t explre design cncepts in a tactile, iterative, hands-n manner, freeing the designer frm a

The ability t quickly sculpt up cncepts, build up variatins in the same file and then prduce quick renders makes Mudbx an asset t any design tlset.

Take advantage f this and always wrk with layers. This is a very pwerful way t preserve sculpt and paint histry as well as an excellent way t stre design iteratins.

2 Fcus 1 Cncept Explratin Strategies in Architecture Mudbx prvides an excellent way t explre design cncepts in a tactile, iterative, hands-n manner, freeing the designer frm a traditinal, linear design prcess. The ability t quickly sculpt up cncepts, build up variatins in the same file and then prduce quick renders makes Mudbx an asset t any design tlset. In this sectin, we will examine Mudbx as a freefrm explratin tl, and, as an effective detailing tl fr external applicatins. Undulating Waves - Mudbx allws fr infinite layers. Take advantage f this and always wrk with layers. This is a very pwerful way t preserve sculpt and paint histry as well as an excellent way t stre design iteratins. - Take a lk at the Subdivisin Menu: - Meshes can be subdivided t rund-ut r smth any angles (with Smth Psitins enabled), r t lck any sharp r faceted areas (Smth Psitins disabled). These tw methds can als be blended (ie. t preserve sme edge r crner hardness). Start by subdividing with Smth Psitins ff fr a few levels and then enable it fr a few mre levels. 2

Mudbx 2012 added a few new Vectr Displacement Stamps that prvide mre precise and interesting sculpting effects (fr mre inf, see the Vectr Displacement sectin in this dcument).

3 - Use the Freeze brush n areas f the mesh that yu d nt want t be altered by sculpting activity (subdivisin level dependent). Freeze-paint hard pint areas that yu need t cnfrm t existing engineering r structure - The default stamps and stencils prvide excellent starting pints fr sculpting. Mudbx 2012 added a few new Vectr Displacement Stamps that prvide mre precise and interesting sculpting effects (fr mre inf, see the Vectr Displacement sectin in this dcument). Sculpting details n separate layers allws fr blending and multiplying the verall strength f details (Mudbx allws yu t use negative and psitive values beynd 0 and 100) - Use shadws and Ambient Occlusin (in the Viewprt Filters tab) t accentuate and clearly define yur sculpting Tip: - Mudbx 2012 SAP has the ability t preserve hard edges and creasing frm Maya, Max and Sftimage 3

Lattice Structures Rapid Creatin f Cmplex Shapes with Images Using existing images t sculpt details within Mudbx is nthing new.

Here, we examine a technique that is a very pwerful way f taking 2d patterns and visualizing them in the frm f 3D structures.

Either way, the white levels frm the image are what we will use t freeze the surface and sculpt interesting details.

4 Lattice Structures Rapid Creatin f Cmplex Shapes with Images Using existing images t sculpt details within Mudbx is nthing new. Sculpting and painting ultra high-reslutin detail frm existing phtgraphs, textures r illustratins is smething that Mudbx excels at. Here, we examine a technique that is a very pwerful way f taking 2d patterns and visualizing them in the frm f 3D structures. We can either paint directly n t the surface, imprt existing images r d a cmbinatin f the 2. Either way, the white levels frm the image are what we will use t freeze the surface and sculpt interesting details. This technique is very simple and fast t wrk with, s it is an excellent way t prduce rapid cncept visualizatins. - Paint with white r imprt white images. Freezing will nly affect the nn-white areas. Yu can achieve gradual fall-ff sculpt effects with sft, gradient-frzen areas. Freeze - Lcks affected vertices s they cannt be mdified while yu sculpt. Yu can freeze vertices n the base subdivisin level as well as n sculpt layers. By default, frzen faces appear blue. - Use Adjust Clr t define the black/white difference in yur images (presets available in Mudbx 2012 SAP) - Be sure t emply Freeze frm Selected n an adequate level f subdivisin (usually a higher reslutin t prduce slid details) 4

(the strength is dependent upn the values f yur texture map (a lighter texture map will need mre sculpt strength but this isn t all that crucial as yu will see ahead) and scrll dwn and hit Fld -

5 - Turn ff the display f yur diffuse paint layer t see the frzen versus nn-frzen areas f the gemetry. Anything in blue will nt be affected by sculpting. - If yu want the ppsite f what is frzen, use SHIFT+I t invert the freezing (Shift+U t unfreeze all) - Always stre yur details n NEW sculpt layers - Using the sculpt tl, set the Strength t a value f 5 (the strength is dependent upn the values f yur texture map (a lighter texture map will need mre sculpt strength but this isn t all that crucial as yu will see ahead) and scrll dwn and hit Fld - Flding applies the tl unifrmly, acrss the entire surface, and will nly affect areas that are nt frzen - Yu can nw quickly adjust the depth f the sculpt by adjusting the layer strength (use negative values t sculpt in the inverse directin) Creating quick cut-ut effects - Duplicate the diffuse texture layer that yu used t freeze the gemetry - Create a new Opacity layer 5

- Right-click n the duplicated layer and select Adjust Clr - Adjust the value t -100 t invert t black (2012 SAP als has an Invert preset built-in) - Drag the duplicated layer t the Opacity channel -

(Cut Out) Quick Defrmers: Grab Brush: - Use the Grab brush t pull, push, stretch r squash yur gemetry - Adjust the fallff fr varied effects (ie.

6 - Right-click n the duplicated layer and select Adjust Clr - Adjust the value t -100 t invert t black (2012 SAP als has an Invert preset built-in) - Drag the duplicated layer t the Opacity channel - Gt Display>Shw Bth Sides (r Shift+B) - We nw have sme transprt windws where ur riginal texture was - Right-click n the bject and strke upwards t Edit Material - Change Opacity Affects t All Channels (Cut Out) Quick Defrmers: Grab Brush: - Use the Grab brush t pull, push, stretch r squash yur gemetry - Adjust the fallff fr varied effects (ie. a sft, flwing effect r hardened, blunt effect) Tips/Tricks: - Click the Grab brush in screen space, away frm the gemetry and drag inwards. Yu will prduce an effect much like that f an external frce defrming the silhuette f the gemetry. - Enable Grab Silhuette t prvide even defrmatin f the middle axis f yur gemetry. When enabled, the tl grabs the frnt and back sides f the mesh silhuette tgether t mdify it evenly. Fr better cntrl, use an rthgraphic view (tp, side) when applying this tl. Grab - Selects and mves vertices based n the distance and the directin yu drag. Useful fr making subtle adjustments t the frm f the mdel. Fllw Path - Specific t the Grab brush. Makes the mesh fllw the path f yur strke as yu pull extensins ut with a sweeping gesture. Strke mre slwly t extend the mesh further. When ff, the Grab brush pulls extensins ut alng a straight line. 6

7 Tip: Mdify the Directin prperty t cnstrain the mvement f the Grab tl. Fr example, XY cnstrains vertex mvement in the XY plane. Pse Tls: Pse tls are nt just an effective way t generate character pses. They are als handy mdeling tls. Effects such as unifrm and arbitrary scaling, twisting and bending, and, squash and stretch are all pssible. Create Jint - Lets yu create jints n a mdel fr use with the Pse tl. Yu interactively create a jint, specify its bundary axis fr fallff, and the initial size f the area affected by the jint in ne peratin. Pse - Lets yu interactively rtate, translate, r scale the highlighted weighted regin assciated with an active jint. The regin f influence fr a jint is determined by the jint s fallff and weight values. Weights - Lets yu mdify the weighted regin assciated with a jint by applying r remving clr in areas yu want affected using a paint-like wrkflw. Mve Pivt - Lets yu mve the pivt pint fr an active jint t affect its behavir in relatin t the mdel cmpnents. Tip: - Hld dwn CTRL while psing t affect the nn-weighted areas (ppsite effect) The Heads-Up Display windw will tell yu hw t achieve translatin, rtatin r scaling f yur mdel. 7

T prduce a twist effect with Pse Tls: - be sure t place yur jint in an area with large fall-ff (the further yu drag the green arrw away frm the center-weight line, the larger the fallff ver an

8 T prduce a twist effect with Pse Tls: - be sure t place yur jint in an area with large fall-ff (the further yu drag the green arrw away frm the center-weight line, the larger the fallff ver an affected area). - Orbit yur view t be directly abve the jint and, with the pse tl, click-drag in screen space t rtate and twist arund the selected jint Ornate Detailing with Vectr Displacement: Vectr displacement mapping prvides an effective and efficient means fr the strage and transfer f cmplex, multidirectinal gemetric details. Unlike traditinal displacement maps, intricate frms with appendages, undercuts, flds, and bulges, such as a human ear can be stred and reused thrughut the sculpting and detailing prcess. Tls and brushes within Mudbx can be custmized with vectr displacement t prvide specific effects n a mesh. Furthermre, vectr displacement libraries als allw intricate and cmplex details t be quickly accessed and reused in a sculpting wrkflw. The use f vectr displacement mapping t help preserve, r maintain, a specific lk, design, r style can aid in any sculpting-based pipeline. 8

Tips/Tricks: - Always have yur Sculpt Strength set t 100 in rder t receive the full, accurate results frm

nt a surface - There are advanced settings that prvide alternate directins t apply brush strkes.

Extracting Vectr Displacement Maps: Use Relative Tangent if yu plan t use the utput vectr displacement map

In this lessn I am using this apprach fr sculpting rnate detail.

If yu plan t use the map in anther Autdesk applicatin (such as 3ds Max, Maya, r Sftimage), use the fllwing

9 Tips/Tricks: - Always have yur Sculpt Strength set t 100 in rder t receive the full, accurate results frm the vectr displacement map - Build-up can be adjusted t a higher value t prvide quicker brushing f details nt a surface - There are advanced settings that prvide alternate directins t apply brush strkes. These can be fund under the Advanced tab in the Sculpt tl prperties. Extracting Vectr Displacement Maps: Use Relative Tangent if yu plan t use the utput vectr displacement map primarily fr sculpting in Mudbx as a stamp r stencil. In this lessn I am using this apprach fr sculpting rnate detail. If yu are extracting a vectr displacement map fr use utside f Mudbx, d nt use Relative Tangent. If yu plan t use the map in anther Autdesk applicatin (such as 3ds Max, Maya, r Sftimage), use the fllwing guidelines when setting the Vectr Space: Fr use n an bject that will defrm r be animated, use Abslute Tangent. Fr use n an bject that will nt be defrmed r animated, use Object Space. [Reference links fr mre infrmatin abut Vectr Displacement at the end f this dcument] 9

10 Fcus 2: Traditinal Clay Design Appraches and Visualizatin in Transprtatin Digital Clay This sectin will fcus n the use f mre traditinal appraches t cncept explratin within Mudbx. This digital clay apprach prvides designers with the ability t stre variatins and prduce rapid visualizatins as well as physical prttypes. Sculpting with clay is a tactile prcess. Mudbx is the mst tactile, hands-n applicatin that Autdesk prduces. Many f the same techniques emplyed in the traditinal clay sculpting wrld can be applied within Mudbx. These include the use f a variety f tl tips fr prducing varied effects n the surface, using scraping and curve tls, t rubbing texture and painting clr. Let s take a lk at sme hard-edging and clay sculpting techniques n a car bdy cncept. - The base mesh can cme frm anywhere and it desn t need t be a car-shaped piece f gemetry (starting with a sphere r a cube can prduce sme very nice cncepts fr shape explratin). - The key tls fr prducing hardened edged surfaces are as fllws: Flatten - Levels affected vertices by mving them tward a cmmn plane. Useful fr designing and detailing. Pinch - Pulls vertices in twards the center f the tl cursr. Useful fr mre sharply defining an existing crease. Scrape - Useful fr minimizing r remving prtruding features. Quickly calculates a plane (based n the vertex psitins wherever the cursr is first placed) then flattening any vertices abve the plane. Fill - Fills in cavities n the mdel surface by calculating a plane (based n the average f the vertices within the tl cursr), then pulling vertices under the plane twards that plane. Sculpt - Builds up initial frms and mves vertices in a directin determined by the average f all nrmals within the bundary f the tl cursr. Use the Directin prperty t mdify the default setting (fr example, Camera, X, Y, Z and s n). This tl is mst-effective fr hard-edging when used with stamps (vectr displacement prduces the best results). 10

- Using Stencils such as traditinal design curves (ie. French Curve) can als help prduce sme very nice lines and bdy curves.

real-time rendering, images and turntables.

trays) Interir Visualizatins Experiencing the details befre it is built: - Build custm camera angle presets t quickly jump t different psitins within a vehicle interir (driver s seat,

11 - Using Stencils such as traditinal design curves (ie. French Curve) can als help prduce sme very nice lines and bdy curves. - Shadws and Ambient Occlusin help prvide sme additinal depth when checking frms and shapes - Cmbing different materials with lighting, HDR imagery, and viewprt filters can prduce very quick real-time rendering, images and turntables. - Stre iteratins f shape changes, details, clrs and textures n the sculpt and paint layers - Create custm material and lighting presets fr quick access (stred in the Material and Lighting trays) Interir Visualizatins Experiencing the details befre it is built: - Build custm camera angle presets t quickly jump t different psitins within a vehicle interir (driver s seat, passenger seat, rear seats, cnsle, etc.) - Other cmpnents are easily imprted int Mudbx. In this case we are lking at the car frame - We can freeze any hard-pints t cnfrm t existing structure, always allwing us t back-up with engineering - Paint layers in Mudbx can stre infinite material swatches fr visualizatin (clrs, bumped and nrmal mapped textures, pacity, incandescence, specularity, glss, reflectins) 11

- The layers are an excellent way t blend between materials and test different clr and texture variatins - Use the prjectin brush t paint real-wrld fabric swatches directly n t interir cmpnents,

Quick iteratins and lg/badge placements: Mtrcycle gas tank and seat - We are starting here with nthing mre than a simple sphere (frm the Create>Mesh menu) - Once again, the Freeze brush allws us t

12 - The layers are an excellent way t blend between materials and test different clr and texture variatins - Use the prjectin brush t paint real-wrld fabric swatches directly n t interir cmpnents, seats, carpeting, cnsles, etc. Quick iteratins and lg/badge placements: Mtrcycle gas tank and seat - We are starting here with nthing mre than a simple sphere (frm the Create>Mesh menu) - Once again, the Freeze brush allws us t quickly lck the bttm f the gas tank gemetry t the bike-frame engineering - Let s take a lk at the Grab brush again and begin t shape sme gas tank cncepts - Use mirrring t begin t explre prfiles - Enable Grab Silhuette this is where the smth mid-prfile cmes in handy - As per usual, infinite layers are key here t string many cncepts - Apply sme basic materials and begin t adjust the lighting - The Prjectin Brush is a great way t place sme lgs Stencil htkeys Rtate S + drag Translate S + middle-drag Scale S + right-drag Activate/Deactivate Q 12

Editable Stencils: Gt: Edit>Edit Stencil This is a pwerful way f creating yur wn textures within Mudbx. If yu select the tiling ptin, yu can create a tileable texture as well.

Cmbined with fallff, the Grab and Pinch tls are mst effective fr altering the shape f yur stencil. Use any f the Paint tls t alter and create a new texture/stencil.

Fcus 3: Prduct Design and Direct Media Creatin When wrking with ther packages, such as Max, Maya r Sftimage, Mudbx allws yu t bring in cameras and assciated image planes, via FBX, t aid in yur design

13 Editable Stencils: Gt: Edit>Edit Stencil This is a pwerful way f creating yur wn textures within Mudbx. If yu select the tiling ptin, yu can create a tileable texture as well. Mudbx 2012 SAP has an updated versin f this that allws yu t preview yur tiling setup befre yu begin. The 2012 SAP versin als has the ability t create tileable sculpt maps. Cmbined with fallff, the Grab and Pinch tls are mst effective fr altering the shape f yur stencil. Use any f the Paint tls t alter and create a new texture/stencil. Tip: Subdivide the stencil yu are editing t give yu smther results fr shape alteratin. Fcus 3: Prduct Design and Direct Media Creatin When wrking with ther packages, such as Max, Maya r Sftimage, Mudbx allws yu t bring in cameras and assciated image planes, via FBX, t aid in yur design prcess. This is very handy fr sculpting and shaping bjects t cncept art. In this sectin, we re fcusing n hw t quickly realize design variatins and prduce renders that can be used fr ther media purpses. Mudbx prvides a real-time rendering wrkflw that, in cnjunctin with a 2D image editing package, can prduce sme very nice results fr print r web use. In this example, a glf club design is explred, textured and rendering using sme render pass techniques frm Mudbx and cmpsited in Phtshp. Using a cmbinatin f material settings, lighting and viewprt filters, it is very easy t generate render passes such as: specularity, flat diffuse, alpha, ambient cclusin, cavity (detailed ambient cclusin), shadw passes, reflectin and z-depth. Splitting everything int passes prvides plenty f cntrl ver 13

14 yur final image. The rendering f images and turntables in Mudbx can be fund under the Render menu set. Fr mre infrmatin n Render Passes in Mudbx, take a lk at my vide here: Viewprt Filter tips and tricks: Tnemapper: The Adaptin parameter prvides accurate feedback t lighting changes when rbiting arund in the viewprt. In essence, Adaptin is taking int cnsideratin the changes frm specularity, reflectin, etc. cast frm the bject t the camera and updating the view accrdingly. Tuning Adaptin Time and Epsiln dwn t zer is an excellent way t lck the verall lighting fr screen renders. Ambient Occlusin: This filter can be quite GPU intensive in the viewprt, althugh it des prduce sme very nice results fr rendering. Turning the number f casts and directins up t a much higher number will prduce smther results. Enable Only AO t preview the results n yur bject against white. Cavity Map: Cavity maps are an excellent way t emphasize finite details n a surface. Cavity maps are very useful fr giving yur image that final pp fr details. Fr mre infrmatin n hw t wrk with Cavity Maps in Mudbx, check ut my article and vide in 3D Wrld Magazine here: Fr mre infrmatin regarding Vectr Displacement: Craig Barr (2011). Vectr Displacement in the Sculpting Wrkflw. In: M. Ansari, ed Game Develpment Tls. Bca Ratn, Fl: A K Peters/CRC Press. Chapter 16 Vides: Dcs: 14

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