theartofxsi_content.pdf

Authors : Marco Di Lucca , Manuel Rodriguez , Filipes Lopes , Akari Naim

CHAPTER 1

Modelling: Volume

Starting the Head

Create an instance of the model and scale it -1 in the x axis. To make it

easier hit “ctrl + i” to create the instance and in the transform panel put

“-1” in the x ﬁ eld. Now, all changes you make on the original model will

affect the instance, so you have to model just half of the object

(Image 9)

Select the new edges and, using the move point tool ( shortcut “V” ), move

these edges and make the cube look like a shield (Image 12)

Select the parallel edge loops from the top of the head and subdivide them

(Image 13)

Rotate the box around -45 in the X axis, then scale down in the Z axis to

something around 0.38. You may disable the grid from view to see just

your model, this can be done by pressing the “G” shortcut (Image 10)

Subdivide the box in the middle (Image 11)

Select the two lower edges plus the one on the top and scale them down so

they are half of the original size (Image 14)

Make a selection around the side of the object and subdivide it. You’ll have

an area to deﬁ ne the eyes of the insect. Don’t forget to select the edges

behind the object (Image 15)

THE ART OF XSI

Modelling: Detailing the Body

216

217

Use the Ctrl + H to unhide the body (Image 216)

As we are only going detail the front legs and the thorax, we can hide the

other parts (Image 217)

218

219

Select the parallel edges of the neck and subdivide them using Split Edges

( with split control ) and a Ratio Edge about 4.770 (Image 218)

Select the edges on the side of the model and subdivide them (Image 219)

THE ART OF XSI

UV Map

UV Coordinates are the way you tell a 3D software package where to place a 2D image over a 3D object. It’s the template that the software will use to place

each pixel of a 2D image over the surface of a 3D model. It’s very important to have a good UV Layout to avoid texture stretching. The UV Coordinates are

also used as a template to paint the texture in painting software ( Photoshop, Painter, Paint Shop etc. ). In XSI we use the Texture Editor to adjust the texture

coordinates for exporting to your choice of 2D software to paint them.

Here I’ll demonstrate one workﬂ ow to apply texture coordinates in XSI. It’s not the only workﬂ ow, but with this one you’ll learn more about the texture

editor and it’s tools so you can create your own workﬂ ow.

Lets start creating the UV Coordinates by assigning a simple texture to our mesh.