Line to Surface

This stage involves the lines being drawn in 3DS max using the reference as a guide. To start change the view in 3DS max to front and left view, this can be done by right clicking on the cross and choosing configure, then selecting the layout of 3DS max.

For now we only need the front viewport, so this can be extended to fill the whole screen. Using the topology lines as a guide the lines can be almost traced using the line tool. When the line tool is selected click on the snap toggle tool at the top of the tool bar, then right click to bring up the toggle constraints. Grid points are usually the default option so un-check it and select vertex instead. Now the lines can be drawn around the face, each one needs to form its own polygon.

Drawing using a paint brush tool is quite different opposed to using straight lines so there may need to be a few changes in the polygons as the work progresses.

When all of the polygons have been drawn, right click on one of the lines and choose convert to an editable poly, this will form a polygon shape. Next go to the modify panel and find the button “attach”, next to it there is a small box, click on the box to bring up a list of all of the lines drawn. Select all of these lines and the click “attach”, this will make all of the lines drawn polygons. The only polygons that don’t need to be filled in is the space around the nose.

Some adjusting may need to be done to make sure the entire vertex joins up correctly and that there are no triangles in the polygons. Once the polygons are ready the viewports can be put back so that you are seeing the front and left viewport.

Right click on the object properties and tick the see-through box which will make the polygons see-through. This is so that when you start moving the polygons around you can still see the topology lines and your face for reference. Click and drag a line over the vertices, from the top of the forehead to the chin (only the first line of vertices). Switch to the left viewport and drag the vertices out towards the nose, and then select each vertex one by one to put them into place.

The next set of vertices will be place really close to the ones already in position.

Repeat this step until all of the vertices have been put into the correct place upon the face.

This will leave you with half of a hollow mask, which is ready for the next step. Some parts of the face might seem a bit off, such as the eyes not quite the right shape or a lot of puffy places on the face but these can be edited later.