Form·Z Training

Introduction and Basic Modelling (1 Day)

This day covers the basic interface of Form·Z and the first principles of modelling in it. It will give trainees an understanding of the 3D modelling workflow which helps to unlock the tools and process by which objects are made. Many of the tools are covered and they form a foundation for understanding the rest of the program.

Skills Covered...
  • Overview of modelling process
  • Introduction to the interface
  • Setting up the preferences
  • Basic view setup
  • Use of primitives
  • Object types and creation of outlines
  • Editing of outlines and objects
  • Derivatives eg extrudes, sweeps etc
  • Transformations moving, scaling, mirroring with copies
  • Snapping
  • Data entry
  • Import and export of models
  • Basic Booleans and trouble shooting with the query tool
  • Topological levels
  • Layers, groups and organising a project
 

Intermediate Modelling (1 day)

Whilst the basic modelling focused more on polygonal models, this day focuses more on "smooth" models using NURBS tools where appropriate and generating more organic models. Time is given at the end to develop your own model.

Skills Covered...
  • Advanced use of curves – Curves
  • 3D curves – the Cmesh
  • Advanced Booleans and trimming and stitching
  • Rounding – plain rounding, controlled rounding and stitch rounding
  • Nurbz and derivative nurbz from other types
  • Editing Nurbs objects
  • Smooth versus polygonal models and converting between them
  • Advanced derivatives – the skinning tool
  • Going round the modelling loop – re-deriving 2D paths
  • Mesh deformation and displacement
  • More organisation – use of symbols
  • Customising the interface and shortcuts
 

Rendering and Animation (1 day)

Once the model is made we need to "paint & decorate" it, light it & "photograph" it. This course shows you how to create & edit textures, make, adjust & preview lighting. Then finally set views and render settings that give a final render. Then when the 'stills image' is mastered the course moves on to show the user how to set up animation for cameras (walkthrough) objects and anything else (eg. moving lights and movies as textures (eg. plasmas)

Skills Covered...
  • Setting up surface styles
  • Applying surface styles with painbrush tool and object list
  • Applying surface styles to part of an object
  • Applying multiple surface styles with the decal tool
  • Use of predefined surface styles
  • Getting textures off the internet
  • Procedural textures versus image maps
  • Renderzone settings and image size
  • Setting and saving views
  • Rendering stills
  • Using views to set up animations
  • Editing and rendering animations
  • Making QTVR object and panoramic movies