Blender Chess Rook - #14 Subdivision Surface Modelling in Blender

[@remkm1715]

Hi Ian, i figured it out! posting for others to help when stuck: @8:09 key press "A" then> "E" then> "shift Z" THEN> "S" As the S for scale is not mentioned (even though you do say scale, fair enough :) ) Also, there is nothing more satisfying in following along and then at the end slap the carpaint matcap on and just rotate to your hearts content!! make me feel proud! thank you for your time Ian as i know making tutorials eats up a lot of it.

[@ianmcglasham]

Ha! You are correct! Sorry about that. I didnt even realise I had not said it. Thank you!

Thank you!

[@zanderman004]

I am blown away by your modelling expertise. You're a total veteran. The tricky thing with these videos and watching you work, is that it all makes complete sense. I *could* do this as well. I understand everything you did and the tools that you used. The real task is - can I implement this brilliant, creative and insane type of work flow whilst modelling... anything? Hmm. I may be stumped there! ;) Phenomenal work and thank you for sharing. Subscribed.

[@ianmcglasham]

Thanks Inward Lit! I am going to make lots of things and try to demystify the Sub-d workflow as much as I can! There aren't many rules to follow really and once you get used to them you start to see objects in a whole new way.

[@DreamBlenderWorld]

The workflow that does not like others. And you sound like a veteran of the 3D world.

[@CyberAngel67]

As a beginner for the last 10 years, these are steps I have never seen before.. love it!

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you CyberAngel!

[@CyberAngel67]

@@ianmcglasham Pleasure, it is very rare for people like me to find great topology tutorials that are simple and easy to follow. Looking forward to more.

[@Grindelon]

can't understand how you're not the greatest channel of blender in youtube... you explain everything with such an ease my god.. just created a procedural rook in 5 minutes and understand everything perfectly.. thankss :D

[@DaliborMarkovic]

Lovely jubbly! This is the base where I shoud have started year ago. From the beginning I started with much more difficult tasks, and that is the roadblock for creation. The step by step graduall difficulty is much better, but I guess we all hit the wall sometimes till we learn.

[@ianmcglasham]

I do the same even today! I always try to pull back on even the simplest techniques until I think I understand them in a fundamental way. Only then can I really add them to my overall technique!

[@dvl973]

Such a fantastic approach. so many useful tools used that most people (me included) never even touch in blender and it really makes things easy and painless. Most of what I took from this video in particular, is the way how five-edged poles can be avoided using insets the right way. I know you touched on this a few times previously, but the crown of the rook is really that kind of a problem that comes around quite often during modeling, and I've always had difficulties on how to resolve these issues. Now the rook is of course a specific problem, it's a cylindrical body so it has a very specific solution, but my guess (and experience) is that once you know a solution for one problem, you can at least set goals for the topology in your own model, and thus make better decisions on how to reach them. With this in mind, all it comes down to when it comes to topology, is knowing the right framework in which to THINK about topology first, and then combining that with the techniques on how to achieve the right result. Without the right framework of how to think about topology however, you can know all of the techniques in the world you'll always make unfortunate mistakes which can be difficult to fix. For me the framework of how to think about topology has always been the holy grail and even tho there are some experts (like Bob) who have fantastic videos on modeling, you really go to great lengths to make your model as pristine as possible retaining the most amount of control in it as well while explaining all the "thinking" behind it. I appreciate that experts like you are doing this honest god's work here essentially for free. Thank you, it's invaluable.

[@ianmcglasham]

If I had to describe why I like good topology I would have to say you have covered it all. It is a way of thinking. It requires a little calm and stepping back from the little connection issues. Of course you still have to deal with them eventually but if you can "see" an object as a whole, it becomes easier. I am going to expand on the 5 spoked pole thing in either the next video (or the one after that). It is always much easier than people think but you have to take a deep breath and forget about the complex parts. The various shapes do want to connect together, they just don't realise it themselves!! (Edit - I am a huge fan of Blender Bob. That man is a genius!!)

[@TheGamingTraktor]

As someone with a long history of 3D dating back to ... last week, I have recently learned to do hard things such as moving the camera ect. For multiple days now I have watched multiple tutorials from multiple sources and I really have to say that finding this channel practically instantly is so fortunate as I immediatly learn all these important fundmentals and not incorrect moddeling. Aside from some fooling around I have a pawn and bishop now and now this use of modifiers is already blowing my mind again. All these videos have been a big help so thanks.

[@mphoshimatlala4734]

I'm a beginner to Blender, I thought I was coming along nice until I saw this. Now I know how high the sky is. I had no idea Blender could do this. Thanks for humbling me and inspiring me. Beautiful stuff.

[@madziicube]

Your tutorials are simply brillant .. please keep uploading!

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you madziicube! will do!

[@fullyleaded]

My mind has been absolutley blown! This is such a thoroughly smart and incredibly efficient way of making this! Thank you for sharing these absolute gems.

[@ianmcglasham]

Cheers Fully Leaded!

[@dunravin]

Copying dimensions to the lattice no longer works in blender 4.1x. There's a closed bug report on this that suggests the behaviour is intended. Anyway the easy workaround I found is to copy paste the value into the scale of the lattice but remember to remove the trailing "m" for meter units. Everything still works is you leave it default and scale the default lattice though if you want to skip that step.

[@anka_aurby]

Thank you!!!!

[@sumedhshivanagi3463]

Watching your tutorials, just made me reconsider how well I know and understand polygon modelling , fantastic sir !. Definitely learned it from a new perspective ❤

[@andresscott1086]

I struggled so hard to make a rook that looked somewhat nicely to me(in the end I got something that I feel looks nice enough but feels wrong when looking at topology), but watching your video made so many things click together in my head and see how many things I did wrong and how I can improve them. Your explanations are perfect, the time you take on each point is just fast enough to not feel boring or dragged out but also slow enough to understand them correctly, and the end result is beautiful thank you so much

[@ianmcglasham]

Thanks so much Andres. I am always worried about the pacing and tone of the videos so it's good to hear some positive feedback. Many, many thanks!

[@NemeczeK101]

I wish I could come up with these methods on a whim when I model, this is truly impressive.

[@chrishurd8036]

Absolutely brilliant! Please add more videos.

[@rbettsx]

Brilliant, systematic, disciplined, subdiv. modelling. Subbed. Would recommend to anybody. Listening to you, I cant make up my mind whether you come from Tyneside or Amsterdam.... 🤔

[@ianmcglasham]

South Shields! Thank you.

[@glfiorini]

Really really amazing modeling! I was stuck in the exact 5 pole problem while modeling a rook. Instant subscribed!

[@repositorytutorial3d50]

Ian your tutorials are precious. THANKS A LOT!

[@yoana2636]

I love your high quality tutorials.

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you very much yoana!

[@punkeasy]

Fricken awesome as usual. I Love your channel dude!

[@ianmcglasham]

Cheers punkeasy. I love your support! If there is anything you ever personally want to see, let me know and I'll make it!

[@leonmax3]

So glad I've found your channel. I didn't even think I can do it this way. Thanks a lot🙂

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you Dmitri. I see so many people getting it wrong that I thought it was an important one to show!

[@SándorErdélyi-u6q]

I noticed (in wireframe top view) that the lattice will slightly distort the shape of towers unless the top of rook is perfectly symmetrical to x and y axises. So you should rotate it before adding Lattice modidier, until the middle of all four towers match the x and y axises.

[@VicentitoGris]

"It's rubbish" hahah, not only the first rook, also all my modelling knowledge. Also my english. Also my hair. Oh, god. (existential crisis starts)

[@anissar7301]

master piece

[@elishnevsky]

Man, you're a genius.

[@dvl973]

Ah, I was waiting for this one!!!

[@mediaman1346]

Such a great technique to make the rook the right way.. I've done other versions but this is the absolute right way from top to bottom!.. BTW can you do a video of the dice model that's shown on your website?

[@LukeWilliams91]

This is brilliant. Thank you so much Ian.

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you so much Luke!

[@gustavotcb3904]

Hi Ian, quick question: I'm not sure you'll check out a new comment on an old video, but in case you do, in this one, you mention how the Solidify modifier is not the best for adding thickness to a mesh, and then said you'd explain why in a later video. But then either I missed the moment when you explained it, or, since it was just a short comment, you could have forgotten about it… but I've been curious ever since! Would you mind providing an explanation for that?

[@tutorials6315]

Thank you! I learned a lot from this video! It's awesome!😍

[@ianmcglasham]

Many thanks tutorials!

[@IbrahimYounes]

3:18 Termination you will deal in a different tutorial, which tutorial?

[@ianmcglasham]

Either the next one or the one after that!

[@jcsekinger]

j’adore !

[@ianmcglasham]

Merci.

[@Markoz87]

I wait for the new video and here it's is! Amazing way to make such great topology. Blender is a place where one thing can be make for a thousand different ways. Like always, thanks for that peace of knowledge. In my case, since I started to watch Your videos I have problem with my modeling... I know how to good topology should looks like but i don't have skills to make it that good. Few days ago I want to model a toaster (as modeling training) and I stuck. I could not model a few holes for a buttons on rounded corner of toaster. I tried to keep topology as simple I could (I used subdivision surface modifier) but when i try to make those holes, that corner start to look pinchy and ugly. But I don't give up. I'll take a couple step back and I'll try to train with something easier, make some not that complex but with good topology. Once again, thumb up and wait for more! 👍

[@ianmcglasham]

I would LOVE to see your toaster problem. I often struggle with some shapes and I rely on better modellers than me to talk me through why it is actually much simpler than I think it is! Maybe I can help you with yours!

[@Markoz87]

@@ianmcglasham I wrote a comment with a link to screenshot of my problem. Have You seen he? Because I don't see it in my comment section in my account.

[@ianmcglasham]

@@Markoz87 hi markoz. I don't see it! You could email me at ianmcglasham. It's a Gmail address.

[@Markoz87]

@@ianmcglasham I already did that. If You find a moment to answer me I will be thankful.

[@ianmcglasham]

@Markoz87 I'm on it markoz87! Got your mail. As soon as I get a minute I'll see if I can give you a good solution!

[@nirmansarkar]

What are you man?? How did you master THAT kind of topology? How do I learn that too?

[@ianmcglasham]

Ive been doing it for over 20 years I guess! I have made a million mistakes along the way. Watching my videos is a good place to learn So you don't have to trawl through all of the mistakes to get there!

[@thisaccounthasbeensuspended]

Amazing!

[@ianmcglasham]

Thank you. Love your account name!

[@dylanemusic]

You literally saved my life :D Im doing my own chess set and this was my only problem, thank you!

[@JustinDeane222]

what did miss? I can't seem to bend the array correctly. Only he z axis works but the ring formed at 360 is flat. Update: Forgot to apply rotation. All good!

[@Gingergaatvissen]

i can not change the rotations of my lattice is 0 and if i try to change it it is still 0

[@RezzhulGames]

Nice one Ian :)

[@ianmcglasham]

Thanks Blue Spark. I was hoping you would turn up!!

[@RezzhulGames]

@@ianmcglasham of course I would :) These videos deserve all the support and I hope you make it big one day ... as far as I'm concerned you definitely will! And for me I just have to practice more and soak up all the knowledge you share in order to improve my modeling skills. Thanks a lot for sharing these in such a informative and easy to 'digest' way. See you in another video Ian, have a good one!

[@MaxHogendijk]

❤❤