Modeling a 3D Scene

using Strata StudioPro 2.5 under Mac OS 8.1

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Project Goals

Strata StudioPro is the latest, PowerMac-only version of a long-standing 3D stalwart. Unlike other programs we have seen before, it is not the clear winner in its field since the 3D marketplace is very fragmented. It does, however, follow the user interface approach used by all the dominant players, and it embodies all the major aspects of 3D work: modeling, rendering, and animation.

In this first phase of our 3D project, we will use the most common modeling tools: we will start from flat 2D shapes, converting it to 3D using two techniques generally available in all 3D programs: extrude and Lathe. Later we will work directly with basic 3D shapes called Primitives, combining them using Boolean Operations.

The elements in our scene will be:

Our final product will be a simple scene containing a logo made up of a few text characters (e.g., your initials). In the following phase of the project, this logo will be incorporated in your web page--both as a rendered 2D image, and as an interactive view of the 3D environment.


Creating Extruded Type

  1. Find the application icon in the 3D Modeling folder and start the program:
    the StudioPro application icon
  2. Use File-->New to create a new document.
  3. Save the new document: File-->Save As, choose StudioPro format, enter any filename you want. Make sure to save often as you continue to work.
    save as StudioPro file
  4. Switch to front view, using the pop-up menu at the top-left of the document window.
    switching to front view
  5. Make sure the Toolbox is visible (otherwise, display it using Windows-->Show Tool Palette).
  6. Choose the Text tool (the 8th from the top in the left half of the toolbox, marked with a 'T'). Click and drag in the document window to indicate the size of the type. A text entry dialog appears:
    the text-entry dialog
  7. If you have already created your text object and you want to make changes to it, you will find in the Object Properties palette all the same options available in the Text dialog:

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Creating a Lathed Pedestal

  1. Change your view of the workspace
  2. Draw the profile for the pedestal, using the Pen tool in a connect-the-dots fashion to create a series of connected straight segments.
  3. Lathe the profile--this operation creates multiple copies of a 2D shape, rotating and connectimg them to create a 3D shape.
  4. Once you have created these first two 3D objects, you can create a more interesting composition using the transformation tools:

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Building Up a Room From 3D Primitives

  1. Change your view of the workspace
  2. Create two cube primitives.
  3. Create the walls and ceilings out of the two cubes
  4. Repeat the same process to create windows and/or doors, as in the examples below.
  5. Add the roof

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An example of the completed scene

a rendered image of a completed sample scene

If you have a VRML plug-in installed, you can see a live version of this scene--this is a large (1 MB) file.

Before leaving, make sure your file is saved so you can continue working with it in the next session.


Additional Info:

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Copyright by Sandro Corsi. Last modified 4 NOV 98.