Get into Spline Modleing with Larry Shultz - back to the video

1. Spline Basics and Rail Extrude
This explains what splines are and how they fit into Lightwaves workflow.
Using splines as guides for extrusions to create organics tubes or pipes is demonstrated The use of splines to create skelgon (bone) chains is shown.

2. Rail Clone
This part demonstrates the use of splines as guides to clone geometry. Its great for creating fences, light posts and so forth.

3. Rail Bevel
This section demonstrates how to bevel using splines as guides.
Organic bevels and shapes are quickly created that would be difficult using other methods.

4. Modeling with Rails (Splines)
The term Rail refers to the use of splines as guides for certain operations.
This part shows how to use the tools in parts 1 - 3 to quickly and easily create complex geometry from simple polygons and objects.

5. Spline Guide Tool
This is one of the most powerful deformation tools in modeler but few know about it or what it can do. Imagine being able to use a spline to bend, twist, scale, stretch and even create weight maps on another object.

6. Splines to Motions and Motions to Splines
This section covers how to use motion paths as modeling tools. For example how to convert a motion path from an item in layout to a spline in modeler.
This spline can be used as a guide for rail extruding, cloning and so on.
Converting modeler splines to motion paths is also covered. How to preserve a motion path but get a nice constant velocity is demonstrated as well.

7. Introduction to Spline Patches
This section covers the basic rules governing the creation or proper spline patches.
The advantages of splines are covered. Splines use very little data to control a larger amount of data. Splines are also define polygon flow. Good examples are provided to show how a single point can completely change and control the flow of many polygons.

8. Spline Patching
This part goes into more depth on the creation of spline patches including discussion and demonstration around potential problems and issues. When and when not to use splines is also covered.

9. Spline modeling a Dolphin
This is where it all comes together. A reference image is used as the basis for laying down splines. How to quickly create an organic model is discussed and demonstrated. Students will be amazed at how quickly an easily a great looking dolphin can be created using splines.

The emphasis on demonstrating the use of these tools is not just on how they work but also how to use them in a workflow. How to make them all work together is a big part of the theme of this DVD. There is nothing available that covers splines in this detail.

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