3D Modeling & Animation Reflections

2025-2026

Quarter 1

Why I chose 3D modeling and animation

September, 5, 2025

My older brother inspired me to join this class, he studies 3D modeling in a college in Canada. My brother often shows me his assignments while he's working on them and after he finishes them, every time he shows me his work I am amazed because of how cool it looks.

What we learned in module 1

September 11 2025

In module one I learned the basics of 3D modeling. The first thing i learned is how to make basic primitives, then I leaned how to color, rotate, move, and scale primitives precisely also how to pick the exact coordinates where i want something to be, for example when i was making the Temple of primitives when using the Array tool which makes multiple copies of an object you needed to write how far you wanted the primitive to be in the X, Y, and Z axis. another very important thing I learn was how to organize files and save them.

What I did in module 2

September 15 2025

In module 2 I learned how to use use the tools keyword entry and snap toggle. The tool keyword entry is used when you pick a primitive and want to put the primitive in a precise spot and want it to be an exact size, this is where the tool comes in it allows you to pick the x, y, and z axes and pick length, width, and heigh of the primitive. when you want to put to primitives together precisely that's what snap toggle is for, the tool provides precise control by making your curses move to specific points like vertices, midpoints, and face centers.

I used the keyword entry tool for my 4 corner scene, in the assignment I was given a document with the type of primitive, coordinates, and size of the primitives. I needed to select then with the keyword entry tool put the coordinates and the size of the primitives all just with the tool. I used the angle snaps tool to make Alfie the cat, i needed to merge his face, tail, legs, and back together, i also needed to be precise with the placement, the tool helped "snap" the primitives together, if didn't use the tool it would have taken longer it wouldn't be as precise

The projects I worked on in module 3

Oct 13 2025

I used the edit poly tool in all assignments this module so it could look the most realistic. I used the mirror tool in a lot of my assignments for example the X wing starfighter because I need the wings to be the same. I used mesh smooth on the field assigment so it could look smooth and organic, for this assigment I also used the noise and taper tool so it could look as natural and real as possible.

In module 3 I learned how to use the tool Edit poly which makes you edit your primitive to any shape you want, mirror tool that makes you be able to to flip an object on a axes you chose and make a copy of it, noise tool adds random, organic variation to objects, materials, or animations to the object you chose , mesh smooth it smooths and subdivides geometry, rounding corners and edges to create a more organic or detailed surface, and the taper tool modifies an object adding a tapered affect.

What I learned in module 4

October 18th 2025

In module 4 I learned all about how to use cameras, and lights. I learned how to use, spot lights which shoots light in a cone shape, target direct lights which casts light in a straight line that makes a circle shape , and omni lights, which shines lights in all directions. I also learned how to use the free camera which lets you move and rotate it easily, the target camera which has 2 parts the actual camera and the target this camera lets you shoot a specific spot, and finally the physical camera which simulates real cameras offering controls to make it as realistic as possible.

I used the physical camera to render the picture of the lamp, to illuminate the picture I used two spot lights one in the lamp facing up and the other facing down in the lamp, the 3rd light I used was the omni light to make the rooms lighting look realistic and like if its coming from the lamp.

Quarter 1 Reflection

November 2 2025

This quarter was my first experience ever with 3D modeling. When i first started this class I was struggling a lot because of how overwhelmed I was with all the tools and different things I could do in 3Ds MAX, but with perseverance and working hard I kept going because I wanted to actually the software, and how to 3D model. Also I've always found 3D modeling interesting specially because my brother studies character design 3D modeling (or something like that idk), he would show me his work and it was super cool, but i never expected it to be so hard.. anyways this quarter I learned so much, I went from not knowing how to put in a basic primitive to making a fighter jet! All the assignments in module 3 helped me a lot because we got a lot of practice with l the different tools. The resource that really helped me be able to finish a do all the assignments was my teacher he was always a reliable source for help. My favorite tool was Edit Poly I was able to use it in all assignments and anything I imagine I could create with it. My goal for next quarter is to keep working hard and to pay attention so I can make another project that clearly shows my growth from the x-wing one, and is super realistic and cool that could make my start of the year self proud.

Quarter 2

Module 5 reflection

November / 7 / 2025

In module 5 I learned how to use materials in 3ds max. I learned about the different materials there are in 3ds max, how to connect them to each other, and how to apply them to an object, you can see me use this in the gold ring, heart of the ocean necklace, bowling ball, and in the still life picture.

In the future ill use the skills i learned in this module to make whatever I'm look as realistic as possible. Before i learned about materials the projects i made looked plane they lacked any texture or detail in the color because it was all just one color, now i can have precise control over the colors making my projects look super realistic!

Module 6 Reflection

Noveber / 17 / 2025

In module 6 I learned all about UV editor, more about materials, and the isolate toll which lets you isolate the tool you have selected. I learned how how to manipulate the materials to get the image we want on the primitive but you cant just put an image because its going to look weird you need to press the Bit map material tool to make sure you get the best result. Another tool I used was the Unwarp UVW this tool allows you to flatten a 3D model's surface into a 2D plane after using this you go into the UV editor but what is the UV editor? the UV editor also known as edit UVWs dialogue is a tool that allows users to manipulate the 2D texture coordinates U and V of a 3D model.

I Used the all the tools I explained on the Indiana Jones Lego project, here I Isolated the object I was going to work with then using the peel tools and manipulating then to fit the material properly, I did this for the face, torso, pelvis, and legs. From there I rendered a picture with all the materials connected properly to get the finished product. In the tank I picked my own materials by finding a picture online and with the bit map tool applying to the polygons I selected.

Module 7

December / 2 / 2025

In module 7 I learned that bones which are a system of linked, hierarchical objects used for creating skeletons to animate 3D models, mostly used on characters, I used this tool on Frankenstein. I also learned how to move pivot points of a specific object, you can use this for characters who do not need natural movement for example I used this the Lego character Doc. I also learned about hierarchy tab here you can manage the relationship objects have with each other.

I used the bones tool, and the hierarchy tab to be able to move and animate Frankenstein I used the biped then moved and scaled the arms and legs bones to match Frankenstein than used the skin tool to connect it to one another. I used Affect pivot only to make Doc his movements didn't need to be as realistic he's a Lego character so with the tool I moved the pivots of the arms and legs to where its supposed to move at.

big premire lego (1).mp4

Module 8 reflection

1 / 7 / 26

In module 8 I learned how to animate, I used tools like the time slider to go to a specific frame, auto key this automatically put in things that you change into the animation, set key with this you manually put in the key to be more precise of what is gonna happen in the animation, and path constraints with this you can add a camera to a spline for it to move in the animation.

I used the time slider to check how my animation is moving and how it looks as well as to set a key in a frame, I used the set key mode when animating the walking and running in the animation so it could look as realistic as possible, I used path constraints in the all the shots of the animation this made it look if it was in real life like if someone was actually holding the camera. I used these tools all throughout making the Indiana Jones.

Quarter 2 Reflection

Jan / 15 / 2026

In this quarter I learned about materials, UV editor, bones, and animation. The most challenging module was module 8 animation was by far the hardest part of this quarter, setting the keys and frames was hard and confusing. In the module 8 animation it was hard to set the camera in a path, it was confusing so I had to rewatch the video multiple times to finally understand. Learning the UV editor made the material editor make more sense, and also easier because you have more control of how the material applies to the object. In this quarter i felt more confident in learning the stuff because I had the previous knowledge from quarter 1 to help me, also because of quarter 1 I was more familiar with 3ds max so that helped too.

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