3D Modeling & Animation Reflections
2025-2026
2025-2026
I chose to do 3D modeling animation because when I am older I want to work for big companies and corporations in animation or 3d modeling. For instance I want to work for epic games and be a game designer. Or I want to work on the animation for other games. I mostly want to animation because of how it works, showing how the character moves and reacts is very interesting. I would really like to do animation and design games for people to play. In conclusion I want to make characters come to life and have feelings.
In the module I have learned to how to make shapes, clones, pillars, arraying, and how to change the primitive with a bunch of other tools. I explored other topics like making a temple out of primitives or scaling objects, moving them, and rotating the objects. The hardest one to make was the temple of primitives because of how you had to put the shapes in the exact same spot and level them at the right height, then you had to make arrays to make more. Then there is one where it is a snow man and the last one is a pencil.
I might use these skills in the future when working for a game by modeling and i could work at a modeling company for toys or teaching people how to do something like these. For example making a temple or making a pencil and how to do it.
In module 2 I started making objects go in a certain place and a certain height making them look perfect. I also used scaling, rotation, and XYZ coordinates. This wasn't that challenging and was happy for that because I needed a break. I also made Alfie the hitch cat go into the Temple of Primitives and merging them together with the import setting, over all module 2 was very easy and relaxing.
In module three I made a Lego mini figure, screwdriver, chess pawn, a field scene, toy submarine, spaceship, and Monitor with a keyboard with a mouse. The new tools I used and will still be using is mesh smooth, edit poly, edit spline, and extrude. I will use these tools even more when I make more objects like using extrude to turn something 2D into something 3D and edit poly moving certain points to make a shape, edit spline to move certain point of a line or 2D shape to make it look different, and mesh smooth to smooth things out so they don't look too sharp. Also using new objects and shapes like lines, circles, and text plus to make wires and company logos.
In module four I used lights and cameras, like Physical camera, Free camera, and Target camera. I can use these to get a rendered photo of something with lights, I can also use the cameras to get better angles or perspectives. I also used lights in this module, I used Target spot, Omni, and Target direct. I can use these tools by making something have better shading and make something look like its in the dark and there is a light shining. I could also use Omni light by having a lamp and use it to make it look like the lamp is turned on.
11/7/2025
In module 5 I learned how to use the material editor and I can put different kind of textures, looks, and materials on objects. I could use these to make realistic objects and living things, like nature and humans. I thought this module was pretty confusing and didn't think I would be able to complete it, but as I watched the tutorials I realized this is going to be pretty smooth and I would be able to finish it. Over all I really liked this module learning on how to assign materials and textures, combining them and separating them. I think others will really like this module because of how much you learn from it using materials.
Quarter 1 Reflection Page
11/2/2025
Throughout this quarter I learned a lot of stuff in 3ds Max and brain buffet. Module 1 I learned the easy stuff or the basics on how to create shapes and size them. Module 2 I was learning on how to place stuff in different perspectives and changing the place of them and making more shaped I didn't know how to. Module 3 I figured out how to use paths, splines, and 2d shapes, making them into a 3d real life everyday used object. Module 4 learning how to use lighting and cameras looking in even more perspectives I think it was one of the the challenging ones for me because of all the settings you had to use for the lights and which camera setting for which to remember. Module 5 I think was the most challenging making the still life and how to use the material editor and the slate material editor looking different, the setting on all the objects making them look different and making them have a certain amount of materials.
11/14/2025
In module 6 I learned how to use UVW maps. UVW maps were pretty easy but there were some hard parts. UVW mapping are like planes but can show the picture from all around on an object. You also have to organize the shapes on where the pictures are placed making them line up perfectly. I could use this tool by making a tank or a lego guy. Like Indiana Jones. I could also use these to make more pictures on stuff. In conclusion I really liked this module learning on how to make objects look more realistic. Also giving them textures and showing what they are with the pictures.
12/1/2025
In module 7 I learned how to use bones, the motion tab, and the skin modifier. I can use the bones modifier to imitate real life living things and make them be able to have human movements and show how to make them work. I can use the skin modifier to connect to the bones to the object and make it have realistic movements. I can use the motion tab by giving an object an assigned role on which object to move, selecting the right objects to be moved when the one that is controlling is being moved. In conclusion I used a golem wiht all these tools and a lego dude with them also making movements realistic and pictures look more real.
1/5/2026
In module 8 I learned how to animate and give objects path to move around and speed up and slow down. Animating was pretty easy just moving the object a little and setting a key to put it there. There were some hard parts though, like if the camera reset to the start of the path and the film going black. But over all the animating is pretty easy to adjust to. To speed it up and slow it down I used curve editor for this. You can move a line up and down left or right which either speeds it up or slows it down and you can select a certain object while in curve editor. Over all module was pretty easy but had a lot of difficulties.
Quarter 2 Reflection Page
1/11/2026
After all the brain buffet tutorials I learned how to do a lot of stuff on my own. I learned how to use material on my own, make animations easier and making it go faster. An exercise that helped me get through the project would probably be on trying new things on my own finding out what they do. Also getting help from others to double check on my work to see if it is right. My understanding for 3DS max has been largely improved. Making me be able to figure out stuff on my own and how I could use resources without needing help.