In module 1, we learned how to use basic shapes to make a variety of scenes and objects. The basic shapes we used are called primitives, meaning they are unmodified and unsculptured shapes that can be used to build a basic outline or form of an object. For the first assignments of module 1, we made a snowman and a pencil to help learn how to make primitives, as well as learning a new set of tools called transformation tools. Transformation tools in 3ds max are the tools you can use to scale, move, and rotate shapes, and are measured using x ,y, and z axes. For the final assignment for module 1, we used all the tools we learned to make a environment called the Temple of the Primitives. The Temple of the primitives main challenge was learning how to use every tool we had learned up to that point to build a 3d space consisting of columns that we had to replicate from a reference image given to us in the download.  During the process of building the Temple of the primitives, we also learned how to use a new tool called the array tool. The array tool allowed us to duplicate shapes in a series of lines, which helped us finish the temple of the primitives more quickly and in a more exact  fashion through selecting the finished column and duplicating it in a grid forming a rectangular space that we could add walls to make it feel like a room.  Module 1 was a challenging but fun part of our experience learning 3ds max, and helped us learn how to use a lot of the essential tools in 3ds max. 

The skills and tools learned in module 1 are some of the most basic yet important skills in 3ds max, as they provide the base for making more complex and detailed models in the future. Learning how to place down primitives and understanding the wide variety of shapes you can add together to make a basic form are the most important steps in the beginning stages of making a 3d model or environment, as not understanding the basics of primitives will make your models sloppy or inaccurate to what you are trying to replace or you initial idea. Tools such as move, scale, and rotate some of the most tools in the 3d modeling process, as they allow us to move and edit shapes after they are placed down, rather than having to add them exactly where u want them and in the exact proportions you want them in before you even fully place the shape down.  One other set of tools that module 1 taught us was the different types of viewports. The viewports are the different perspectives you can view the shapes you are creating, and are important when trying moving and scaling primitives when making a basic form. Leaning the skills and tools in module 1 I feel are going to be some of the most important skills we will learn, as the assignments gave us good experience with 3ds max and a good idea of the ins and outs of the program.

Module 2 taught us new tools that helped us more precisely transform and place our primitives. The tools we used to transform and place are shapes accurately are called snaps and keyboard entry rollout. Out of those two, the first we learned was the keyboard entry rollout in the 4 corners scene. We used the keyboard entry rollout tool to place primitives on exact points and with exact dimensions on the world space, making buildings and other structures like trees and a snowman. The second tool we learned how to use was the angle snaps tool. The angle snaps tool is used when wanting to connect primitives together seamlessly and more accurately, which helped us when we were working on assembling the character Alfie Hitchcat. The angle snaps tool really helped capture the look of Alfie Hitchcat, as the way the angle snaps tool connected primitives together mimicked the legos that Afie Hitchcat is made from. Module 2 taught us a wide array of tools that help in making our primitives be placed more accurately and precisely to make our overall figures fit the scale and portions we were trying to replicate. 

While the skills we learned in this module weren't as interesting as the skills and tools we learned last module, I still feel they are important due to how they help in organizing and scaling our primitives and overall structures. Out of the tools we used, I feel the angle snaps tool will be a reoccurring tool that I will use more often in future assignments. I feel this way because of how the angle snaps tool allows for more precise connection when building primitives, which helps when trying to center a primitive when connecting it to another shape. Although I don't feel I will be using the keyboard entry roll out, I still find it to be a useful and potentially important tool in the future. Because of how the keyboard entry rollout allows for more precise placement and scaling of primitives before they are placed, I feel this tool will be very useful if I am trying to accurately replicate an environment in real life or if I am trying  to keep a building symmetrical. Overall, I feel I wont be using the tools and skills we learned in this module a lot in future assignments, but I do find these tools useful in some areas.  

Module 3 had us start off immediately with the more complex modeling tools within 3ds max. This started with the Lego figure project, which introduced us to modifiers. Modifiers in 3ds max allow us to manipulate and morph parts of a primitive into a more specific shape, mainly through transforming the sub-objects of the primitive. Sub-objects are the parts that make up a primitive, and include its vertices, edges, and faces. We also learned other modifiers that can add layers of realism or morph our models in interesting ways, such as the noise, taper, bend, and Lathe. We used a few of these modifiers in our next project, which was building a Field Scene. In the field scene, our goal was to make a small environment consisting of 3 unique types of mushrooms, flowers, and rocks. We used the noise and taper modifiers to form the shape of and add random curves to the mushrooms and the bend modifier to make the stems and leaves of the flowers. Another set of tools that we learned that helped us make custom shapes were the spline tool and loft modifier. The spline tool allows us to draw 2d shapes either with a line tool or with one of the other predetermined shapes. The loft modifier lifts up created splines into 3d shapes, with the height being determined by the height of a selected spline. We used all of the tools we learned in these assignments for our final project, which I chose to be the Object Modeling project. The goal of this project was to re-create a real world object into a model in 3ds max. The project started with us choosing our real world object, which I chose to be a duck keychain a friend gifted me. After we chose our object, we began blocking out its model, meaning we used mostly unmodified primitives to create the general form and model of our real world object. In the final stage of the project, we began using modifiers on the primitives and other shapes like splines we used to make the model more realistic and similar to the object we chose. For my final duck model, I used Boolean modifiers to unify the whole model of the duck as well as add holes, and I edited the polygons through scaling down and flattening the bottom of the duck. Module 3 has definitely been the most engaging Module this quarter, and I really enjoyed the freedom given for our final project. 

I feel the skills we learned in this module are the most important to making our models more professional and realistic through the use of modifiers. While in other projects like the temple of the primitives, where we were able to create interesting and unique models with just primitives, the projects in module 3 allowed us to create models and objects with a lot more depth and complexity. My favorite example of this would be the spaceship assignment we had to complete. The spaceship assignment involved us following a tutorial that would show us how to use modifiers to create a model of a spaceship. We used the symmetry and editable poly modifiers to help build the model of the spaceship, with the symmetry modifier being used to ensure both sides of the model were the same and edible poly being used to add the extrusions and extra parts of the spaceship. The use of modifiers made the final model more complex and complete than if I had built the model with primitives through the it being perfectly symmetrical and having better and more interesting details. The skills and tools we learned in Module 3 I feel will be good stepping off point to make our models in the future more realistic and be held to a better standard.