Modeling a Dolphin
By Sean Ridgway
When modeling a dolphin you will use two primary tools: Bevel and SubPatch
Steps:
1- The first thing you are going to want to do is to draw out a sketch to put in the background in Modeler to give yourself a rough guide as to what you are going to model. Do a sketch for all of the views to make it as easy as possible. To add the background go to Display, View Options, Background.
To make things more visible go back to display options and turn down the brightness. This takes away the white background and makes the models easier to work with.
2- The next step is to create a box. Press n to bring up the numerics and under Segments type in:
X: 1
Y: 3
Z: 3
3- Now press Tab to SubPatch the box and then select the polygon that will become the nose.
4- With that polygon selected press b for the bevel tool. Now bevel the polygon until it is out to the tip of the nose.
5- Now grab and move each POINT until it matches your sketch of the head. When finished you will get something like this:
6- Now grab the solo polygon that will make the rest of the body and bevel it to the beginning of the tail.
7- Now that you've done that grab the points and move them until the body is the same shape as your sketch just like you did with the head. When you finish you will have something like this:
8- Now grab the polygon at the end of the body. This is going to make the tail. Bevel this out to the end of the tail.
9- Now grab the two outside polygons of the tail piece and bevel them out to the sides of the tail.
10- Now grab the points and make the tail look how you want it.
11- After finishing the tail we start on the dorsal fin. Grab the top polygon where the dorsal fin would be located and bevel it. Then use the points to manipulate the fin to look how you want it to.
12- Now select the two polygons where the side fins should be located and bevel them outward. Then, as in with the rest, use the points and make the fins look the way you want them to.
13- The last step is to texture and bend the dolphin however you want and you have yourself a dolphin.