How do you model in XSI?

[Thomas]

Hi all!

Just a simple question: how do you model in XSI?
I'm a very long time "polygon by polygon" modeler, started with Amapi and it's polygon tool, then 3DSMax for edge modeling, then Hexagon.

In XSI, I do some box modeling, but I prefer using the polygon tool, to create free polygons, then, using the Add edge tool or the bridge edge.
But I still can't find a way to do the same edge modeling technic in XSI than I do in Hexagon or Max (I mean, CTRL(shift with Max) and Manipulator, and using the extrude edge along axis is not very good.
Someone have an idea?


And you, how do you model in XSI?

[Nichod]

I have just started to experiment with XSI and modeling has only been something I've dabbled with. It took me two days to figure out how to apply SDS and not actually subdivide the mesh.

As far as edge modeling is concerned have you tried ctrl-D? That might get the result you are looking for. XSI is supposedly VERY powerful and flexible at modeling, I mean you can replicate a series of operations by simply recording them and then make it a tool. And the history is 100 of times better than Hexagon or Amapi.

[JakalDesign]

I do mostly box modeling in XSI, but when doing complex organic models, poly by poly is much easier. Nichod is right... just select your edges and press ctrl-D to duplicate that edge. Not as quick at just holding down control... but works just the same.

http://forums.polyloop.net/attachmen...5&d=1151767136

This guy here was accualy done with both. I did the head with box modeling and then at the open neck line I did poly modeling for the body arms and legs. Then finished off the hands with box modeling. As soon as you get down the hot keys, it goes rather fast and smoothly.

[Thomas]

I didn't mention the dupplicate, you right because... I forgot it. It's not associated to the manipulator and I don't like the workflow. I think I'll have to do a script to correct that, like you said Nichod, but I suck with programming (I mean cleaning the script, by changing some informatio, like working for all edges, or multiselection from the original script) ;)

I'll try to do that, but more combinez with the Tweak tool ;)

[Reactor]

Thomas, can't you just remap the edge duplicate? If you're hitting a key for extrude in Hex, it's about as quick to have duplicate edge as a single key in XSI.

[Thomas]

I have to check that ;)

[JakalDesign]

Yes Reactor, that is how mine is set up. I never use the duplicate tool so I used that hot key (Which is just "D") to duplicate my edges and polys. Works great if you are in the "tweak" tool.

[Reactor]

I just set up duplicate on TAB, and I'm now officially hooked on using it

That's the funny thing about XSI... there's so much in it, you often forget you can do simple things like remap your keys and improve your workflow by a huge amount.

[Jolran]

Doesent ctrl D make 2 edgeloops around the selected one? I kinda dont like that. It doesent happend if you extruding the outer edges though.

I like the deformers.. Select an edgeloop - deform smoth or relax for ex. Good options in the window that opens. Its really good if youve been plucking some points and made some fuzz. And You can use curvepath for modeling to.
For ex build a curve - take a cube(as example) - deform by curve - make adjustments(subd etc) and freeze the results. You can always keep the deformation history if its going to be animated. And sometimes instead of building buttons, remember that if you middleclick on windows the last operation done will be used again. Very useful if doing same operations or constraining over and over.

But first feeling coming from Hexagon was not so good for me. I think its a totaly different way of modeling. Boxmodeling. I kinda prefered modeling in Hexagon but forgot how to. I forced myself to model in XSI, to learn the interface.

In a lot of tutorials Ive seen, they move vertises in front, side and top mode in wireframemode with snapping. Instead of scaling the component.
Not recommended for expressions. Keep it at scale 1 is the message I got.

[Thomas]

I'm forcing myself to model in XSI, even if I'm interesting in this package only for rendering and animation. It's very hard to be productive for me yet, because I design Hexagon, then, I try to apply the same workflow, and as you can imagine, not everything work the same
But remapping some hotkeys helps for sure!

[Reactor]

Going between XSI and Hex 2, I've found that Hex is missing a lot of basic functionality which XSI has, such as being able to flatten a face by scaling it across itself. I like modeling in Hex, but compared to XSI it seems to be lacking somewhat (aside from the odd tool here and there).

[moonshot]

Hi Thomas,
I know what you mean. The Hexagon modeling style by extruding and welding edges face by face doesn't work as fluently in XSI. My XSI-modeling workflow is basically about dissolving edges (dissolve component tool) and drawing new ones (add edge tool). Using the shortcuts this is a very efficient workflow. Overall I find the XSI modeling tools very comfortable to use offering a lot more options than hexagon.

[Thomas]

In fact, I use more the poly tool, which remind me a lot the Amapi Facet tool