3-D models have many uses.
Movie studios, video game manufacturers and advertisers make frequent use of 3-D models. While some of these models are made entirely based on sketches and the imagination of the modeler, others are based on photos. The process of using photo references is often used when the model is complex and the model has to be particularly accurate. Keep in mind that you will want to take the photos direct on, and not from a corner. And you will want three photos one each from the side, top and front. The process used here is called box modeling.
Instructions
Hexagon
1. Load the photos of the object you want to model into your computer.
2. Open Hexagon. Click on the "Scene Properties" panel on the right. Click on the "Browse" button next to the listed "Grids" to add the photos you loaded. The images will now be displayed in the view.
3. Click on the "Primitives" tab and click on the "Cube." Select one of the faces of the cube and use the "Extrude" tool found under the "Vertex Modeling" tools to extend this face to begin forming your model. Repeat to create the shape of the model. Use the "Tessellation" tools to divide faces when you need to.
Google SketchUp
4. Load the photos you want to use onto your computer. Open the photos for use as a reference in a viewer.
5. Open Google SketchUp. Delete the default figure in the scene. Select the "Rectangular" drawing tool from the toolbar and draw a square on the ground plane. Then use the "Push/Pull" tool to raise it to form a cube.
6. Use the "Inset," "Line," "Move" and "Push/Pull" tools to extrude the faces of the cube to form your model, referencing your photos as you work.
Wings3D
7. Load the photos that you want to base your model on into your computer.
8. Open Wings3D. Click on the "Cube" primitive to add it to the scene. Make sure the selection mode is "Faces" and click on one of faces. Right-click on the face and choose "Extrude." Use the tool to extrude the face.
9. Continue the box modeling process to create your finished model. Save your work as a Wavefront OBJ.
