It’s been a while, but I am finally getting back to learning 3ds Max. I want to stick with it for a while to try to improve. I have dabbled with 3ds Max before, and just when I’ve started to learn something, I get busy, stop using the program, and then forget how to use it. If I can become good at creating 3d objects that can be moved around, and viewed from any perspective, then I can add some fun things to my video clips. Before I can do that, though, I have to build my skills.

The animation below is of a pawn, which I made today. It was a beginners exercise, introducing the lathe modifier. I’ll do a few more chess pieces before working my way up to the knight, which looks a bit tricky to make. I can’t just spin that in the lathe. Though… I might… try. It is supposed to be sculpted though, at least the horse head bit of it.

I applied a kind of rusty metal material (looks more like painted wood, I think it needs a bump map for proper texture) to the pawn. Well… why not?

See the animation below to see the whole pawn.

Below, I’ve finished the rook:

Below, I’ve finished the bishop: