Archive for July, 2005
What is a 3ds Max Gizmo? How do I turn on, or turn off a Gizmo in 3ds Max?
When I first started in 3ds Max, I started hearing about “gizmo” this and “gizmo” that. I have found even in After Effects, this is a popular term when talking about transformation tools. Gizmo to me seems like an afterthought of what they decided to name something late into the development process.
Basically, a gizmo is a little helper for when you are transforming (rotate, scale, move) an object in your viewing plane, or orthagonal view.
In 3ds Max, there are three views, X = Horizontal, Z = Vertical, and Y = Forward and Back in dimension space. This may be hard if you are new to a 3d modeling program, but a 3 dimension space is what this type of program is all about, hence 3d.
So, when you choose one of your transform tools, (again scale, rotate, move or something else) a little 3d dimensional crosshairs comes up to help you know which direction you are applying your transform in. Each direction has it’s own color, X = Red, Z = Blue, and Y = Green.
Without getting into an in depth explanation of how gizmos work, I just want to say that they are extremely helpful for making a shape change to the way you want it. I had some problems one day because when I was using my transform tools, the gizmos weren’t showing up. I had to go hunting to try to figure out how to turn my gizmos back on.
So, to turn on your gizmos, if they aren’t already.
Step 1: Go to Customize > Preferences
Step 2: In the preference dialog box you will see many tabs. Click on “Gizmos”
Step 3: Click “On” to turn your gizmos back on. You can see the option here in the upper left.
Simple, but yet when you are in such a complex program, finding something out simple like this, without knowing where to go can be very hard.
Adventures In Charlotte
Boy did we EVER have a good time at Heroes Con! Jeff, David & I went on a perilous journey where we made new friends & learned valuable
lessons – no wait that’s a Disney film. It applies to all Disney films, just pick one.
But I guess we DID we did meet great people. And we now know to never, NEVER visit a motel where most of the people staying there consider it their primary residence and the clerk is missing several fingers (though in no discernable pattern). So maybe it was a bit Disney-esque.
That’s how it all began
We drove through the night, only to discover that our room at the Westin wasn’t available – EEK! It was still only 4 am & I wasn’t going anywhere without a shower, so we drove until we found the nearest motel. AMAZINGLY they had a vacancy. Maybe we should have driven in the opposite direction.
We only stayed in the room long enough to clean up. The guys actually crashed for a couple hours – I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was the nastiest place I can remember being & you are talking to a girl who put herself through college staying in a variety of $100 a month cockroach infested one room apartments. If you don’t believe – Jeff took pictures.
I cleaned up the best I could – (the entire fixture from the bathroom sink came off in my hand) and sat at the desk and did a crossword until the boys roused themselves.
On to the Con
It was all worth it though – we got to the con good and early & proceeded to have a GREAT time! I got in line to get a Phil Noto Sketch & David lined up for a chance to get on Tony Harris’ sketch list. In between his wanderings trying to find out where the heck James Jean was, Jeff dutifully split his time keeping us company while we waited.
Sitting there waiting for Noto I had an excellent opportunity to chat the uber-cool guys from Gaijin Studios. I know I’m still new to the con thing, but I’m fortunate enough to be able to say that I have not yet encountered anything other then people being friendly. Jeff says that is because I have breasts *laughing*, but I think the creator community as a whole is genuinely good people.
Later, I got J. O’Barr to sign my copy of The Crow – now NO ONE is allowed to borrow it. Oh, & we were first in line to meet John Cassaday. He did a neat-o Superman head sketch for David & signed my Astonishing # 1.
It KILLS me though – by the time he got there for the signing I was soooo hungry (and remember I’d been up most the night) that I was feeling a little faint. This prohibited me from being the all out gushing fan-girl that I might have been.
I love the work Cassaday is doing on Astonishing right now. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned the page & had a goosebump moment. Plus he is so GOSHDARN cute. If only I had found the strength to fawn more *laughing*
Other than that, Friday was pretty uneventful – it was all about “the sketch”. After David & I successfully made it onto our respective sketch lists, we were able to breathe a sigh of relief & just wander.
Anyone who reads this junk knows I am ALL about the independents. I spent time Friday & Saturday at the Desperado Publishing booth talking with creative Director, April Doster & Publisher, Joe Pruett.
April & I hit it off famously. She was so bright & bubbly & enthusiastic – it was contagious. I picked up a handful of books from them – Beyond Avalon, The Atheist, The Stradust Kid & the re-launch of The Flaming Carrot.
I am kicking myself for not getting more of their books. I enjoyed everything I read. In fact, I enjoyed them so much it might warrant further discussion in another review.
We were very grateful to crash at the hotel that night. Sometimes I have trouble sleeping out on the road, but the Westin has a better bed & shower than I do. I swear if I could, I would have slept standing up in that fabulous shower. What? Horses do it.
Saturday – Back To The Action
Feeling refreshed & perky once again I headed back to the con with Jeff & David. I was able to pick up my Noto sketch that day. I asked for a Rogue & Gambit. I could not have been more excited when I picked it up.
My face HURT from smiling so big – I was just so happy. I immediately ran over to show it to April (it is SO nice to meet another normal gal who appreciates comics) & anyone else who would look.
I stumbled across Phil Noto’s work in the Danger Girl. I loved the series & was tickled to see “Hawaiian Punch” on the shelf at the comic shop. It had a J. Scott Campbell cover & I wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention when I bought it, so I was surprised (&, frankly, a little annoyed) when I opened the book & didn’t find J. Scott artwork.
By the end of the book though – I thought hey this is REALLY neat! Then by the time I got to the end of “Viva las Danger” it was more like – J. Scott who? I was officially a fan.
It was delightful to meet Phil Noto. He was kind & gracious. And he created an original piece of artwork that I can treasure. It hardly gets better. The sketch is posted for all to enjoy.
The other noteworthy thing about Saturday was meeting David Mack. Well, okay I’d met him before, but this time I was ready. I have a stunning limited edition hardback version of Kabuki: Circle of Blood.
The way the chapters are laid out created one blank page between the end of one section & the beginning of the next. I asked if he would do a sketch on that page & I trusted that he would know what belonged there.
He was only at the con for a very limited time yet he made time to do a brush & ink Kabuki portrait on the page. Wow! What a nice guy for doing it for starters & if you could see how perfectly it harmonizes with the facing page – it looks like it always should have been there. Pure magic…
Overall Impressions
Let me take the time to re-iterate – I have NO idea what I am talking about when I recap our trips to conventions – I’m still learning. So keep in mind I write with limited knowledge but vast enthusiasm. But I have to say – I LIKE these small/medium & medium/large sized cons.
I have yet to attend a huge Wizard con & while I’m sure I will enjoy myself (because I enjoy myself where ever I go), I am quickly developing a fondness for the intimacy of the smaller venues.
What a pleasure it is as a fan to not just meet a creator that you admire, but to talk with them & perhaps have the opportunity to take home a sketch. It feels like a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
Again I could be TOTALLY making this up, but Heroes Con seemed like a comic book “purist” convention. There were lots of artists & creators & not so many TV/Movie “stars” & gamer stuff. Even the vendors were heavy on the books & light on the toys.
Deals abounded too. David, determined to share Captain America with me, picked up hefty run of Cap books for next to nothing to share with me. This was a super place to shop for back issues.
Heading For Home
We got up Sunday & headed for home. It’s a shame we had jobs & lives to which we were required to return. It would have been nice to stay one more day. I had a very enjoyable experience at my first Heroes Con. This is definitely one I will mark for a return visit.
Now if I have the opportunity I will regale you with tales of praise of the books I picked up from Desperado Publishing. So until then – keep reading!
Later!
Monster In Law (2005)
Starring Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Wanda Sykes, and Michael Vartain, Monster In Law is the age old battle between new wife, and old mother, to win the affections of their son.
I don’t know why Wanda Sykes was in the movie, mostly as a black commentary in an all white cast, a kind of feel good corporate production thing. Both characters were over the top, Fonda with the crazy and solidifying any stereotype we may have of aging women, and Jennifer Lopez in her overly cute and innocent acting style. She never has anything different to say.
None the less, this movie is really funny. You don’t go for all that stuff instead, you go to ignore it, and think about how funny this would be, but not so much if it was you. From endless slapping, to sleeping in a platter of octopus, to swollen Lopez platypus lips, there are some classic scenes in this movie, with the perfect title to boot. Everyone should see this movie.
Sideways (2004)
Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, and Virginia Madsen, Sideways is about a week of wine drinking and running away from the future that two guys do prior to Church’s wedding. They meet two women, Church looking to get laid, and Giamatti looking to feel alive and make a true connection with anyone.
I really liked this movie. Church is the fun guy who is older, and is having problems with the idea of being tied down, that he has given in to one woman and Giamatti is depressed and mediocre, looking to find anyone to connect with that doesn’t force him out of his comfort zone. There is real dialogue, and the whole movie felt like you were spying in on two guys and their week in California. Funny, and realistic, you really relate to what Paul feels and how he reacts to those around him as the movie unfolds his past experiences.
If you can stand some of the male schvenism and brief sex scenes, I would recommend this movie to those people who like a good story about real people and all of their baggage and imperfections.
Paparazzi (2004)
Starring Tom Sizemore, Daniel Baldwin, and Cole Hauser, this is a movie about some of the seediest of paparazzi, the harm they cause in one actors life, and what he does to get even. Produced by Mel Gibson, this is another hotspot topic, just not as great as Christ I suppose. The whole movie I was wondering how Bo(Cole) would be able to get his life back. The blackmail, the lack of regard for family and boundaries for these paparazzi. I left hating them, but I am not sure if that was Gibson’s intention, because Bo does some pretty terrible things to get even, killing with his own hands.
A touch violent, and not necessarily a movie you see for astounding acting, especially the over the top Sizemore, I would recommend this movie to most people, especially for them to see how he gets back at these jerks.
