Flower Tutorial Section2 Hexagon2

by Aine






Note: To use this tutorial you must have completed Flower Tutorial Section1

Now that the upper flower has been created, we are ready to create the stem and leaves. With this area, you can greatly shortcut your steps by creating a stem - leaf section then re-playing the section for each leaf on down the stem.

Starting out we need to copy the last loop on the flower to start our stem piece. Select your object

1. Click on 'Select by edge'
2. Click on one of the lowest edges on the flower.
3. Click on the 'loop' button
4. Click 'Edit' from the menu
5. Select 'Copy' from the drop down.
6. Click off the object to deselect it.
7. Click on 'Edit' from the menu
8. Select 'Paste' from the drop down.
You'll notice you have a new listing in the Scene tree named curve.
Select it by clicking on it in the Scene tree
9. Click on 'Select by Edge'
10. Select all of the lines (edges) in the newly created curve.
11. Click on the 'Fast Extrude' icon
12. Click on the green arrow, and pull it down.
You want enough room so that you have a top and bottom of your stem section which will support one leaf. Let it go.

In the Scene Tree, you will now see you have 3 listings. Your flower top, the curve and a new form listing for the stem.

Since we no longer need the curve we will delete it.

13. Click 'Select by object'
14. Click on the Curve listing in the Scene tree
15. Press the Delete key (Del key on the Mac)
16. Click on your stem section.



We will now start building the leaf stem section by creating the area on the stem to support it.
17. Click 'Select by Edge'
18. Click on any of the Edges running top to bottom (as shown)
19. Click the 'ring' button
20. Click on the .connect' icon (or press X on the keyboard)

Now we need to create the upper and lower limits of the leaf bud.
(still on 'Select by Edge')
21. Click on one of the newly created edges cutting your stem in half
22. Click the 'loop' button
23. Click the 'Extract' icon, and select 'Extract around' icon
This presents a red line
24. Click on the red line and pull down about one quarter the distance from the center edge to the bottom edge, let it go.

In this step we are actually setting the upper and lower opening points for your leaf.
Your center edge loop should still be selected.
25. Click on the 'Extract' icon, and select 'Extract around' icon
26. Click on the red line and pull it about halfway between the two edges
Let it go.



You have now created a set of 5 edges from which you can start to build your leaf.
We will now move some of the lines to form out the dip seen in many leaf stems.

On the (red) X(positive) facing side of your object.
27. Select the upper and lower Edge as shown
28. Click on the 'betw' button (next to loop).
'betw' (between)allows you to select paths which are neither loops or rings, but are needed to complete paths. This will select the rest of the edges located in a line.
29. Click on the (green) Y arrow on the manipulator and pull down.
Let it go.

Before we can get started on extruding out the leaf stem, there is a need to prepare the area for proper poly flow. This means we need to turn (rotate) a few edges. To turn edges you need to perform two steps, one is to resolve the edges which need to be turned. The other is to connect either the new lines or points to form the turned edge.

30. Click 'Select by Edge'
31. Select the two edges shown
(remember you can press the shift key while selecting to add additional selection.)
32. Press the Backspace key on the keyboard (Delete on the Mac) to dissolve the edges.
33. Then repeat this on the other side of the V design on the object.

34. Click 'Select by Point'
35. Select Points shown
36. Click on the 'Connect' button
37. Select the Points shown
38. Click on the 'Connect' button.
39. Now repeat the process on the other side of the V design.
The area will now look something like this, with nice quads (4-sided polys)

40. Click 'Select by Face'
41. Select all the faces shown, don't forget the symmetrical ones on the other side of the V design.
42. Press the Delete key (Del key on the Mac) to remove and open the area.

You'll notice we have a single edge dividing the center, which really will not work as well for a leaf edge. We will be using smoothing at the end so we need to set a top and bottom for the leaf edge to smooth on.

43. Click on 'Select by Edge'
44. Select one of the center edges on the stem back.
45. Click the 'loop' button
46. Click on the 'Extract tool', and select 'Extract Around'
47. Click on the (now) red line and pull slightly down.
You only want enough distance between the new edges to give a good leaf edge.
Let it go.



48. You'll notice the Center edges you had selected form this is still selected.
(We will now dissolve them as they are not needed.)
49.Press the Backspace key (Delete key on the Mac) to dissolve.

Weld points not needed.
50. Click on 'Select by Point'
51. Click on the circled point
52. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
53. Click on the square-highlighted point.
54. Repeat this for the upper section
55. Repeat for the two on the other side

Remove the un-needed points
56. Click on 'Select by Point'
57. Click on the center points shown
(remember to use Shift-click to add additional selections)
58. Press the Backspace key (Delete key on the Mac), to dissolve the points.
59. Click on 'Select by Edge'
60. Select the edges of the V as shown.
61. Click on the 'Extract tool'
62. Select the 'Extract edge along' icon from the drop down
63. Click on the lower selected V line and pull down.

You are wanting to give it about the same distance the center to the lower edge of the stem back. (this doesn't have to be exact) Let it go.



64. It should look something like this

65. Click 'Select by Point'
66. Select the two points as shown
67. Click the 'Connect' icon
68. Repeat the process for the lower section
69. Repeat the steps for the other side.
70. It should look like this

Now we will remove un-needed edges
71. Click on 'Select by Edge'
72. Click on the edges shown.
73. Press the Backspace key (Delete key on the Mac)



74. Select the 6 Edges shown around the V opening
75. Press the 'Connect' icon
Then we will connect them to the edges in the stem back

76. Click 'Select by Point'
77. Select the points shown
78. Click the 'Connect' icon
79. Repeat the process for the lower section
80. Repeat the process for the other side.

Time to start forming out the leaf stem to leaf.
81. Click 'Select by Edge'
82. Click on one of the edges to the opening.
83. Click the 'loop' button
(it should auto select all edges of the opening if not, make sure they are)
84. Click on 'Fast Extrude' icon
85. Click on the 'X' (red) arrow on the manipulator and pull out a bit.
This forms your leaf stem base.

With the Edges still selected
86. Click on the 'Fast Extrude' icon again
87. Click on the White triangle for the Y (green), X (red) axis on the manipulator.
This will allow you to move on whichever two planes it falls on.

88. Pull out and up at about a 45 degree angle (as shown)



Since this is where the leaf will meet up with the leaf stem, we need to take down the size. With your opening still selected.

89. Click on the Center yellow box on the manipulator and pull to reduce the size to about 50 percent (half).

90. Change the value of the X (red) Size in the Properties box to 0 and press enter on the keyboard (Return key on the Mac).

Now we will reshape to start building the leaf.
91. Click on 'Select by Edge'
92. Click on the bottom two edges in the V design.
93. Click on the Y (green) arrow and pull up till your middle thickness is about the same as the sides.

94. Click on 'Select by Edge'
95. Select any of the Edges of the opening
96. Click on the 'loop' button
97. Click on the 'Fast extrude' icon
98. Click on the X (red) arrow and pull out slightly.
This forms the brake from the leaf stem and the leaf and will help it to hold its shape later.

With your edges still selected
99. Click on 'Fast Extrude' icon again
100. Click on the X (red) arrow and pull out to about 1/3 the distance of the flower petals to the flower petal ends.
Let it go.



You have just placed the marker for the broadest part of the leaf, we will now work on the end of the leaf.

With the opening still selected.
101. Click on the 'Fast Extrude' icon
102. Click on the X (red) arrow on the manipulator and pull out.
You want to pull out past the flower top edges.

103. Click on 'Select by Edge'
104. Select the two edges shown
105. Click on the 'Fast Extrude' icon.
106. Click on the X (red) arrow of your manipulator and pull out.

Now we will work to make this our leaf tip.
We will be using a different type of weld this time around. Since we want to form the leaf tip between the two ends. This weld does that for you, it will weld all points selected to the average of the total.

107. Click on 'Select by Point'
108. Click the 'Weld Point' icon
You cursor turns into a white circle with a white dot in the middle.
109. Click on the top point on each end.
110. They will automatically weld to the middle.
111. Press the Enter key(Return on the Mac) to apply and Validate.
112. Repeat the process for the lower points.



113. Click on 'Select by Edge'
114. Select the edges shown
115. Click the 'Connect' icon
116. Now Select all of the newly formed edges.
117. Click on the Z (blue) Resize box.
Pull the edges in to about 1/3 of the distance they were before and let go.

Now to fill in the top and bottom of the leaf tip area.
118. Click on 'Select by Edge'
119. Click the two edges forming the lower V as shown
120. Click on the 'Extrude' icon
121. Click on the X (red) arrow and pull it out a bit.
Position doesn't matter as we are going to weld these new points to the leaf tip form.
122. Click on 'Select by Point'
123. Click on the lowest point in the newly formed edge.
124. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
125. Click on the lowest point of the leaf tip form.



126. Shows another view of the steps you did from 122 through 125
127. Click the point on the left side of the flap
128. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
129. Click on the left side lowest midpoint of the leaf tip band.
130. It should look like this.

131. Click the point on the right side of the flap.
132. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
133. Click on the right side lowest midpoint on the leaf tip band.



134. This is what it will look like when done. Now repeating the process for the top half.
135. Click on 'Select by Edge'
136. Click the two edges forming the lower V as shown
137. Click on the 'Extrude' icon
138. Click on the X (red) arrow and pull it out a bit.
Position doesn't matter as we are going to weld these new points to the leaf tip form.
139. Click on 'Select by Point'
140. Click on the highest point in the newly formed edge.
141. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
142. It will look like this.



143. Click the point on the right side of the flap.
144. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
145. Click on the right side highest midpoint on the leaf tip band.
146. Click the point on the left side of the flap
147. Press the 'W' key on the keyboard
148. Click on the left side highest midpoint of the leaf tip band.

Closing the open sides

149. Click on 'Select by Object'
150. Click on the 'Close' icon in the Vertex Modeling tab
(Note: it looks something like your fast extrude icon, but don't mix them up... this one is on the far right of the tab) You will notice that all open areas are outlined in white.
151. Click on one of the open areas.
As you select areas to be closed, the white outline will become red
152. Now click on the other.
153. Then turn the room around to view the under side of the leaf and click on the other two open areas. The close icon will only work on outlines that are facing the camera.
154. Once you have all open areas clicked on the leaf (4 total), Press the Enter key (Return on the Mac) on the keyboard.



Now we will add in an edge so that the newly closed areas become quads (4 sided polygons)
155. Click on 'Select by Edge'
156. Select the two edges shown, and the ones on the other side.
157. Click on the 'Connect' icon
158. This is what it will look like when done.

Tip of the leaf is completed and it is time to work out the leaf's width along with adding in a few edges to help it hold shape. It would be best to hide your flower top for now, so you can better see the leaf you are going to work on.

159. Click on the little eye icon in the Scene panel on the right side pullout for your flower top. This will hide it from view.

160. Now click on 'Select by Edge'
161. Select one of the edges shown (ring of edges closest to the stem)
162. Click on the 'Loop' button
163 Click on the little blue(Z) cube on the manipulator and pull out.
You want to give this enough width so it forms the base broadest part of the leaf.



Filling out the leaf a bit more.

164. Click on 'Select by Edge'
165. Select one each of the Upper and Lower edges.
166. Click on the 'Ring' button.
167. Click on the 'Connect' icon.

Repeat the process for the lower section.
168. Click on 'Select by Edge'
169. Select one each of the upper and lower edges shown.
170. Click on the 'Ring' button
171. Click on the 'Connect' icon.

Now we will resize a bit to make the leaf's edges more rounded appearing from the top view.

172. Click on 'Select by Edge'
173. Select one of the Edges shown
174. Click on the 'Loop' button
175. Click on the blue(Z) cube on the manipulator and pull it out.

176. Repeat this process till you are happy with the shape of your leaf.



We have a leaf and stem section, it is time to shortcut to create more.
177. Click on 'Select by Object'
Make sure you have your leaf section selected
178. Click on 'Edit' from the top menu
179. Select 'copy' from the drop down
180. Click somewhere off the object to de-select it.
181. Click on 'Edit' in the top Menu.
182. Select 'Paste' from the drop down.
183. Click on the Green (Y) arrow of your manipulator and pull down.

In the Properties panel in the right side pullout
184. Type in 180.000 in the green (Y) Rotate box.
This will rotate your leaf section by 180 degrees

185. Now click on the Red (X) arrow on your manipulator and move your leaf section till the stem matches up with the upper stem.
186. Use the Green (Y) arrow to move it up and down to finish the matching up.
(try to get it to match up as close as possible.)

Now to join the two sections together.

187. Click on both of the leaf selection in your Scene panel in the right hand pullout.
188. Once they are both selected, click on the 'Average Weld' icon.
189. This will combine the objects into one form listing in the scene panel.

190. Now click on the 'Average Weld' icon again.
191. You cursor turns into a +, - You can use the + or - key on the numbers pad on your keyboard till the two sections weld. I only had to use the + key one time to completely weld the seam.

Note: Be careful that you only weld the stem.

192. Once it is welded, press the Enter key (Return key on the Mac) on the keyboard to apply and validate.

193. You can now un-hide your flower top by clicking on the little eye icon by the flower top listing in the Scene panel.



Short cutting yet again, we will take the two leaf stem we just created and copy, paste and weld it to our project.

Click on 'Select by Object'
Make sure you have your leaf section selected
Click on 'Edit' from the top menu
Select 'copy' from the drop down
Click somewhere off the object to de-select it.
Click on 'Edit' in the top Menu.
Select 'Paste' from the drop down.

194. Click on the Green (Y) arrow of your manipulator and pull down.
Line it up as close as possible. (closer than image shown)
Click on both of the leaf selection in your Scene panel in the right hand pullout.

195. Once they are both selected, click on the 'Average Weld' icon.
This will combine the objects into one form listing in the scene panel.

196. Now click on the 'Average Weld' icon again.
You cursor turns into a +, - You can use the + or - key on the numbers pad on your keyboard till the two sections weld. I only had to use the + key one time to completely weld the seam.

Note: Be careful that you only weld the stem.

Once it is welded, press the Enter key (Return key on the Mac) on the keyboard to apply and validate.
You can repeat the process as many times as you like.



Once you have your stem and leaves the way you want, it is time to combine it to the flower top object. The same Average Weld process is used for this.

Select the Stem/leaf and the flower top object, click on the 'Average Weld' icon.
This will combine the objects into one form listing in the scene panel.

Now click on the 'Average Weld' icon again.
You cursor turns into a +, -
Since we didn't move the starting point while building the Stem, it should line up perfectly and not require using + or -

Once it is welded, press the Enter key (Return key on the Mac) on the keyboard to apply and validate.

Tada! Your Flower is completed and ready for a little fancy work with Soft Select in Section3.

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