Geometric terms

Examine and explain the following Geometric terms: vertices; lines; curves; edge; polygons; element; face; primitives; meshes; wire frame; surfaces.

Cartesian Co-ordinates
The Cartesian Co-ordinates were created by Rene Descartes, who is a French philosopher and mathematician, in which helped him to create the Cartesian Co-ordinates which is a system of plotting in space. There are certain axis that are used in this system which are X,Y which are the very first axis and then Z which was later added. The X axis is horizontal and the Y is vertical. Rene became and is more known for his saying 'I think, therefor I am'.The Z axis is to measure depth. This is for three dimensional view. So following the pattern before with X,Y, the co-ordinates for this is X,Y,Z. 3DS max is a good example of programs that use this. In this program they have four different views from which you can see your creation and help you to see it at all different angles. The views are: Top view port, front view port, left view port and perspective view port. The view using only two axis are called Orthographic view. You can see these view ports in the picture below.

3DS Max
In 3DS Max there is a command panel which is located on the right side of the screen and a menu panel which is located on the top of the screen. This picture is showing the command and menu panel.

                                                 

                                                                     



                                   
In the command panel you can find: Create, Modify, Hierachy, Motion, Display, Utilities. The two main tabs used are create and modify which is shown below.

To start  select the create tab and make a shape, such as a box, cylinder etc. After deselecting, click on the Modify tab to change dimensions. In order to orbit the object use ALT and the middle mouse button or simply use the orbit tool. To select and move an object use the select and move tool which is located at the top (menu panel), holding shift whilst doing so enables you to copy an object. Next to that tool is rotate and next to rotate is re-scale. To see the different edge segmentation click F4 and F3 allows view of an objects wire frame.

Then make a parametric primitive cube, we know that is parametric because we are able to modify it's dimensions. The parametric primitive cube is 50x50x50 and in segmentation its 3x3x3. To change its colour we go to the tab which is a square which is coloured, click that and change the colour to purple and then change its name, which is next to where you changed the colour of the shape.

In the red square it is showing you the parameters and segments.

When the cube was changed into an editable poly, it was then able to modify it with their sub objects. These include Vertex, Edge, Border, Polygon, Element. 

             

Then in edit poly modifier you can smooth vertices using Mesh Smooth. Then you can mold using the sub objects selection level.

VerticesThe vertices are the points which describe the corners and intersections of geometric shapes. Vertices are important as this can make your model look more precise and accurate making it look better and detailed.

Edges

The edges are the lines that make the shape. Edges are joined to vertices. Edges are important as it connects the points together.

FacesA face of a shape is any of the polygons that make up the boundaries of the shape, for example a cube would have 6 faces.

Polygons

Polygons are 2-dimensional. Polygons are important as it creates the faces for the shape and also polygons can help to change the look of shapes and modify it.

Meshes

A mesh is a collection of vertices, edges and faces that make the shape of an object and can be used in 3D modelling.