3d max tutorials for beginners: Cartoon Head Modeling Tutorial in 3ds max by Khalidur3d

Hi, I am khalid. At present i am working to make a 3d animation clip with 3ds Max. For that i need a cartoon character and now i am modeling the character. I want to publish my technique of modeling cartoon character so that the Max users can get help from here.

This is my first tutorial. I don’t want to say that it is an exact way of character modeling but you can try it. Now i will show you how to model a simple head of cartoon character. I hope, i will show you the deferent part of modeling, texturing and rigging of the character continuously.

Here i used editable ply technique to model the character. I am trying to show briefly with picture so that the user of max can understand who have some knowledge of 3ds max modeling technique.

Ok, let’s start our tutorial.

Before the character modeling you should you have a reference of the model. you can draw a sketch and insert into Max if you have drawing skill or you can make a reference with Line tool. I used it.

Go to Command panel > Create > Shape > Splines > Line and draw two shape of body for front and left view like below. I am not telling this briefly.

Now our reference is ready and we are going to model. But first we have to freeze the reference so that we can not select it wrongly. So select all the shape and right click on any viewport and click on Properties. A new window will come named “Object Properties”. Now check the ‘Freeze’ option box and uncheck ‘Show Frozen in Gray’ option box. Then press Ok.

Now we will start our main modeling part. First we will model one side of the head then we will apply symmetry to complete our model Go to Command panel > Create > Shape > Splines >NGon. In the front view draw an NGon in the place of right eye and adjust the position in Left view like below. Then right click anywhere and go to Convert to > Convert to Editable Poly.

Now the NGon is six sided polygon. Go to Modify Panel and select Vertex. Position the vertices’s according to reference like below.

Now select the Border of the poly. Select Scale tool [ shortcut - R ]. Hold down Shift key and scale the selected border. New six poly will be created around the NGeon which is now a Editable Poly.

Now select two edeges of left side. Select Move tool [ shortcut - W ]. Hold down Shift key and move the selected edges two times towards the nose position. Another two poly will be create. It is an important technique of the tutorial { hold down Shift key + move = new polygon }.

In front view, in the nose middle position adjust the newly created polygons like below.

Delete the selected poly.

Now the time of using the technique (shift + Move).

Select the indicated edge below, Hold down Shift key in the keyboard and move it down. A new poly will be created. Now in the same way make overall shape of the head according to left view like below.

Create new polygon for lips.

Select tow edges shown in the picture below. In the Edit Edges roll out click on ‘Bridge’. A new polygon will be created between the edges.

Do the same thing selecting the two edges below.

Select the two edges shown in the picture below, click on the Option button right side of ‘Bridge’ button in Edit Edge roll out. A new little window come called “Bridge Edges”. Increase the segments value to 3 then click OK.

Do same for the selected edges below but segmet is 1.

In the front view, with Shift + Move create side shape like below. To do this start from chick and end it to up of the head.

To weld the two edges Click on option box beside the ‘Weld’ button and increase the value until the two edges are weld. Then press ok to finish.

Bridge again the selected Edges below to make the upper shape of the head.

Again Bridge like below.

Move down the selected edge to the right place.

Select the two edges and right in any where in the viewport, click on “Connect”. A new edge will be created.

Now select the two Vertex and click on the button “Connect” in the Edit Vartices roll out. they will be connected with a edge.

Select the two edges and click on “Remove” button to remove them.

Select the border and click on the button “Cap” to fill the hole shown below.

Now adjust the placement of the selected vartices below with Move tool.

Now add the Edges like below with “Connect” option.

Now we will fine tune Eye hole of the head. Select the border of eye hole, hold down Shift key and move to Y axis a little.

Now make a sphere in the middle of the eye hole and place it to the placement of eyeball. It is a reference of eye ball.

We will learn how to make a realistic eyeball next time.

Ok, Now adjust the Vartices of around eye hole so that they stay attached with the sphere.

Now with the connect option Make new edges like below.

Move back to Y axis a little bit. Now right click and select the option “NURMS Toggle”. The head will be smooth, like below.

OK, off the NURMS toggle.

To create the nose, select the polygon and click on Extrude option box and decrease or increase the value what you need.

Delete the inner side poly which is newly created.

To make the hole of the nose select the polygon below the nose and Click on Option box right side of the “Insert” button in the Edit Polygons roll out. Adjust the value what you need.

Extrude it with minus value. After extruding you can delete the poly.

Now delete the selected poly of the mouth.

And select the edges of mouth. Hold down Shift key and move it to inner side of the moth to make a hole. It should be more than 3 times.

After arranging it should be looked like below.

Now fill up the back of the head with the technique which are described above , such as Bridge, Connect, Weld etc. I am now showing it. I think you can do it now.

Ok, one side of our Cartoon head has been finished.

Now we will create another side of the head. For that go to Modifier list and select “Symmetry” modifier. It will create the symmetrical part like it.