We are going to make some DNA today... Use 3-D Studio Max 8 for this...but im sure you can use 5+. This is meant for beginners with some experience to be able to deal with the big **** up in the middle... but other than the **** up, this is good for a second project (first project being following the basics tutorial in the same 3d modelling section as this is in). Look at a material tutorial to apply materials and a lighting tutorial for the DUR lighting...or you could just get the Brazil rendering system (R/S) by Splutterfish and have it do it for you...again if you have that, look at a tutorial. I might write one later on how to set up Brazil. Until then, lets get going with some precautions, and remember to SAVE OFTEN! My 3ds8 threw an error at me somewhere and i had to close it out without saving. I learned my lesson.....Now on to the warning.
DO NOT RIP! Or I will have your ***! Thank ya for stayin.
DNA TUTORIAL FOR 3-D STUDIO MAX 8 BY HEATHOVC/MPHALO.COM
Go to Create => Shapes => Helix and in the Keyboard Entry tree enter those values below and hit the Create button to create 2 helical splines.
In the Object Type tree above the Keyboard Entry tree click on circle. Now create 2 circle shapes in the Top viewport, each with a radius of 5. Use the Keyboard Entry tree again to create these. Use the following values. And instead of 20 on the second one, do -20.
Now, in the Perspective viewport, click on a helix. Rotate it 180 degrees along the x-axis with the rotate tool.
Rotate tool image here
Click the Geometry button, and go in that menu, to Compound Objects.
Click on Loft and press Get Shape and click on a circle.
Do the same with the other helix and the other circle and you should get something like this.
Now were going to create the “ladder rungs” This just involves a cylinder duplicated many times.
Click on the Geometry button again (if not selected) go back to Standard Primitives and click on Cylinder. Use the following settings and put it in the Front viewport. Use the Rotate tool to position it in the helixes like this.
You can attach them by using a Connect object, but that takes too much time and effort for what I’m trying to achieve. All I want is for it to look good. But if you want to attach it you will have better flow between the rungs and the helixes.
Now, since I screwed up and wanted it to move around the center of the cylinder…click the Modify tab and make the height 20…then click the Rotate tool and rotate that baby 180° along the x-axis while holding shift and press and drag it to where the arrows are in the center. Then press the Copy radio button and click ok. Reposition the other one to where the arrows are in the center between the helixes and match it up with the other cylinder.
Now, zoom out a bit and go to Tools => Array after you select the cylinders with the Selection tool in the Front viewport and click the Preview button. Use the following settings for the Array window.
If you want more rungs, use these settings.
Use 2 materials on each of the rungs to make it look like real DNA…you could also delete a couple prongs to make it even more realistic.
To make long strands just duplicate it many times (make sure it all lines up correctly)
My render just has the part that I made. I deleted like 3 prongs and I colored them.
My Outcome:
