In this tutorial we will try to obtain a simple grid fence using standard primitives and some poly modeling.

  For creating our fence we will use some basic primitives found in Max and apply the [ LATICE ] modiffier. For this we will just practice a little with those primitives and the modiffier.

  First we will create a plane. Create the plane in the perspective viewport and using the Keyboard rollout. Enter parameters as in the picture bellow. Also press F4 to display the new created object in meshsmooth mode with edged faces. If 3D Max gives as default a light colour to the object I recomand you change the colour into something darker so that the faces of the object can be seen ok.

  Now that we've created the object we need to modiffy, let us start to modiffy it. Go to Modify panel and from the Modifier list choose [LATICE]. Now your object should turn into something strange. Don't wory as we are not finished.
  As for a first observation, you will see that Max will create some objects along the object's edges and at their intersection, at the vertex points.
  Nice ???, but still not finished. Now we'll take a look at the Latice Modifier parameters.

  The parameters rollout has 4 sections: Geometry, Struts, Joints and Maping Coordinates. We will only discuss the first 3 of them.
  The Geometry rollout: in this pannel you will choose where you want the LATICE modifier to be applied and you have 3 options:
        1. Joints only from vertices [the effect can be observed bellow]

        1. Struts only from edges [the effect can be observed bellow]

        3. Both [the effect can be observed bellow]

  The Struts section: in this pannel you can set the parametrs specific to the struts. [ objects created walong edges ]. You can set the radius, the number of segments, the number of sides and the Material ID in case you will wanna map the object using a multi-subobject map.
  There are 3 more check boxes and the effect of each one can be seen on the picture bellow.

  For the Jonts the controls and parameters are more or less the same except for the 3 type of geometry that will be applyied to the Joints objects: Tetra, Octa, Eicosa.

   The main advantaje of using the latice modifier is that you can obtain instantly objects that in some cases look just great. Remember that the plane can be turned into an Editable poly and the vertices and edges can be moved or whatever you wish. After you modify the basic structure of the plana. box [or any other primitive] you can apply the latice modifier and get the instant nice results.

Bellow you can download a small animated sequence of the simple fence i've buit in just 3 minutes. You will see that with this method of modeling you can get very nice results in a very short time. Good shadows, nice animation posibilities, and you can always turn your modified object into a mesh or poly for further modifiers. HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

<< Download the animated sequence >>