How can the front face of text or numbers be curved outward?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to recreate the opening few seconds from the TV series "The 100" where the numbers crash together and crumble to the ground. (see the reference video...first 2 seconds only)  I'm trying to do a still image rather than a video clip for now.

I managed the crumbling with Rayfire so...no problem there.  But I've noticed a few things about the font that was used.  For one thing, they used the letter O in the number instead of zeroes.

this:  1OO

Not this: 100

Also, the text and numbers are 3D, so they need to be extruded.  I can manage that in Element 3D or Max, no problem.

But...I also noticed that the front face of both letters and numbers doesn't appear to be a flat surface.  It has a slight outward curve to it.  It's just slightly convex.  I'm not sure how to achieve this effect.  There doesn't seem to be a bevel in the font.

Can anyone suggest a modifier for this, or a quick tutorial covering this topic, please?  I been looking for a couple days now, and nothing.

Thanks!

[leeminardi]

How about lofting (CReate, Compound Objects, Loft) the desired cross section of the letter along a centerline of the letter?  For example,

 

I created the spline path by using mid-point snap on a letter to create a few spline points and then did some adjusting of the Bezier handles at the spline vertices.  Let me know if you need more info.

[Anonymous]

That does indeed have possibilities!

Might be a couple days before I can get to it, but I will definitely give it a try when I get a chance. 

Good stuff!  Thanks!

Anyone have any other suggestions worth exploring?

[leeminardi]

I experimented with a letter that has straight and curved sections.  One constraint is that the font must be a constant thickness to use this approach.

[Anonymous]

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@lminardigmail wrote:

 One constraint is that the font must be a constant thickness to use this approach.

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Hmmm...that may be why they used an O instead of a zero in the original.

Hope to get to it tonight.

Thanks!

[lukasz.banaszkiewicz]

Also worth trying TextPlus

Geometry rollout, Apply Bevel
And the simple preset settings:

[Anonymous]

Hi Lee,

I played with it a little and couldn't figure it out.  I'm pretty new to Max.  I knew nothing about lofting, but it does seem like a good solution.

Any more details on how to achieve the effect (or point me to a relevant tutorial: I couldn't find one) would be welcome.'

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Lukasz,

Your examples look like simple bevels with completely flat faces.  I need the front faces to bulge outward with no bevel.

see reference video: original post

Thanks.