How would I recreate this shape from scratch?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to recreate this model from scratch and make a slightly altered version of it but I have no ideas on how to even begin to generate the kind of topology flow that it has. I'm mostly referring to the outer flat border which surrounds the inner piece, as well as the center which ascends in the middle and gradually flattens as it extend towards the ends of the mesh. I tried playing around with NURBS surfaces but I can't quite get the layout right. If somebody can help me, I'd appreciate it a lot.

[Anonymous]

I would start looking into Freeform Retopology tools, like 'Step Build' and 'Extend'. That will allow you to create the new geometry on to of the old. Go around the shape outline, then fill the betweens.

Tutorial

[Anonymous]

Hey there,
Appreciate the response and the suggestion you gave me, but I'm more interested in understanding what would be the best way to recreate this model from square one, as if I didn't have anything to work with, since the screenshot was sent to me by a colleague and I'd like to do my own take on it.

This is what I have so far, though.

I used the NURBS point curves to lay out the differences in height, I split it into 4 different ones. The outer ones which are flat, the middle one which is at the highest point and two surrounding ones which descend the peak. Then I applied the U Loft Surface modifier to merge them all together. After that, because I only modeled one side of it, I added Symmetry modifier to extend the shape to the opposite side.

It doesn't look too bad, but I do have the problem here at the tips where vertices are overlapping eachother and at some places going under and above one another.

I feel like I messed something up during the lofting process, but I have no idea what exactly. 😞
This is what the NURBS curves look like. Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong, but I haven't yet found any other way to do this.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Is there a specific reason, why you insist on NURBS modeling (it`s a dead technology in 3dsmax anyway.)

I personally would look into classic poly modeling+Opensubdiv:

Used a plane primitive->FFD for shaping the form->editPoly for outline->Final shape by CreaseSet+Opensubdiv.

[Anonymous]

Good lord, that looks perfect, as if you literally projected my idea of the shape onto the screen. Ahhhhh, I hope I can figure it out, so far the outline looks like the hardest part to set up properly. I only went for NURBS because I thought it would be the easiest way of shaping it up. I'm fairly new to modeling so you can understand why I'm struggling here and still finding my ways around the program to understand all sorts of approaches and techniques. Thanks for the help!

[Anonymous]

Here is a screencast that could you get started modeling this shape.