Ever wondered how you can create a table cloth without tweaking every last vertex? This tutorial will help you achieve that effect using the Cloth modifier in just a couple of minutes. You’ll also find out how the Relax modifier can get you out of a messy modeling jam in no time.

We’re using 3DS Max 2011 but the process is basically the same on most previous versions. That being said, the 2011 version has loads of improvements and you should really check it out.

1/3 Preparing the scene

As the focus of this tutorial is the cloth and not the scene you can get away with creating a single thin cylinder. This is our scene:

2/3 The cloth object

Create a Plane above the table-top (cylinder) and make sure it is larger than it. Click the Modify tab {} and set the plane’s Length and Width segments to 30. This is an important setting as the Cloth modifier depends on the number of polygons of your object.

The Cloth follows physical rules. This means you will need some sort of force attracting the cloth downwards. Click the Space Warps Icon {} under the Create Tab {} and add a Gravity force.

From the modifier drop-down add a Cloth modifier to the plane

With the plane still selected, click the Modify tab {} and click Object Forces. Apply your newly created Gravity force.

Continue on page 2