For fine details like that I'd do it with a displacement map. There's probably a font out there that you can turn into a greyscale image in photoshop and use it as your displacement map.

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[Link to www.3dprevis.com]

use shapemerge or conform

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[Link to www.pixila.com]
[Link to www.sharecg.com]

Depending on your max version you might have something called Pro boolian. But I would do what Steve said because of how hard it is to get boolians to look perfect, compared to how easy texture mapping is.

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ok here are the procedures

CONFORM Tools
1. First i have this ring model and the text above it.
[img][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/img]

2. Convert the text to editable mesh ( just right click, then choose editable mesh)
3.Then select the text, then go to Creating and Modifying Panel, go to Compound Object then select CONFORM
4. Below it, press Pick Wrap-to Object button, then select your ring model.

[IMG][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/IMG]

5. After selecting the ring model, go to your top viewport, then go back to the settings and adjust some parameters
a. - tick the radio button "Use Active Viewport"
b. - Press "Recalculate Projection"
c. - Adjust amount to ZERO for both Default projection distance, and Standoff distance.
d. - Check Hide wrap to object under Updtae.
e. - Ticks the radio button Result under Display
[IMG][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/IMG]

6. Modify now your ring model. Select the text now conformed to the ring and convert it to editable poly.

7. Select polygon then extrude.
[IMG][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/IMG]

8. Mesh and rendered image
[IMG][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/IMG]
[IMG][Link to i421.photobucket.com][/IMG]

Tomorrow... the Shapemerge Tools

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[Link to www.pixila.com]
[Link to www.sharecg.com]

That's cool and all, but why don't you show him how to use bump mapping and uvw unwrap? He could draw all kinds of designs and have video post effects to the letters.

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i seldom use bump mapping especially for a closed up details.

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[Link to www.pixila.com]
[Link to www.sharecg.com]

Ah!

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and here is the SHAPEMERGE approach

1. assuming you have already the ring model and a text you want to engrave on the ring.

2. select the ring model, then go to creating and modifying panel espicifically to Compound Object, and select Shapemerge.

3. Press Pick Shape and select the text you created ( on my sample " DIGITAL ARTS FRONT"

4. The text will be imprinted on the ring model. Hide or erase the original text. Select the ring model and convert it to editable poly. Select polygon and the imprinted text will be selected. Extrude as you wish

5. Apply your material then render. Hope it helps.

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[Link to www.pixila.com]
[Link to www.sharecg.com]

thats cool, I've never used shapemerge before.

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Please support us and post a [Link to www.digitalartsfront.com] on your website.

--Matt

Very nice tut!

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Rick

[Link to www.3dartconcepts.com]