BINEDIT 2.0+ ILLUSTRATED

Plotting Vertex Coordinates

Vertex points are simple points in 3d space which help define shapes and are what faces (polygons) attach to. The cube above uses 8 vertex points numbered 0 to 7 (all bins begin with vertex point 0, not 1).

The spacing assigned to each point are called binedit units. As you can see by the diagram above each point requires three values assigned to it to designate it's location in 3d space. The Y axis designates vertical height, the X axis designates the width, and the Z axis designates the depth dimentions of the model.

Where the three axes meet in the center designates absolute zero or the center of the model. The vertex coordinates at center are, [Y - 0] [X - 0] [Z - 0]. Any positive value/number (1, 10, 100 etc.) assigned to a vertex will move it in that direction, any negative value/number (-1, -10, -100 etc.) assigned will move it in the opposite direction.

There's a reason my graphic above uses graph paper as a background. Graph paper makes the perfect tool to sketch the model you want to build on because the squares are calculating the binedit units for you, keeping it all in relative proportion. You do not need to worry about making your model exactly to scale or in perfect proportion at this point because those things can be perfected and easily adjusted in BinEdit once your base model is complete. For now we just need something close we can work with in BinEdit.

For the demo model seen in the graphic above I drew a simple cube with each side covering 8 squares by 8 squares on the graph paper. For simplicities sake, and quick calculating I'm calling each graph square on the paper the equivelent of 25 Binedit units. 8x25=200 BE units, it's that easy. You can use any number you like, 10, 50, 100, whatever is easiest for you.

Once you have a draft of a model you want to make on paper, with vertex points marked along with the X,Y,Z, coordinates jotted down then you're ready to open up BinEdit and begin to make your model. If you don't have anything prepared but just want to give this a try then use my cube image above for now. Or, if you don't have any graph paper handy you can save this piece and use it to sketch on in your paint program.

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