Skill Project 1: Gift Boxes with Ribbons and Bows
For this project, we get the chance to consolidate the skills we have learnt in the previous 4 classes:
- Class 1: How to Rez and Move prims
- Class 2: Add texture and Colour to Prims
- Class 3: Copy and Link prims
- Class 4: Align and Position Prims
Enough of the theory and class demos.
Let's have some fun!
Gift Box
Prim 1
- Rez a Box
- General Tab:
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- Name it: Gift Box
- Object Tab: make the following changes:
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- Size: X = 0.750, Y = 0.750, Z = 0.750
Ribbon
Prim 2
Shift-Drag a copy of this Box upwards, then Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z) to snap it back to place.
- General Tab:
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- name it: Ribbon 1
- Object Tab:
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- Size: X = 0.770, Y = 0.100, Z = 0.770
Prim 3
Shift-Drag a copy of Ribbon 1 upwards, then Ctrl + Z to snap it back.
- General Tab:
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- Name it Ribbon 2
- Object Tab:
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- Rotation: X = 0.0, Y = 0.0, Z = 90.0
Texture your box and ribbon prims as you like. I have used a silver leaf textured paper with a colour tint for the box and a matching plain colour for the ribbon in this example. I have also changed the Shininess to Medium in the Texture Tab to give the ribbon a shiny, glossy effect.
Bow
Let's add a pretty bow on top of our gift box.
Prim 4
Rez a Torus (first prim of the second row of prims)
- General Tab:
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- Name it Flower Bow 1
- Object Tab:
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- Size: X = 0.100, Y = 0.300, Z = 0.300
- Rotation: X = 0.00, Y = 90.00, Z = 0.00
- Twist: X = -360 (note the negative sign), Y = 360
- Hole Size: X = 0.05, Y = 0.50
- Taper: X = -1.00 (negative number again), Y = 0.00
Prim 5
Shift-Drag a Copy of the first Flower Bow up along the blue arrow.
Ctrl-Z to snap it back down.
- Object Tab:
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- Change the Rotation of this prim to Y = 0.00
Select both Prims and Link them together using Ctrl + L (Mac: Cmd + L)
Now position the flower box on your gift box
Select all 5 prims, click on the Box prim to de-select it, then select it again. (To make the Box prim the root prim - just easier to rez a centred gift box.)
Link all the prims: (Ctrl + L or Cmd + L on your keyboard). All Done! You have a beautiful gift box with a pretty, shiny flower bow on top.
Variations
Now that you have the basic steps to making a gift box with ribbon and bow, feel free to make some minor changes to your box and create lots of different shapes and sizes:
- Stretch and pull your box to make a flatter rectangle
- Widen or narrow the ribbon width
- Add a second narrow ribbon
- Move the ribbon cross-over point off centre
Loop Bow
Let's make another gift box and this time using a Loop Bow.
Use the steps above to make a gift box in any size you like and add some ribbons. In this next example, I have used the following sizes:
- Gift Box Size: X = 1.00, Y = 0.500, Z = 0.150
- Ribbon Size: X = 0.020, Y = 0.020, Z = 1.000
Loop Bow 1
Make a Gift box in what ever size you like using the instructions from above. Add some crossed ribbons and texture it as you like. When you are done, we are ready to start making a loop bow.
- Rez a Torus
- General Tab:
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- Name is Loop 1
- Object Tab:
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- Size: X = 0.050, Y = 0.385, Z = 0.100
- Rotation: X = 344.20, Y = 12.40, Z = 322.75
- Hole Size: X = 1.00, Y = 0.05
- Texture Tab:
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- Texture: blank (white)
- Texture Shininess: Medium
Position this prim just off-centre from the intersection of the ribbon on your box.
Here is a sanity-saving tip: Switch to the Local Ruler Mode to help you align the position of the loop. then switch back to the World Ruler to adjust the height of the loop from the top of the box; it should just touch the top of the ribbon, but not be too high above it.
Loop Bow 2
- Shift-Drag a copy upwards
- Ctrl + Z to snap back
- Rotate and position this second prim diagonally across from the first Loop Bow
Hint: Switch to Local Ruler Mode to help you position the Loop Bow.
Loop Bows 3 and 4
When you are happy with these 2 loop bows, select both of them (yellow outlines around them) and Shift-Drag a copy to the side.
Ctrl + Z to snap them back
Use the Rotation Ruler to rotate the selected prims 45 degrees so they align and complete the set of loops. Don't forget to texture them!
If the Rotation Rulers are causing you too many hassles, here are the rotation numbers I have used to position the Loop Bows:
- Loop bow 2 Rotation: X = 15.80, Y = 347.60, Z = 322.75
- Loop Bow 3 Rotation: X = 347.80, Y = 345.35, Z = 49.45
- Loop Bow 4 Rotation: X = 12.90, Y = 15.40, Z = 49.30
Once you are happy with the position of your bows, select all the prims, de-select/re-select the Box prim, then link all the prims together (Ctrl + l/ Cmd + L)
Time to complete the texturing of your loop bows. Again, I have used a blank texture with Shininess set to Medium. I have also created a seperate lid for this Gift Box. I copied the Box Prims, flattened it a bit and textured it a co-ordinating colour. I also made the lid prim slightly larger that the box prim by adding 0.010 to the size of the X and Y sizes in the Object tab.
You now have the basic steps on making the gift boxes and adding ribbons and bows, you have a folder full of wrapping paper and ribbons, so get our those scissors and tape and start wrapping those presents!
Here's another box that can inspire and challenge you. It uses all the same skills as we have used to make the previous 2 boxes so take the challenge and create your own beautiful gift box.
- Here I used a cylinder prim for the box shape
- I copied and flattened a second cyliner for the lid. Make it 0.015 larger in size than the base cycliner.
- I used flattened spheres that were slightly larger that the box lid for the gold trim on the lid - or, you can use very flat cylinders.
- The bow was made using hollow cylinders that were aligned in groups of 3 loops with 2 non-hollow short cylinders in the centre to make the ribbon ties.
- I used a gold metal texture and changed the Tranaprency to 50% (Texture Tab) to create the gauzy ribbon effect.
