THE FUTURE STARTS HERE
3D Modelling – Techniques covered in Game Art Courses
What makes a 3D model?
Each 3D model is made of three basic elements
• Vertices - individual points in 3D space that define the corners and intersections of a mesh.
• Edges – they define the boundaries of a surface in the 3D model
• Faces - the surface of the 3D model
All three functional elements come together to form a 3D model.
What makes a 3D model?
To manipulate the 3D model, you’ll either change, create, alter any one or two or three of these elements.
For Example – Turning a cube into a cuboid will involve changing the vertices, the faces’ dimension will change to match the vertices.
What makes a 3D model?
3D Models can be shown on a 2D screen through a process known as 3D rendering (much like the 3D object on the right)
They can also be created/crafted into physical 3D objects by 3D printers.
3D Model of a duck
Note : this is an example of 3D Rendering!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Main types of Modelling
There are three main types
• Solid Modelling – involved manipulating basic shapes such as cubes, spheres and so on.
• Wireframe Modelling – For Complex shapes, best described as a collection of Faces, each with at least 3 vertices
• Surface Modelling – most advanced technique, involves using guiding lines to define shape and curvature
All three functional elements come together to form a 3D model.
Key Principles of Modeling Manipulation
There are three main types
• Boolean Process – creating complex shapes by combining and/or subtracting existing objects
• Pick & Place – Self-explanatory
• Parametric and Procedural Modelling –Involves using mathematical equations to define size, shape, position etc
• Sculpting – involves adding or subtracting material similar to traditional clay sculpting –ideal for crafting character models
Student Artwork – Digital Sculpting for Artists Course at MAGES Institute
Must-Know 3D Modelling Jargon
3D Rendering – it is the process of showing a 3D model on a 2D screen, done by a 3D renderer/rendering engine.
Popular rendering engines include Blender and Unreal Engine.
Mesh – A collection of polygons in 3D objects, used to refer to the complexity of any 3D model
Ambient Lighting – much like in real-life, ambient lighting is a uniform multidirectional light that illuminates the 3D model
Must-Know 3D Modelling Jargon
Texture Mapping – Best explained as applying paint/sticker/vinyl to your model
Tris & Quads – A polygon on a model with 3 sides or 4 sides, respectively
Topology – the distribution of a model’s edge and its structure, it directly affects texturing and animation
Rigging – Creating the 3D object’s “skeleton” so that it can be animated – this is usually done for characters, and props which transform in a specific way
Tools to get started
• Getting started with anything can be a daunting task.
• To start with digital artwork, you can use a drawing tablet or a drawing app such as Adobe Photoshop and Procreate
It is highly recommended to begin with a rough 2D sketch of the model you’d like to create
• Blender is a free and open-source 3D modeling software and is supported by numerous community resources for learning.
Tools to get started
Fundamental Concepts
● Once you are comfortable with the tools, stylus, and shape, you can move to the other level of understanding by learning all the fundamental concepts.
● These concepts apply to both traditional and digital artwork. This includes concepts like forms and structure, perspective, anatomy, composition, values, and colours.
Learning Courses
● Choosing a beginner-level digital art course will help you set a new path and get more opportunities. A guided course will be far more effective than learning on your own.
Some Examples - Props
A Wooden Cabinet Prop made by a Student in Game Art Program At MAGES Institute
Some Examples - Environment
Italy by So Hasegawa, made by a Student in Game Art Program At MAGES Institute
Some Examples - Environment
Ancient Temple by Keith Lim, a Student in Game Art
Program At MAGES Institute
Some Examples - Character
A character model made by a Student in Game Art Program At MAGES Institute
Some Examples - Character
A character model made by a Student in Game Art Program At MAGES Institute
THE FUTURE STARTS HERE
3D Modelling –Techniques covered in Game Art Courses
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