All The Info
Assessment 12
Computer modeling is the most important skill I am refining this year through my original work in Autodesk Maya an industry standard 3D modeling software. However, there are many other common pieces of software that are used for 3D modeling work. Particularly Autodesk 3ds Max is a common alternative to Maya though it mainly alters workflow and adds some architectural features that are helpful. Similarly, ZBrush has a strong hard surface modeling workflow in addition to its more well-known sculpting capabilities. However, in comparison to 3ds Max ZBrush adds different features that allow for a strong workflow between Maya and ZBrush for some models. Working between the softwares allows for the features of both to be combined so that more detailed models can be made at higher speeds. ZBrush has some main features that set it apart from other software including QMesh and circular shape creation.
Retopologizing
Research Assessment 7
Retopologizing is an important concept for 3D modeling for video games and virtual reality in order to create a lowered polygon count on a model. The foundational idea is to take a model with bad topology and a high polygon count and recreate the model using retopologizing tools. This process has three main concepts including the retopologizing tools, topology, and the polygon count.
UV Mapping
Research Assessment 6
In the 3D industry UV mapping is a key skill set that is critical to have as a modeler or a texture artist. UV mapping allows for textures to be created for an asset in a way that has no distortion and equal resolution throughout the model. These aspects of the texture in a model are extremely important to an asset that is going to be used in any setting and makes UV unwrapping and layout critical concepts to understand and be able to implement.
Low Polygon Modeling
Research Assessment 5
Low polygon modeling is extremely important in the video game industry and is a necessary skill for all modelers in video games. The advantage of low polygon modeling is that it cuts down on the number of faces which allows for a better rendering speed of assets. This advantage is what makes low polygon modeling significant for video games that need to use real-time rendering. However, this is not a technique used in 3D modeling for films since all of the frames are rendered through a render farm. Thus film models do not need to meet a polygon count and are higher polygon and higher quality models as a whole. Overall low polygon modeling is a useful skill to have for both video games and virtual reality.
Substance Painter
Research Assessment 4
Substance Painter is a 3D painting and texturing software designed by Allegorithmic designed mainly for game assets. This is comparable to Mari in the animated film industry, and the main difference between the two software packages is the usage. The usage differs in part due to the fact that video games are rendered in real time and need to have textures that support the real-time render process while films do not need to have textures that support the real-time rendering process. Additionally, Substance has a workflow that works better with procedural texturing which is something that benefits the games industry. Thus, substance painter is something that is good to learn for those going into the games industry.
3D Printing
Research Assessment 3
3D printing is a relatively new tool in the creative industry and allows 3D artists to create the work they have in computer software in the real world. The concepts of 3D printing are spreading at a rapid pace across the world and even across various industries as it is being used for creative and practical purposes. As a whole this technology has brought a new wave of innovation to many industries and can be used for various purposes in the creative industry such as concepting characters and prototyping colors. However, while the uses for 3D printing are rather small in scope currently it is a task that will continue to grow in importance over the years and as such will become a more useful skill to have across various disciplines.
Anatomical Sculpting
Research Assessment 2
ZBrush is a very powerful tool often used to create lots of concept art and models for approval from art directors and modeling leads. ZBrush is used by modelers due to how quickly modelers can sculpt entire characters and add textures to the sculpts at a very high resolution. It creates very good sculptures and is often considered to be a more artistic software than programs such as Maya which is more technical. However, ZBrush has various disadvantages in topology and its uses for animation. Most notably it creates very high resolution sculpts that have millions of polygons that use poor topology and cannot be animated. Thus models have to be retopologized in order to be animated for games or film. Although it has disadvantages ZBrush is very good for sculpting concepts of characters and part of all characters is anatomy which is important particularly in humanoid characters that all have the same basic anatomical structure.
ZBrush Sculpting
Research Assessment 1
ZBrush is a three-dimensional sculpting software that is from Pixologic and is designed to be a sculpting software that is similar to working with clay in the real world. This is a software I learned about through my mentorship last year and wanted to explore further due to its importance as a software to create concept art in a time efficient manner. When I learned of ZBrush last year I was told that it was often used for concept art t in order to receive approval of a design before either creating a model from scratch or retopologizing the mesh from ZBrush. Due to its importance to the 3D industry in games and film, I started learning ZBrush last year and will be continuing to work on my skills this year. To learn this software I began by following tutorials in order to learn how to create a simple 3D sculpt of a creature.
