Free Software, Blender – https://www.blender.org/
Not-Free Software, Maya – https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/maya/overview?plc=MAYA&term=1-YEAR&support=ADVANCED&quantity=1
Before starting collage I used Blender. Blender is completely free to use and the basics are easy to learn. Its almost on the same level as Maya so its the best free 3D modeling software.
Maya is what many company use to make their 3D models. This is why my collage uses it as going not a job knowing blender when there’s a higher chance of them using Maya would not be very good.
Information
WHAT IS 3D MODELING?
3D modelling is using concept art to make a model of a character and/or object. A model is made up of polygons which are tris (triangles) and quads (for sided shapes). Anything with more than four sides is not good to use as it causes many problems for the development team. The model is made of polygons which make a mesh. Add bones will make a rigg for animation e.g. idle, walk, run.
WHERE IS IT USED IN MODERN DAY/WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
3D modelling is used in modern day. It is used in films and games to blueprint designs and medical practice. For films 3D models are mainly used for creators and to make things that can’t physically happen on set happen e.g. gravity, wings, dragon. For work like buildings and doctors 3d modelling is used to design the building or to show students how to perform surgery.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR IN GAMES?
3D modelling is used for creating multiple things in games. For a full 3D game, it will be used for almost everything. From the ground your player will walk on to the weapons you wield. £d modelling in games will be used for rocks. The development team will make many different rocks and stones but reuse them around the map as to save time. As for the things yiu see in the distance if you can’t reach or walk on it, it will most likely be 2D. As for things like characters and animals, they will have riggs so the developer can move them for walk animations and idle animations.
WHAT SOFTWARE DO PEOPLE USE FOR 3D MODELLING?
People use a couple different things. The main two I’ve found are maya and blender. Maya is used by many companies. As for indie developers and modelling artist they use blender. I personally prefer blender as the short keys make sense and are in places you can get to without confused. Though maya is more professional. I have not used Maya enough to tell you the pros and cons of it and so far, I have struggled with it. You can import already made animals and people which I don’t think you can do in blender.
WHAT IS THE BASIC PIPELINE FOR 3D MODELLING?
The basic pipeline for 3D modelling is a process from story board to full release. The first step of the pipeline is to story board the scene you want to do for let’s say an animation. Stage two will be to plan and model the assets you will need in this sense e.g. characters and objects. After you have modeled everything you will need to make the layout for the scene. Get your character in position and start the animation. Once the animation is finished it might still look a bit funny. The second to last step is to add VFX effects to the animation. Like flames for the fire or water splashes for a puddle. After finalizing the animation, you will then render the scene and be done maybe do another scene.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LOW POLY AND HIGH POLY?
High and low poly are how many polygons (tris and quads) are in the model. High poly means they will be more quads/tris in the model which will add more details. Low poly may have little polygons but if you texture it right it can still look highly detailed.
WHAT CONSTRAINTS DO YOU FACE IN 3D MODELLING?
Some constraints of 3D modelling are mostly found in businesses. When you’re working on your own project at how they aren’t really any constraints. However, when you’re at work you will most likely has limits. The game your making will have a deadline for when the company wants the game out. The game will also have a theme so many things will be restricted or opened. Realistic will stop you from modeling cartoons or maybe it will stop fantasy like modeling dragons.
Glossery
Poly Count – When your on poly count you will be able to see how many polys you have e.g. quads and tris. Unless you select a section in the sense it will show you all the visible polys. If you do select a place in the sense it will show you all visible polys in that location.
Extrude Tool – Using this will pull out a face of your choose. When selecting a face on a mesh you can extrude it and it will grow out from that face without effecting the rest of the shape.
Multi-Cut & Edge Loops – This tool will allow you to make sections in the mesh. If you want to extrude half of one face you can use this cut tool to split the selected face in half. holding shift will allow you to cut all the way around the shape not use on one side.
Combine – When selecting multiple meshes you can select combine which will join them all. Now when you grab one it will select all.
Separate – After combining multiple meshes you may want to separate them again. Just select the combined mesh and go to separate which will make the group if mesh back to being different pieces.
Practice
I have modeled three vehicles. A van, car and trailer. I first used a simple square and stretched it out. Making two cuts allowed me to pull up the middle section so i have a very low poly car. After that i add more cuts so i can change the shape and making less blocky. As you can see in the middle the car looks a lot more realistic then a upside-down t. Finally I add some cylinders to make wheels. Shrinking them down to make perfect size wheels for each vehicle. The vans wheels are bigger then the cars and the cars bigger then the trailer. The main three tools i used was rotate, scale and move.
For the table and chair i made a square and again cut it and stretched a new face out from it. I made the four legs and the table is done. To do the chair I coped the table and shrunk it. I cut it more and added the back of the chair and done!
Eleanor's Blog 