3D Character Creation

Class 10: Color

Topics

Color and Light Design
3D Modeling Pipeline
3D Sculpting
3D Texturing
Project 02

Perfect

Color and Light Design

Poor Understructure

You MUST gesture first. If you look at these drawings you can see I cannot finish them because I did a poor gesture. The figures do not fit in the composition.

Poor Value Rendering

Like a gesture you want to start broad by blocking in your shadows. Avoid soft shadows

You can see here I did not block in my shadows so the images are very flat. I did these in high school and first semester of college.

In a composition you want to pay attention to positive and negative space caused by exotropic shadows. You should also pay attention to the endotropic shadows and the positive and negative shapes it creates.

Poor Value Rendering in CG

Have you ever noticed when characters interact with something CG it look fake. That is because they make masks for shadow and feather them. It would be impossible to create true shadows so they just feather a drop shadow from the mask.

Better Value Rendering

These are from my junior year of college and I finally started blocking shadows. There is much more realistic lighting and a much more 3-Dimensional image.

To help create a more 3-Dimensional image it helps to utilize cross contour hatching and cross hatching, just like when you gesture draw around the figure.

Once you have your general shadows blocked in you can add some subtlety inside the shadow areas.

Some smudging will occur during drawing and that is desired. You can use subtraction (erase) to highlight and define shadows. Don’t forget about core shadows and reflection highlights.

Do Not Smudge to create shadows. Your drawings will lack texture and depth. I hate smudging.

Use a full range of value, from black to white.

Use most of your time you draw for proper layout and understructure before you shade.

Maintain a consistent light source. All shadows should be going in one direction.

Color Scheme

All you need to do is stay to a color scheme. I am bad with color but I know to just not get crazy with it. Just like character design don’t be so literal.

You can see there are multiple scenes here that all have consistent colors.

Color Meaning

Colors convey symbolic and emotional meanings.

Use a color to depict a mood of a scene.

Don’t use literal colors (yellow sun, blue sky, white clouds).

Color can depict weather and time of day.

Use artwork color schemes to help date your film.

Use “loud” colors sparingly, as accents, or they will be competing with each other.

Use color to advance and recede areas of a design (Ariel perspective).

Line is lighter than color, lines read faster.

Color can draw attention. A red rose in an achromatic scene draws a lot of attention to itself. Red on different parts of the body can mean different things. Red nose (sick), red face (embarrassed/mad), hand (caught red-handed), red foot (injury).

Color Use

Use color as representation. Color can say a lot (instead of words). Animation is so much about economy; you want to get as much as you can for as little as possible.

Notice how Hades is cool when he is cool and hot when he is hot.

Corpse Bride is a great example of using color to separate areas, mood, and characters.

3D Modeling Pipeline

3D Modeling Pipeline Overview:

To produce high-end assets the following is the most typical workflow

Character/Set/Prop Design (research, exploratory, & turnaround)
Base Mesh Generation (low poly)
Low/Medium Resolution Sculpt (silhouette)
Retopology
High Resolution Sculpt (anatomy, accessories, details, surface)
Poly Painting
UV Layout
Bake Comparative Maps
Combine Models, Texture, Lighting to Render

Character/Set/Prop Design:

Before you start anything you need to do your homework and produce designs that are not influenced by the computer.

First Research
Produce Exploratory Sketches
Tie Down Final Turnaround

Base Mesh Generation:

The first step in actually producing a high-end model is to produce a base shape you can sculpt onto. It is important to make sure all elements are present in at least a silhouette level.

Production and Object Specific
Can be almost entirely completed this way or just roughed in
Box-Modeling
Primitive Modeling
Edge Loop Method
3D Scan
Dynamic Mesh
Software Specific Mesh Generation
Future??

Sculpting:

This is very similar to traditional sculpting. It is important to work broad to specific. Develop the whole form overall and slowly tighten the model and work in more and more details across the entire figure

Low Resolution Sculpt (silhouette)
Medium Resolution Sculpt (anatomy, accessories)
High Resolution Sculpt (details)
HD Resolution Sculpt (surface)

Texturing:

Once you have the “skin” of the model you need to “paint” it. This involves prepping the model by rebuilding it if necessary, filleting the figure into UV islands that are flat and paintable, painting color, shininess, bumpiness, etc. onto the surface of the model.

Retopology

The process of producing a new mesh with better geometry over top of geometry that is poor

Can be done before sculpting, after sculpt, sometimes even after texturing, or not at all if the base mesh is accurate enough
UV Layout

Basically taking your 3D model and flattening it into a 2D version

You typically complete this before texturing but it is possible to complete it after in Zbrush
Texturing

Painting color, specular, bump, transparency, etc. information on the model
Bake Comparative Maps

Automated process of producing texture maps on typically low poly models from their high poly version.

3D Texturing & Sculpting

Color Scheme

All you need to do is stay to a color scheme. I am bad with color but I know to just not get crazy with it. Just like character design don’t be so literal.

You can see there are multiple scenes here that all have consistent colors.

Basic Sculpting (Mudbox)

Mudbox

Autodesk Mudbox will be the primary piece of software used in this course. It is free for students to download and use with proper registration. This application allows you to create organic high-resolution models and textures. It’s primary focus is on a simple intuitive interface that utilizes a robust layer system that allows the artist to sculpt and paint directly on the polygonal form.

…You can sculpt and paint cool stuff.

Sculpting:

The core of Mudbox is sculpting. More than anything else, this is what separates it from other programs.

Ninety percent of what you sculpt with be done with just these two brushes, especially to start.

Brushes:

Sculpt Brush: The most basic brush. Simply does addition or subtraction from the surface

Move Brush: Allows the user to pull and push the surface of the object

Hotkeys (with Maya preset):

Like most 3D programs it is required that you learn certain keys to quickly select tools or modify an operation. Below are the most useful. There are more that you may find by going to Windows>Hotkeys. You may also adjust, change, or create hotkeys in the popup menu.

Navigation

Alt + Left Click & Drag: rotate camera view
Alt + Middle Click & Drag: Pan camera view
Alt + Right Click & Drag: Zoom/dolly-in camera view
F: Frame on mouse
A: Frame selection
W: Wireframe visibility toggle
Shift + D: Subdivide model
Page Up: Level up model subdivision
Page Down: Level down model subdivision

Modifiers

Ctrl+Left Click & Drag: Inverse tool (ex. addition becomes subtraction)
Shift + Left Click & Drag: Smooth

Universal

Ctrl + Z: Undo last action
Shift + Z: Redo last action
Ctrl + S: Save
Ctrl + C: Copy
Ctrl + V: Paste

Tools/Options/Etc.

B+Left Click & Drag: Brush size (diameter)
M+Left Click & Drag: Brush strength (amplitude)
Space: Hotbox (context based quick tool selection and functions menu)
1, 2, 3, 4, etc.: Select corresponding tool visible in bottom panel
I + Left Click: Eyedropper
Shift + M: Freeze all
Shift + U: Unfreeze all
Shift + I: Invert freeze

Basic Sculpting (Zbrush)

Sculpting:

The core of Zbrush is sculpting. More than anything else, this is what separates it from other programs.

Ninety percent of what you sculpt with be done with just these two brushes, especially to start.

Brushes:

Standard Brush: The most basic brush. Simply does addition or subtraction from the surface

Move Brush: Allows the user to pull and push the surface of the object

Standard brush on sphere (With no modifier, adds to the surface. With the alt modifier, subtracts from the surface)

Hotkeys:

Like most 3D programs it is required that you learn certain keys to quickly select tools or modify an operation. Below are the most useful.

Modifiers (in workspace [not on model])

Click & Drag: Rotate camera(view)
Alt + Click & Drag: Pan camera(view)
Alt + Click & Drag then Release: Zoom/dolly-in camera(view)
Ctrl + Click: Invert mask
Ctrl + Click & Drag: Clear mask
Shift + Click & Drag: Snap to view (left, right, front, back, top, botom)
Alt + Ctrl + Click & Drag: Unmask an area of a surface to make it manipulable
Ctrl + Shift + Click & Drag: Make only the area marque-ed visible

Modifiers (on model)

Alt + Click & Draw: Invert whatever tool is currently being used (ex. if used with the standard brush it will push in as opposed to pull out)
Ctrl + Click & Draw: Mask an area of surface to make it invulnerable to manipulation
Shift + Click & Draw: Smooths the surface of the model
Alt + Ctrl + Click & Draw: Unmask an area of a surface to make it manipulable
Ctrl + Shift + Click: Make all visible
Ctrl + Shift + Click & Drag: Over empty area of workspace makes all invisible
Ctrl + Shift + Click & Drag: Over an area of the model to make only that area visible
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + Click & Drag: Make the area marque-ed invisible

Universal

Ctrl + Z: Undo last action
Ctrl + S: Save
Ctrl + C: Copy
Ctrl + V: Paste

Tools/Options/Etc.

Space: Popup brush settings menu
Q: Draw/Pointer tool
W: Move tool
E: Scale tool
R: Rotate tool
B + Other Letters: Press B to bring up the brush menu, then press other letters to specify the brush desired (ex. B>S>T for standard brush)
T: Toggle edit Object (drop tool to canvas)
Ctrl + N: Clear canvas (on model not in edit mode)

Blender

Blender:

Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation. Advanced users employ Blender’s API for Python scripting to customize the application and write specialized tools; often these are included in Blender’s future releases. Blender is well suited to individuals and small studios who benefit from its unified pipeline and responsive development process.

-Blender.org

1: Menus

Basic file management such as open, close, save,etc. Change preferences, settings, display etc.

2: Workspaces

There are different “areas” inside blender. They can be switched to by select each tab. Each workspace is organized specifically for its purpose.

3: 3D Viewport

This is the primary area you work withing. By default this is the 3D space your various objects such as models, lights, cameras, particles, exist.

4: Outliner

This is basically a list area that you may view the objects in your scene, files, and varioius other items. It’s an organizational area of what is included in your file.

5: Properties

This panel contains the specific information of the scene and whatever objects you currently have selected. It allows you to make adjustments, connections, and create various items.

6: Timeline

Very typical animation style timeline that gives you access to the frames, keys, and other controls dealing with motion.

7: Status Bar

This does two primary jobs. One is that it will tell you what is currently happening but it will also give you tips such as modifier keys, tool options, etc.

Hotkeys:

Like most 3D programs it is required that you learn certain keys to quickly select tools or modify an operation. Below are the most useful.

Navigation

MM Click & Drag: Rotate camera(view)
Shift + MM Click & Drag: Pan camera(view)
Ctrl + MM Click or Scroll wheel: Zoom camera(view)
Alt + MM Click & Drag: Snap to orthographic view
. (on numpad): Focus on object/component (selected)
Alt + MM Click: Focus on object/component (clicked)

Interface

Tab: Toggle object/component mode
1 2 3: Vertex select, edge select, face select.
N: Reveals the N-panel that displays the selections transform information, tool options, and camera settings
Q: Quick Favorites. Righ-click on anything to add it to your Quick Favorites

Universal

Ctrl + Z: Undo last action
Ctrl + S: Save
Ctrl + C: Copy
Ctrl + V: Paste

Transforms

W: Draw/Pointer tool
G: Move tool
S: Scale tool
R: Rotate tool
G or S or R Then X or Y or Z: Press transform (G/S/R) hotkey, then press letter identifying axis to lock

Tools/Options/Etc.

Shift + A: Add mesh
E: Extrude
Ctrl + R: Loop cut
K: Knife
RM Click: Right clicking on an element will reveal context sensitive tools if you cannot remember the hotkeys

Painting

Texturing Process:

Like all projects it is best to work broad to specific.

Texture Painting Process:

Primary Colors
: The first step is to simply apply the main areas of color over the entire model.
Secondary Colors: After the entire model has been painted the next step is to paint secondary colors, things like patterns, stripes, logos, text, etc.
Variation: Apply varied colors that broadly appears like the primary and secondary coloring (ex. if you look at skin you will see a ton of variation).
Textures: Using both color and bump mapping you will add the texture of the surfaces.
Details: Add minor details. You should attempt to produce surfaces that show history. This is usually best achieved by using grunge maps.
Pre-Shading/Rosiness: In order to make a model really pop it is usually best to darken areas that recede and lighten areas that ascend. It is also a good idea to add redness at the superficial areas of skin.

Project 02

3D Character Model Project

The first project is to complete a realistic bipedal model. It doesn’t have to be human. That means is that you may do an elf, dwarf, or other humanoid person. The model should be as accurate and believable as possible. The final product should be something that would be suitable for a triple A game.

You will be graded on the following:

Geometry:
- There are no errors in the geometry. Few tris used. Appropriate polycount.
Topology:
- Gridflow is strong. Topology follows architecture well. Should fully support quality deformation.
Texturing:
- Well-crafted UV’s and elaborate materials are developed. Painted textures are fully developed with a strong sense of color theory. Fully “fleshed” out details are included.
Creativity & Craftsmanship:
- Well structured, clean model. Novel, unique design.\

Resources:

Assignment Video Tutorials: You may watch the tutorial videos below to help you complete your assignment.

Assignment Video Tutorials

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Submit 3D Character Model Project on Canvas