3 golden rules of 3D modeling

I have taught basic 3D modeling classes in different programs at different universities in the Midwest. Students always want to dive in on the first day and start doing things in 3D. In fact, in my classes we won’t even touch the computer until we cover some broader concepts.

Everyone wants to be more productive and efficient in their 3D modeling process. Are here The 3 golden rules of 3D modeling:

Just build what you can see.

You’d think it would be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many newbies get caught up trying to get the smallest detail on the model right, when in reality, they spend too much time concentrating on unnecessary details that aren’t even visible. in final production. You should spend some serious time planning your project before you even start 3D modeling. If you don’t want to take the time to storyboard, at least get your ideas down on paper and sketch out a general plan to follow. This is even more important if you work as part of a team. Make sure everyone on the team understands the goal from the start, and plan what you want everyone to focus on during production.

Know your bottom line.

Again, obvious question, right? Are you working on an animation or print project? High poly or low poly. What is the scale? How much detail is required? These are the questions to ask yourself BEFORE you start building models. I hate seeing artists spend hours working backwards or redoing work because they didn’t clearly define the project or because of poor planning. In a professional setting, time is of the essence, and when there are multiple artists working on the project, any downtime compounds quickly—you won’t get it back.

If it seems correct, it probably is.

This is the important one. It’s a visual world out there. Today people are surrounded by screens, billboards, magazines, etc. We are literally bombarded by visual information at all hours of the day. So we have developed a pretty good visual vocabulary. If something looks “right” they will accept it in a heartbeat and not even give it a second thought. However, if something is out of place or looks “fun”, it is clearly “wrong”, and everyone will notice it right away. Create 3D models that look good, even if they’re not necessarily perfect. As long as it looks good, it will be accepted by the naked eye, and no one will notice those little details that you couldn’t figure out. Don’t dwell on the details (see #1).

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in or what software you use – if you learn the proper 3D modeling techniques and project management skills, you’ll always be in demand.