Design & AnimationMobile Game Development

5 Highly Used 3D Modelling Techniques You Should Know

By 6th October 2017 No Comments

Have you ever heard the term ‘3D Modelling’? Well, it is the use of computers to create appealing graphics and images that appear to have 3 dimensions. You can easily make digital copies of everyday things – vehicles, machinery parts and many others for the purpose of visualization, communication and replication.

In order to create perfect 3D models, a little bit coding knowledge and proficiency on 3D animation software programs such as: Autodesk Maya and 3ds Max are required. The general process involves connecting set of points with lines, curved surfaces and geometric data to create wireframe models.

Just like animation, 3D modelling also requires a lot of creativity and imagination to create characters that stands out from rest. People who enjoy and thrive working in a team will enjoy 3D modelling for sure. We are now listing the common techniques used to create 3D assets for games:

  • Box/Subdivision Modelling: It is a polygonal modeling technique in which the artist starts with a geometric primitive and then refine its shape until the preferred look is accomplished. If we talk about Box modelers, they usually work in stages, starting with a low-resolution mesh, shape refinements and then subdividing the mesh to ease out hard edges and add some details. The process of subdividing and refining is a repetitive task until the mesh contains enough polygonal details to convey the concept correctly. Box modeling is the most common type of polygonal modelling and extensively used in conjunction with edge modelling techniques.
  • Edge/Contour Modelling: In edge modelling, instead of starting with a primitive shape, the model is built piece by piece by placing loops of polygonal faces with prominent contours and filling gaps between them. To properly model a face requires an excellent management of edge flow and topology and the precision afforded by contour modelling can be indispensable. Important to mention here that it is easier to build an outline of the eye and then model the rest from there instead of shaping a well-defined eye-socket from a solid polygonal cube. Once the eyes, lips, jawline and nose are modeled, rest falls into place automatically.
  • NURBS/Spline Modelling: This modelling technique specifically used for automotive and industrial modelling. NURBS models are consisted of smoothly interpreted surfaces created by lofting a mesh between 2 or more Bezier curves. NURBS curves are basically created with a tool that functions similarly to the pen tool used in MS Paint or Adobe Illustrator. The curve is drawn in 3D scape and edited by moving a series of handles known as CONTROL VERTICES. In order to model a NURBS space in a perfect way, the artist places curves along prominent contours and the software interpolates the space between automatically. This is indeed very fast modelling technique for radical objects like: vases, wine glasses, plates etc.
  • Procedural Modelling: In this modelling, anything can be generated algorithmically instead of creating manually by the hand of an artist. Here, objects or scenes are created on the basis of user definable rules or parameters. Very often, procedural modelling is used for organic constructs such as: trees and foliage where there is a lot of complexity involved and that would be really time-consuming affair for an artist to capture by hand.
  • 3D Scanning: The 3D scanning technique is all about digitizing real world objects when a superior-level of photorealism is needed. A real world object is analyzed, scanned and raw data is used to generate an accurate polygonal. Often, scanning comes into picture when a digital representation of a real-world actor is required.

The biggest advantage of 3D Modeling is that it has drastically improved graphics, props and locations seem to be as realistic as possible. Such magnificent improvements have made 3D gaming more enjoyable for gamers worldwide. Now, players feel that they are part of the game, all thanks to the creative graphic artists who made this possible.

At Ommzi, we cater to the 3D modelling requirements of our clients by performing the tasks on time whether they are big or small. We are a team of highly creative artists who know juggling with difficult tasks perfect the art of creativity and that’s what keeps us on the track of delivering quality 3D modeling solutions.

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