3D Modeling - Lectures

Mac 28th, 2022 - Jul 4th, 2022 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Rusydina Fazlin Athirah Binti Fauzi
3D Modeling
Week 1 [April 1st, 2022]
Lectures

INSTRUCTIONS

Lectures

Week 1 - 3D Modeling Brief

Introduction to 3D Modeling

April 1st, 2022

Mr. Kamal our 3D modeling lecturer started our first class with an introduction from the lecturer himself. He gave quite the insights on his background up until he volunteered as a lecturer, Mr. Kamal covered many topics that regard our module as well, which was quite intriguing. Overall Mr. Kamal gave a lot of information on how he progressed with his work in 3D animating and/or modeling and how it fits into his career as a 3D animator.

Week 2 - Solid Drawing

A brief about Solid Drawing

April 8th, 2022

Mr. Kamal's Solid Drawing elaboration on solid drawing

Today's lecture was all about teaching the students the first few steps into being a 3D modeler. When it comes to that Mr. Kamal stated the many respective roles of a 3D modeler that breaks down into a:

Prop designer
Character designer
Environment designer
UV unwrap

He later then explained how 3D modeling merges into animation, a form that is in 3D and to make sure it can be animated. A modeler of the three-dimensional aspect to it is more of an appeal which regards the different kinds of domains I've stated above and seen in Mr. Kamal's mind map. This all leads back to 'Solid Drawing'.

Solid drawing is fundamental in starting out mediums like 2D and 3D animation styles, especially three dimensional, this medium and a modeler would be able to tell a story either through a:

painting
photograph
animation (2D, 3D)
Live-action
Stop motion

Taking a much further look into Animation, it branches out into game development and 3D animation that supports a story.

Blender brief introduction

This week to start off our first exercise and our first project, Mr. Kamal thought the class how to function the basics of Blender's interface first.

1. Layout

Mr. Kamal showed us the interface of the software that we'll be facing throughout the 14 weeks to come up with a simple way of adjusting our layouts to our own preferences. There were many aspects to it, therefore I'll try to the best of my abilities to list and provide visuals of the relevant layouts that Mr. Kamal showed the class today.

2. Rotation

Next was how to learn to rotate the camera in Blender, and the way to do so was to hold down the middle mouse button (MMB) and move the mouse to achieve the rotation of the object displayed in the software.

3. Tracking/Panning

Soon enough we moved into learning how to track and pan the camera around the object. The shortcuts to do so were to press the shift button and hold down the MMB, later then, move the mouse around to commence the panning of the camera around the object displayed.

4. Zooming in & out

After that, we learned how to zoom into the object and of course zoom out as well. Mr. Kamal acknowledged how there are two ways to zoom in, one of the ways to do so is by using the MMB (but it doesn't have so much of a smoother zoom), the other zoom method is to press ctrl + MMB and start moving mouse forwards or backward to achieve a much smoother zoom.

although both methods are completely fine.

5. Perspectives/Orthographic view (top, right, front (single -> quad view)

ctrl + alt + q, a way to view your object in quadruple displays which are top, right, and front.

6. Selecting objects (& it's shortcut keys)

A way to conveniently select the objects and equip the tools from the toolbar with the following shortcut keys for each tool:

Select box tool: Shortcut key B

Cursor tool: Shortcut key spacebar

Move tool: Shortcut key G

Rotate tool: Shortcut key R

Scale: Shortcut key S

Transform: Shortcut key T

Week 3 - 3D modeling

Introduction to polygonal modeling

April 15th, 2022

Mr. Kamal's third week of 3D modeling class started off with a short consultation of our previous exercise on each student on primitive objects that we formed, mines will be seen below in the 'exercise 1' head title. Other than that, we continued into a brief introduction to our second exercise which was all about shaping cylinders in Blender to make out a composition, and then we moved into starting out our first few tasks in Project 1: Hard Surface Modeling.

Moving on! We started on our lesson that regards our second exercise in polygonal modeling. Mr. Kamal introduced the class to a few new tools to work within Blender, the tools to help further into our Blender editing experiences on the objects.

These tools are located under the interaction objects modes tab, when switched to edit mode, these new tools that Mr. Kamal taught us in class consisted of the:

Extrude
Bevel
Inset
Loop cut

These tools above are going to assist in shaping a cylinder with curves and making up a more detailed look when modeling a bottle-like object.

Mr. Kamal's demonstration on the extrude tool, April 15th, 2022

Other than that most of the lectures transitioned into our tutorial that will be demonstrated under the topic of my exercise 2 for 3D modeling.

Week 4 - 3D modeling

Meshing separate objects into one

April 22nd, 2022

In the fourth week of to 3D modeling class, Mr. Kamal had the class indulge in our new exercise which regards our first project in modeling much bigger objects. The exercise he assigned us acted as good practice and further understanding of each of the appropriate and beneficial tools to help us in our 3D modeling exercise and projects.

The first thing that Mr. Kamal covered in class was regarding our previous exercise, in exercise 2 where we had to 3D model 3 simple objects consisting of any kind of glass, cup, cutlery, etc. From there Mr. Kamal elaborated on how one object can form itself through separate parts of it to form one.

Meshing separate objects into one, April 22nd, 2022

There were different ways to approach this method when modeling since each object has a different form to it. Plus, once project 1 of modeling commences newer methods would be introduced in terms of the form of the object.

Below demonstrates Mr. Kamal's elaboration on a step-by-step of adding two separate parts of an object (the cup + handle) as one. There were quite the processes to it and in a sense would be a way of utilizing this method when modeling other objects. Therefore, it's quite a good basic to know and understand.

Mr. Kamal's meshing demonstration #1, April 22nd, 2022

Mr. Kamal's meshing demonstration #2, April 22nd, 2022

What has mostly emphasized during this demonstration was the key points of processing the steps into joining these objects together and the rest was up to our desires of modeling it.

Meshing keypoints:

Go to quad view > view > quad view option > uncheck lock rotation

To delete faces/vertices on the back of the object as well, switch to wireframe.

Alt + left click to select whole vertices/lines.

Modifier > subdivision > uncheck optimal display > apply (to make the particle smaller)

Add mesh > torus > minor radius ( to make it thinner)

Ctrl + L (to select all connected things)

Select both objects > obj > join

Alt shift Left (select edges), shift alt-left to select multiple sets of edges

Edge > bridge edge loop > adjust number of cuts

Ctrl 1 to make it smoother

shift to 3d cursor on top then scale bottom to flat.

Solidify > thickness > apply (top left)

select vertices or edges, and click x/y/z to do symmetrically.

Knife tool: add vertices freely to the object.

Mark sharp (left click with selected edges, makes edges sharper)

Other than that, Mr. Kamal did another demonstration on guiding us on how to start out our 3rd exercise.

Exercise 3, Knife modeling demonstration by Mr. Kamal, April 22nd, 2022

Since there were its basics of utilizing the tools of extruding the knife object, there were still parts to the methods that were altered and different. Therefore, Mr. Kamal covered assisting the class in how modeling the knife step by step with familiar tools and new ones too.

Week 5 - 3D modeling

Look Development and Rendering

April 29th, 2022

In the fifth week of 3D modeling, it was held entirely online for the next few weeks due to holiday preparations in the following week. But that's beside the point, Mr. Kamal's lecture dove into our lessons that'll assist us on our 1st project; hard surface modeling.

Seen below are mind maps and elaborations of Mr. Kamal's sub-topics which are:

Look development
Rendering

Later then Mr. Kamal did short demonstrations on a short upcoming lesson we'll have in the 6th week all about UV unwrapping, texturing, and shading.

Mr. Kamal's 'Look Development' Lecture Mind Map, April 29th, 2022

Mr. Kamal's 'Rendering' Lecture Mind Map #1, April 29th, 2022

Mr. Kamal's 'Rendering' Lecture Mind Map #2, April 29th, 2022

Moving into the demonstrations, Mr. Kamal presented to the classes ways to render the model through the material properties situated in the right top corner of the scene. It's a way to color and change the type of materials of the models. This can be seen below, other than that, when it came to rendering Mr. Kamal had us into cameras to view and display our model better when rendering them.

A brief sneak peek into shading models demonstration #1

A brief sneak peek into shading models demonstration #2

A brief sneak peek into shading models demonstration #3

These are important and basically easy steps to carry out the demonstrations done by Mr. Kamal:

To change an object's color individually, since choosing a material with multiple objects would color in all of them.

select obj > material properties icon on right side > scroll down > viewport display.

Rendering wise:

Rendering the model under the selection of Eevee, it has much more accurate render use Cycles, although it would engrave some noise grains onto its surfaces.

Amateur level of rendering, Eevee is suitable for fast rendering.

Week 6 - 3D modeling

UV unwrapping, Texturing, and Shading

May 6th, 2022

For the 6th week of 3d modeling, Mr. Kamal progressed into our lesson that'll assist us in working on our hard surface modeling project. There were elaborations and demonstrations on how UV unwrapping worked along with texturing and shading.

Mr. Kamal's 'UV unwrap' Lecture Mind Map, April 29th, 2022

Week 7 - NO CLASSES WERE HELD.

[May 13th, 2022] Mr. Kamal was on Medical Leave, therefore No classes were held. Only progression and completing Project one was the 7th-week task.

Week 8 - INDEPENDENT LEARNING WEEK

[May 20th, 2022] No classes were held due to Independent learning week, a submission for project one was ongoing.

Week 9 - 3D modeling

Organic Modeling

May 27th, 2022

The start of week 9's lesson begins the second project in 3D modeling; all about organic modeling. But before Mr. Kamal gave a brief on our second project he gave a brief insight on what to expect for the second project.

Character Modeling mind map by Mr. Kamal

As seen above, Mr. Kamal gave the classes the basics on how to begin and what to look into when it comes to character modeling, especially in 3D.

The lessons from previous weeks were also mentioned and interrelated into the second project. We are meant to apply all lessons like, modeling, texturing, UV unwrapping, and shading as the final render of the character model as the 2nd project's submission.

For instance, the screengrab of Mr. Kamal's mind above presents ways of effectively modeling an organic 3D character model. We of course need our references, like each exercise and the first project that we'd begin with starts with a reference.

Then we looked into scaling the reference images, making sure that they are accurate so that when modeling it won't be as difficult to shape and model each part of the character.

Mr. Kamal demonstrates a 3D model character example in Blender

Further, in our lesson, Mr. Kamal showed the class a prime example of how the 3d model of a character would display itself in the program. Then he mentioned how for the second project parts of the models don't necessarily have to be fully modeled, which is quite convenient.

Next Mr. Kamal covered topics on rigging. Seen below is a part of the character's model's arm moving, which is a part of the rigging.

Mr. Kamal Demonstarting rigging on the 3D character model

Planning your model

This mind map that Mr. Kamal sketched out is all part of the planning on the organic model that will be carried out by the students soon. Anything and everything about shading, texturing, and UV unwrapping interrelates itself with images that help separate the colors of each of the parts of the character's model.

Rigging, combining and separating differences

More further explanations done by Mr. Kamal can be seen sketched above. Mr. Kamal mentioned how it is important how your model should be shaped and formed well so that it won't make the rigging of the character's limbs, or certain parts that interfere with a part of the model look not neat.

Finally, we looked into topology rigging for the 3D characters, where we are able to animate and create facial expressions of the 3D character's model.

Topology demonstrations on a 3D character in Blender

Digital topology breakdown by Mr. Kamal

Mr. Kamal did a few breakdowns of topology for our better understanding of flat surfaces to 3D model expressions.

Whole-body rigging

-it applied to the whole body of the model as well. Rigging is a setting that can be accessed in Blender, called ' skeleton' where we have to hook up each part of the body to the kind of skeleton designed for the character. Humans are one of the common skeletons, but here are other skeletons for rigging 3D modeled characters, like animals and more.

Week 10 - 3D modeling

Organic modeling further demonstration

June 3rd, 2022

The tenth week into 3D modeling was a continuation of Mr. Kamal assisting the students in completing the second project of organic modeling a character.

Facial expression typology on 3D character models

Mr. Kamal did further demonstrations on shaping and working through the modeling of the character's expression after shaping the body of the character. Furthermore, Mr. Kamal briefed us on our final project, where we are required to model an environmental isometric-like model.

Week 11 - 3D modeling

Organic modeling, rigging the model

June 10th, 2022

In the 11th week of 3D modeling class, lectures continued through Mr. Kamal's generous action of giving us a tutorial and elaborating on how we can rig our 3d character model (even though, it was not required in the second project.) In a way, it acts as extra knowledge or preparation for upcoming semester modules that require rigging 3D character models.

Mr. Kamal's demonstration sketches on Kinesiology

More demonstrations are done by Mr. Kamal on rigging a human 3D model, in terms of implementing the skeleton on the model and connecting each limb of the skeleton to the parts of the 3d character body part.

While along the lines of learning about rigging on a 3D human model. Mr. Kamal demonstrated how we could model human hair as well,

steps to modeling strand of hair:

by using add mesh > curve > bezier in edit mode.
access object data properties (green icon) on the right corner (same with modifier panel), under geometry, manipulate extrude, offset, profile > depth (manipulate).
use the Move tool to manipulate the cursors of the curves.
then, on the left tool panel, choose Radius (pink color), and it will add a yellow circle to the cursors, which can be manipulated to make hair tips sharp and thinner end.
finally bevel menu (right side panel), and there is a graph that can manipulate the curves.

Week 12 - 3D modeling

Final project: THEMED SCENE-BASED MODELING

June 17th, 2022

At the start of the twelfth week in 3D modeling class, we started off by reviewing the class students' completed works before progressing into our final project, when all is said and done.

-Mr. Kamal began with a brief on our final project and demonstrated ways to approach it as our first step to starting this project later on.

The final project requires the students to search through sources of landscape images with a theme of sci-fi, cyberpunk, steampunk, and/or medieval to be transformed and modeled into an isometric display of a late illustration or concept art of that chosen scene.

Now let's dive into the demonstrations of approaching this project with sketches that Mr. Kamal demonstrated for the class this week.

Mr. Kamal demonstrated an example of a chosen scene reference to transform it into a more 3D-like isolated isometric foundation that will be modeled later on in Blender. This is a way to approach the project with a stronger based reference that will ease our way into modeling the scene later on.

Landscape flat sketch to 3D cubical reference blueprint #1

By observing and analyzing the reference covering the highlights of the scene like:

illumination of lights
shadow
sharing
lighting

is important since the project is also very heavily based on making sure that lighting is visible in our final outcome of the model. Also identifying these small details can be a way to overcome issues and make it a simpler solution to translate 2D and/or flat scenes into 3D models with a method that wouldn't take too much of our time.

Landscape flat sketch to 3D cubical reference blueprint #2

Later on, Mr. Kamal made sure that keeping the principles design in place of sketching out our reference image with the rule of thirds can provide a better view and understanding of piecing the flat image into a 3D cubical shape, as seen below:

digital cinematography when 3D modeling

Later on in the class, Mr. Kamal demonstrated a small sneak peek of working out lighting into our models in Blender but most of that will be covered soon in the following week.

lighting in 3D modeling, Blender

Week 13 - 3D modeling

More on 3D scene lighting

June 24th, 2022

In the final weeks of 3D modeling classes held online, Mr. Kamal continued into guiding us in starting out our final 3D project on building a 3D scene-based model and adding lighting to it (which in theory is one of the highlights of requirements in the final project).

Mr. Kamal first started off by explaining the scale of our 3D model scenes and how we can determine it with the help of architecture figures that are implemented into the scene of Blender to assist us in having the size that won't be too be or too small for an actual human being if they were to stand in the room.

importing architecture figure image as a scale reference for model

Later on in the demonstration Mr. Kamal worked through a 3D scene model to showcase the settings of lighting that will be done when we carry out our final project.

3D scene base model mock up

There were many processes throughout this demonstration that Mr. Kamal showed in class, firstly the light that comes shines through the door is the lightning that has already been set on stage, from my understanding we can move the light around to our desires to achieve the kind of lighting angle we want in out 3D scene-based model.

lighting in Blender

Adding and rendering mid-working on the project still wads also a part of the demonstration as seen below:

lighting & rendering in Blender

Next was the baking of the lighting, there were many dotted boxes that were applied to the scene to achieve colored and multiple lights within the room of our chosen theme. For instance, Mr. Kamal was demonstrating cyberpunk lighting within an interior and how the lighting would display itself.

NOTE! once the baking has been set onto the model, there will be no way of editing the lighting.

baking lightning into a 3D scene model

Lastly, Mr. Kamal added a final touch to the room with a text neon sign with the options and settings making it appear of the text glowing fitting into the cyberpunk theme.

finishing touches to the 3D scene room

Week 14 - 3D modeling

Weekly Consultation & brief demos

July 1st, 2022

The final class of the semester started off slow. Mr. Kamal checked in on each of the student's progress in our final project before diving into a demo of ways to add to our final project which is lighting and maybe having a chance to place characters to make the 3D model scene stand out more.

lighting demonstration #1

lighting demonstration #2

Later on in class, Mr. Kamal demonstrated ways to customize the substance or material of the model in a separate program called Substance painter.

program installer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OUuxaSPo4wu5t-9AP2ffahlS4Su-DneM/view

The program allows the artist to apply and work ways with choices and varieties of design that can be put onto the model and I suppose in a much more easier and direct way.

Multiple choices of patterns and designs like what Mr. Kamal is demonstrating in the image above as he prints a kind of floral design upon the clothing of the character model. There are many ways of approaching the designs of the model, although it could be time-consuming since wanting to experiment and try out different designs would start to show.

After the demonstration, the class ended and what was left to do was work on the final project to be consulted one last time and submitted by next week.

Search This Blog

Athirah.blogspot