Virtual Vixens: 3D Character Modeling and Scene Placement

317 Pages·2007·101.225 MB·English

by  Arndt von Koenigsmarck

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Cover Image: Liam Kemp
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Translation: Frank Wagenknecht
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Koenigsmarck, Arndt von.
[Femme Digitale. English]
Virtual vixens : 3D character modeling and scene placement / Arndt von Koenigsmarck.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-240-80980-9 (pbk.)
1. Computer animation. 2. Computer graphics. 3. Three-dimensional display systems. I. Title.
TR897.7.K63 2007
006.6'96--dc22
2007014120
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-0-240-80980-9
For information on all Focal Press publications
visit our website at www.books.elsevier.com
07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Virtual Vixens
3D Character Modeling
and Scene Placement
Arndt von Koenigsmarck
AMSTERDAM (cid:129) BOSTON (cid:129) HEIDELBERG (cid:129) LONDON
NEW YORK (cid:129) OXFORD (cid:129) PARIS (cid:129) SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO (cid:129) SINGAPORE (cid:129) SYDNEY (cid:129) TOKYO
Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier
Renowned 3D Artists
Present their Work
Steven Stahlberg ........................... 5
Marco Patrito ............................... 21
Daniel Moreno Diáz ...................... 35
Andrea Bertaccini ......................... 53
Sze Jones ..................................... 77
Liam Kemp ................................... 85
Francois de Swardt ....................... 99
Max Edwin Wahyudi .....................113
K. C. Lee ......................................129
From Head to Toe:
Continuous Workshops for
Modeling Virtual Characters
Workshop 1: Creating and Preparing Templates ................ 136
Workshop 2: The Human Eye .......................................... 150
Workshop 3: Modeling the Head .................................... 164
Workshop 4: Modeling the Hands ................................... 204
Workshop 5: Texturing and Lighting ................................. 226
Workshop 6: Clothing and Hair ...................................... 246
Workshop 7: Modeling the Female Body .......................... 266
Glossary ....................................................................... 306
Appendix 1: Weblinks .................................................... 310
Introduction
Reproducing real or fictional figures has Structure of the Book
always been a main interest in the art world(cid:3)
Modern computer graphics continue with In order to give you the widest possible
this tradition and enable the creation of range of tips and inspiration to create 3D
more and more realistic three(cid:4)dimensional characters(cid:2) I split this book into two parts(cid:3)
(3D) representations(cid:3) These characters can In the first half I present the worlds best
even be brought to life in animations(cid:2) which 3D character artists(cid:3) Names like Steven
has resulted in virtual stars having admirers Stahlberg(cid:2) Liam Kemp(cid:2) and Marco Patrito
and fans alike(cid:3) Characters such as Lara Croft are well known on the scene(cid:2) but artists
from the computer game “Tomb Raider” who are not as visible(cid:2) such as Sze Jones
or the scientist Aki Ross from the movie from the special effects firm Blur Studio(cid:2)
Final Fantasy are known even to those are also represented(cid:3) This way you can learn
who normally don’t get involved with 3D about different ways of constructing a 3D
graphics(cid:3) It is noticeable that the majority character and become inspired in your own
of these characters are female(cid:3) The main work(cid:3) I also give every artist space to talk
reason for this could be the fact that the about themselves(cid:3) You will not only get
typical computer gamer is mainly of the valuable tips about how these professionals
male gender(cid:3) work(cid:2) but also hear about their education(cid:2)
preferred software(cid:2) and social and work
For many years I dealt professionally with environments(cid:3) For this reason I am very
the subject of 3D graphics(cid:3) Some readers grateful for their openness and proud to
might know me from my other articles and be able to present some of their exclusive
books about the 3D software Cinema 4D(cid:3) material in this book(cid:3)
Even though the work I do at my company
Vreel 3D Entertainment (www(cid:3)vreel3D(cid:3) The second part of the book invites you to
de) is mainly about the visualization of bring 3D characters to life(cid:3) There I present
architectural projects(cid:2) products(cid:2) and work two extensive workshops that describe
processes(cid:2) I have not lost interest in working the complete work cycle of modeling 3D
with 3D characters(cid:3) characters(cid:3) This includes all necessary
Introduction 3
steps(cid:2) beginning with the first sketch and Downloading Work Material
preparation of the template to modeling and
texturing of the characters(cid:2) and finishing I have provided the files that are necessary
with lighting and rendering(cid:3) After you have to follow all of the workshops(cid:3) You can
completed the workshops you should be able download the images and references (case
to develop and pose your own 3D character(cid:3) sensitive) at http://www(cid:3)vreel(cid:4)3D(cid:3)de/
Since we won’t use any previously made 3DCharacter/Referenzen(cid:3)zip
objects in these workshops(cid:2) it will be up to
you to use your imagination when creating In this regard I would like to thank Dania
your own virtual character(cid:3) Dobslaf for acting as my model(cid:2) and Richard
Polak and Peter Levius(cid:2) from the website
www(cid:3)3d(cid:3)sk(cid:2) who provided me with additional
Which Software Do I Need? reference material(cid:3)
It does not matter which 3D software I hope you have lots of fun reading this book
you work with as long as it is possible to and wish you success with completing the
construct objects from polygons and smooth workshops(cid:3)
them with subdivision surfaces(cid:3) This can be
achieved with all common programs like 3ds Arndt von Koenigsmarck
Max(cid:2) Maya(cid:2) Softimage XSI(cid:2) Lightwave 3D(cid:2) or
Cinema 4D(cid:3)