OBDF 311 Hopes & Dreams

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 For this class I have a specific goal to learn 3d modeling software that is used for videogame design. To begin, I must understand which software's are most relevant as well as accessible.

To start I searched up job listings of various game artist positions to view the required experience.





Using these listings and a few web searches I compiled a list of any program I saw mentioned     
  • Maya 
  • Substance Painter 
  • Marmoset Toolbag
  • ZBrush
  • Photoshop
  • 3D Coat
  • Unity
  • Motion Builder
  • Premiere 
  • Unreal Engine 
  • Autodesk 3ds Max
  • Blender
Oh boy....

So, the wide consensus seems to be that Maya is leading industry. It's used for feature films and AAA videogames. Unfortunately, Maya is not exactly accessible as the school does not provide it and subscriptions are thousands of dollars. What I have heard is that Blender and Maya are quite similar, especially when it comes to the basics of modeling. Since Blender is very accessible, free and installed on the school computers, I think it would be a great place to start learning these skills so that I can translate them to programs such as Maya later on. 

Other programs I'm interested in approaching are Zbrush and Unity. 

Zbrush appears to just be a modeling tool but one of the best. I don't know if the school has this program available, I doubt it, but compared to Maya the program is pennies as $516 a year. If I could find an even more accessible was to use Zbrush I would very much like to. 

Unity is the game engine responsible for my absolute favorite games : Hollow Knight & GRIS. Honestly, I'm less aware of how an illustrator uses a program like Unity as I feel it's mostly based around things such as code, BUT I believe it's used for animating as well which is something I'm familiar with. I believe I could also drop assets intro the program to build a functional videogame screen (and perhaps some UI) using my own work which could be a very attractive portfolio piece.



 So as I approach this first project "The Bespoke Object" I'm greatly considering how I can learn blender and fulfill the project requirements at the same time. Here is what I'm thinking, in order to add to my portfolio I would like to show I can do 3D character modeling. With Blender I will have to do a variety of tutorials in order to learn the program so that I can apply it to a character Model. I have a variety of 2D characters I've developed in the past so I'm definitely considering adapting one of them to 3D. After constructing the model in blender I would then be able to print it as a my Bespoke object. This model being my own character would make it unique to me and signify the start of a new skill. 

Here are some of my existing characters I would consider modeling: 

The Born Witch

   
  
Leshy




Of these characters I think Leshy has the most potential. Leshy has 2 forms that they can morph between. If I could build their models and create a morphing animation that would be top notch.  




So, this is what I'm considering for the first project. Now I have to actually learn Blender and where better to start then Blender Guru's donut tutorial: 












I've been working with a lot of new shortcuts and tools. This tutorial packs in a lot of information that's going to take me some time to absorb. I'm only on part 6 of the 14 part tutorial so there's a ways to go but I'm excited to start working on a new object in this program and find ways to apply these tools to my own work. 




Part 1 : The Donut Continues
Part 2 : Character Pose and Modeling
Part 3 : Modeling, Fabrication & Storytelling
Part 4 : Sculpting Model & Fixing Meshes
Part 5 : The Bespoke Object



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