Datasheet
It helps a great deal in figuring out how to proceed with the modeling to have a good
idea of your whole story via a storyboard. Knowing how an object is used in a scene gives
you its criteria for modeling. You never want to spend more time on a model than needed.
Beginning with a highly detailed model for a far-away shot will waste your time and expand
rendering times. If a park bench is to be seen in a wide shot from far away, it does not need
abundant detail or complicated surfacing. You can usually create any required details for it
by just adding textures. However, a park bench that is featured prominently in a close-up
needs as much detail as possible since viewers will see more of the bench. You’ll learn more
about this aspect of modeling in Chapter 4, but the more you use models in scenes, the bet-
ter eye you will develop for knowing exactly how much detail to give them. As you begin your
CG experience, however, it’s a good idea to lavish as much attention on detail as you can. The
detailing process will teach you perhaps 70 percent of what you can learn of modeling, which
in turn will benefit your overall speed and technique. And with some more experience, you
will be able to discern exactly how much detail to add to a scene and not go overboard.
Character Modeling
Character modeling usually involves organic forms such as animals, humans, aliens, and
such. Practically anything that will be animated to be a character in a scene can be referred
to as a character model. You need to create these with animation techniques in mind, as
well as accuracy of form.
Some organic characters (as opposed to robots with mechanical parts and hard edges,
for example) are built with patches of surfaces stitched together or as a single object that is
stretched and pulled into shape. Character models need to look seamless since most char-
acter animation requires the model to deform in some way—to bend and warp at certain
areas such as the joints.
A character modeler needs to keep the future of the character in mind to allow for par-
ticular character animation methods that will be used. Always try to build your characters
with the proper amount of detail appropriate to the scene. Quite frequently, you will create
several models for a character to account for different uses of that character and to keep the
scene efficient and workable. You might create one character with fine facial detail for the
close-up speaking scenes and another with hardly any details for walk cycles in distant
shots. Listen to your mother: put only as much as you need on your plate.
Architectural and Environment Modeling
Architectural and environmental modeling includes architectural previsualization for the
design of buildings as well as the generation of backgrounds for sets and environments.
Typically, it involves modeling buildings or interiors as well as mountains or anything that
is required for the scenery, such as benches, chairs, lampposts, and so on.
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