1. Introduction To 3D Modeling
3D Modeling Essentials
Introduction To 3D Modeling
Introducing - Introduction
George Atanasov
Telerik Corporation

2. What is 3D Modeling? 3D Modeling process
Representing any 3 dimensional surface
Automatic or Manual

3. What is 3D Model? The product is called 3D model 3D model can be:
Rendered to 2D image
Printed to realistic object with 3D printer
Used in 3D games with real-time rendering

4. Splines & NURBS Vector design is better for industrial goals
Hands of the Craftsman vs. CPU Lathe

5. Polygon Mesh Objects Polyhedral object
Best for games and physical simulations

6. Polygon Mesh Objects Polygon mesh sub-object level Vertex Edge Face

7. Mesh vs. Spline Why Mesh is better for game development?
More calculations == less FPS
Nowadays GPUs are designed to perform faster with VBOs (Vertex Buffer Objects)
Mesh objects can be easily represented in VBO
The absolute accuracy of the objects is not basic goal in the Games
In game developing the basic goal is to create the best possible representation of an object with the least possible resources
GPU’s – GPUs
VBO’s – VBOs
Easy – easily
To create best – to create the best
Representation of object – representation of the object
With by less possible resources – with the least possible resources

8. The 3D Scene Three dimensional coordinate system
Represents uniquely all the points in it by three parameters – values for each axis
Contain sub-coordinate systems
Each object has his own
local coordinate system

9. Explaining High-Poly Design
High Poly Modeling
Explaining High-Poly Design

10. High Poly Modeling
We can understand the idea of high-poly modeling just by its name
The more triangles in the mesh, the more detailed the object is
Final renders are appropriate for
Commercials
Magazines
3D Movies

11. Explaining Low-Poly Design
Low Poly Modeling
Explaining Low-Poly Design

12. Low Poly Meshes
Low poly mesh is a mesh which has small amount of polygons
Commonly used in real-time applications
In theory polygons can have infinite number of sides, but in 3D graphics they are broken down into triangles

13. Why Low Poly?
Why we need to create low-poly models when there is so many smooth modifiers?
In general the more triangles in a mesh the more
detailed the object is
computationally intensive it is to display
To decrease render time it is better to use low poly models
computationally intensive it is to display – така не звучи много правилно и не мога да схвана точно какво имаш предвид. Но ако го схващам вяро трябва да стане – it is computationally intensive to display

14. The Polygon Budget
A combination of game engine and the computer being used defines the polygon budget
It is equal to the number of polygons which can appear in a scene and still be rendered with acceptable frame rate
It varies depending on the
speed of the render engine
the amount of polygons
The speed of the hardware
It vary – It varies

15. Low Poly As a Relative Term
There is no defined threshold for a mesh to be low poly
This term is relative and its definition depends on other factors:
The time in when the meshes were designed and for what
The detail required in the final mesh
The shape and properties of the object
The time the meshes were designed - The time in when the meshes were designed

16. Low Poly – Future vs. Past
Super Mario 2 – 1996
In 1996 rendering an objects created by polygons was a huge success
All the environment is created by textured extremely low polygon objects
Crysis 2 – 2011
At 2011 rendering objects created by polygons is not a big deal
The environment is created by averagely resolute objects

17. Appearance Low poly objects do not always have to look bad
You can “lie” the viewer that the object has better resolution with techniques such as
Normal mapping
Bump mapping
Etc.
Low poly objects does not always has – Low poly objects do not always have

18. Smoothing
Smoothing techniques

19. Smoothing There are many methods to create a smooth objects
Normal smoothing
Mesh smoothing
Etc.
It is important to understand how to use each one of them
You have to pick the best for your goals
There is – There are
It is important to understand haw - It is important to understand how

20. Normal Smoothing
Normal smoothing affects only the way that the light is reflected by the objects surface
That is better for games, because the triangle count stays the same
Ends of the object remain edgy
Performs better on dark colors
by the objects surface – by the object’s surface

21. Mesh Smoothing
Mesh smoothing affects directly the geometry of the object
Can be used many times on the same objects
Iteration value
With each iteration increase, the resolution of the object increases by square

22. Understanding Lightning in 3D
Lights
Understanding Lightning in 3D

23. Why We Need Lightning?
Modeling the 3D object is just a little part of the whole design process
The light makes the object to look as 3D object

24. How the Light Works?
For full realistic light simulation you would need a “NASA” computer
The lighting in 3D graphics is not exact representation of the real light
In most 3D engines the light appearance is decayed to separate effects independent of each other
independent each other - independent of each other

25. Abstract Types Of Lights
The light is composed by several abstract components
Diffuse, Ambient, Specular, Emissive, Reflection, Refraction
Each light component can have its own color
It is important to understand how to deal with each type of them
And it is more than important to understand how the real light affects the objects
light component can has - light component can have

26. Ambient Light When sun ray hits an object it reflects from it
The ambient light is the emission of all light sources
The result is averagely brightening whole object
3D object with only ambient light channel applied to it looks 2D
When sun ray hit - When sun ray hits
The result is averagely brightening whole object - The result is average brightening of the whole object

27. Diffuse Light
Diffuse light represents a directional light casted by a light source
It can be explained as a light from light bulb placed on specific location in the space
A diffuse light of red color, coming from the left of a black object defining its 3D shape
light cast by a light source - light casted by a light source

28. Diffuse light
For more realistic result we can apply both diffuse and ambient light channels
The diffuse light represents a light from a light bulb and flashes the front side of the object
The ambient light brightens the entire object
we can apply the both - we can apply both
and flashing the – and flashes the

29. Specular Light
The specular light channel represents the brightest area of the object (the highlight area)
The position and the amount of specular highlight is depends on
The viewers position
The angle between the viewer and the source
is depending on – depends on
Viewers position – The viewers position

30. Emissive Light
Emissive light works a little different than the previously explained before types of lights
It is responsible for the object material ability to absorb or reflect light
Below is the result of object emitting green light with red light source applied
Emissive light is working - Emissive light works
than the explained before types of lights – than the previously explained types of lights

31. Reflections
The use of reflections helps to create more realistic objects
Remember... You would not see the reflection effect if you don’t have another objects to reflect
Reflection looks better on round objects
Do not overdo with the
reflection effect
Reflection mapping saves time
You wont – You won’t
if you don’t have another objects to reflect - if you don’t have another objects to reflect on
Do not overdo with the reflection effect - Do not overdo the reflection effect

32. Refractions
The refraction property defines how much light goes through the object
In simple language it controls the opacity of the object
Refraction color # == full opacity
Refraction color #FFFFFF == full transparency

33. Textures
Texturing Essentials

34. Textures? Textures are just simple raster pictures
JPEG
PNG
TGA
GIF
TIFF
Widely used in 3D game modeling

35. Why To Use Them?
If you are developing a car racing game you do not need to model all the details on the buildings behind
By texturing your object you can add a lot of details on the model without adding any more resolution to it
For example you can use a texture of window instead of modeling it
Why You Have To Use Them? – Why Do You Have To Use Them?

36. Texturing Methods There are several ways to texturize an object
Which one is better depends on the object which is going to be texturized
In game developing process the basic texturing methods are
UVW Mapping
Tiling
UVW Unwrapping
There is several – There are several

37. What is Tiled Texture
Tiling is another trick which saves a lot of resources
To understand it, imagine that you have to represent the facade of a huge building by texturing
The idiotic way is to draw a huge texture with a lot and the same windows in it
The right way is to draw a texture with only one window on it and multiply it

38. Texture Optimization Tricks
Creating details with textures instead of polygons saves render time
Do not flood your 3D scene with huge amount of textures
Do not use bigger textures than you need
Manage balance between quality and size
When it is possible use texture modulation

39. Texture Modulation Useful for level editing (creating environment)
You want to model brown roof tile and the same ones, but in different colors
Use white (or bright) roof tile texture and modulate it with the color of its object
You can create many different looking models with the use of one and the same resource
You want to model brown one and the same roof tiles, but in different colors - You want to model brown roof tile and the same ones, but in different colors

40. Use Transparency OK… We have to create a metal fence
But how many polygons we need?
First way is to create it as a polygon mesh
polygons for 1 meter wide fence ?!?
The trick to do that is to use a texture of metal fence with transparency at the empty spaces
2 polygons and the result looks the same

41. UV(W) Mapping Projects a texture map to 3D object
Assigns pixels of the image on the polygons
Allows you to texturize more complex shapes

42. Unwarp UVW
A very useful technique for texturing game characters and other complex objects

43. Tools & Software
What Software To Use

44. Define Your Goals Your goals are ? Making super cool 3D game models
Making very detailed models for commercials, magazine covers, movies, etc.
Making 3D models for an industrial goals
Level editing for games
You are learning

45. Comers & Games Appropriate software Inappropriate software
3D Studio Max, Maya
Blender, Google SkatchUp
Cinema 4D
Inappropriate software
SolidWorks
AutoCAD, ArchiCAD

46. Industrial Appropriate software Inappropriate software SolidWorks
AutoCAD, Civil 3D
ArchiCAD
Inappropriate software
3Ds Max, Maya

47. Level Editing Appropriate software Inappropriate Civil 3D 3Ds Max
Blender
Inappropriate
SolidWorks, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD

48. 3D Modeling Essentials ? ? ? ? ?
Questions? ? ? ? ? ? ?