3D CHARACTER ART IN GAMES

Ease into the course with a warm introduction to your instructor, an overview of what to expect, and a rundown of key housekeeping details.

• Instructor introduction
• Course structure
• Assignment structure & due dates
• Housekeeping

Level 1 — the basics. Dive into the 3D character art pipeline, from initial concept to final render, industry-standard software and terminology, and lay the groundwork for a standout professional portfolio.

• 3D character art introduction
• Terminology & industry language
• Software overview
• 3D character art pipeline
• Character artist portfolio

Discover how to develop unique and visually appealing character concepts by mastering the fundamentals of silhouette, shape language, and proportions. Additionally, explore how to tap into a variety of resources, including AI tools, for design inspiration.

• Creating unique characters
• Silhouette, shape language, & proportions
• Resources & finding inspiration
• AI inspiration & ethical implications
• Creating an image board

(OPTIONAL) Assignment #1: Character Image Board
Gather inspiration and reference images to create an organized image board for an original character design.

Creating a believable character involves more than meets the eye. Delve into human anatomy and learn how to nail proportions, bone structure, major muscle groups, and principles of balance and weight distribution. You will also discover how to present your designs to clearly communicate your ideas.

• Proportions, bone structure, & major muscle groups
• Balance, areas of rest, & areas of interest
• Applying the foundations of anatomy
• Presenting a character design

ASSIGNMENT 2: Character Turnaround
Create a 2D concept of an original character as a turnaround sheet.

In this class, you will gain an understanding of the Zbrush interface and its key tools, as well as navigate the workspace, manipulate objects, and create basic 3D models using ZBrush's intuitive sculpting tools.

• Project setup & settings
• Interface & navigation
• Manipulating objects
• ZBrush basics

Dive deeper into Zbrush as you explore different sculpting techniques and brushes, as well as create detailed 3D models. You will also get to refine your sculpting skills through hands-on practice and constructive peer feedback.

• Demo: Brushes & sculpting techniques
• Workshop: Sharing finished character turnarounds for feedback

In this class, you will gain a solid understanding of the fundamental techniques in ZBrush and be able to apply them effectively to your own 3D models. You will also gain confidence in navigating the ZBrush interface and using its sculpting tools.

• Applying techniques to sculptures
• Getting comfortable with ZBrush

Assignment #3: Character Blockout
Apply techniques to block out an original character in ZBrush.

Class 7 is all about sculpting human and non-human faces. Dive into facial muscle structure, expression, facial proportions, and creating unique character identities. You will also learn how to use ZRemesher and Polygroups to optimize your models for further detailing.

• Facial muscles & expressions
• Face proportions & character
• Blocking out the mouth
• Zremesher & polygroups for Edgeflow
• Demo: Blocking out/sculpting a face

ASSIGNMENT #4: Sculpting the Head/Face
Refine block-outs for an original character by adding facial features and focusing on proportions.

On to the body — learn to accurately sculpt character bodies, considering primary and secondary forms, proportions, and anatomical landmarks. Further, explore how real-world anatomy can be applied as a foundation for creating believable fantasy and sci-fi characters.

• Primary shapes & character form
• Bone structures & major muscle groups
• Proportions, anatomical landmarks, & dynamic forms
• Real-life anatomy in fantasy & sci-fi
• Demo: Create a character body

Assignment #5: Sculpting the Body & Anatomy
Refine the body, muscle structure, & joint placement of original characters.

Every character deserves a good hair day. Delve into industry-standard techniques to create realistic and stylized hair for your characters. You will also learn to achieve different hairstyles and textures using tools and brushes in ZBrush.

• Hair & fur: Industry-standard methods
• Stylized hair
• Demo: Blocking out hair & tools and brushes

Assignment #6: Sculpting Hair/Fur
Begin to sculpt your original character's hair or fur.

You have the hair, but what about the outfit? In this class, you will delve into realistic and stylized clothing and learn to block out outfits, sculpt fabrics, and add intricate details to your character’s attire.

• Blocking out outfits: Best practices
• Demo: Sculpting techniques for creating clothing and armor

Assignment #7: Adding Clothing/Armor
Block out an outfit for an original character.

Looking good — now to refine your 3D character models. Discover how to add secondary and tertiary details to create a visually appealing and polished final product.

• Refining secondary shapes
• Implementing tertiary details
• Demo: Clean up & polishing process

All that’s left is the finishing touches — learn how to add high-resolution details to your 3D character models, as well as separate different materials, optimize your models for rendering, and end up with a visually stunning final product.

• Polishing & high-res detail
• Visual flow
• Separating different materials
• Demo: Tools & techniques for adding the final level of detail

Assignment #8: Details, Polish, and Finished High Poly Character Sculpture
Refine models by cleaning up meshes, combining subtools, and adding final details. Finalize a high-poly character sculpture by adding the final layer of details.

Onto the next — retopology. Develop a grasp of the fundamentals and learn how to create clean and efficient retopology using ZBrush. You will also learn how to apply techniques for smooth deformation and rigging to your models.

• Retopology: Purpose & importance
• Topology fundamentals
• Movement & deformation
• Retopology options with ZBrush
• Demo: Retopology workflow in ZBrush

In this class, you will cover the retopology workflow in Maya. Discover how to create clean and efficient character geometry for optimal performance in animation and rendering. You will also gain some valuable tips and tricks to streamline your retopology process.

• Maya overview & workflow
• Demo: Maya’s retopology toolkit & creating character geometry

Delve into organic shapes, such as the human body, and how to retopologize them. Learn how to maintain the underlying form and details of your sculpted models while creating a clean and efficient retopology for animation and rendering.

• Demo: Process for resurfacing organic shapes

Class 16 will sharpen your skills in retopologizing complex shapes. You will learn how to maintain sharp edges, create clean retopology for mechanical elements, and apply this to your own designs.

• Hard surfaces & complex shapes
• Demo: Resurfacing complex shapes
• Workshop: Applying techniques to original characters and giving & receiving feedback.

ASSIGNMENT #9: Clean, Organized, Low-Poly Character Version
Using the tools and techniques learned in class, complete retopologizing models & submit a clean, organized, low-poly version of an original character.

What is UV wrapping and why is it important? Explore the fundamentals — laying UVs, calculating map numbers, and using Maya’s UV toolkit to create clean UV maps.

• UV maps & their necessity
• Laying out UVs & calculating map numbers
• Demo: Maya’s UV toolkit & UV editor

Delve further into the UV unwrapping process. Gain hands-on experience in unwrapping complex character models, including intricate details and multiple materials.

• Demo: Unwrapping process & final model clean-up

ASSIGNMENT #10: UV Mapping Your Character
Apply techniques learned in class to unwrap original characters, creating efficient UV layouts, and preparing models for texture application and baking.

Explore baking texture maps and its importance in creating realistic and detailed 3D characters. Learn how to prepare your high-poly and low-poly models for baking, set up a baking scene in Substance Painter, and choose the appropriate types of maps to capture the desired details.

• Transferring high-res details
• Types of maps
• Preparing models for baking 
• Demo: Preparing models & setting up a bake scene in substance painter

ASSIGNMENT #11: Texture Baking
Prepare original characters for texture baking.

Class 20 will prepare you to successfully bake texture maps for your 3D character models in Substance Painter. Explore the baking process, troubleshoot common issues, and create high-quality texture maps that capture the details of your models.

• Texture baking maps: Next steps
• Demo: Baking process within Substance Painter
• Workshop: Completing texture bakes in groups

Dive into texture maps, their purpose, and the different types. Explore various texturing workflows, get practical in Substance Painter to create basic textures, and learn how to import and set up your baked texture maps.

• Texture maps: Purpose & types
• Different texturing workflows
• Demo: Introduction to texturing with Substance Painter

Discover how to create hand-painted textures for stylized characters. Explore various brush strokes, layering techniques, color palettes, and principles of color harmony and stylization. Finally, put this knowledge to the test in Substance Painter.

• Hand-painted textures
• Color palettes, brush strokes, layering techniques
• Stylization & color harmony techniques

In this class, you will learn PBR theory and its underlying principles, the relationship between different texture maps, and how to use PBR charts and online resources to create accurate materials. You will further learn how to use Substance Painter’s PBR validation material to assess the quality of your PBR textures.

• PBR role
• PBR theory & “rules”
• Relationship between texture maps
• PBR charts & online resources
• Substance painter PBR validation material

Learn how to prepare your textures for final use in a 3D engine. Explore the different texture formats, texture packing techniques, and how to export texture files. You will also learn how to set up a scene in a different 3D engine, apply your textures, and check the overall appearance of your character.

• Texture formats
• Texture packing
• Exporting texture files
• Demo: Checking work as a texture setting up a scene in a different 3D engine.

ASSIGNMENT #13: Texturing Your Character
Use the tools and techniques learned in class to texture a character model. Finalize character textures and ensure they are optimized for different render engines as well as real-time rendering.

Discover the difference between cinematic beauty renders and real-time renders in video games, and learn how beauty renders are used in advertising and marketing. You will also learn to showcase your work in a portfolio.

• “Beauty” vs. real-time render
• Beauty renders in advertising & marketing
• Presenting work in a portfolio
• Demo: Using Marmoset Toolbag to create portfolio renders

ASSIGNMENT #14: Create a Beauty Render for Your Portfolio
Showcase a finished character in a professional-quality beauty render.

Explore the basics of Unreal Engine, including its interface and setting up a new project, and learn how to import your current 3D models and texture maps for further development.

• Unreal Engine interface introduction
• Basic project setup
• Importing files

Class 27 will teach you about different material types, their appropriate use cases, and the role of various texture maps in creating realistic and stylized materials. You will also learn to create and customize material instances to apply specific material properties to your 3D character.

• Basic concepts
• Material types & when to use them
• Textures: Diffuse, normal, specular & other
• Material instances

(OPTIONAL) ASSIGNMENT #15: Select & Apply Textures to Characters in Unreal Engine
Import characters into Unreal Engine, create materials & select and apply their textures in the engine.

Final chapter! Learn to build a strong professional portfolio and navigate the job market in the 3D character art industry. Discover effective networking, self-promotion strategies, and tips for acing job interviews.

• Building a solid portfolio
• Navigating the job market
• Networking & self-promotion
• Interviewing & negotiation