3D Fundamentals

1.
WHat is 3D ?
3D means “3 Dimensions”
 What is the difference between a 2D shape
and a 3D shape ?

3D has 3 dimensions.

2D has only 2 dimensions

height
height
SQUARE CUBE

th
id
w
length
length
 2.
WHat is a 3D Model ?
A 3D model (or mesh) is a collection of vertices, edges and faces.
The faces usually consist of triangles (tris), quadrilaterals (quads),
or other simple convex polygons (n-gons).
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 3.
WHat is 3D Modeling ?
3D Modeling is the use of 3D software to create a virtual
three-dimensional model of some physical object.
 4.
How Does it work ?
Each software has his particularities but the main process is
always the same.
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 5.
3D Hard Surface & Organic Modeling
Organic modeling is usually creating 3D models of living things
as people or animals.

Hard surface modeling is usually focused on inorganic objects

such as buildings or furniture.
 Organic vs Hard Surface

*We use sculpting tools for modeling organic things.

 6.
WHat is 3D Sculpting ?
Digital sculpting, also known as sculpt modeling or 3D
sculpting, is the use of software that offers tools to push, pull,
smooth, grab, pinch or otherwise manipulate a digital object as if
it were made of a real-life substance such as clay.
Retopology is the act of
recreating an existing surface
with more optimal geometry. A
common use-case is creating a
clean quad-based mesh for
animation, but it's also used for
most any final object that
needs textured.
 7.
WHat is TOPOLOGY ?
The flow and organisation of edges on a given 3D model.
For the same shape you can have different topologies.

Quad Sphere UV Sphere Ico Sphere

(380 polys) (500 polys) (320 polys)
The tools (select a ring, add a loop, ...) are made for manipulating
quads. Moreover n-gones will cause render issues when they will
be animated. That’s why you have to model only with quads.

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LOOP & RING
 7.
How many poly ?
The number of poly you should use depends on the quality you require and the
platform. For real-time rendering on mobile devices, somewhere between 300 and
1500 polygons per mesh will give good results, whereas for desktop platforms the
ideal range is about 1500 to 4000. For non real-time (as rendered animations) the
number will be higher but the rendering time will increase exponentially.
Credits: https://www.deviantart.com/liamgolden
 8.
WHat is 3D animation ?
3D animation is the art of using motion to bring characters,
vehicles, props, and more to life within TV shows, films, and
games.
Instructions for use

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 9.
WHat is RIGGING ?
In 3D animation rigging is the process of creating a virtual
skeleton of a 3D model.
Animators never animate directly the vertices, they animate the
bones.
 10.
WHat is SKINnING ?
Skinning is the next step in creating 3D animation after rigging.

By skinning we mean the process of attaching the mesh to the

virtual skeleton (or rig) so that when we move the rig of a
character the skin will move together.
This part of the skinning
process is called weight
painting.

Vertices in the red means

they have a weight of 1
=> they will stuck to the
bone.

Vertices in the black

mean they have a weight
of 0 => they won’t follow
the bone.

Colors in between are

weights in between.