Discover how to create photorealistic 3D props
The Gnomon Workshop has released Creating a Photorealistic Prop for Production, a guide to modelling and shading hard-surface objects, recorded by Avengers and Game of Thrones artist Babak Bina.
The workshop, which comprises over three hours of video training, sets out current industry-preferred workflows in Maya, Mari and V-Ray, and is aimed at artists of all skill levels.
Discover current industry-preferred modelling and shading workflows in Maya and Mari
Beginning with photographic references of a vintage paraffin torch, Bina dissects the anatomy of the object, explaining how to approach the modelling of a photorealistic digital replica.
The workshop then explores different hard-surface modelling methods in Maya, and how good decision-making early in production can avoid problems further down the line.
Bina then sets out a procedural texturing workflow for the asset, including best practices for creating a UV layout in Maya, and how to harness the power of Mari’s RGB masks and shared layers.
Before leaving Mari, Bina uses the software’s V-Ray shader for a portion of the look dev work, before making final adjustments in Maya, where the completed asset is rendered using V-Ray.
As well as the training videos themselves, viewers can download high-resolution photographs and a labelled cross-section view of the paraffin torch, and the textures shown in the workshop.
About the artist
Babak Bina has worked as a 3D generalist and character artist for VFX facilities including DNEG, Method Studios and Scanline VFX. His credits include Avengers: Infinity War and Game of Thrones.
He also mentors students at Vancouver’s Think Tank Training Centre, and recently co-directed multi-award-winning short film The Seahorse Trainer.
Pricing and availability
Creating a Photorealistic 3D Prop for Production is available via an online subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, giving you access to over 300 tutorials. Subscriptions cost $49/month or $490/year.
Read more about Creating a Photorealistic 3D Prop for Production on The Gnomon Workshop’s website
Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.