The Gnomon Workshop has released Character Modeling for Production, an insider’s guide to character-creation workflows for visual effects, recorded by Krystal Sae Eua, modelling and texturing lead at The Mill.

An essential guide to character-creation workflows in ZBrush, Maya and Marvelous Designer
In the video, which lasts for over four hours, Krystal reveals her personal workflows for creating a clean, production-ready character suitable for texturing and rigging.

The tutorial explains the format in which a character asset should be delivered in a modern visual effects production pipeline, and explores a range of time-saving techniques.

Software used includes ZBrush, for sculpting the high-res character model; Marvelous Designer, for modeling clothing; and Maya, for assembling the final low-res, render-ready asset.

During the tutorial, Krystal discusses key technical issues including how to retopologise the high-res ZBrush sculpt; how to set up UVs for the low-res Maya model; and how to add fine details like skin pores back in to the low-res asset, using displacement maps baked from the original high-res sculpt.

The result is a detailed character that remains quick to manipulate or edit, ready for rendering in Arnold.

About the artist
Originally trained as a 3D generalist, Krystal Sae Eua is currently modeling and texturing lead at The Mill.

She has worked on a range of movies, commmercials, game cinematics and theme park experiences, including Avatar, The Avengers, 2012, Fast and Furious 6, and the Call of Duty: Ghosts cinematic trailer.

Pricing and availability
Character Modeling for Production is available via an online subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, giving access to over 300 detailed tutorials. Subscriptions cost $49/month or $499/year, and there is a free trial.

Read more Character Modeling for Production on The Gnomon Workshop’s website

 
Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by the Gnomon School of Visual Effects.

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