3D Character Development Workshop is designed to fast-track comprehension of the concepts, tools, and methods of character rigging so that you can get past the technical hurdles and on to animating. This comprehensive guide is simple enough for non-technical artists to follow, yet presented in a holistic, comprehensive, best-practices approach so professional and student animators and artists can begin designing and animating their own fully-functioning characters. Features: • Uses a holistic, end-to-end process that empowers the reader with an understanding of the entirety of the character development pipeline--from concept to completion • Includes a fast-tracked learning by example method. Short, iterative lessons create familiarity of best practices through rote exercise • Contains full color photos (throughout) and downloadable examples/starter files that allow out-of-sequence or selective learning

A complete guide to creating usable, realistic game characters with two powerful tools Creating viable game characters requires a combination of skills. This book teaches game creators how to create usable, realistic game assets using the power of an open-source 3D application and a free game engine. It presents a step-by-step approach to modeling, texturing, and animating a character using the popular Blender software, with emphasis on low polygon modeling and an eye for using sculpting and textures, and demonstrates how to bring the character into the Unity game engine. Game creation is a popular and productive pursuit for both hobbyists and serious developers; this guide brings together two effective tools to simplify and enhance the process Artists who are familiar with Blender or other 3D software but who lack experience with game development workflow will find this book fills important gaps in their knowledge Provides a complete tutorial on developing a game character, including modeling, UV unwrapping, sculpting, baking displacements, texturing, rigging, animation, and export Emphasizes low polygon modeling for game engines and shows how to bring the finished character into the Unity game engine Whether you're interested in a new hobby or eager to enter the field of professional game development, this book offers valuable guidance to increase your skills.

A guide to creating characters using Blender covers such topics as modeling, textures, lighting, and rendering along with information on the technical, artistic, and theoretical aspects of character development.

Covers general overview of 3D creature design as well as specific tutorials for LightWave 5.5, 3D Studio Max 2.0, and Animation:Master 5.

Features software workshops for 3ds Max, Maya, CINEMA 4D, Lightwave, and Softimage XSI. Hot, hotter, hottest. See how today's leading modeling artists create 3D characters that sizzle and get the techniques you'll need to create your own virtual vixens. Steven Stahlberg, Liam Kemp, Marco Patrito, and Sze Jones from Blur Studio are just a few of the 3D artists who share their secrets for making the fantasy females you wish were real. You'll get their personal stories, insights into the profession, and new ways to conceive and construct your own 3D characters. Then, seven hands-on workshops demonstrate the complete work cycle of modeling 3D characters to bring your own fantasies to life-from making the first sketch and preparing the template to modeling and texturing characters and lighting and rendering. You can use the techniques with any of the major software tools including 3ds Max, Lightwave, Softimage XSI, Maya, or Cinema 4D. Since the workshops don't use any previously made objects, you'll get to start from scratch with your imagination as the only limit. Participants: Andrea Bertaccini Max Edwin Wahyudi Sze Jones Liam Kemp Arndt von Koenigsmarck K. C. Lee Daniel Moreno Diaz Marco Patrito Steven Stahlberg Francois de Swardt

Artists from Blur Studio share their secrets for creating and animating fantasy females and offer animators new ways to conceive and construct their own 3D characters. This resource includes seven hands-on workshops that demonstrate the complete work cycle of modeling 3D characters.

"Game Character Development" takes you through all the steps needed to create compelling, highly-detailed characters for games. This book is suitable for both beginner game artists and experienced designers who want to brush up their skills, and covers the latest character creation tools and technologies. Throughout this book you will work step-by-step to create a finished character that incorporates all of the methods presented. First you'll examine the available modeling techniques and then create a base mesh. You'll then incorporate UV mapping and virtual sculpting. With the basic model created, you'll explore advanced techniques to add texture and detail, and finish up by optimizing and refining your character. The techniques presented can be applied with virtually any 3D software program, so you're free to work within the application with which you're most familiar. If a specific tool is introduced, a brief introduction will cover the basic information you need to utilize it. There's even a chapter with suggestions on what you'll need to add to your finished character before it gets introduced into the game production pipeline, including adding facial expression, rigging, and even animation. And a helpful reference section provides additional resources to help you with those next steps.

Leverage expert advice, step-by-step guidance, and comprehensive visual aids to pave your way towards excellence in the art of 3D character rigging with the help of this part-color guide Key Features Learn how to use automatic and manual weight painting to merge skin and bone Enhance any rig with a sweeping host of automatic controls and aids for animation Keep your rigs efficient and clean for an optimal end user experience Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Book DescriptionIn the intricate world of 3D character rigging with Blender, aspiring artists often find themselves grappling with the daunting challenge of achieving results akin to seasoned professionals. This book is your guide to overcoming that very challenge, providing you with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in this complex art form. As you embark on this creative journey, this book will guide you through a carefully crafted flow. Beginning with the basics, the first part of the book will teach you how to add structure to an empty canvas and master the art of weight painting in Blender. You'll delve into the intricacies of rigging humanoid characters, gain a deep understanding of the essential buttons and techniques, and discover invaluable success-boosting tips. Starting with simple mesh deformation using a single bone, you'll progress steadily toward the mastery of fully rigging a human character, all while comprehending the reasons behind each step in the process. Furthermore, the book leaves you with a selection of advanced techniques, fully explained, paving the way for a natural progression in your artistic journey and allowing you to continuously refine and enhance your skills. By the end of the book, you'll excel at crafting character rigs, seamlessly meeting professional pipeline demands in diverse teams and studios.What you will learn Understand the basic terminology of rigging and learn how to create and modify rigs Find out how bones interact with topology Get to grips with weight painting through the mesh Know when and how to add constraints such as Inversion Kinetics, Point To, and Child Of Make rigs visually appealing with advanced techniques such as shape keys and bone drivers Familiarize yourself with advanced techniques used by industry leaders Who this book is for If you are an animator, modeler, or someone who wants to start rigging with a solid foundation, then this book is for you. You’ll need no prior knowledge of Blender to get started with this book, as we’ll go step by step with shortcuts and UI pointers provided.

Whether you're a professional Character TD or just like to create 3D characters, this detailed guide reveals the techniques you need to create sophisticated 3D character rigs that range from basic to breathtaking. Packed with step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations, Body Language walks you through rigging techniques for all the body parts to help you create realistic and believable movements in every character you design. You'll learn advanced rigging concepts that involve MEL scripting and advanced deformation techniques and even how to set up a character pipeline.