What is 3D Modeling and How is it Used?

3D modeling is a process of representing an objects surface in 3D digital form, with the assistance of specialized software.

3D modeling software uses a combination of points (called vertices) that form shapes (various polygons) in 3D space.  These vertices and polygons can be manipulated to best represent an object or surface, commonly for character animation, but also for “real-life” modeling of objects (like CAD computer aided design models), buildings (for blue prints or architecture, i.e. “artist renderings”), or other environments.

This combination of vertices and polygons in 3D space is referred to as a “mesh”, and is the essential building block of 3D models.

3D Model in Blender
Image source

Where and How is 3D Modeling Used?

The end result of a 3d model is the creation of a digital object capable of being fed into other systems, and this has many different applications across more than just animation or computer graphics.

Some of the industries and applications of 3D Modeling include:

  • Animation – 3D models are used to create CGI characters, and then fed into animation or computer graphics software where they can be “brought to life”. This is used in motion pictures as well as video game development.
  • Engineering – Technical drawings of physical objects are often provided as 3D models or “CAD models” (CAD stands for Computer Aided Drawing/Drafing).  These digitized models provide very precise and accurate measurements of an objects size and features, which can be plugged into other models during product design.
  • Architecture Industry – 3D models can be used to generate a two dimensional image of buildings or areas via a process called “3D rendering”.  You may have heard the term “artist rendering” with regard to the construction of a new building, this is what it refers to.
  • Movie Production/Special Effects – Even if movies are not animated films, they still leverage 3D models to generate special effects, creating hyper realistic scenes.
  • Commercial Advertising – 3D models are used through the advertising space, generating such well known characters as the Geico Gecko and “The General” Car Insurance character.
  • Storyboards – An effective way to create storyboards, especially for larger scale films or TV shows, is to leverage some form of 3D model.
  • 3D Printing – 3D models can also be fed into 3D printers to create a physical object out of a digital 3d model.

Modeling Techniques – How are 3D Models Made?

3D modeling can either be a manual modeling process using various modeling tools or a more automatic modeling process using a 3D scanner.  There are also lots of free and paid pre-made models available for use.

Manual Modeling Technique

When 3D models are created manually it will largely mimic the process of drawing or sculpting.  Even though the process is digitized, it can still be a slow and tedious process of preparing geometric data that relies on the skill and acumen of the artist.

To begin modeling from scratch, an artist must individually generate and manipulate vertices and polygons to generate the desired shapes.  This takes time and artistic skill that is similar to a sculptor making a model out of clay.

Also similar to clay sculpting, the artist usually starts with a generic shape like a cube (referred to as a primitive) and works towards more detail.

There are several features of 3D modeling software that can assist in speeding up the process, i.e.:

  • Mirroring – Since most models are symmetrical (e.g. the human body), mirroring allows an artist to focus on one half or one quarter of a model and simply mirror it to generate the additional sections.
  • Subdivision Surface Tool – To create a higher polygon count for more detailed models, sub-division tools of software automatically divide an area into smaller polygons.
  • Texturing – Textures are 2D images that are wrapped around the 3D model.  This gives the indication of detail without needing additional polygons (especially useful for video games, where complex high polygon models can cause lag during gameplay).

3D modeling is a deep topic and a full tutorial on how to make 3d models is outside of the scope of this article, however there are many great free tutorials on Youtube, such as this one using Blender, or many other affordable ones on Udemy.

Automatic 3D Modeling via 3D Scanners

The other possibility is to use a 3D scanner to automatically generate a 3D model from real world objects. For 3D models to be created automatically, 3D scanners must use laser technology to scan the surface of objects and generate the necessary polygons.

While this may sound like a panacea for all 3D modeling ills, it also has it’s limitations. 3D scanning an existing object can require lots of tweaking and tinkering to get right, especially for more complex models, relies heavily on lighting (so will require a dedicated/secluded area), and can take a long time for more complex object and detailed scans (like anything else, there is a trade off between time and precision).

You can see examples good vs. bad 3d scans, and the variety of challenges associated with 3d scanning in this article by MatterandForm.net. Pay particular attention to the comments, where readers share their individual hurdles and successes.

Prefabricated 3D Models

Due to the tedious nature of creating new models from scratch, there is a large market online for prefabricated models, including many that are free.  Some resources for these are:

Types of 3D Modeling Applications (Software)

There are numerous different 3D printing software packages (sometimes called modeling applications or simply modelers) available on the market today.  Below we break down some of the more common ones:

Autodesk Maya – Maya is the standard software used throughout the 3D modeling world.  For those looking to pursue animation as a career, they will likely be using Maya, so it would be prudent to get some experience and education on it.

The price tag can be pretty heavy, especially for beginners and hobbyists, however Autodesk does offer a free trial.

Blender – Blender is a free and open source 3D modeling software used for animation, modeling and sculpting, rendering, visual effects, and more.  It’s the open-source standard in the 3D modeling and animation industry, and is the basis for almost all of the 3D modeling courses on Udemy.

Blender should be your go-to software if you are just getting started in animation, visual effects or 3d graphic design.

AutoCAD – Also from Autodesk, AutoCAD is the industry standard for creating 3D models for engineering, construction and architectural design.  With the same price point as Maya, its not necessarily for tinkerers and hobbyists, but a free trial is available.

SketchUp – An alternative to AutoCAD for architectural models.  Offers a free version that is web-based, and a premium version with a price tag about 1/5th of AutoCAD.

There are numerous other software available, but these are pretty representative of the market.  If you are just getting started, it makes sense to make use of free resources as much as possible while you get your feet wet.

Conclusion

3D modeling is a field that spans from the entertainment and gaming and computer graphics industries to the construction, architectural and design engineering fields.  It requires technical skills as well as creativity, and support many core and evolving systems in our world today (e.g. 3D printing, motion picture special effects, mechanical engineering, etc.)

Therefore, it is a skill that is well worth adopting and practicing, and can lead to lucrative careers, or simply fun side projects and hobbies.

 

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