As kids, animation and character design was one topic that kept people engaged, interested, and inspired right from cartoons, to video games and much more. Animation has now become a booming industry and a lot of social profiles, marketing, and websites, along with industries like medical, automation, and more are using animation and character designs to capture their audience’s attention and show their products and services in creative and engaging ways.
If illustration is something that you love or if you’re looking to brush up your knowledge on character design then you need to understand that 3D characters can be created easily along with the right knowledge and tools so that you can start designing your character.
Connecting You to a World of 3D Animation
When it comes to 3D character design certain tools can help you get there and you need to choose ones that are simple, code-free and allows you to design a photorealistic humanoid figure or even get a little more into the creative playground and real-time rendering. Once you decide on the type of character you need to create, always look for hardware that can support your 3D design and comes with added features and tools so that you can further add certain environments and facial features to your character easily.
The 3D design space is completely different from the 2D and while you need the same imaginative process, the approach is a tad different. On that note, here are six tips to keep in mind when creating the 3D character that you want.
1. First start with a shape
The first thing you need to do when it comes to a 3D character design is figuring out how you perceive an object. For example, if you pick any animated character like Totoro from Studio Ghibli you will see how the body starts with a typical spherical shape, a smaller head, tiny spheres for his eyes, and more, and each component is then put together to create one entire character. Once you’ve put your character together, you can then work on smaller and bigger details until it’s something that you’re happy with. Remember working with characters can take time so even if it doesn’t come out perfect the first time around that’s okay, it will just give you more room to practice and improve.
2. Designing in 3D is quite simple
Since we move around in the 3D, we interact and view the 3D quite easily and if you are looking to create a character with certain movements, make it interact with other objects or even another 3D cartoon character you can easily perceive how this would take place as you work in layers on your software. With 3D character design, you can interact with the object, move it around, zoom in or out, and even make it catch, pick up or throw objects just as you would in real life. It’s all about learning the basic control points and using them to your advantage.
3. Create a blueprint of all your ideas
Using good software that is ideal for brainstorming, playing, and developing ideas, you can create a draft of all your ideas especially if you have a bunch of characters in mind. If you have something specific in mind then import a 2D graphic or a picture of your sketch and use that as a blueprint to create all your side characters, environments, and more around it. Storing your ideas, even if they are small character drawings can help you in the long run and can be a base for you to go back to in case you get stuck.
4. Details separate an average design from a great one
Remember when it comes to a 3D anime character creator, details are essential and most beginners may not be able to spot them at first, however, as you develop many characters you will be able to see the difference. If you take the movie Totoro, for example, certain essential details that elevate the entire film and character design can range from photorealistic materials like glass, wood, metal, grass, or even interiors and exteriors of home. That add a sense of realism and dimension to not only your character but the environment around it.
Along with this, additional details like the wind blowing leaves in the air, ripples on the water, sweat drops, or even tears along with different expressions can be designed with varied materials. You can even add a subsurface scattering to the character’s skin to replicate how the eyes, face, and body will look in the sun, during the night, or even in certain weather. Cold weather will make your face look much different compared to warmer weather and by adding this setting in the material properties, your character’s skin will look more realistic along with their eyes and face.
5. Modify 3D geometry to meet your needs
When you start designing your character, you will find that certain shapes require a lot of complex editing. For example, if you are looking to create your character’s mouth, you can’t just add an oval or a circle but you will need to edit that shade by clicking on it and then viewing a range of points, face lines, and more so that you can edit the shape until you get the lips and mouth that you need. Never be afraid of experimenting with shapes and modifying your 3D anime character to meet your requirements.
6. Playing with backgrounds, lights and shadows is fun
Once you’ve designed your character and background, adding shadows and lights can bring the entire process together. For example, if you’re working on a sea creature underwater, by adding a source of light and keeping the rest in the shadows you are creating excitement, mystery, and awe and this along with your final details will make your project a success. Never be too afraid to experiment when it comes to your 3D character creator as this will be a guide for you to understand what to do and what to avoid.
We have a team of professionals ready to help you with the entire process of creating your very first 3D Character Design. If you need the 3D Character Design Services? Contact Dezpad Designs today for 3D Character Design Services and have a team of well qualified designers, and modelers working to cater to your every need.
In Conclusion
At the end, while keeping the above tips in mind, it’s always vital to work alongside a professional animation agency or a professional artist. These experts have been in the industry for a long time and have a keen eye for details along with their years of experience. They will be able to help you get the right character along with using new techniques and features to switch it up.
