High Quality Models
by Simon Sejer Nielsen · in Artist Corner · 09/26/2009 (4:37 pm) · 2 replies
So I am sort of starting up on a project where im still in the planning stage, going to be buying Torque 3D here on wedensday, got most of the ideas for my project ironed out so as soon as I get my hands on the engine I will probaly start on the world building part.
However since I am having some trouble getting my 3D assests to look like I want them I am trying to find alternative routes of getting those models done.
and since normal maps makes low poly models look like higher poly models I am very curious to know:
1. How low poly can a character model be with a normal map and still be looking high quality ?
2. Same question goes for buildings.
3. If anyone knows the price range for indy pricings on Digital Shock's 3D modelling if they were texturing them, doing animations, specular maps and normal maps with on them as well ?
Its been a while since ive been on here, but diddent there use to be some sort of "recruitment" section here on the forums to try to get people to join in on your projects, or am I way off ? :p
EDIT: Oh yes not to forget, if anyone would like to help out on modelling for that matter it would be greatly appriciated, a lot of steampunk art style will be needed plus some horror themed objects and characters.
If there even are anyone interested i'd be glad to tell more about the project. But in a more privat manner just.
Thanks in advanced :)
However since I am having some trouble getting my 3D assests to look like I want them I am trying to find alternative routes of getting those models done.
and since normal maps makes low poly models look like higher poly models I am very curious to know:
1. How low poly can a character model be with a normal map and still be looking high quality ?
2. Same question goes for buildings.
3. If anyone knows the price range for indy pricings on Digital Shock's 3D modelling if they were texturing them, doing animations, specular maps and normal maps with on them as well ?
Its been a while since ive been on here, but diddent there use to be some sort of "recruitment" section here on the forums to try to get people to join in on your projects, or am I way off ? :p
EDIT: Oh yes not to forget, if anyone would like to help out on modelling for that matter it would be greatly appriciated, a lot of steampunk art style will be needed plus some horror themed objects and characters.
If there even are anyone interested i'd be glad to tell more about the project. But in a more privat manner just.
Thanks in advanced :)
Associate Logan Foster
perPixel Studios
2. Buildings are generally a lot easier to deal with still since theyre mostly just flat surfaces. Here you will want to mix in normals and displacement mapping to handle all the subtle details you would find on the surface. What you are mostly trying to avoid here are hard 90 degree edges that stand out like a sore thumb. So optimize as much as you can while ensuring that the detail is where you need it to be for how and where it will be seen in-game.
3. I haven't looked at Digital Shocks stuff before but based on what I find a character model usually takes you're probably looking at $4000 to $6000 for custom character work that looks good (ie basd on high quality, high resolution 3d work), $2500 to $3000 if you want lesser quality stuff with normals based soley from 2D bitmaps (which don't look quite as good). Sorry but the idea of "indie priced" art is a myth, you really wont find it because this stuff takes a lot of time and there are lots of costs involved on the art side of things to just break even. If you want to cut some art costs, look at buying common content on public 3D sites where the development cost is spread out amongst many users.
I hope that helps gives you the answers you were looking for. There is no definative, set in stone information on what you asked for, more or less just general guidelines.
Logan