Download 3d automotive modeling Easily In PDF Format For Free.
PREFACE:
What a decade of advancements in interactive game technology—to think that only 10 to 15 years ago we were pushing the envelope with car models for PC games that could today run glitch-free in many mobile phone games.
We’re certainly experiencing an exciting era in game development! However, this neverrelenting progression in games technology has a double-edged-sword effect.
Sure, we can now achieve spectacular-looking in-game graphics that almost rival 3D movie content, but at exorbitant costs in time, artist resources, and money.
The vehicle models that took 1 week to produce 10 years ago now often take 6 or more weeks to produce.
One only need look at the seemingly never-ending delays in the release of GT5 to understand how the eye-candy aspect of game design has spiraled to almost out-of-control levels.
We’re almost at the plateau where movie content crosses over into game applications.
Although they are still vastly different mediums and still require totally different approaches, we are seeing more artists jumping ship and switching between the mediums without too much difficulty.
To me, one of the most rewarding challenges of creating vehicles for real-time applications has been in using the least amount of geometry to achieve the best possible effect...optimization and balance being the critical areas of the design with the desired outcome to produce clean, refined meshes that look pleasing in-game.
The advent of bump maps and, more important normal maps has helped add fine detail to models instead of using geometry or relying on texture maps to simulate details. Material shaders, specular maps, ambient occlusion, and advances in lighting technology help provide more realistic-looking metals, rubber, plastics, and glass and in many instances have replaced the use of a diffuse texture map altogether.
Modeling aids such as CAD, 3D scanned data, and digitized data can remove much of the guesswork from modeling and help produce very accurate models, although at the expense of removing much of the creative or artistic challenge, and thus making the modeling process a more sterile experience.
As for vehicle artists themselves, what makes them so passionate about wanting to create digital vehicles? From my own personal experience, it was my love of cars, motorsports, racing games, and art that prompted me to look into 3D modeling apps and teach myself how to model vehicles.
I see this same passion in many of the vehicle artists who have worked with me over the years: their love of all things automotive, often combined with a need to express themselves (artistically) initiated their delving into 3D.
For many this passion eventually leads to pursuing a career as a 3D artist. My 3D modeling quest began almost 20 years ago, and, as I’ve already mentioned, technology has progressed in leaps and bounds since then, as have learning aids, such as online tutorials, Internet forums, videos, and the modeling tools themselves.
Finally we have a book that is dedicated to the subject. Whether you are a professional artist or a beginner, I hope you learn from this book and, more important, enjoy the experience. Chris Wise
