Anatomy of a 3D model
3D models are one of the essential building blocks of 3D computer graphics.
There’d be no 3D gaming either, andcar commercialswouldn’t look as great as they do today.
What Is a 3D Model?
The process of creating and shaping a 3D model is known as 3D modeling.
The software tool interpolates the space between curves and creates a smooth mesh between them.
The number of polygons in a mesh is called thepoly-count, while polygon density is calledresolution.
Typically, the higher the overall resolution of a model, the smoother it will appear in a finalrender.
Lower resolution meshes look boxy (rememberMario 64?).
Polygonal modelsare very similar to the geometric shapes you probably learned about in middle school.
Just like a basic geometric cube, 3D polygonal models are comprised offaces,edges,andvertices.
These basic 3D shapes are calledobject primitives.
The primitives are then modeled, shaped, and manipulated into whatever object the artist is trying to create.
Techniques are very, very different in sculpting applications likeZBrushor Mudbox.
Textures and Shaders
Withouttexturesand shaders, a 3D model wouldn’t look like much.
In fact, you wouldn’t be able to see it at all.
