Arcane University: 3D Art

< Arcane University

A 3D artist can create shapes based on Concept Art, writing and discussions as well as what is required by the Animation and Implementation teams. For example, if a certain object must have moving parts, detailed information on this is critical for the 3D artist to do their work effectively. For the Gamebryo Engine and the context of Skyrim, a 3D artist should take into account standard polycounts for their 3D models.

General Workflow

The artwork is taken and then, blockout modeling starts. For the high-poly work flow, the 3D artist sculpts a high-poly mesh. They then bake the high-poly details into the normal map of a retopologized low-poly version of the mesh, and add textures to this low-poly model. After the asset is exported to NIF format, it is given its physical properties such as collision and physics. It may then be rigged/skinned to bones and animated, if necessary.

1. Blockout
2. Sculpting
3. Retopology
4. UV Unwrapping
5. Baking
6. Texturing
7. Mesh Export to NIF

   • 3DS MAX Export
   • Blender 2.7x Export
   • Blender 2.8+ Export
   • CK-CMD for Skyrim
   • Outfit Studio Export

8. Adding Mesh Collisions
9. Animation

Basics - The Data Formats Nif (Meshes) and DDS (Textures)

• To review the specifics of the NIF data format used for meshes, check Nif Data Format.
• To review the specifics of the DDS data format used for textures, check DDS Data Format.

Asset-specific Tutorials

Weapons

• Nifskope Weapons Setup
• File:Tutorial skyrim bows from 3ds.pdf (Bows with 3ds and Nifskope)

Tilesets and Architecture

• File:Bernstein Mike ModularKits3d.pdf
• Skyrim’s Modular Approach to Level Design by Joel Burgess
• Fallout 4's Modular Level Design (lecture video) by Joel Burgess
• How to Create Tilesets (lecture video) by Zix
• Snapping Tutorial (video) by Zix

Trees

LOD Objects

• Guideline for LOD model creation by Grumpycat

Tool-specific Guidelines and Links

Resource Tools

• BSAopt to unpack Skyrim data files

Modeling Tools (most include sculpting and rigging features)

• Blender for Skyrim
• 3DS Max for Skyrim
• Maya for Skyrim

Sculpting Tools

• Z-Brush for Skyrim
• Mudbox for Skyrim

Rigging Tools/Animation

• Havoc for Skyrim
• Outfit Studio for Skyrim
• Rigging with Blender 2.79
• Rigging Jewelry with Blender 2.79

Texturing Tools

• Gimp for Skyrim
• Photoshop for Skyrim
• Paint.Net for Skyrim
• Bodypaint in Creation Kit
• Material Editor for Skyrim

Exporting and Polishing Tools

• CK-CMD for Skyrim [Link to Github source]
• Nifskope for Skyrim
• Niftools/Chunkmerge for Skyrim