Rock modeling tips

Samuraidragon13

I am currently trying to model a cavern style environment. Does anyone have any tips for rock modeling in maya?

sprunghunt

this thread:

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125857

Brygelsmack

Doing assets as organic as rocks in Maya is pretty difficult unless you have some rock generator script. Try Zbrush or Mudbox.

JordanN

Sculpting rocks is fun. Think of it like playing with play-doh.

GarageBay9

One of the things I found most helpful is to figure out the actual geology of the rocks you're trying to model and look up reference of them. Even if you're doing something fantastical and imaginary, refer to real-life rock formations for how the small details form and layer together.

Cracks, striations, layers, crystalline structures, all are very unique to different kinds of rock and having those work correctly is not just crucial for realistic rocks, but also helps make imaginary ones convincing.

/you have no idea how gobsmacked I was when I learned that, yes, there is a significant difference between muddy sandstone and sandy mudstone.