3d Modeling Portfolio - Hard Surface Modeling

andy1318

Hello! This is my first post here in quite some time but I wanted to share my portfolio I just recently made live. I am a 3d modeler, have been using Blender 3d since around 2007. I focus on hard surface modeling and have just recently began to texture my own work. I would love to hear what y'all think. I've worked on a lot of various video game mods over the years and have made mainly weapon and prop models for these projects.

http://aobri440.wix.com/andy3dmodeler

3dReaper

Your renders are very flat and lack realistic lighting. The materials do not look realistic nor does it appear you are using PBR texture methods. I also do not see Normal map detail nor a metal/spec map detail.

The modeling itself looks decent but I think you could really buckle down to go the extra mile.

I would also advise against using wix for your folio.

Use Polycount's great folio guide/wiki:

http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Portfolio

I personally would suggest Artstation as it is becoming more popular and is very convenient.

Let us know if you have questions.

Some great reference for PBR:
http://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/pbr-practice

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fb9_KgCo0noxROKN4iT8ntTbx913e-t4Wc2nMRWPzNk/edit

http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/02/18/working-with-physically-based-shading-a-practical-approach/

http://www.artisaverb.info/PBT.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNwMJeWFr0U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt30zzBQb3w

kmacneil91

You have a lot of talent! The models themselves are realistic and show your abiliites, but I do agree that they need to be showcased better. I think we need to be able to see wireframes, and you could try Keyshot to get that realistic lighting and rendering. I also agree that Wix doesn't do justice for portfolios. If you can afford it, places like Squarespace offer a nice domain.

BagelHero

+1 to everything @3dReaper said, though I'd also mention that for the purpose of reviewing your content, uploading your favorite/best/most recent pieces directly to this thread, or to Artstation might be best. It's kind of hard to navigate your site, and I'm not sure I actually saw everything.

Odow

you need to be carefull with you polycount too, 5k poly for a lamp ? 4k for a chair, that's CRAZY high, you'll scare employer away.

andy1318

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'll definitely look into the suggested sites for portfolios. Yeah, I think the PBR tuts will help a lot. I have only recently started making my own textures and materials myself for my models as I had a texture artist helping me out before so it is definitely an area I need to work on.
Also, I've attached an image of a model I've been messing around with in terms of the materials/textures. I've added a normal, ambient and spec map. Let me know your thoughts.

andy1318

3dReaper

If I am not mistaken, that's a Yellowboy Carbine? Post the rifle version/reference you are working to match so we can better guide your piece.

Nevertheless, do the materials currently look like a realistic representation of a gun to you?

You need the wood grain defined, the brass does not look correct, and again it does not look like you are using PBR at the moment. The receiver portion of the gun looks to be off a bit, especially in the area where the bevel meets the fore grip.

What are you using to render this in? It looks dull, mainly the lighting.

Post your texture flats, we can help you much easily.

A yellowboy:

andy1318

Thanks again for the help. I've attached the reference I'm using as well as the diffuse I have so far. 

3dReaper

Ok, Im seeing some problems so far with what you have. I think your modeling skills are decent and show promise. As you have said you are basically just starting out in texturing. So I would advise you start a new project to start from square one. Now Im going to link a tutorial by Polycount's very own Millenia. It is an older video so the texturing pipeline is pre Physically Based Rendering. Follow his tutorial from High Poly to low poly modeling, his UV methods, and how he bakes that detail down. Your UVs on your rifle need to be optimized much much more so pay attention to that portion. After UVing you can watch his texture process however keep in mind the industry has shifted from DNS or Diffuse (with Ambient Occlusion stored within the texture map), Normal, and Specular to PBR which is Albedo, Metalness, Roughness, Normal, and Ambient Occlusion. (Follow that reference I provided in a previous post above.)

If you choose to start a new project be sure to post your progress on here, polycount. Im sure someone will be happy to critique your progress. Post your High poly, low poly with base shots and wireframes along with the texture maps/flats Albedo, Metalness, Roughness, Normal, and Ambient Occlusion. It is also crucial you use a proper render software, again like marmoset or a built in renderer within a texture program like 3DO in Quixel suit or iray within Substance painter.

Weapon creation tutorial - Part 1 (high poly model) - Millenia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgy0lBdJK0

Weapon creation tutorial - Part 2 (low poly model) - Millenia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceN-tdgf_fs

Weapon creation tutorial - Part 3 (UV & baking) - Millenia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_1ql8yH2Ow&spfreload=10

Weapon creation tutorial - Part 4, final (Texturing) - Millenia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8oC1HsjOgk

andy1318

Thanks for all the replies thus far, guys. It really does help. I've attached my first test image using Marmoset. I know there are some issues with the texture along the side of the guitar, I may try to go back and redo the unwrap on this one. This is a guitar model I already had textured with a diffuse. I added a spec and normal map and rendered it out in Marmoset. Definitely already see some improvements. Going to try and redo it with PBR textures later.

skyline5gtr

I see nothing on the site, just a back picture no menu bar