Where shall I start Low Poly Character Design

MickSemps

Hey! I desire to create low poly humans. I can't model any humans so i am wondering where a good place to start is. Beginner tutorials are appricieted.

I want to create models like the ones here:
http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=66559

How did you start off modelling these low poly humans

Thanks!

MattQ86

http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.6/totb/

and

http://www.bakaneko.com/howto/computer/3d/character/page01.html

are pretty good tutorials. However I'd say the best place to start is to just...well...start. Block out the character with primitives and model over top of that if you have to, just practice.

danshewan

Hey Mick,

I'd probably focus on practicing modeling simpler things than humans and characters at first. Though they look simple, the low-poly characters in that thread would be more challenging than you might think, and since you're new to modeling generally, you might become discouraged if things didn't go your way to begin with.

Once you're more familiar with your tools, try modeling anything and everything around you - items in the room, on your desk, around your house / neighborhood - once you're a little more confident, try progressing to more challenging objects.

If you want to be a character artist, make sure to draw frequently and study anatomy to gain a better insight into things like proportion and form.

Good luck!

Valandar

Also, don't think of it as "Low Poly Character Design", but "Character Design".

Xaltar

I don't agree with danshewan completely, yes, learn the app and tools on simpler things but you should start getting familiar with modeling organics as soon as you have a good grasp of the tools. Prop and environment modeling is a field unto itself with its own rules and constraints, I am no pro but I did find that my skill as a character artist only began to develop when I started modeling actual characters. Modeling benches and lamp posts taught me to create geo and unwrap UVs but it didn't teach me to be acharacter artist . Do yourself a favor and get some good anatomy books and some 2d art books. Practice drawing figures and learn to draw proper proportions without thinking. Once you have that down you can start. modelinng characters. There are loads of tutos out there to refference.

Low poly work is not as easy as it would seem, its quick, much quicker than current gen character modeling but it takes time to learn how to get the most from your polycount. Its actually easier to make a decent 5k tri model than it is to make 500 tri model because you can throw polys at things to get the shapes and sillouette you want. With low poly work you are litteraly counting tris. Download Poop's SDK from the challenge work thread and have a look at how the geo flows.

When it comes to low spec work its your 2d rather than your 3d skills that will make it work in the end and photosourcing is the wrong way to go. Get into the habit of painting textures by hand from the start and you will grow far quicker as an artist.

http://www.bobotheseal.com/extras.htm
http://www.poopinmymouth.com
http://wiki.polycount.net

Good starting points.