Random Progress - May 2018
I've being progressing a few random things.
Generators That Don't Make Models
First up I added a JSON visualiser so I can browse the output of generators that don't create 3D models. There will be plenty of these kicking about.
I'm using JSONViewer by Roman Makudera to do this for now. In the future I may roll my own version though that can have knowledge about unit types. For example, in the image above "age" is in years, and the height values would be in metres. That kind of information is lost with the current viewer.
Height Map
I've also started playing with generating a height map. I'm not planning on doing any terrain work with height maps but I just wanted to see how easy it was to do in ThreeJS. Below is a totally random terrain with random vertex colouring. It was quite straight forward to setup - nice one ThreeJS
Voxels
I want to build my actual terrain using voxels so I can get more realistic results. It's a lot more complicated but it'll be worth it.
Above is simply a cube space filled randomly with voxels. I'm not doing anything clever in the rendering yet for generating the mesh. Each voxel is it's own ThreeJS cube. Ultimately the terrain is going to be more like no mans sky than minecraft - that is it's represented with voxel data but the mesh generation won't render it all with just cubes.
Next
I'm going to continue playing with the terrain generation using voxels, so I'll likely implemented some 3D noise generators. I have a bunch of terrain generation articles bookmarked from over the years so it'll be loads of fun to finally play with making some of my own
Recommended resources
3D Art
3D Environment Design with Blender 5
Amazon · Book
Based on Blender 5, this updated second edition simplifies the complexities by guiding you through clear, practical workflows to overcome those challenges. You’ll start by addressing common modeling and proportion mistakes, then move on to realistic texturing and unwrapping to create stunning scenes based on actual references.
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Low Poly 3D Modeling in Blender
Amazon · Book
Step into the world of low poly 3D art with Low Poly 3D Modeling in Blender—your entry point into Blender and mastering the fundamentals of 3D art. This beginner-friendly guide ensures that you’re fully prepared for the creative adventure that follows. Through a step-by-step learning process starting with the principles of low poly art, this book gradually immerses you in the intricacies of modeling. As you progress, you’ll gain hands-on experience creating diverse projects ranging from designing a simple 3D crate to rendering complete low poly scenes. The book covers a wide spectrum of topics as you navigate Blender's interface, mastering essential modeling tools and exploring both basic and advanced modeling techniques. Advancing to the final chapters, you’ll find ways to breathe life into your models with material creation and gain practical insights into modeling a variety of low poly objects. From end-to-end scene construction to configuring Blender for rendering high-quality images, you’ll be equipped with the foundational skills to propel your career in 3D modeling and explore the boundless creative possibilities that Blender offers. By the end of this book, you'll have a solid understanding of Blender, 3D modeling, low poly methodologies, material design, 3D rendering techniques, and the broader world of 3D art.
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