Game Art: Model & UV Map a Low Poly Character

Course details

Expand your game artistry know-how by becoming skilled in low-polygon modeling. Joel Bradley shows how to model and UV map low-poly assets in this course. Joel takes you through the process—using 3ds Max—of modeling a low-poly asset for use in in a game engine. He starts by providing an overview of tools and options to get you ready to set up a scene. Then he dives into the building and creation process, which includes shaping and using guide objects. Once the forms are established, Joel demonstrates how to detail, refine, and unwrap the finished model. He concludes the course by showing how to export the model and bake normal maps to get it ready for texturing.

Learning objectives
Gamma and scale
Setting up a scene
Creation and shaping
Using symmetry modifiers
UV mapping
Using guide objects
Unwrapping
Detailing and finishing
Refining a model
Prepping a model
Exporting a model
Fixing issues
Normal map baking

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files
04 - Setting up the Max project
05 - A quick word about gamma and scale
06 - Setting up the scene

1. Modeling and Unwrapping the Drive Wheel Assembly

07 - Creating the hub
08 - Shaping the hub
09 - Unwrapping the hub
10 - Creating the drive shaft, part 1
11 - Creating the drive shaft, part 2
12 - Using symmetry modifiers to keep the shape
13 - UV mapping the drive shaft
14 - Building the drive cylinder
15 - Using guide objects
16 - Detailing the drive wheel
17 - Finishing off the drive wheel
18 - Setting up UV maps for the wheels

2. Building and UV Mapping the Wheels and Tread

19 - Creating the main wheel support
20 - Refining the wheel support model
21 - Creating the wheels
22 - Modeling the wheels detail
23 - Prepping the model for UV unwrapping
24 - Unwrapping the wheels and support
25 - Creating the single wheel
26 - Uwrapping the single wheel
27 - Creating the main support
28 - Unwrapping the main support
29 - Modeling the tread assembly frame
30 - Creating the rest of the frame
31 - UV mapping the frame mesh
32 - Using splines to create the tracks
33 - Unwrapping the tracks

3. Creating and Mapping the Head

34 - Modeling the head shape
35 - Creating the eye sockets
36 - Detailing the shape
37 - Unwrapping the head

4. Modeling and UV Mapping the Piston Assembly

38 - Creating the piston support
39 - UV mapping the support
40 - Creating the support arm
41 - Detailing the end of the arm
42 - Unwrapping the support arm
43 - Building the piston
44 - Mapping the piston
45 - Creating the piston connector
46 - Unwrapping the connector

5. Final Modeling, FBX Export, and Normal Map Baking

47 - Creating the scoop base shape
48 - Refining the scoop
49 - Unwrapping the scoop
50 - Attaching the mesh back together
51 - Exporting the model
52 - Baking out the normal map
53 - Fixing the normal map issue

Conclusion

54 - Next steps