The 3D style of artwork has always fascinated me. But it has also baffled me. How is it done? How can a piece of 3D work sometimes look so much like a photograph? It takes real talent and experience to create good 3D artwork.
I was curious about this art form that I know little about so I asked a few 3D artists to explain it to me. Or at least attempt to explain it to me.
This article attempts to educate the curious and bring to light an art form that is not as appreciated as I think it should be.

~alt0208 Describes 3D artwork...
"3d is a form of digital art – it is created using a computer. Artists use a variety of programs, ranging from freeware, like Blender, to professional-grade programs, such as 3D Studio Max, commonly referred to as 3ds or 3ds max. However, the artistic process remains the same – I’ll use 3Ds max as an example. 3Ds max features a 4 pane system. Think of this as drawing 4 different pictures – a left view, a top view, a front view, and a view of the desired angle – all at once. Draw something in the left view and it will also appear in the top view…but you will see it from the top! This creates the 3d environment in which we work in.
A typical work is created in 5 basic stages:
First, the artist must visualize what he wants to create, similar to a painter coming up with an idea. Models are then created simultaneously in all 3 views, using “vertexes”, or the points at each corner, creating a fully functional 3d object, appearing as dots and lines.
The modeling stage can take anywhere from months for a fairly complex scene to just days for a simple object. In the rendering stage, the vertexes are connected with lines, creating boxes, which are then filled in with color. This is done entirely by computer, in a matter of milliseconds.
The color of the object can be changed in the Texturing stage (the artist will go back and forth between texturing and rendering, as you cannot see textures in the modeling stage). Lighting is also added in this stage, creating added realism and shadows. This is similar to how a painter would sketch an outline with a pencil, then colors it in and shades it. However, as this is a digital art form, anything may be changed and moved at any time!
Rendering is generally the most time consuming, yet most enjoyable part of the whole process. An artist can render an image thousands of times before he finds the correct angle and lighting. The final render of a work can literally take days – 12 hour and over renders are not uncommon for just a medium quality render!
The last phase is post production – artists typically take the render to Photoshop for color correction and levels.
3d art is very similar to photography. The view is determined by a “camera”, which can be rotated and moved around. Lighting, reflectors, wind, reflections…all of these things can be created in 3D, and all of these things affect the render. This can create extremely realistic images, and because of this, 3d is most often used for animation. Just like a real life camera, you can walk around an object and take pictures at any angle. However, unlike real life, you can create the surreal in 3d. "


~innovation4d Describes his process for this image
"The main idea came from a photograph. So I tried to create it in 3D platform.
I didn't expect professional look result, just to experiment whether i can apply my concept or not. Finally I get a fair result after finishing the work.
The important thing I learn from this scene is emitted the particles from selected polygons.
I use Realflow beta 3 program for creating liquid meshes and the rest of the parts i.e. modeling, texturing & render have been done by Cinema 4d 9. "
More from: devinnovation4d:



*ivanjs explained 3D artwork this way..."Basically you make 3D like a furniture maker would build a chair, but without the dangerous tools.
The real world chair needs legs, cross braces to support the legs, a seat, and a back. In 3D, I would make a chair by making legs (and the supports), a seat and a back. Initially it would have this dull gray plastic look, so I then would make a wood texture (either using photo of real wood, or make it from scratch in Photoshop) and apply it to each piece of the chair.
3D differs from 2D because in a 2D drawing or painting for example, the artist only needs to represent details from one distinct angle (like a 3/4 view portrait or front view of a coffee shop).
In 3D, the artist is responsible for "detailing" things that might be hidden in a straight on view, but are very clearly shown in an overhead view, for example. In that sense, 3D art is closely related to sculpture since everything can be viewed "in the round" by merely moving the camera in the 3D software.
3D uses a stage metaphor with lights, a camera, etc. Photographers usually do well in 3D because the lighting can make or break a scene and many photographers are masters of lighting. Textures are extremely important also."

3D work can also be landscapes...


*fuXorZ explains his process..."The 3D models and textures were generated in Blender and they were touched up a bit in Photoshop. Can't say much about the actual process other than it involved a lot of trial-and-error, a lot of back-tracking, and a lot of frustration, but the end result makes it all worth it."


~hewsan explains his process..."Modeling using Rhino3D - a NURBS (non uniform random B spline) modeler... mathematical curve based with interpolated skinning... easier then that sounds as the program does (most of) the math behind it..."


~geowjm describes how he does his 3D work..."I use a software called 3D facegen modeler who use a photo for reference, for example the fist one is a friend and the second is a famous singer, the software let you save the model in different types of files, I export to the best program for 3d "3dmaxstudio"
Then I just add some lights and that all."



"I’m sure many of you have seen the movie transformers? How do you think they filmed the transformation of the autobot from vehicle to robot? Scale miniatures? NO! They modeled and rendered it in 3D. Much of the “special effects” you see in movies today are indeed renders. This enables the director to blow up an entire building, without having to pay for it. 3d is also used for cartoon animation –Ratatouille, Meet the Robinsons, all of these movies were created in 3d. Commercials take advantage of this technology as well. A talking moose, talking beavers, dancing toothpaste, all of these things can be rendered and animated in 3d programs. In fact, 3d is so widely used today that I can safely say that most of the movies and commercials you see today have a part in them that has been rendered in 3d. Its other major use is for interior design.
You may be wondering why you have never heard of an art form that is used in practically every moving picture? It’s because we strive for realism. We want you to walk out of the movie thinking “OPTIMUS PRIME!” not “Wow that CG effect was terrific”. We strive for photorealism, and the greatest achievement for us, is to hear the audience say “How did they do that? It looked so real!” In fact, we do it so well that it has become almost impossible to detect. I present you with a challenge. Have you seen the movie Poseidon? You know the very first scene, where the main character takes a leisurely jog around the boat, while the camera pans around him, filming the ship in its entire splendor?

That’s right. That isn’t a boat.

It’s 3d."
~alt0208




More terrific 3D artwork on DA





Special thanks goes out to ~alt0208 for his wonderful explanation of how 3D artwork is created.