SOFT WARE: NOMAD SCULPT
Practical tips and tutorials from pro artists to improve your CG skills
Glen Southern replies
Eyes play a critical role in 3D art for several reasons; most prominently expression and emotion. Eyes are often referred to as the windows to the soul and convey emotions, thoughts and feelings. In 3D characters, realistic and expressive eyes can greatly enhance the emotional impact of the artwork.
If we get it wrong then we enter a place called the ‘uncanny valley’, when a viewer just instinc tively knows that something is wrong with an image. In terms of realism and believability, the eyes are again a crucial factor for any character or creature as they’re one of the most detailed and expressive parts of the body.
In many compositions the eyes serve as a focal point. They draw the audience’s attention and help guide them where to look within a piece of art. Unique eyes can help to distinguish characters and make them memorable. Think of iconic characters like The Little Mermaid’s Ariel or Puss in Boots from Shrek, whose eyes play a huge role in their recognisability.
Crafting detailed and expressive eyes in 3D requires a high level of technical skill. It involves intricate modelling, texturing, shading, and often involves simulating natural eye movements and reflec tions. Getting it wrong could make a significant difference to your final work.
With that all said, sometimes we need to add eyes without creating anatomically accurate 3D models. In CG film and TV work we often have to make the eye model with a pupil, a cornea, and the sclera, and use accurate materials to let light enter the eyes. This is a little easier in Nomad sculpt where we can fake this for effect. In essence, all we need is a sphere to start the ball rolling.
If you’re going to start modelling a 3D head, it’s often a good idea to have the eyes in place first so that you can be sure the eyelids are wrapping around them and reflect the sp
