YOUR CG PROBLEMS SOLVED

Pro artists solve your queries

As artists we aim to create. This can mean re-producing the world around us in the smallest detail, sometimes creating elements that no-one will ever see – but we are content simply knowing they are there. But often, we just have to get the job done and out the door in order to meet a deadline.

While we may wish we had all the time in the world to polish a project, the simple fact is that we don’t, and we must work smarter to find a balance between the level of detail we want to include, and the level of detail we need.

Creating footwear tread patterns in particular can be more complex than you might think, as depending on the style of footwear, the tread can have very complex shapes and depths. For close-ups and product shots, detailed modelling and sculpting would be the right way to go, but takes more time.

Here we will take an approach that will enable us to produce a lot of complexity in less time, creating the illusion of detail using an old-school method in Zbrush, with a little help from Photoshop and your preferred 3D application for creating UVS (in my case Maya).

We’ll start by creating UVS for our desired asset, in this case a shoe tread. Next we then have to create the sole pattern itself, and this can be done either by hand, editing photographic reference or even using depth renders of modelled/ sculpted pieces. Of course you can also

use a mix of all these methods – whatever it takes to get the look you need.

Once happy with the pattern, bring that into Zbrush as an alpha, using it to mask the desired part of our mesh. Using it as a mask also allows us to clean up any small errors or add/remove any parts that might not look right. Finally, using the Deformation tools, pull out the desired detail of the shoe pattern.

What’s great about using the alpha/ mask method for this type of detail is that it is scalable and quick to edit where necessary. For example, if you have time to create a really detailed alpha, then you will get higher-quality results. Or, if there is a sudden change later on, you will be able to adjust the detail more quickly and easily.

When we’re pushed for time, we can take a much quicker approach to adding the detail we need