How to make 3d models look realistic?

Telephones, cars, furniture, buildings – everything is constantly being redesigned and remade. Everything that is made or remade is initially modelled in 3D. Blueprints are initially created and agreed upon by sharing. Modelling is therefore crucial to manufacture.

2D blueprints and models have been superseded by 3D models rendered using special modelling programmes. The 3D modelling industry, which includes cinematography, design, advertising etc. grew rapidly at the end of the 20^th. It is still growing, and 3D models are still getting better. Perfectly photorealistic rendered 3D models are now considered normal.

Today, a huge number and range of companies use realistic 3D modeling to render anything from coat hangers to space stations via doggy chew toys and prosthetics. This universal adoption of realistic 3D rendered models has been enabled by dedicated software that has speeded up and improved 3D modelling vastly. Pro 3D modelling programmes enable 3D modellers to filigree recreate stunning and atmospheric artifacts, scenarios, environments, etc. These can be used to advertise products digitally and in print at any scale, anywhere.

Realism in 3D modelling

As the ubiquity and popularity of 3D modelling has grown, more demands have been placed on 3D model rendering. One of these demands is realism. How do modern 3D modelers make things seem so realistic? 3D modelling programme developers use mathematics and physics to enable the software to model reality realistically. Do walls tend to be vertically? Yes, and for good reason. What about kitchen surface junctions – are they at right angles? Usually yes, and for good reason. Form follows function. Function is derived from form.

Nowadays, programmes like 3Ds Max include more than logic; they enable subtleties that make the 3D model live. Things like caustics, and very subtle settings for various materials. Ultra-fine control of light sources. Daylight or artificial light? OK – so what about white balance and colour temperature? Shadows? Reflections? Refraction? Nimbus control?

Modern 3D rendering programmes like 3Ds Max enable almost limitless nuance and hyper-realism in 3D rendered models. To achieve such hyper-realism in models, the 3D rendering artist must: work with 3D model references; understand the anatomy or geometry of the object modelled; curate and fine-tune light; nuance rendered detail; use and apply textures to the 3D model; and, finally, process (save, and share) the hyper-realistic 3D model.

Use good reference to ensure accuracy

3D model references can be books, articles, pictures, videos, or real things that the 3D modeller can refer to. Using references when 3D modelling realistically is vital because no one can remember as many details about the thing they are 3D modeling as they need to, to model it realistically. Reality is infinitely subtle. Good 3D modelling must reflect that reality.

For example: when 3D modelling plants, observations of reality and knowledge of botany are not enough. To 3D model plants realistically, photographs should be used. A photograph will map the plant’s flaws, asymmetries, and morphological and chromatic subtleties – delicate details that might otherwise go unnoticed. A more realistic 3D model is thus more likely.

Realistic 3D modelling is extremely skilled. The 3D modeller must precisely observe and replicate the reference in order to create a hyper-realistic 3D model. When 3D modelling a person, for instance, the 3D modeller requires many references. These include the underlying skeletal structure, skin tone, eye colour, proportions, the curves of the eyelashes, wrinkles, and many other details. Multiple photographic references are thus essential.

Lighting – Let there be light

To create a realistic 3D model, observation and control of light is vital. The 3D rendering artist must light the scene modelled cleverly and realistically. The light should make intuitive sense, and be sufficient to make all the materials, details, and textures in the scene visible.

Daylight varies in angle, intensity, and colour according to the time of day and season. In 3Ds Max software, we usually set either “Sun” and dome flood light, or we set the HDRI card. Firstly, we fine-tune brightness, the size of the “Sun”, and the ambient light as required to create a realistic 3D scenario. (In reality, the sun has a specific, intrinsic colour temperature and ‘shine direction.’ Modelling these accurately obviously affects the realism of the 3D model.) Secondly, we use a light map with light corresponding to the HDRI picture itself – with surroundings and reflexes – so the lighting can be softer and/or more detailed.

The light tool in 3Ds Max can tell an expert 3D modeller where to ‘place’ (create the POV) the model, and from which angle the 3D model looks best. This rendering tool enables a 3D modeller to illuminate the elements she wants to call-out and obscure other elements, and thus suggest the form of certain elements of the model through the use of subtle contrast.

It’s in the detail

Fine detail is crucial to realistic 3D modelling. In a good 3D modelling programme like 3Ds Max, detailed hyper-realism can be established through: a direct and thorough elaboration of realistic 3D model geometry; light control (as above); and by fine-tuning multi-level 3D model textures, which will enhance by suggestion any unmodeled nuances. 3D modelling realism can be achieved by blending light and geometry with a smooth, multi-polygon mesh, and high-quality model textures. This method has its disadvantages, though: the amount of time taken to render a realistic 3D model, the complexity of the process, the large output file size.

VizAcademy heads-up: Another way to achieve 3D modelling realism is via a medium-sized volume workout with an impressive number of procedural cards for detail. These include Bump, Displacement (for extrusion), and AO cards for contouring and additional highlights and shadows. NB: Consider all the things that comprise the 3D model prototype in reality – both visible and implied. Now model them in 3D photorealistically. Looks good, right!? 

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Realistic table model in 3D

Take a dining table. You can apply wood grain and add a glossy effect to the 3D model, but that may not make the table model look realistic. Remember what the table actually looks like and the material it’s made of – perhaps wood. Wood has an irregular, fibrous texture that can be replicated by using a Bump or Displacement card to adjust fibres. Also the texture of scratches, fingerprints, dents, or smudges can be used to create better realism of the 3D table model. In reality, nothing is perfect. A realistic 3D model personifies that truth.

VizAcademy heads-up: use evenly illuminated, seamless textures with high resolution quality in your realistic 3D models. These will allow you to scale and drag the object you are modelling competently and without blurring. Maps can be modified and complicated, rotated, overlaid, and coloured, which can add variety and realistic detail to the look of the 3D model.

Cleaning up

3D software does not always provide realistic results in the corners of the finished picture. What can be done about this? VizAcademy heads-up: Initially, the image should be rendered as “clean” as possible to get rid of “noise” (pixels). The realistic 3D model renderer can add special maps (e.g. depth of field), which will help when working in graphics programmes like Photoshop during post-processing. Such programmes can be used to adjust colours in certain areas, add or subtract light, or remove or correct details.

How to make 3d models look realistic? Conclusion

Before modelling, it is important to carefully analyse all references. Find inspirational examples like drawings and other information that can make designing and 3D rendering a scene easier. Also: select basic quality texture packs and HDRI maps beforehand.