Artifact Three: BattleAxe
The battle axe is one of my first fully completed models. The goal was to create a low poly detailed model to incorporate into an Unreal Engine project. The axe can be used in many games and is optimized to ensure zero performance drop due to a high poly count.
Tools Used: Maya, Mudbox, Unreal Engine
Highlighted Skills: 3D Graphics, Sculpting, Game Engine Mastery, Complex Logic Problem Solutions.
Battle Axe UVs in Maya
Sculpting In Mudbox
Painting in Mudbox
Battle Axe Showcase
Reflection
The Process:
The first step was to create the overall shape of the axe using Maya. I also had to UV unwrap the model to add textures, ensuring that the UV mapping has zero distortion, stretching, and overlapping. Next, I imported the low poly model into Mudbox and started sculpting. I wanted to make sure the axe looked used and that the handle and belly of the axe looked like it was made with natural materials. The handle is a fancy red leather wrap, and the wood grain was sculpted to give it a worn wood texture. Painting the model was a straightforward process. I used projection painting to add a lot of textures to achieve the final look of the piece. Lastly, I exported the low poly version of the axe and imported it to Unreal Engine. I created my Axe material, added it to the piece, and then created a turntable to showcase the completed axe.
What I have learned:
I learned how to work between two connected pieces of software to ensure that my Maya Model worked correctly in Mudbox. Any UV issues from Maya would display error messages in Mudbox, allowing me to return to Maya and fix problems. I also learned the importance of UV unwrapping and the model's final look. Sculpting and painting was a fun experience, and I learned to trust my creative instincts. I also learned how to import and use the model in Unreal Engine to create a professional turntable.
Challenges:
My main challenge in the project was UV unwrapping. I would unwrap the model with no overlapping, stretching, or distortion and zero error messages from Mudbox, but during the painting process, I found some overlapping in the UVs. I completely redid the UVs, and that solved the issue.
Incorporating feedback:
I received feedback that the edge of the blade did not look sharp. Therefore, I added bevels in Maya to keep the blade's edge sharp. Overall the feedback that I received during the project was overwhelmingly positive. All of the feedback helped me to trust my creative process, allowing me to explore different techniques to achieve the final look of the axe.
Improvements:
I had to redo my UVs because I had textures overlapping. Once I fixed the UVs, I returned to Mudbox to paint the model. I ensured that all the painted edges that transitioned to different textures looked sharp and natural. I also did some testing in Unreal Engine, ensuring the model bake was successful and performed well in the engine.
