3D Graphics, 3D Art

The State of 3D Modeling

Don't look now, but 3D modeling is all around you. 3D graphics applications like Studio Max 3, Lightwave, AutoCAD, Form_Z and now SketchUp are busy creating the movies you watch, the games you play, the buildings you work in -- even the clothes you wear. DesignMentor offers (in our opinion) the best SketchUp Classes available.

The course is developed and taught by Norway-based architect Jim Dodson, a 3D expert who uses not only uses SketchUp professionally but also sees a future for 3D design in more mainstream graphic and Web design settings. We asked Jim about this ever-expanding space with z coordinates.

Note: All images in this interviews are the property of Sn¿hetta.

Q. Jim, whenever we start talking about 3D modeling, people assume that it's only for architects and big-budget CGI studios. Can you comment on the range of applications for 3D modeling today? And, who's doing it?

Jim: There's an extraordinary range of 3D applications out there today, with the big-budget guys only the most obvious players. Hollywood has seen nothing short of a revolution in computer graphics in the last few years. Movies like The Lord of the Rings and Matrix Reloaded have completely changed people's expectations when it comes computer graphics and special effects. A growing number of graduates from architecture and design schools are forsaking their traditional careers and concentrating their efforts on mapping the virtual worlds you see on the big screen.

3D is also growing quickly in the games market. All of the current top 10 best-selling games rely heavily on 3D graphics. Game developers aren't looking for 2D sprite designers anymore -- instead, they're seeking 3D motion capture specialists, character animators, and 3D level designers. The movie space and the game space are converging in their use of 3D graphics.

Some of the most exciting developments are a bit more behind-the-scenes. 3D modeling isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when you buy your new toothbrush with an adjustable grip (product design), or when you see the Guggenheim in Bilbao (architecture), but neither of those things would have been possible without 3D.

Q. How does SketchUp stack up in with other 3D tools such as 3D Studio Max 3, Lightwave, and AutoCAD? What are the typical uses and what's unique about Form_Z?

Jim: It's a happy time for designers. There's a lot of great 3D applications out there, and each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. At Snøhetta (www.Snøhetta.com) we use a mix of Form_Z, 3D Studio Max, Viz, Rhinoceros, and Autocad. SketchUp is used in the early stages of a 3D model because it is such an intuitive application.

Q. Obviously, architecture and interior design is one of the core uses for SketchUp. How does it integrate with your work?

Jim: We use 3D in all phases of a project. It allows us to develop the form of our buildings quickly and interactively. This gives us the chance test out many different ideas thoroughly in the initial phases of design.

The great thing is that as projects progress, the 3D model is the first thing we return to, to further refine our design and bring it to the next level. On some of our larger or more complicated projects, the 3D model is now updated well into the construction phase and in some cases translated into data that is used directly on the construction site.

Before: Snøhetta used Form_Z to create photorealistic models of a cultural center in Sandvika, Norway.	After: The project near completion in Spring 2003.

Q. This brings up another big application for 3D programs is prototyping, the ability to simulate and technically specify things that don't yet exist. Do you see a growing demand for 3D design in manufacturing?

Jim: Rapid prototyping is a great link between the virtual 3D world and the physical world. Previously due to the high cost of the equipment the only people who had access to this technology were specialists in manufacturing, the automotive industry, and industrial design.

Now that the machines are smaller and cheaper they are getting into the hands of the public. All respectable design schools now have some form of rapid prototyping equipment that allows students to test out their 3D designs. We have recently gained access to two types of machines. The one is a 3D plotter from Zycorp that builds models layer by layer using a special printhead and a fine plaster powder.

The other is a computer controlled router that can cut out forms from a solid block of material. These tools are becoming invaluable to us on a number of projects. I've got to get one of these things at home!

Q. We've seen designers use 3D images even when realistic photographic images are available. What's so appealing about virtual reality right now?

Jim: I think the popularity of LOTR and Matrix movies has a lot to do with the current focus on virtual reality. The funny thing is that the graphics are so good that it's hard to tell what's real and what's not.

I love the story that is circulating on the Internet about the Honda Accord ad where the car is taken apart and turned into a giant Rube-Goldberg machine. When you first see it you think, wow -- those are some amazing computer graphics. The thing that shocks everyone is finding out that it's all for real...

People EXPECT computer graphics these days. It's not even shocking to see something out of the ordinary. That's why finding out that someone actually went through the effort of 606 digital video takes to get it right has become a sensation in itself.

The downside of 3D's emergence is that we see far too many terrible examples of 3D images that fall short of being real, no matter how hard they try. Personally I lean towards a graphical style in my work that retains a certain sense of the abstract. I don't want my images to imitate reality, I want them to create something wonderful that doesn't exist and be honest about it.

Q. Many students ask us whether SketchUp is a good place to start learning 3D modeling for developing games. What skills does a game designer need to master? How does one break into that space?

Jim: Although SketchUp is not exactly a game development tool, all of the basic principles that I teach also apply in 3D game design. To get into 3D games, you will need to master the art of making well-crafted beautiful 3D spaces. Being able to create an interesting space with character and atmosphere is crucial. This relies heavily upon the design of the space itself, the careful creation and application of textures/colors, and appropriate "mood" lighting. Create your own 3D spaces in SketchUp, and you can present them as still images or an animation as a part of your portfolio.

Level editing is also popular these days. You could use one of the many freeware game level editors out there to create your own levels for existing games. If you can create something exciting that no one else has seen before with one of these, then maybe you've got a shot at getting your foot in the door with game publishers. There are conversion levels for a number of games out there that are better than the ones made by the original game designers.

Q. Jim, your course clearly springs from a passion about the software and the medium. Looking way ahead, how will 3D software be used in 2010, 2020? (Assuming we're not all gobbled up the Matrix).

Jim: That's a hard call... Now that I've got my hands on some decent rapid prototyping machines (I've only been waiting 10 years for that!)

I suppose my next big wish would be proper immersive-VR gear. Today's consumer "Virtual Reality" glasses aren't up to snuff. They are too bulky and the resolution is only suitable for game playing, not serious work. When I can get a light and stylish pair of glasses with say 1600x1200 resolution for under $1000 I'll be pleased (for a while).

It's also about time for the next revolution in input devices. I love my Wacom pen and tablet, but 3D input with force feedback is also way up there on my wish list. I'd settle for some gloves, or a good 3D pointer with the weight and feel of a nice Mont Blanc pen. But if they can figure out a way to plug into my brain directly first, then sign me up!

Instructor Jim Dodson inspects a 1:40 scale model of the design for Turner Center in a wave tank. The building and Jim's rubber boots are taking a beating from simulated 1-in-10,000 year waves to examine the forces of the waves on the structure of the Gallery.

Created by a collaboration between the team at Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and Spence Associates, the Turner Center project is the design for an international center for the visual arts with a gallery, educational spaces, café, and shop.

Most innovative of all is its location: right in the middle of a seaside pier in Margate, a town on England's south coast. The shape of the design is striking; it looks like a vast submarine leviathan looming over the town and also suggests a navy submarine, evoking Margate's maritime history during the Second World War.

The gallery will show exhibitions of contemporary art and historical work of painter JMW Turner and his contemporaries. The Turner Center designed by Snøhetta and Spence Associates will open in 2007. The Snøhetta + Spence design was the winner of an international architectural competition organised by Kent County Council which attracted over 100 entries.

Visit the site to learn more: http://www.turnercenter.org