Model Making Tutorial

Maya is arcane, complex, but incredibly powerful software. It is the industry standard for 3D modeling in games and film. This video for Maya beginners will teach you how to create a model of an airplane as a means of teaching you a lot of the basics of Maya. It is meant to be ...more

Mastering the intricacies of 3D modeling in Maya can take a lifetime, or as close to a lifetime as anyone has had since Maya came out in. This video for Maya beginners will teach you the basics of modeling by walking you through modeling a toy rooster. The model doesn't look t ...more

This tutorial goes over more basic features of Google SketchUp and helps you learn how to use pre-made 3D models.

Learn how to make your very own Japanese Yamaha paper craft motorcycle YZR-M1! These easy-to-follow instructional paper craft video clips explain everything from basic paper craft techniques and how to make major parts of the realistic paper crafts, right up to the final assem ...more

Ring Lights can create a specific lighting that brings out warmer hues from your actors/models, as well as giving you a cool effect for the eyes. If you're not looking to spend a fortune on buying an already made one, you can make one with items from around the house on the ch ...more

Clothing a 3D model properly is almost as hard as making the model in the first place. Fortunately, 3D Studio MAX and this video are here to help. Watching this you will learn how to create splines, simulate cloth animation, and use good smoothing techniques, among other thing ...more

This video from accredited 3D art instructor Andrew Klein covers some basic techniques for using Zbrush to sculpt the details of a 3D model of a shoe. He already has a basic model of a shoe when he begins, so you should be at the level where you can sculpt that before you watc ...more

Starcraft 2, like it's predecessor before it, has a very robust level editor called Galaxy Editor that allows you, the DIY modder, to create nearly any scenario within the bounds of the Starcraft 2 engine that you could imagine. We have compiled videos on how to do all sorts o ...more

If you are modeling a 3D game in 3D Studio MAX, you are going to need to know how to correctly model the destruction of many of your beautiful 3D models. This video is focuses largely on that. It will show you how to use the procutter tool and booleans in 3DS MAX to break up a ...more

This video, from accredited 3D art instructor Andrew Klein, will teach you how to use one of the many powerful features in Maya to manipulate you 3D models. Specifically, it will teach you how to use the LOD (level of detail) tool in order to control how much of your model loa ...more

Maya is the most powerful 3D modeling tool that most people are likely to have access to. This video will teach you some basic techniques for creating 3D models in the program by teaching you how to make a chair from scratch. It's not a very exciting chair, sure, but you have ...more

A quick and inexpensive method of making highly detailed miniature landscapes for model railways, diorama's or garden sculptures. This is a vivid scenery design lesson perfect for your train scenes or other mountain scapes.

Making a head is hard enough with pen and pencil or with clay. Doing it in a 3D graphics program can seem impossible. This video is here to prove that such is not the case. Its eleven parts feature incredibly detailed instructions for modeling a human head using 3D Studio Max, ...more

We've all attempted to fold a paper airplane before, right? One we hoped would sail majestically through the air for a good while but just ended up nose-diving into the grass. Paper planes, an invention likely as old as paper, are models of engineering; and they must account f ...more

Pepakura is the Japanese word for papercraft. So yes, pepakura does include origami. Specifically, the term refers to 3D models made from paper. And what better contraption to make out of paper than this awesome Halo 3 (XBox 360) helmet? Broken down into its geometric componen ...more

A full guide to making the perfect ninja star. I've seen loads of videos of how to make Ninja Stars, and I don't have a clue what they mean. So I decided to make this how to video on paper ninja stars (aka shurikens) and it's easier to understand and follow, especially for you ...more

So you want to control the flashes on your camera using a remote, and you know that you need to get to Master mode on your Canon 580EX II to be able to do that. But Canon made Master mode for this particular model of camera very difficult to locate and enable. However, this vi ...more

Birds of paradise flowers are strong and architectural in appearance, making them the perfect models for origami projects. Check out this origami tutorial to fold amazingly lifelike origami birds of paradise flowers. Stick them in a tiny terra cotta pot for more lifelike appeal.

One of the tougher models to make in balloon twisting is a balloon baby, also seen on an episode of Scrubs. If you were curious how they made a balloon baby, check out this video. In it, you will get a full tutorial on how to create your own balloon baby that you can write mes ...more

Obesity is no longer a problem in the world— at least, in the digital world. This Photoshop tutorial will show you an easy trick to making fat and obese people a little bit thinner. You can even make slightly overweight women and men into beautiful and skinny models. Get rid o ...more

Learn how to create depth map shadows when working within Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. F ...more

Object-oriented programming (OOP)is a school of programming that considers a computer program a group of interacting objects rather than a sequence of tasks. This makes more sense to many people than the more more old-fashioned vector model, and if you want to get started in p ...more

This video tutorial presents a number of quick tips on making a Lego minifig head within Blender 2.49b or Blender 2.5. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular 3D modeling program or a seasoned graphic artist just interested in better acquainting yourself with th ...more

Making use of multiple modifiers and projection painting this tutorial covers the entire process of modeling and texturing an old, wooden barrel in Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned di ...more

Steadicam is important in filmmaking and can help you get the perfect shot. If you are a budding filmmaker and don't have the cash to shell out for a professionally made model, check out this video. In this tutorial, Rodney Smith will show you exactly how to build a steadicam ...more

Ian Beckman of Azerothian Super Villains fame introduces the third installment of How 2 Machinima. This series of tutorials is aimed to introduce both the fundamentals and advanced techniques of WoW machinima-making. Use Adobe Premiere to model machinima and create proper mach ...more

This tutorial shows the best way to model a human hand with perfect edge flow. Made in Maya but should work great in any package. This is an advanced tutorial so you should be familiar with the software and interface.

This video series takes you through every step of building a building in SketchUp and is taken from chapter 4 of "Google SketchUp for Dummies" in case you want to follow along. PART 1 explains how to switch to a 2D view to get you ready to build the floor plan. It's a good ide ...more

Does a bob haircut remind you of flappers from the 1920's? Originally, the hairstyle (as worn by flappers) was meant to be an androgynous cut, boyish in length and style. But that doesn't mean you can't sex it up for your own needs. Check out this video to learn how to cut an ...more

Dark, punky glamour has never been more in on the runways. From YSL's blood red lipstick to the harsh stud and leather detailing on the clothes at Philip Lim, it seems that rock stars are the newest fashion role models. While you can get a rock star-esque shirt at a trendy Me ...more

Photo retouchers can do a lot with Photoshop, from making a so-so gal look like a model to virtually applying makeup and cleaning up ugly cellulite. But don't you wish you could look perfectly airbrushed at the first take? If you want flawless, airbrushed skin, look no furthe ...more

Just in case you've been living under a rock (AKA without internet) for the past couple of days, here's a quick update: "Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen has officially become the new face of Madonna and her daughter Lourdes' new fashion line, Material Girl. Momsen, who dresse ...more

The XBox 360 console, especially the older models of it, is not very well-made. There are all sorts of different design errors that can effectively shut your system. This video will teach you how to deal with just one, the unplayable disc error that plagues the disc drives inc ...more

Learn how to easily add and set up SSS in your Cinema 4d scenes. Avoid one of the common mistakes made and get great results. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and ...more

Microsoft has behaved pretty douchily as far as managing the hard disc drive (HDD) sizes it made available for the XBox 360. The 20GB drive included in most models of the system is woefully inadequate, and many have been convinced to give Microsoft even more money to get a lar ...more

In this clip, learn all about the brand new cameras on your iPhone 4. The latest iPhone from Apple has made major improvements on the cameras from the older models. Not only do you now have a flash, but you also have TWO fully functioning cameras with great picture resolution ...more

If you are making games or hybrid machinima in 3D Studio MAX, the occasion may arise where you want to give one of your characters a massive two-handed weapons like a sword or machine gun. This video's sole intent is to teach you how to do that. It focuses on how to link parts ...more

Creating a good 3D model in 3D Studio MAX is hard enough. Now I've got to model clothes onto them too? Why can't all 3D game characters be naked? Once you've resolved that debate in your head, watch this video. It will show you how to use the Reactor cloth system within 3DS M ...more

If you want to make fantasy 3D games, and if you're watching this video there's a really good chance that that is the case, you are probably going to have to model an arrow hitting an object at some point. Do it right! This two-part video will show you how to 3D model an arrow ...more

We ladies have had to primp and scrutinize ourselves for thousands of years, painstakingly plucking, waxing, painting, and slathering in order to conform to societal ideals of the perfect woman. And until recently men haven't felt the need to conform physically to much of anyt ...more

Using motion capture is one of the easiest and most effective ways to animate the motions of a bipedal character who is proportional to a normal human. When the character is not in proportion, like the World of Warcraft low-poly models in this video, it gets a little more comp ...more

If you want to model a character in 3DS Max and don't want them to be nude, you are probably going to have to work with 3D cloth. This three-part video will teach you how to create cloth in 3DS Max (without using Reactor), attach it to your character, and make it animate prope ...more

This five-part guide presents detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create a low-polygon model of a tree when working in Blender. Whether you're new to the Blender Foundation's popular open-source 3D computer graphics application or are a seasoned digital artist merely ...more

Maya and Photoshop CS4 may be made by different companies, but that doesn't mean they can't work together. This video will teach you how to take a 3D model from Maya, import it into Photoshop, and then use Photoshop CS4's new 3D editing tools to overpaint the rough texture sea ...more

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make hands with modeling sugar paste. Begin by rolling a small ball of paste into a tear drop shape. Then flatten the end, making it look like a ping pong paddle. To make the thumb, use a knife and cut into the side of the flat end ...more

When working in a production environment it is a common need to send a model, along with all of it's associated files off to another artist. Blender makes this quite easy by allowing you to pack (compress) all of the external data associated with the model into the .blend. Whe ...more

In this new 3D Studio Max tutorial from Max Cookie, you'll see how to use the Prime Focus Krakatoa plug-in. Specifically, you'll see how to create a volume, how to pick an animated mesh, and then how to make a good setup to create a basic sand creature. Whether you're new to A ...more