I’ll use Blender to create terrain by adding modifiers to a flat plain. I populate this terrain by modeling simple buildings, trees and rocks, and scattering them across the surface with a particle system. Instead of hand-crafting the terrain and hand-placing props, I create them procedurally so that I can shuffle my composition like a deck of cards. I do this so I can explore the scene, see it with fresh eyes each time, and render whenever I find a strong composition.
In Photoshop, I’ll create color by mashing together photos, sketching detailed architecture, and painting with custom brushes I’ve grown to love.
To get the most from this workshop, you’ll need some basic knowledge of Blender and Photoshop. If you’ve ever modeled and rendered a basic scene in Blender, you’ll be able to follow along. If you’d like to learn more about Blender, I recommend Blender Guru on YouTube. He has hundreds of hours of content, and his beginner series is perfect for anyone looking to break into 3D (also take a look at our sister magazine, 3D World – ed).
1 Establish the terrain for the scene
I need terrain for objects in my environment to sit on. I create a plane and add a subdivide modifier and a displacement modifier. On the Texture tab I create a Distorted Noise texture. I use Original Perlin for the Distortion type, then select this texture in the Displacement modifier.
2 Generate simple 3D models
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Denne historien er fra January 2022-utgaven av ImagineFX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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PAINT EPIC BATTLES IN TRADITIONAL INK
Warhammer illustrator THOMAS ELLIOTT shows you how to create an epic science fiction fight scene with this step-by-step guide
CONJURE MAGIC ILLUSTRATIONS
Daria Anako demonstrates her process for creating a whimsical piece of art with some spellbinding touches
First Impressions
We discover the early influences that inspired the artist
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DRAGON OFORCEC
Legendary D&D artist Larry Elmore explains the keys to crafting timeless fantasy art.
DUNGEON MASTERS
ImagineFX marks the milestone 50th anniversary of the launch of Dungeons & Dragons with a look at its rich tradition of illustration
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Gamer's haven Why the artist enjoys a maximalist aesthetic more than the minimalist approach.
2D meets 3D: How the workflows are merging
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