Adobe Dimension

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Adobe Substance is one application that allows the building of 3D worlds for architecture, engineering, medicine, fashion, and design. Workflows are not necessarily linear:

• Modeling: creating 3D geometry

  • • creating coordinates (marking location in 3D space--x, y, z), edges (connections between vertices), surfaces, vertices (singular: vertex) (small points defined by coordinates, not visible by themselves)

    • surface normals since faces have no thickness, normals indicate what is the front or the back.

    • Mesh vs CAD

      • • Mesh -- best choice for virtual display, don't represent actual volume, lacks precision. But easy to use across platforms

        • CAD data -- when a precise space is required.

    • Five methods to model (choice of which method based on the use case):

      • • poly modeling -- creator creates all vertices, edges, and grids.

          • • subdivision is a process to smooth the surface in order to have more surfaces,

        • sculpting -- works mesh like clay. Frequently creates very heavy meshes with millions of vertices, which can limit the usefulness of the model.

        • CAD modeling

        • scanning -- bringing a physical object into the virtual world. This isn't really modeling, but it can be a valuable tool to capture a very accurate model, although that model will be very heavy.

        • procedural generation -- where modeling is handled by modeling, physics, and programming

        • parametric modeling -- customizing existing meshes

    • Materials and Shaders:

      • • In 3D a material is set by the material properties and the shader.

          • • Material -- the look provided by your 3D application: the look you define for your 3D

            • Shader -- turns the material into something actually visible -- provides a framework for you to work within

        • PBR (physically based rendering) system that provides universal approach, including color, reflection (how a surface reacts to light), surface height (imperfections and some surface deformations), translucency (how much light shines through the object).

        • Assigning materials: to the entire geometry or to one section of the geometry

• UV Unwrapping: unfolding 3D shape to make a 2D layouts of your 3d shape

  • • UVW sits next to XYZ, hence the name

    • Two techniques:

      • • Quick projection mapping: for simple geometry shapes (for primitive shapes)

        • unique unwrapping: every shape from the geometry gets its own space with no overlaps.

    • Texel Density: applies to both projection mapping or unique unwrapping. Relationship between the resolution of the texture and scale/size of the UV. Choose a baseline resolution carefully.

• Baking: storing geometric information using the 2D layout

  • • Enhance material details by looking at geometry: areas that stick out are more likely to have scratches, areas that are tucked back may collect more dirt, etc.

• Texturing: building materials and assigning textures to the model

  • • Tile textures: repeated textures made for flat plane

    • Unique: textures that are created by using a UV layout, can be individually painted.

• Rigging: if your model is going to move, this will enable you to deform shape and add motion

  • • Animation in 3D is no different than animating in 2D. You move objects over time through keyframing or motion capture or simulations.

    • Rigging is building a virtual skeleton and controls for it.

• Staging: positioning 3D objects and cameras, add lighting, and polish materials

• Rendering: final stage, creating the visuals for use

Not all these steps may not be necessary, depending on your "use case," or what you're attempting to accomplish.