Sculpting Custom Characters Using Virtual Reality
Sculpting and modeling have been around since the dawn of time. To this day, archaeologists keep discovering sculptures and statues of ancient civilizations created with great detail. This illustrates the inclination of humans towards creating 3D models and sculptures. Fast forward to the 21st Century, only the tools used for creating these masterpieces have changed but the inclination towards the creating and sculpting remains. Rather than using hammers and chisels, people nowadays can use the power of virtual reality to make lifelike creations that are not only used in the animation and entertainment industry but also to create realistic video game characters.
For those of you who are unaware of virtual reality technology, it is basically the use of computer technology to generate a simulated environment that you can experience with your senses like vision, hearing, and touch. Virtual reality is becoming a key part of sculpting and modeling 3D characters. Inspiring VR corporations such as Oculus are paving the way for users to make their own 3D creations using their platforms. In December 2016, Oculus released their digital sculpting software “Medium” that works with their virtual reality headset the “Rift”. It is used to create and paint digital sculptures.
People normally create 3D images in 2D planes using software such as Zbrush which undoubtedly is one of the best sculpting software’s on the market that hopefully will develop a VR platform in the future. However, creating a 3D model in a 3D plane seems more intuitive and much easier. Rather than perfecting a 3D object from every 2D angle, a comparatively better way is to create it in a 3D plane and reducing the work needed to create the model. Oculus also lets you sculpt in virtual reality with your friends. Medium offers multiplayer functionality that allows you and one other person to collaboratively work together on pieces in real time.
Another factor is the use of a classic keyboard and mouse as compared to creating in a fully immersed virtual world. You use your entire body to sculpt rather than limiting yourself to keyboard and mouse. It is truly the next level of creativity, bringing your imagination into a new reality!
One tool that allows creation in VR is Gravity Sketch. This application lets us create 3D works in real-time in VR. It offers a multitude of ways by which you can bring life to your 2D creations or produce new 3D sculptures and models from scratch. Yet another software that offers similar features is Tilt Brush by Google. With this tool, users can paint in a 3D space. Google claims that with their software, your room will become a canvas for your imaginations.
