Unit 66 3D Modelling: Applications of 3D Modelling

History of 3D Modelling 

3D models have been an recurring feature in gaming since the 1990's, the majority of games over the last two decades have featured 3D models. But 3D models are not a recent discovery, they have been around since the as early as the 1960's. But because of technological restrictions it took years for 3D modelling to really come of use , and for many different purposes. Animation has been a important tool for the development of television and film industries, 2D animation has been used in cartoons for years, and many modern films use CGI(Computer Generated Imagery) to create a scene which could not have been done in real life without killing a stuntman or two. A example on a 3D animated film would be Toy Story(1995). Toy Story was not the first 3D animated movie, but it could be described as the most famous example. Toy Story would use an animation variable called "Avar's"- also known as a hinge. Woody- one of the main characters in Toy Story- would have 212 in his face and 712 for the rest of his body. An Avar controls part of animated object, sets of Avar's create the animated objects movement for each frame. An Avar is similar to how motion capture works, but motion capture will only be as good as the actor moving around, 3D animation is limitless, it just takes a lot of time- Toy Story took 4-5 years to make.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avar_(animation_variable)

http://pixar-animation.weebly.com/pixars-animation-process.html 

In the 1990's 3D animation became a lot cheap due to more powerful and obtainable computers, because of this the video game industry could venture into 3D graphics, in the mid 1990's game like Super Mario 64 were being released, and consoles like the PlayStation were powerful enough to render 3D models and animation.

There are six main industries that use 3D modelling the most, these industries are: entertainment, gaming, architecture, publishing, advertising and marketing and finally geology and science. Below is a more detailed about these industries and how they use 3D modelling. 

Entertainment

Theres not a big film or tv show that comes out of hollywood without extensive use of 3D modelling, it is primarily used in special effects to make the environments that never existed before and supernatural occurences that unfold quite naturally, but it is not uncommon to have shots where things are added that you might not realise are artificial at all. 3D graphic artists using computer graphic imaging, more commonly known as CGI, can remove things from scenes as well as add them in an example of this would be taking out trees from a scene that is meant to be a densely populated city scene.

Gaming

another area where 3D modelling software is evident is in the area of gaming. Video games are become more and more realistic since the era of Pac man but the games industry has only started using 3D modelling in the 1990's as i have previously stated above. Whether it is destroying aliens or driving hypercars faster than anyone in the real world possibly could, the scenes, props, and even the people in games are starting to look like real people more and more like real scenes, props and people with each new game that comes out. 

Architecture

For decades, renderers would “flesh-out” plans and blueprints into a drawing, usually somewhat realistic, that was essentially the first “picture” of the new building. Welcome to the future. Now, these renderings are done on the computer, and you can add motion and depth, so clients can see a “fly-by” that illustrates all angles of vision (including a birds-eye or ground perspective view). Additionally, the views can go inside the structure, too. This way, clients know exactly what they’re in for on their project.

Publishing

Publishers of textbooks and other illustrated books are making use of 3D modeling more and more. It allows them to show pictures that otherwise they might not be able to get, for various reasons, including access and copyright issues. Sometimes, the illustrations may be fantastical, and they can help show an artist’s version of something that mankind has never seen, like historic events or visions of the future.

Advertising and Marketing

3D modeling artists can help advertisers and marketers depict their products in the ideal state. It allows companies to render new cars, new product packaging and prototypes at drastic savings. If it doesn’t ‘play’, they can fix it by merely changing the computer model. Additionally, once they have developed the right rendering, they can use that to sell the item before they have to invest capital in production.

Geology and Science

Geologists and scientists can use 3D modeling to create models that simulate earthquakes and landforms, such as ocean trenches, that let them see the affects of stresses. Additionally, they can simulate motion, like flight patterns, including various factors that affect them.