Modelling - Part 1

Today I've made some good progress on the 3D modelling, and I'm feeling confident that I can complete it within the next 2 weeks. On these posts I will go through the steps I'm taking to model the character, and provide screenshots where possible.

I started by setting up the Front and Left views to my images in 3DS Max. I had to re-scale the front image so that it aligns with the side view well. If the two images are too misaligned, the modelling would become distorted.

Then, using the Line tool, I traced out the silhouette of the head on the side view, adjusting it as I went along. I decided to ignore his hair for now, and model it separately afterwards. When the line was close enough to the original drawing, I used the Extrude modifier to convert it into a 3D mesh.

After converting the mesh into an editable poly, I started to remove any unwanted detail from the shape. It's a lot easier to add complicated geometry than it is to simplify it, so working with a low-poly model to start with makes more sense.

Using the Bridge tool, I chose two edges at the bottom of the model and bridged between them, leaving plenty of edges in-between to work with. I then rounded the shape out into what will soon be the neck.

I decided to then fill in the chin of the character, as it is one of the easiest features to do. Keeping the geometry fairly even, I was constantly switching between my 3 viewports to create the correct shape.

I then added the brow line  and the under-eye, using the side view as my main reference. From the bottom eyelid, I created the cheek bone and wrinkle which run down the face, joining up with the chin at the bottom. After that I was making a lot of minor adjustments, but because I was so immersed in the modelling, I forgot to take many screenshots of this process. For future sessions, I may consider setting up a piece of software to automatically take screenshots for me.