UPDATE 10/10/2020: You can read an in-depth “Behind the Scenes” article about this project at BlenderNation! Enjoy
This is my second 3D project, and my first big modeling project at the same time. Learned tons of stuff, namely:
HDRIs are next to useless in studio lighting situations, especially if you want to achieve precise control over reflections
Hard lights are more interesting than soft lights (when you can use them)
Photorealism needs to be subtle: it sits on a fine line between clean CGI look and hyper-realism with too much “dirt”
Precise modeling from references/blueprints & lots and lots of modeling tricks
Complex masking with color ID (guitar body & neck) & using multiple UVs for “decals” (headstock)
True displacement for embossed text (tremolo, tuners)
As a sidenote, I’ve been reading the book “Light Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting” while working on this, and it helped me greatly to properly light this tricky model having lots of shiny reflective surfaces. It’s an excellent book, my highest recommendation!
Finally, my main sources of inspiration have been these two absolutely beautiful (and expensive!) instruments from Padalka Guitars:
Thanks @LilTreason, I appreciate it. There are a few things that aren’t 100% accurate but I just gave up after a while… Spent too much time on this already
These are maybe the most realistic Guitar renderings i have seen.The micro imperfections like scratches and dust really sells the result even more.Great modeling,great shading,and great lighting.
Perfect.
Wow, thanks @pixelgrip! I’m also a photographer, so my aim was to make it indistinguishable from a photograph. Good to hear that I managed to accomplish that goal!
You really did nail the micro imperfections. And your studio lighting is on point. The literal ONLY thing that tips me off it might not be real is the strings are so low of a gauge it hurts to think about playing that lol! But for real, you nailed it!
@ThorntonStrolia These were supposed to be standard 9-42 gauge strings, but I actually made them thicker a bit because that looked better on the render. Just checked my real guitar that has 9.5 gauge strings on it (in D standard / drop C), those actually look much thinner Btw, the lower the string gauge, the easier it is to play (especially bends and vibrato), try it someday. Many people go as low as 8s or even 7s, now THOSE are like playing on strands of hair
Lol I love low string gauges but I play 10s or 11s. I can’t do a 9. Long live my 5 boxes of d’darios. I’ve tried but no matter how big my calluses 9s always hurt. Lol
I’d say that has more to do with a bad action, I use 9’s on all my guitars are they are super easy to play, I barely have tough skin, never mind calluses and I play every day. A full setup by a good luthier can transform the playability of a guitar.
Probably. I dont play much anymore. Mostly just occasionally as a vibe these days, but I played daily from the time I was 9 til maybe 5 years ago, had 6 guitars, and I went through every size and every brand of string known to man. I was obsessed with trying new strings. I don’t know why. 15 yearold me thought it was fun LOL. I always loved my d’addario XL 10-46s the most. They just feel right when I play on them.
I don’t play enough anymore to worry too much. All I know is, anything less than a 10 lust looks like it hurts LOL but seriously. @johnnovak You killed this. That really is awesome.
@ThorntonStrolia Thanks again, when a guitarist says it looks like the real thing, that’s the best compliment! I’m a bit like you, I used to be super into guitar playing, but lately I just don’t care much about it. I only play when I need to record some tracks for a song or something, otherwise I just play games and do 3D stuff
What trigger me is the “Metal” tag with single coil pickups…
Another thing, got the feeling that there’s something off in those pickups’ position.
But I’m not a luther, so as long as you don’t provide us the sound, I guess I have to take this doubt to my grave.
A full setup by a good luthier can transform the playability of a guitar.
