The Gnomon Workshop – Hyper-realistic Insect Design with Eric Keller 2017

In this video series, Eric Keller demonstrates his process for designing, modeling and texturing an original realistic insect using ZBrush, Maya, and Substance Painter, sharing techniques that he has developed over the years working on projects for both the scientific community and the entertainment industry. He talks about how he relies on insect physiology and evolutionary biology as guidelines for his original concept and how to bring photo and microscope reference directly into ZBrush using Spotlight. Eric takes the design from basic blockout using Dynamesh all the way to completed model. The chapters focus on how to sculpt and detail specific parts of the insect based on comparisons with other insects. The final model is then rigged and posed in Maya and lit and rendered based on simulating real world macro photography techniques. Eric also demonstrates how to light and render variations of the insect using the Octane for Maya plug-in. While the lectures demonstrate advanced techniques in these specific software packages the general principles can be applied to alternate workflows. The lecture also includes a bonus chapter on spider physiology and rendering techniques.