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Rivenchan — Twilight Sparkle Process

Published: 2011-06-07 18:04:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 14953; Favourites: 141; Downloads: 225
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Description So a few people have asked about my process when I'm modeling these ponies, so I figured I'd take a little break from working on Rarity to put together some of my screencaps I took while modeling Twilight Sparkle. Unfortunately I didn't take them with the intention of putting together any sort of tutorial, but hopefully something is better than nothing.

Hope this helps!

Previously in the series:
3d Twilight Sparkle - [link]
3d Pinkie Pie - [link]
3d Rainbow Dash - [link]
3d Applejack - [link]
3d Ponyville Building - [link] and [link]
Related content
Comments: 41

choco-rain [2015-06-02 23:52:41 +0000 UTC]

Good tutorial. I'm wondering how you built the model around the reference image though. I can't find out how to do it.

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RainMadMorld [2013-05-14 10:45:31 +0000 UTC]

you have tutorial? how modeling pony in 3DMax

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aMysticalArtist In reply to RainMadMorld [2013-11-30 15:57:52 +0000 UTC]

3D MAX!!!! I KNEW IT!!

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RainMadMorld In reply to aMysticalArtist [2013-12-18 22:17:16 +0000 UTC]

Sorry, but... this is SAI 0_0

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Xeregon [2013-03-08 08:18:16 +0000 UTC]

I've been trying to make my own OC in 3D for a while now, starting off with the Rudolph tutorial on blendercookie. Think I'll start over and try your method, actually. Incidentally, is there a reason you use mesh hair and feathers instead of poly hair or a particle system?

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Genbe89 [2012-09-15 13:22:37 +0000 UTC]

what program is that, do you think this would work in blender.

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FriscoWolf In reply to Genbe89 [2012-11-18 01:34:06 +0000 UTC]

it looks like 3DSMax, but it should be convertable to blender, i hope...

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Venomrabbit [2012-05-17 09:12:10 +0000 UTC]

Yikes, you make it look so easy! D:

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TWCSoarin In reply to Venomrabbit [2012-08-06 02:18:22 +0000 UTC]

seconded.

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Jeremi-Eldridge [2012-01-29 21:20:35 +0000 UTC]

So you're using 3dsMax then? Great program. Maya is really solid for animating purposes and rigging but I have to say when it comes to control over the modeling process I love Max. Good clean workflow.

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starlitsmile [2011-12-24 15:27:57 +0000 UTC]

Question, is projecting a texture on a model done with a certain method? I bet I can get my 3d work to go way faster if i could just slap a rough 2d image on the side of it so I can roughly see it in three dimensions.

I'm assuming you didn't mean unwrapping when you said projecting, right? Or is that the correct method?

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MorganEdwardAshton [2011-09-10 17:05:56 +0000 UTC]

Your 3D ponies are some of the most accurate I've seen. They really capture the characters! Kudos!

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SnowCatManga [2011-07-30 22:26:27 +0000 UTC]

I wish I could learn how to do this stuff. I'm just a lowly mangaka.
I'd learn, but I can't afford fancy software.

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epicabsol In reply to SnowCatManga [2012-05-01 02:48:00 +0000 UTC]

If you're really serious, get the autodesk educational software.
I have AutoCAD, Maya, and Max, and they all work like a charm. (or Max and AutoCAD would, if I could figure them out...)

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Fantos1 [2011-07-19 19:23:57 +0000 UTC]

Its soooo awesome!!
Please next time make a video how you modeling. Pretty pony pleeeaaaasseeee

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ShermanTank13 [2011-07-09 15:48:13 +0000 UTC]

That is so interesting I haven't seen it done quite that way before... your textures are flawless!

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fennecfanatic [2011-06-25 12:21:03 +0000 UTC]

Augh, you make it look so easy! I've been fussing with Blender for ages and have yet to get the hang of it. You'd think somepony who works at a CG film studio could wrap her head around this stuff, but nooo. ^^

Still, this tutorial gives me some helpful things to think about. I shall continue trying!

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jakehunter [2011-06-24 16:39:56 +0000 UTC]

Very nice I use box modeling.

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Batichi [2011-06-20 00:54:07 +0000 UTC]

Your end lighting is fantastic. I've been fooling around with Max, but haven't figured out how the render system works. Is it a default? Or is it your own lighting?

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Asarav [2011-06-15 03:52:40 +0000 UTC]

You happen to have any wireframe renders? I like studying the topology that people use. Nice work BTW.

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bartekko [2011-06-13 21:41:05 +0000 UTC]

I prefer the more 2d-ish look in the beggining, but anyway--->

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Rivenchan In reply to bartekko [2011-06-13 22:14:53 +0000 UTC]

Hah, to be honest I actually agree with you on that. But when I first started posting screenshots on ponychan asking for critique I think a lot of people skipped over my thread because it wasn't obvious enough that my picture was actually a 3d model from the thumbnail. Once I switched to the rendered style I got a lot more feedback. The internet is funny that way.

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bartekko In reply to Rivenchan [2011-06-14 15:40:19 +0000 UTC]

@lastsentence
funny thing is, when you think about it, it's the mancore 4chan that actually started the whole pony madness.
20% cooler thing, is that many memes were made, and only thing i don't like is the whole candy vag thing... Rainbow dash is my favourite, and i would do the sonic rainbow on the person calling out for sexuality issues on this so cute-filled, awesome-driven, 4chan-loved show...
Sorry, just being flutterrage

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LightWarrior2000 [2011-06-13 07:16:42 +0000 UTC]

I should find a way to show you my Derpy Hooves then...I do 3D as well. In fact I'm more of an animator.

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Kayosiv [2011-06-13 02:20:39 +0000 UTC]

The only question I have for you is if you'd like to see my ponies when I finish making them using this tutorial. Thank you so much for putting this together.

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Rivenchan In reply to Kayosiv [2011-06-13 03:33:00 +0000 UTC]

Of course! I love seeing other peoples work. Maybe you'll find a better solution for Twilight's bangs than I managed - I'm itching to go back and rework them, but I'm trying to hold off for awhile.

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DuskBrony [2011-06-13 01:40:53 +0000 UTC]

The reference I was looking for. Been trying to model out a 3D pony myself and so far it's been tedious work. But I'm getting there. The head and ears is what's holding me back at the moment.

Anyways, splendid work. I love seeing 3D models of ponies

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kappa-neko [2011-06-12 19:39:03 +0000 UTC]

Why, in the screen caps, are the lines in the hair kind of rigid but in the final product they are smooth? I would just like to know :3

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Rivenchan In reply to kappa-neko [2011-06-12 19:45:24 +0000 UTC]

Hi there, in 3dsMax there's a modifier named TurboSmooth that subdivides the geometry and smooths the mesh model. It means I can work with a lower poly mesh, and still be able to have nice smooth highpoly renders.

For further reading on the subject, you might be interested in checking this out: [link]

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kappa-neko In reply to Rivenchan [2011-06-12 19:49:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much

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Rivenchan In reply to kappa-neko [2011-06-12 19:51:01 +0000 UTC]

Yeah no problem, always happy to teach what I know.

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CrossRage [2011-06-11 03:59:28 +0000 UTC]

nice tut! but probably next time, can u have the edge faces on? It'll make it easier to understand and to see whats going on with seeing the edge faces :3

Keep up the great work!

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Rivenchan In reply to CrossRage [2011-06-11 04:08:41 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I know and agree with you. Unfortunately when I was working on modeling her I was taking these screenshots to send to a fellow bronie as like a "Hey check out what I'm working on now! " kind of thing, not with the intention of ever putting together a process tutorial. I wish I had more shots showing the nuts and bolts of what I was doing, too. Now that all I'm doing is modeling hair for each of the main cast, it's not as interesting for a tutorial.

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CosmicUnicorn [2011-06-08 03:11:46 +0000 UTC]

Ohh! Wonderful! thank you so much for sharing this! <3

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Rivenchan In reply to CosmicUnicorn [2011-06-08 03:55:03 +0000 UTC]

No problem! I'm always happy to help!

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RonsRogue [2011-06-07 21:53:20 +0000 UTC]

Even though I do not make 3D models, I thought this was very helpful, anyway.
But if I do get into 3D modeling, I know I could always ask you for helpful tips and tricks!

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Rivenchan In reply to RonsRogue [2011-06-07 23:15:21 +0000 UTC]

Oh good, I was worried I might've used too much industry jargon. Definitely feel free to ask me 3d questions, though I'll be the first to tell you in most programs there're about a million ways to do anything: if I'm lucky I'll know a handful, or at least be able to tell the way I do it. But there're still big chunks of the programs I would like to dig into and learn.

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LunarLotis [2011-06-07 19:56:32 +0000 UTC]

How did you learn to do stuff like this? Also good work on the tut <3

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Rivenchan In reply to LunarLotis [2011-06-07 20:17:31 +0000 UTC]

Well, I went to college at the Art Institute of Portland (Oregon, not Maine ) and majored in Game Art and Design, but a lot of this I kinda just picked up on my own. AI doesn't do a whole lot more than teach you the software, and the school I went to only used Maya. I had to pick up 3dsMax on my own since the companies I kept working at would use it in-house.

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PatchuKnowledge [2011-06-07 18:05:22 +0000 UTC]

I think that was pretty well made.

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Rivenchan In reply to PatchuKnowledge [2011-06-07 18:11:16 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you. This is my first tutorial.

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