Character Design

3D model

A full fletched design and narative on my own character.

End Result

The research

The Modeling

Sculpting

I first sculpted the basis of the model with my concept art as reference. This was then re-topologized to make it ready for unwrapping and to be able to animate it.

Topology 1

This is a showcase of the topology of the end model after I re-topologized it.

You can also see where I placed the seams when unwrapping the model.

Topology 2

This is the backside of the model, showing the consistency of the topology along the model.

You can also see where I placed the seams when unwrapping the model.

Horns

The horns were also re-topologized after sculpting. This helps it look more organic then just modeling it out of simple shapes.

Ears

I first re-topologized around the ear. Then i modeled an ear with a reference to get the topology correct. I then put the two models together.

Hair

Since the shape of the hair of this character was rather simple, I decided to make a simple version just consisting of a few faces and a sculpture. When I textured it I baked the two models together to get a low poly model with allot more texture.

Mouth

A close up of the mouth so you can see the topology and where I cut the seems.

Nose

A closer version at the topology around the nose and where I cut the seems before unwrapping.

Unwrapping

A screenshot showing the finished UV map of the face.

The Texturing

Scar/eye

Based on the character's story, he needed a burn scar around the eye. So within substance painter I used different heights to achieve this.

Hair

First I baked the low and high poly models together to give the hair some texture already.

I gave it a height layer to give the hair even more texture

Then I used multiple layers to paint the hair color on top.

Piercings

I gave the piercings a shiny and clean look. i wanted them to stand out from the rest of the model. That's why they're not too rough and very reflective.

Horns

I used allot of grunge on the horns to get that variation in color, making it them look rougher. I also played around with the height giving it some cracks and groves

Tattoo

To make the story clearer from just the design, i wanted the character to have a tattoo. I says "fuck KPD" with the KPD being the police department from his city. This already tells a story just from the design.

Detail

I added some small details around the horns to make the skin look more damaged. This way it really seems like the horns are more pultruding out of the head then just a part of it.

About Cherish

Cherish is a male tiefling who grew up in the rougher parts of a huge fantasy city. He’s a tiefling, meaning that someone from his bloodline has a connection with a devil from the 9 hells. This is why tieflings are mostly regarded as different and/or evil by society.

He lived with his god father since his human parents abandoned him since they had a tiefling son. Cherish has been discriminated against his whole life. He’s been treated differently by everyone around him, except of course, other tieflings. That’s why it’s no surprise why most of Cherish’s friends are either tieflings or another type of outcast. In his teenage life he formed a band called “Hellstick” with his friends. He learned to play guitar from his godfather.

Cherish didn’t know where the money his godfather came home with came from and he was too scared to ask. It’s not smart to ask anyone from where he’s living how they make their living. But one day the enforcers came in and arrested him for peddling magical crystals through the neighborhood. Cherish lived on the street for a few years, got a job as a bartender and met his future partner. Things seemed to go relatively well for Cherish, until his partner got killed by enforcers.

Cherish was with them when it happened, and a huge part of his face got burned as fire magic was flung around. They said that they were after another tiefling woman who was armed a robbed a store nearby. They just “assumed” it was her from the shitty description that they gave of the actual thief. This made Cherish even more angry and rebellious to the system. When another member of Hellstick got a job in a higher part of the city, Cherish was suspicious but let his friend go. A month later he found out this friend got mixed up in some halfling mafia business and couldn’t leave. Cherish is now going to recruit more people to help him free his friend and maybe even get more power within their neighborhood. Yes, he’ll make a gang. Just so his people are safe.