A few years back, after the initial novelty of working in 3D wore off, digital artists began to feel a little limited by the results and drifted away from 3D techniques in droves. In many cases this was a wise choice, because 3D software can be difficult to master, especially when trying to achieve your own unique look. Every artist wants their work to stand out from the crowd, and rightly so.
However, the adverse effect of this trend has been that now 3D is often overlooked as a starting point for illustration. As I've explained in the first two parts of this series, some textured images and Photoshop tools are all that is required to transcend average 3D art and create something beautiful from it.