How to create believable 3D fabric
3D artist Hugues Giboire explains his process for creating believable fabrics in 3D.
Whether it's for modelling, lighting or, in this case, creating textures, I love working in details. Naturally, one of my favourite ways to approach the construction of precise textures is to first look at how much of it can be achieved using procedural methods.
I like that procedural textures take very little memory and allow for extreme detailing and finesse at almost no cost other than render time. The first thing I like to look at is the bump or displacement texture, as it is the one that conveys the most information.
To start, I use simple sine waves to create the threads, which I then combine into a weave using a simple chequerboard texture. The size ratio of the weft and warp threads, as well as the horizontal and vertical proportions of the chequerboard, help define the initial weave of the fabric.
Using this simple technique, we can create a wide variety of weave patterns that provide good starting bases ready for further enrichment. We can use fractal noises to slightly distort the threads and eliminate the obvious overall symmetry of the weave.
By using similar noise functions, we can modulate the weave's intensity globally to offer a slightly uneven surface. I usually create a few surface noises to create variation in depth and other incidental details.
Words: Hugues Giboire
Hugues Giboire is a 3D artist with more than 20 years' experience in the CG industry. He's a BAFTA nominee for artistic achievement in video games. This article originally appeared in 3D World issue 182.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter
Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.
The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq.
Related articles
- This AI 2D-to-3D video generator signals a new era for album art
- Here's how to watch Blender Studio's beautiful Project Gold – and get the project files and brushstroke tools
- Stunning Unreal Engine 5 tech demo generates intense debate
- XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2) review: a fantastic drawing display for hobbyists and pros alike