Pulling the Real World Into 3D: The True Stories Behind Models and Materials

Render by kids creative agency.

When designers create 3D scenes in Project Felix, they draw on a collection of models, materials, and lights. We wanted to find out more about where these assets come from, so we talked to some of the people creating them. We asked about their processes, their challenges, and their inspirations.

Creating Textures for True-to-life Textiles

Nicolas Paulhac, Color, Materials, Finish Designer and Substance Source Product Manager, is working with his team at Allegorithmic to create a selection of printed textile textures for fashion designers. “In the case of textiles,” Nicolas says, “the challenge is to build a unique process adapted to the great diversity of meshes and types of fabrics possible in order to reproduce the unique characteristics of each textile.”

To help get it right, the team drew on a fashion designer’s expertise. The designer guided them on trends in the industry and gave them an insider’s view to what fashion designers want. For each of the fabrics the team develops, designers can choose from more than 40 printed patterns that vary by color, metallic appearance, the brightness of each area in the pattern, and the base color of the fabric. Designers can even import their own patterns directly into the substance material.

This isn’t Allegorithmic’s first set of materials for real-world design needs. They previously worked with architects to create a selection of architectural materials, and they’re currently developing procedural materials for video games and VFX. In the future, they aspire to launch a selection of materials dedicated to automotive design.“We want to give artists the means to express their creativity without constraints,” says Nicolas. “It’s rewarding to see artists use the materials in ways we never imagined, like when materials we’ve designed for video games find their way into industrial design.”

One of the best things about designing materials for 3D, Nicolas told us, is that the field is wide open. “We are still at the beginning. There remains an infinite number of materials to be created.”

Modeling the Office

Joppe Muller, co-founder of kids creative agency and his team have just taken their first foray into developing 3D models. They’d used the tech before to create presentations for clients, and to design a range of projects, from small art pieces, to posters. But one day they looked around their office and thought, why not make 3D models of everything? The plants, lamps, chairs, mirrors, tables, fridge, and radiators — all of it seemed in need of a 3D rendering. To help create their collection of models, they brought in some technical expertise.

“We weren’t excited about creating a simple model; we wanted a concept. We thought it would be cool to show a place that actually exists and create a world of models around that,” says Joppe. “So, we rendered our whole office and built our own world that we can improve and change.”

For Project Felix users, this means you can easily grab the stool or lamp or plant in the kids creative agency’s office and integrate it into your own composition. “This project was a trial for how realistic we can make renders. It looks really real.”

Learn More About the Latest in 3D

Read more about who’s designing in 3D and what it’s like to be a 2D designer trying out 3D design. To see what’s new in 3D art, follow the collections on Instagram and Behance. And don’t miss Adobe Stock’s marketplace of 3D assets, and this month’s dedicated gallery of 3D-inspired stock.