The vast majority of the work here is Slabs, with a Cubes and Cylinders. Sometimes Lines and Lathes. There is very little sculpting with brushes - just a bit here and there to add a natural look. When I needed to make more complex shapes I tended to use Curvy Maps (displacement) and Voxel Intersection (Booleans). When I get really stuck I use a Loft with thickness - Helpful for shapes that bend in more than one direction at once.
And a few of my favorites zoomed in:
Designing 3D inventory icons for an RPG game is a fantastic way to bring depth, realism, and style to your game’s interface. Using Curvy 3D, you can craft high-quality, visually appealing icons that make every item feel tangible and collectible. Whether it’s a legendary sword, a healing potion, or a mysterious artifact, Curvy 3D’s intuitive tools make the process fast and fun.
Why Use 3D Icons Instead of 2D?
- Depth & Realism: 3D icons give items a tactile, immersive feel, making them more engaging for players.
- Consistent Lighting & Perspective: Unlike 2D sprites, 3D models allow for uniform shading and angles, ensuring a polished look.
- Easy Variations: Once you sculpt an item, you can quickly adjust colors, materials, and angles to create multiple versions.
The Sculpting Process—From Base Mesh to Final Icon
1. Sketching the Core Shape
- Using Curvy’s sketch-based modeling, start with a simple outline of the item.
- The soft move tools help refine the basic proportions, ensuring the silhouette is clear and recognizable.
2. Sculpting the Details
- Weapons & Armor: Use voxel merge to shape sharp edges and intricate engravings.
- Potions & Scrolls: The warp brushes help refine glass reflections and parchment textures.
- Jewelry & Artifacts: A mix of inflate and deflate brushes adds depth to gemstones and metallic surfaces.
3. Using Fit to Surface for Small Details
- Studs, rivets, and engravings can be placed precisely using Fit to Surface, ensuring they conform to the item’s shape.
- Layering textures helps create battle-worn effects for weapons and armor.
4. Painting & Texturing for Maximum Impact
- Metallic and glossy finishes give items a high-quality, collectible look.
- Lightmaps & Specular Highlights: These enhance the shine and reflections, making items feel valuable and distinct.
- Subtle shading: Adds depth to background elements, ensuring the icons pop against the UI.
5. Rendering & Exporting for Game Integration
- Set up a consistent lighting environment to ensure all icons have uniform shadows and highlights.
- Render at high resolution, then scale down for optimized game performance.
- Export in PNG format with a transparent background for easy UI integration.
Final Thoughts—Why This Was So Much Fun
Creating 3D inventory icons in Curvy 3D is an absolute thrill! The combination of sketch-based modeling, adaptive sculpting, and detailed texturing makes the process fast, fun, and visually stunning.
Find out more about Curvy 3D's Unique Sketch Modelling Tools
Download Free Curvy 3D Demo
