Why Use Proxy Arrays and Edge Trim?
- Proxy Arrays allow for quick duplication, making chainmail creation fast and seamless.
- Edge Trim refines the armor’s contours, ensuring smooth, battle-ready plating.
Experimenting with "Slice by Curve", "Add Trim Lines" and "Brush Strokes" to make plate sections with a square border.
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The Sculpting Process—From Raw Metal to Legendary Armor
1. Sketching the Core Structure
- Using Curvy’s sketch-based modeling, I outlined the plate armor’s silhouette, ensuring the proportions felt strong and protective.
- The soft move tools helped refine the flow of the armor, making sure the design was functional yet imposing.
2. Crafting Chainmail with Proxy Arrays
- Single Ring Creation: Start with one chainmail ring, ensuring it has the correct thickness and curvature.
- Array Duplication: Using proxy arrays, duplicate the ring into a grid pattern, forming the interlinked chainmail texture.
- Spacing Adjustments: Fine-tune the alignment and overlap, ensuring the rings connect naturally.
3. Refining Plate Armor with Edge Trim
- Beveled Edges: Using edge trim, sculpt smooth, reinforced contours, making the armor look battle-worn yet polished.
- Rivets & Seams: Add small details to enhance historical accuracy, ensuring the armor feels crafted by a master blacksmith.
- Layering Techniques: Adjust depth and thickness, making the plating durable and realistic.
4. Painting & Texturing for Maximum Impact
- Metallic textures give the armor a polished, battle-worn sheen, while the chainmail has a rugged, interlinked texture.
- Lightmaps & Specular Highlights: These enhance the chrome plating, making it stand out against the dark, misty backdrop.
- Subtle shading: Adds depth to the armor details, ensuring it looks like it’s ready for battle.
Final Touches & Rendering
Once the sculpt was complete, I posed the armor in a commanding stance, ensuring it looked ready for war or an intense mission. The misty, medieval backdrop helped enhance the historical atmosphere, making the scene feel like a moment frozen in time.
Conclusion—Why This Was So Much Fun
Sculpting plate armor and chainmail in Curvy 3D was an absolute thrill! The combination of proxy arrays, edge trim, and adaptive sculpting made the process fast, fun, and visually stunning.
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