The Importance of Micro-Details
I once submitted the image above to a blog that exclusively featured digital art, and it was rejected. I received an angry email stating that the blog in question only featured digital art, so this hand-made submission was not appropriate.
As a 3D artist, having your work dismissed for being too real is the ultimate compliment. For most of us, photorealism is the goal we are striving for.
But what makes a render look real?
Attention to detail is the most obvious factor, but this can be broken down further. What kind of details should we be paying attention to?
First of all, in modelling: every detail should be present. Every screw, every hinge, every groove, every stitch.
Next, in texturing: close attention should be paid to subtle details. Surface texture, colour, and bump.
Next, we have the concept of micro-details. These details are only visible when you zoom in, at a normal viewing distance they should be almost imperceptible.
Creating this kind of detail achieves two things: firstly, when you zoom in to your model more detail will be revealed, just like the real world. Secondly, when you zoom out, even though the micro-detail is barely visible, it will still add something to the image. An almost tactile patina that is hard to see but makes a difference.
These kinds of micro-details are one of the secrets of great texture artists. They will add very subtle scratches and signs of wear that are almost invisible unless you zoom in, and doing this makes a surprising difference to the photorealism of the final render.
What kind of details should you add? Smudges, micro-scratches, dirt, dust, fingerprints, dents, and other tiny and subtle imperfections.
This trick, of course, is just one of the keys to achieving photorealism in 3D. There are a few other factors to consider - more on that next time.