In 3D graphics, a high-poly 3D model is a digital representation of an object or scene in high-detail. The challenge for this assignment was to design food items that would look as close as possible to reality by using techniques such as 3D modeling and UV mapping to achieve a more realistic model. The timeline for this project was 60 days, but it was polished and rendered in 54 days.
Creating 3D models on computer graphics software can be time-consuming, but the process is very rewarding. I've combined the techniques learned in class with the knowledge acquired from courses online to create a scene that would highlight my skills and display a handful of 3D realistic food items.
The solution was to design a food tray with various items that were created by using skills learned in class and, in addition, introduce other 3D modeling methods to create 5 models: a bag of chips, an old-fashioned glazed donut, a vanilla cupcake with chocolate sprinkles and a cherry on top, and lastly a cup of orange juice with ice and a cup of soda. By 3d modeling a range of different food items, I was able to convey various skills in a single assignment.
I started this project by researching the best ways to model, texture and render the bag of chips and the cupcake, since they looked like the most challenging ones to design at the time. I started by designing the cups and straws by using basic shapes like the polygonal cylinder. Subsequently, I moved on to the more complex shapes and modeled the donut and the cupcake. The bag of chips was originally designed as a pillow and UV mapped to look like a shiny metallic bag.
The result was a polished render that makes use of proper lighting and shadowing to promote a more detailed and realistic look to the scene. This was my first attempt working on a photorealistic scene using simple and complex object shapes and UV mapping techniques.