How to Correctly Use Reference Images as a 3D Artist

We cover effective uses for reference when doing art and 3D.
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[@BillieCake]

It makes me mad that no alarm bells went off in my head when I first saw that giraffe XD

[@StalkinU]

lol I didnt even realize it had zebra stripes

[@letsdeuxthis]

There are so few core art concept videos available, as most people focus purely on the technical aspects of sculpting or modeling etc, that having more videos like this would be essential to the betterment of the artistic community!

[@leatherslipper3017]

Every single video you make is useful in some way. Thank you guys, really.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you Roberto

[@NikolaNiKucu]

Didn't think of taking reference of every single piece, but now when I think of it.. that is logical I like the use of filters in Photoshop, did similar things for color palette by using mosaic/pixelize filters or similar. Easy to apply and quite useful to simplify the picture

[@brohikhondker9669]

The naming of this channel is just BRILLIANT considering the kind of content and mindset you guys have XD. Absolute LOVE for you guys

[@alfredaxelsson5765]

Very useful video! It's great to get examples of HOW to apply these fundamental practices as opposed to just hearing about why they ought to be used. I'd love to see you guys cover how to do studies, as well.

[@EmanDeMoan]

Thank you for these tips!

[@Ange-C]

This video was very useful. I never went through this stage of how to really use references. Very handy and helps a lot. Especially the saturated mode to get the correct colour on little areas. I'm learning how to texture, so this will help a lot for hard surface for me.

[@carlosedubarreto]

Oh this video is precious. I'll try some of the hints. Thanks a lot.

[@nathaniellollar]

Thanks, love your videos!

[@erickendoka2953]

In 2020 I find You guys one of the best free resources online, I just bought a tutorial online i needed in order to support you guys.

[@DMCvsKILLER]

You guys are wonderful! Please more of core concepts!

[@Adlip_Kun]

Thank you so much, I found this really useful

[@khazretshafiev592]

That's easily one of the most overlooked parts of learning curve.

[@iAdrian1997]

Thank you for this video! I have just asked my lecturers this question too

[@mikkelmelby]

jeesus, so good. do more on reference and texture grading etc!!

[@ErikVariable]

Thanks guys, I vote for more please.

[@TsukiOniichan]

Thank you for this video. There's like a new sub community of younger artists (seems most are teens) that think using references is some kind of cheating. As if artists haven't referenced real life and other artists since the beginning of time. Funnily enough they're the same ones that think pose,style,and color palette theft are a thing. Everyone should use reference, even logo artists or mostly graphic artists; and the good ones really do.

[@gh256]

This is great stuff. I'd like to see more like this, maybe how you would suggest someone could break down the gator by drawing the primitives you might use to create it. Show the basic steps of referencing into ZBrush, creating that first basic shape.

[@tracko2304]

Hey This is increadible!!!

[@mitkoogrozev]

Huh, I saw the zebra stripes on the giraffe immediately. That would be because I'm into animals, but I do agree that generally we don't know how everything looks in every detail, and we should refer to well...reference! Not only as a 3D artist I would say, it's just good advice for many things. Don't assume you know everything, and always check if what you know maps well to reality. And even if you have to go on a assumption, being conscious that you are making an assumption might save you from getting disappointed.

[@AndryRock9217]

I would like to see more of this

[@WhyIsTheCouchWet]

I'd love more core art concept tutorials. I can generally figure out the technical things that I don't know with some time and effort. When it comes to the core concepts, I often do not know what I don't know, which makes self direction difficult. Personally, I'd love something on how to approach and then execute successful composition. There's lots of instruction about composition in already made pieces, but not much about how you get that well thought out, deliberate composition when starting with a blank page. Thanks!

[@mathiasbttger980]

Would you pls make more mari tutorials. I would like to learn it.

[@neilmarshall5087]

Sheer brilliance! Doing this 'prep work / setup type video once a month would be really helpful to all us viewers. Subscribing again. Nasty curses on what/who-ever keeps unsubbing me.......

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks a lot Neil! :) We'd love to do more videos like this

[@AnotherGirl2]

Super helpful. Also, since you've asked.... I would be interested in how to translate a 2D character into 3D and make it look good from every angle. Cheers :)

[@-pahvisammakko8956]

This question isn't related to this video but could you make a video where you discuss the pros and cons of different pbr render engines?

[@leoncaswell6950]

Can you do these things only in photoshop or is there a free software that you can do these things on aswell

[@ali32bit42]

i tend to directly use eyedropper to steal colors from images or use already made color schemes for that thing i am making. works well with more basic projects. also for blender users you don't have to put images in a separate window. in 2.8 you can directly import reference images to your scene to save on screen space by dragging them directly into your blender window ! . also images are not enough! you have to research what that thing is made of and its exact size and proportions and how it works. which are plentiful for humans and anthropomorphic creatures ! in forms like blueprints and cheat sheets . you also can try importing already made models and use them as reference for your original creations i find those effective as they show angels that most people wont photograph. also make sure you have a separate folder for those images as it gets messy fast !. for creatures you should get images of their skeleton and muscles from every angle. use only 2D images for those as 3d ones are sometimes low effort. i recommend learning high-school biology as it helps understand living things much better and allows more realistic designs. like a centaur with tow holes on his sides because his horse lungs would require somewhere to get air from.

[@AyushBakshi]

I used to be the one who first make things without refs.. Go as far as I can.. then see the refs and make changes accordingly. Didn't take much time to realize human brain is dumb who sees everything but doesn't necessarily remember it.

[@Ange-C]

Is there an amount of how much references you should have? Or it doesnt matter.

[@Ehwen]

References are pretty nice for someone like me with a potato memory 🥔

[@ronydey2696]

great hi sir myself rony an 3D CG & VFX student from INDIA

[@sheykaja5273]

Me to

[@zuhairmehdee]

Ooof I'm never this early. Hi guys!

[@realjayjobes1849]

I started the video was listening for 30 seconds, paused it, walked away to check something and in my head I go- “wait..... do giraffes have stripes???” And came back and hit play and realized I was bamboozled.😂💀

[@FlippedNormals]

:D

[@mattmatt1302]

I guess my observational skills are developing because the first thing i thought when the video started to play was "is that a giraffe with zebra stripes? thats totally a giraffe with zebra stripes wtf"

[@daniboiyy]

3rd

[@trygvij1604]

Lol! I didn't notice the stripes but I was thinking there's something odd going on with its body, like the hind leg looks like it's photoshopped from another "giraffe" that's facing another way >.

[@rakshith_4eal]

Aritst*

[@essokamel2184]

Artist* lol

[@SneakersDK]

So a hard brexit around the corner. What do you do? And what does all the company's do? Personally I'm not going to apply for jobs i BG anymore.

[@jkliop9036]

I really couldn't figure out what was wrong with that zebra and then he said girraffe and it finally clicked

[@noiryork101]

*Artist not "Aritst"

[@ghostgames3921]

Am I The Only One Who Realised What Is Wrong With The Giraffe As Soon As I Saw It?

[@FlippedNormals]

Yes

[@chickenwizardwho]

Ah yes I am aritst