Making a Photorealistic 3d Portrait (from scratch)

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Have you ever wondered how realistic 3D portraits are created from scratch? No scan data, no Metahuman, no photo textures - just an artist, a Wacom tablet, and a FREE 3D creation application called Blender.
Sneak a peek into the world of hand-made 3D portraiture to see how skills like digital sculpting, texture painting, materials, hair grooming, and rendering combine their powers to create stunningly realistic faces.
All the footage in this video comes from an in-depth tutorial course spanning over 28 hours of real-time instruction. If you want to learn every detail of the workflow, watch the course as a CG Cookie subscriber: b3d.cgcookie.com/3d-portrait-...
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[@simonmoore8776]

I can highly recommend this course. Comprehensive and detailed, but explained very clearly. It's a lot of work and will need you to invest the time and practice, but if you want to learn how to create CGI photorealistic portraits, this course is ideal.

[@cgnovice2969]

I dont doubt it, and i will get the course for sure. I just have an hunch that I will go through the hours of tutorial, sit back to enjoy the result and not be able to see if the stick figure in my viewport was made by me or by my three year old. But that’s all operator error because this looks insane

[@untalentedartist538]

Is the alpha brush included?....

[@sculptdigitalart]

@@cgnovice2969 hi

[@sculptdigitalart]

@@untalentedartist538 hi

[@thinkingblack4035]

@@untalentedartist538 I can confirm that the alphas are included

[@boriswilsoncreations]

Basically: 1. Delete the default cube 2. Add a sphere 3. Sculpt the details

[@deepakvarma6501]

1st point is wrong

[@xticxs4656]

​@@deepakvarma6501 1. Delete the default cube 2. Add another default cube

[@deepakvarma6501]

@@xticxs4656 no its wrong if you want to learn you have to buy this course and learn it

[@deepakvarma6501]

i also buy it and ab learning chal rhi he

[@spartan5760]

@@xticxs4656 1. Delete Default Cube 2. Add Default Cube 3. Buy the Course

[@mooski3433]

And I'm still here, strugling with my donut... This looks so good it brought a tear to my eye, i swear.. This is pure art!!!

[@enesutqu3096]

im still making donut too bro well do one day just belive

[@miteshwaghela2115]

bro im making donut to just on my trackpad im lacking of equipments anyways all the best both of u ❤✌🏻

[@saticson]

@@miteshwaghela2115 i suggest investing in a mouse it will make things way easier

[@miteshwaghela2115]

@@saticson yess I'm buying one tomorrow it will be so help full for zbrush as well as blender 💯💯

[@allebasaiadartse3951]

DONUT GANG!

[@Madness-iwnl]

Wow, as someone that is just starting in 3d this feels so unachievable, but it also motivates and inspires me a lot

[@khtrammell]

Being motivated and inspired over feeling unachievable - this is the way! Rest assured everyone starts from the same place. It's a journey and fun one

[@youngchristian4540]

What software you use?

[@ManlyGaga]

Honestly the course is 100% worth it, I never was able to sculpt faces with other tutorials on KZbin since they don't really explain this in depth but this course goes all the way to explaining proportions, muscles and fundamentals.

[@GaryMcKinnonUFO]

I think it's harder to render your ideas to a computer than to a canvas or clay or whatever. Massive respect to digital artists.

[@Mistrivious]

Wow its actually the real Gary McKinnon 😯

[@GaryMcKinnonUFO]

@@Mistrivious And the real Mistrivious, well met ! :)

[@bleachedout805]

I do both. Traditional medium is less forgiving but over time neither are more difficult than the other in my experience. The skills stack well and muscle memory is easy enough to build when the motion is similar. But if a person does digital art with a mouse instead of tablet I admit I get impressed.

[@DotKom01]

@@bleachedout805 people who do digital art with a mouse are too powerful and should be locked up for all of our safety

[@lotsaspaghettimamaluigi]

Nah mistakes are easier to correct on computers

[@UnityTrap]

That was the most realistic model of a human I've ever seen.

[@thinkingblack4035]

I purchased this guys Portrait Course. EXCELLENT step by step and I HIGHLY recommend for folks like me who enjoy making your own work from scratch. Lots of tips along the way and (although the tutorial character is male) I successfully translated the principles taught into making a a realistic female portrait on my first run through. Again, highly recommend.

[@khtrammell]

Your feedback means a lot - thank you! :)

[@sculptdigitalart]

hi

[@muaddib9433]

It's absolutely incredible what you can do solely in Blender. I really doubt that 3DS Max or Maya have similar capabilities when it comes to making such an asset without leaving those softwares.

[@peppymartian9382]

it's even more insane when you not that blender is completely free, unlike those other software's

[@khtrammell]

I agree. Blender is filled to the brim with capability and potential. I'll never understand the bizarre hate it receives. But It's neat to see so many artists waking up to it the last few years.

[@MrGATOR1980]

@@khtrammell hate is totally understanable, those companies like maxon for example have whole departments, that's only goal is to discredit competition. And Blender due to it's popularity is a dirt in the eye for their subscription revenues. The other thinng is that a lot of profesionals are not people witch actualy want to learn and evolve. I know, it seems strange but i worked in gaming industry corpo, their jobs are divided to so specific tasks that literally most of people working there have blindfolds on anything. Guy for ex. 7 years working only in zbrush and he do same stuff day by day, yee he dont even wanna know what Blender is or learn anymore. He works doing hes stuff in BEST program in the world XD. And its most fun job there i must say. Guys from unreal department were basically drag and dropers of someones assets, they actually didnt know basics of simple modeling even. I was blown away. Well i didnt last there long i tought i will cut myself doing same "rocks beveling " day by day, couse yee thats was my job, making rocks haha, those companies are joke. Incompetence there is astronomous and theres so much people involved that it's quantity over quality. If you spam people enough evantually you will make a game. I dont wish anyone to work in such places, unless working for money and being a cog so you can say "i made ASSASINS CREED!!" is your golal..haha yee dude yee, you made all assasins creed with your own 2 hands. If you last eneough, you are senior "rock modeler" and we will let you to get Award from the podium.(but remeber you gotta leave it in the office couse it's technicaly our property but you can make a picture for insta.) .... sorry i got caried away :) ye blender hate...haters gonna hate bro:).

[@colbystoner1046]

Probably cause it’s a modeling, animating and rendering tool 😕it’s good at those things and other programs can specialize in others

[@aliciafraser1835]

@@colbystoner1046 to be fair, Blender's plugin options allow it to better specialize in whatever zone you want it to, in my experience even better then it's pricier competition /sometimes/

[@PiginaCage]

the fact that Blender is a completely free app is unbelievable

[@salvadormarley]

That is so true. I gave myself a challenge to download it and follow a tutorial for two weeks and see what I could do. My first attempt is on my chanel called backrooms vs the shining. If you want to take a look, that would be great. Have you done any work yourself in Blender?

[@cg_cookie]

Amen!

[@Jham3D]

Kent Trammell is extraordinary in this course! At no point did I feel lost or confused (aside from random Blender bugs which aren't Kent's fault) because he explains everything so in detail. If you're wondering, "Why pay for this course if you can watch free KZbin videos?" It's because this course really does go into great depth and detail in a way KZbin typically can't. KZbin videos cut out often critical details which are otherwise boring so the video can keep viewer retention high. This course is all about learning so no critical details are skipped. I learned so much from this course I could have paid twice the money and still be this happy!

[@user-gq1ij]

Mark my words, this is a remarkable course in the history of Blender. A free software doing this is still something I think I am dreaming about. You sir have created history in the 3D community with this course One question, are we going to see other characters too someday in this course, like Abraham Lincoln and other one showed in the video??

[@cg_cookie]

Wow...thank you!

[@user-cs5zh9lu5o]

Thank you so much sir... I was in a desperate need for a tutor online to learn Blender and it's really a blessing that youtube's algorithm showed me this video... Thanks again... LOVE FROM INDIA ❤❤❤

[@mrCetus]

Loved everything about this! Working on my second head

[@bit-studios1]

This is outstanding!!! I can’t wait to purchase this course in a couple of weeks. 😊

[@Kamal19829]

This is real awesome stuff buddy. Keep inspiring the community.

[@edwardseverinsen5598]

To be honest I had no idea Blender was capable of simulating cloth "stitching" (idk what you'd call it). I'd only ever seen that done in like marvelous designer. But I've also never done much character modeling. Mainly sticking to hard surface and interior design. This is dope though. I will definitely check out the course.

[@youoshd]

In my opinion a chapter dedicated to the inside of the mouth would be great. Especially the tongue and teeth, since in the course it is explained how to model the bag of the mouth. I think it's the only thing I would add, the course is fantastic

[@khtrammell]

That's a great suggestion. It's on my list of follow-up courses :)

[@f.a.t_d4ddy]

Since you are not showing the inside of the mouth in your renders, they are not modelled.

[@SkintSNIPER262]

@@khtrammell Is rigging/animation going to be a follow up as well? XD I'd love to see this character move

[@kewa_design]

I absolutley recommend this course ^^ it was worth every cent

[@paolaanimator]

I love this simplified breakdown. I did take human anatomy class but it's focused on drawing on 2D paper or 2D digital canvas like Photoshop. I wanted to learn to sculpt and make more realistic or semi realistic/stylized details using programs like Z-Brush but then use those models in Maya for animation or Unreal Engine for game engines or making game animations. I love Blender but in terms of industry standard apps, I've been aiming to use Z-Brush or Maya. Hopefully one day Blender can also be part of the industry standard, just that it remains open source and free. Edit: Overall, Blender is an amazing tool and the skills I learned can be transferred over to other programs as well. Thanks for making the video and course, I'll take a look into it. 👍

[@Caesars3DWorld]

One of the best courses on Blender out there. I am glad that I took this course. I learned hundreds of new things about the face and all credit goes to Kent's outstanding skill and knowledge of CG creation. He is a true veteran and I can't say enough about his philosophy of art. It is very rare when you come across a teacher who simultaneously instructs you how to do stuff and other technical details and presents his whole philosophy that he has acquired from working thousands of hours. Thanks, Kent Trimmel and CG Cookie.

[@khtrammell]

Thanks so much for this. It means a lot. I'm copying this to my personal happy file for a rainy day 🙏

[@GK-ki4nj]

Okay, Subdivide, subdivide ... subdivide again. Wait why do I smell burning from my computer

[@3DPete]

Very excited for this, definitely going to be subscribing to CG Cookie to get access

[@mran_]

This channel is one the best channel ever . I love your contents . Bigups to you ❤.

[@efeozturk5253]

one of the most impressive work I've ever seen done with blender's sculpting so far. congrats friend.

[@khtrammell]

Thanks a lot! Very kind of you to say

[@potaterjim]

I think I'll try this course. I like to model fantastical stuff, but I never really learned how to make photorealism, especially when it comes to anatomy and skin texturing, I'm hoping that these lessons will be through and in depth enough that they can be applied to entire human body modelling

[@MishimaZaibatsuCorp]

Bro the level of detail! The final renders look amazing too! Well done!

[@khtrammell]

Thanks, Jin! :)

[@ihspan6892]

This is crazy. Wow. I am stunned.

[@aidyhd69]

This is one of the best 3d rendering videos I have ever seen and it is incredibly detailed. It's a sub from me. Truly inspirational.

[@khtrammell]

Very kind of you to say - Thank you!

[@aidyhd69]

@@khtrammell No problem. I want to become a video game developer and this video has been very helpful in terms of 3d rendering and it shows the amount of attention to detail that can help achieve proper realism.

[@Jarviex]

WOOOW! Sooo motivational! Thank you so much!

[@michaelsmusicinstruments9980]

Blender is really incredible, artists like you show what enormous progress Blender makes day by day. All the best for your course, looks great.

[@sculptdigitalart]

hi

[@khtrammell]

Cheers - very kind of you to say 😊

[@IsUserADuck]

Even with lots of steps (retopo, cloth simulation, etc) skipped or glanced over in this video it is fascinating how much work goes into making these portraits. I am enjoying 3d art as a very amateur enthusiast and will never be able to achieve such incredible results, but still I find these super inspiring.

[@GaryParris]

Wonderful Kent! Your work with blender will stand the test of time and prove to all that it's not the tool that is the problem with art it's the limitations the digital artist puts on the tool! you have broken that myth, and i for one salute for doing it!

[@khtrammell]

Cheers, Gary! Very kind of you to say 🙏

[@matteofalduto766]

The quality of the work itslef is beyond me, I cannot even comment on that. All I'm thinking is that I'm really glad Blender is now capable enough to allow such high-quality productions.

[@sculptdigitalart]

hi

[@seBcopTer]

@@sculptdigitalart hi

[@chriisduran]

Yeah, more like that is what i need. Creating realistic faces in Blender

[@mfaeezshabbir]

well understood. Thank you you are the best teacher.

[@FritzHugo3]

Looks fantastic realistic.

[@doncarroll1070]

This is amazing! I actually clicked on this video cause I was gonna use blender and Unreal Engine because they are free and awesome and I wanna become a 3D artist one day and create amazing creations and get better and better at 3D projects and maybe get to the highest level I can get to. Another reason I have chosen Unreal Engine and Blender is because I heard that the company who makes Unreal Engine which is Epic Games has donated money to the Blender foundation for new features. This video was awesome! I am a beginner and I'm going to learn all the basics about Blender that I can and with my kids, and then hopefully buy a CG cookie subscription soon.

[@ujinnxie8627]

the best course i've ever take!

[@ASMREX]

In sane! Absolute masterpiece! 👍

[@ollicron7397]

Probably not the best idea to hand sculpt the details on the face in practice, for that you really want to use a fast workflow. A lot of people use the TextureXYZ workflow because it utilizes the age of the individual's skin to accurately capture those details. But I really loved this, especially how your textures came out I'm thoroughly impressed.

[@vishalxqzj]

amazinggggg. keep making such a great quality content , thanks.

[@ZekeTheFur]

.. wow. Im like, super impressed I cant even get close to making anything like this

[@cj5787]

I just bought this. wanted to put my hands on it for a while. looks incredible!

[@khtrammell]

Cheers! I hope you enjoy and learn a lot. Please share your results :)

[@mollielou_projects]

This is just beyond impressive.

[@khtrammell]

thank you - that's very generous to say 🙏

[@RostislavLevshov]

This is really impressive! Amazing job!

[@khtrammell]

Thank you! :)

[@tristafrog]

This is AMAZING!

[@carbonanimationproductions6537]

this was a really good tutorial!

[@N1ceNSweety8075]

I have started sculpting and it is very peaceful if you ask me. I use my Gamon tablet (I think that is how you spell it) my tablet actually also shows me my computer screen so it is soo much easier to sculpt!

[@janklodvandamisback]

Than you! I doubted but now I see Blender alsaw can be used for making relistic models, not only zbrush!

[@kytexgd1463]

As an absolute Blender beginner who has literally done like two render until now, this whole process looks extremely intimidating no complex. I hope my professor covers this kind of stuff sooner or later xD

[@paolaanimator]

My suggestion if you want to do digital sculpting is to start with simple busts, focus on blocking first, then add in details and refine later. It takes time and practice but you'll get there. I'm still practicing and learning as well.

[@bit-studios1]

I am really enjoying this course so far. I am glad I made this investment. This course is definitely taking my skills to the next level!!! 😊

[@khtrammell]

I'm so happy you took the plunge and you're enjoying it! Consider joining the discord where others are sharing progress: discord.gg/kc9KgPBT7J

[@lgtv915]

Amazing work 🌷🌷

[@zrooripaigham1624]

love you brother and love it your work ...

[@DJPeachCobbler]

This is nice. I made a table today, so I got that going for me.

[@jamez_loco2656]

gr8t job!! the head looks cool :)

[@howtoodoons]

i loved it and trying to do like this

[@Alex-tn7pv]

7:25 Young Gordon Freeman on his MIT days.

[@adultgamerhub]

Wow Mind blowing!

[@Dr_randomiser]

That looks like a real person! This dude has skills

[@UnderfundedScientist]

"A good skin texture is like a fine wine " Truer words were never spoken

[@UnderfundedScientist]

Probably never spoken before

[@violettracey]

Thanks for showing this!

[@khtrammell]

Thanks for watching :)

[@backupbackb.u.b136]

This is grand....this is a goal for 2023, wish me luck.

[@khtrammell]

You can absolutely do this in 2023 ✊

[@gaming4K]

Pretty amazing what Blender can do in the right hands. I am happy with my little building that i am making. xD I mean it has windows, even a balcony.. I learned more in 1 day than in 10 years since i first tried Blender. Compared to that what i made today is fantastic. If i made anything every week in those 10 years i would probably be a professional by now but i also had to learn english like 6 years ago so i started with a huge disadvantage, i had to watch tutorials that i didn't even understand..

[@bassvzla]

You now have a new Follower... I love this work!!

[@user-wu8cy1dm4v]

just one word :AMAZING . i would really recommend buying this guy courses ,they are totally great, planning to take them on summer

[@khtrammell]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Thysta]

You make it look easy man.

[@MattproThe]

The most amazing course for Blender out there.

[@khtrammell]

My goodness, that's high praise. Thank you! 😊

[@georgiosrigas8094]

Wow. Excellent

[@RAVIRAJ-le9mu]

You can't vicariously experience sotNice tutorialng through another person, the sa way you need to try it for yourself before losing hope.

[@graphguy]

Sometimes one word says it all. Wow

[@clockthesenior]

I love how the uncanny effect is just GONE

[@khtrammell]

I get a lot of people saying the opposite, and I'm very aware of what needs improvement...BUT comments like yours mean a lot. Thanks!

[@hoplite6164]

I purchased this a while ago, highly recommended, my faces have improved x100.

[@khtrammell]

So glad to hear your faces have improved! 🙌

[@hoplite6164]

@@khtrammell I’m thinking of applying the same process to do a full body. Which makes me wonder, will you be making a course for the rest of the body as well?

[@ThastsiT]

very inspiring!

[@jorgeignaciopazparra1451]

YO THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@jozsefk9]

Mind blowing

[@yt_Ajay_]

Kent Trammell kickstarted my 3D art journey years ago.

[@khtrammell]

Wow that's amazing to read! I'm honored. Thanks for that 🙏

[@yt_Ajay_]

@@khtrammell dude! I’m still using tricks I learned from you in my work today. I owe you a lot. 😅

[@doc8724]

very good and interesting!

[@zeeyannosse]

Best add for a tutorial ever !! ! Feels like a samurai is sharing his acquired knowledge from so many battles with such a profound calm and respect for the art and craft !!! WhooooOoOo!!! Couldn’t dream for a better goooooood mooooooring video let’s go do some coooooOOoLLLL shit on blender while having a wonderful time !!! Thank you !!! Pure awesomeness melting gold good vibes !!! Very inspirational!

[@JoshmStudios]

That Cloth Sim Gets me everytime

[@cgi_guru]

That's damm realistic

[@bettysolis4827]

tNice tutorials is detailed, its amazin thanks man!

[@youoshd]

This is just so good, definitely worth the money. Edit: you'll need a high end computer for the detail sculpting part. I'd say 8GB of ram is the minimum, but it will lag at some parts

[@sculptdigitalart]

hi

[@darshanrajpattanaik2154]

I have 4GB ram and I want to do this 🤣🥲😭

[@floresescuderobrianalexey9279]

You are best ;) Thank You !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jossescobar6114]

Amazing

[@masterengdrnice4825]

i can feel my computer crashing from just watching the video

[@ase0077]

Excellent 👌👏

[@exoticplushbean7188]

It’s so realistic I don’t even think it’s in the uncanny valley! 🤩

[@khtrammell]

That's very generous of you to say, thanks! :)

[@Omega900]

Blender is such a dope program. I have had it for years and I am pretty bad at it :D I love making space, planet, and galaxy stuff on it but my laptop gets quite hot so I don't use Blender that much, but I wish I was an expert on it. Totally way better job than customer service at a call center...

[@pixelapse9613]

That's the laptop problem not the Software

[@shadowvapor16]

Downloads blender, tries it out, looks for some basic tutorials, watches this video, deletes blender......

[@lonelyberg1808]

😂

[@LiuMaker]

good stuff

[@taponchandro6306]

Wow,,,,,nice bro

[@kommiekoathanger1418]

The way the plains for the jumper model just wrap around the bust is kind of hilarious

[@Engineering_Imagination]

Hi Mr. Trammell, any chance to see in the foreseeable future courses on how to do the remaining human parts, courses on hands, fingers, proportion on legs, thighs and claves etc...

[@turtle_express8385]

I really like this video ive watched it about 20 times ur videos amazes me Edit:how long did it take to make this model?

[@apersunthathasaridiculousl1890]

wow… just, wow

[@aliciafraser1835]

I suck hard enough at 3D modeling that I'm well aware of how much work goes into it and very much hate the idea that "The computer does all the work for you."

[@temporallabsol9531]

Very nice tutorial!

[@khtrammell]

Thanks!

[@ROSSO.03]

this course is great! I am waiting for the release of HUMAN 2.0 WITH 3 female models. how many are interested in leaving likes 👍🏻

[@khtrammell]

I added a like because I'm interested! :)

[@Ctrl_Alt_Sup]

Blender is one of the most fantastic free software in a field where competition has been immediate from the beginning and still remains active.

[@davidudoutun]

I love this so much, CG cookie please do a tutorial on how you make and shade hair please. I find it difficult

[@khtrammell]

The course covers hair creation, grooming, and shading 👌