Modeling a Sword from Concept Art in Blender 2.8 [MEGA TUTORIAL]

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In this video, I'll show you the basic steps in how to model a basic stylized sword using concept art in Blender 2.8. I'll go over my workflow, tips and tricks, common issues and much more!
This first section will cover creating the low poly and high poly models.
Right off the bat, I'll demonstrate my methods of creating the first basic starting shapes and how to break down complex shapes into more manageable pieces.
As I work through all the various pieces of the sword, I'll be showing my though process and fixing my mistakes to demonstrate how to solve common problems you will face as you're creating your models.
After the low poly is complete, we move onto the high poly. I'll show you how to properly prepare the model for high-poly, how to use subdivision and bevels to refine and give your model that extra 'pop' needed to take your modeling to the next level.
Grab the Concept art here on my site:
stylizedstation.com/gallery/m...
Concept Art by Max Davenport.
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[@StylizedStation]

Check out my Unreal Engine + Texturing Courses for beginners: bit.ly/3GPPHZo Or you can yield to my overwhelming power at: patreon.com/stylizedstation

[@stigovelillemoen7635]

😅r

[@jojomicheldu59]

You say "We'll figure it out later" every minute omg I thought I wasn't a perfectionist until I watched this video 😭

[@TylerDane]

"break it down into small manageable chunks" 3 hour video

[@ThomasPotter]

he meant the sword, not the video.

[@koi8217]

Honestly making a full model in 3 hours is an impresive feat in itself with how much he did

[@titosusva7174]

the think i like the most of this video is the short cuts to do the things in the bottom left corner

[@raycasted]

Ah crap, I sat on the toilet for 3 hours

[@scriptsHUB]

2:34:52 [Make sure to select all] Mesh > Clean-Up > Merge doubles/Remove doubles

[@scriptsHUB]

2:35:13 [Make sure to select all] Mesh > Normals > Recalculate Outside

[@scriptsHUB]

2:37:36 How to properly fix N-gons (Example #1) [Make turn to turn on “Snap” (the magnet) and set it to “Edge”]

[@scriptsHUB]

2:45:33 How to properly fix N-gons (Example #2)

[@scriptsHUB]

2:51:45 [Step-by-step procedure on “smoothing” and “perfecting” mesh] Mesh > Shading > Smooth Faces [If too dramatic, add “Edge Split”]

[@thepman3798]

Thanks!

[@davidbenon3078]

Thank you so much! Perfectly explained tutorial, managed to finish my very first 3D project! Yeaaah!

[@StylizedStation]

Great job!

[@DrGold-ks1mp]

Great tutorial! 2 tips: 1. Pressing f on an edge that has edges on both sides of it creates a face between all of the edges for you, so at the 26:38 you could just hold down F and it would automatically fill in the faces. 2. The 'mirror' modifier is essentially symmetrize but it constantly updates so you don't have to make changes on both sides. You might've already learned this in the 3 years since this was posted, but just In case

[@8505angel]

I really like the long format for this kind of tutorials, but, where is the UV Unwrapping and texturing in substance you talked about? Great job btw!

[@StylizedStation]

Great suggestion!

[@user-jm7xn6cm4d]

Omfg it's 2 AM , I don't know what's going on here but I wanna to watch the whole process)))))

[@teeell4018]

Thanks! Was exactly the type of video i was looking for. Helped me better understand thought process behind everything. 🤙

[@EPICPWNER7809]

Always wanted to make a cool sword like this; thanks a lot for this tutorial. It gave me a great idea on how to set up and organize my work flow.

[@StylizedStation]

Thanks luffy

[@ironhector3265]

I paused as you went along and did the steps myself and that helped a TON.

[@penguinfish9405]

I absolutely love your video my guy, this is amazing. I do blender also and its amazing to watch another person with a different style work. Your also amazing at this Props to you my guy.

[@undermanned983]

I've seen this sword so much finding art for dnd weapons. Sitting in my item spreadsheet waiting to be earned.

[@zahreddinesoualem3213]

in my simple opinion the thing that makes this modeling tricky is because you use a lot of object for each pieces when you can use a single object for these pieces , then you can add more object in EDIT mode but when you go back to OBJECT MODE they still one piece I think you know what I mean , at least that's the best tuto I've ever seen before I learn more things that makes me improve my skills in modeling THANK YOU SIR

[@nickthepick7081]

feels so good having the boxcutter addon

[@AbhishekKumar-yq8je]

finally my sword complete today.. thanks you man please upload video for texturing in substance painter... I can't wait to give texture to this beautiful sword

[@terminatorpg1067]

Just a quick tip: After smooth shading you add the edge split modifier and then the sub surf. The edge split mod stops working after you add the sub surf, so there is no point in adding it.

[@BolognaPONYProduction]

Notice how he purposely avoided your question. There's a special place in hell for your kind. Just kidding, good point.

[@grizeldiSLO]

FYI, when selecting a line of vertices, instead of clicking on every single one of them or C selecting them, select the first one, then ctrl + select the last one and Blender will automatically select all the vertices in between as well. Works on edges and faces as well.

[@StylizedStation]

Good tip

[@tareecaree7640]

good work m8, learned a lot from this video, thank you :D

[@fribiesdi]

I think by now after 3 years you already know two things: 1 - F2 add-on rocks. 2 - The Mean Crease is the recommended method for sharp edges in replacement of the close loop cuts. But this is a very good mega tutorial, I will follow along very soon!

[@blenderukir]

Great tutorial, thank you

[@Ugetora]

bro really said "fru-stra-tion getting bigger, bang bang bang, pull my devil trigger"

[@Xanderfied]

Man this new Final Fantasy is really involved.

[@BananaMan0110]

Wow Thanks You Helped Me Learn How To Make Models :)

[@evgenios2600]

3:31:00 nice screamer for the ones who fell asleep lol

[@elnanwagsingan7958]

tons of thanks

[@OttrPopAnimations]

this is incredible...

[@zx3edits745]

Thanks!

[@otaldomatheush]

Is there an advantage over using symmetrize over the mirror modifier?

[@Ali-sn8gw]

amazing amazing amazing

[@maxdavenport9355]

Haha well this is a fun surprise! Great tutorial :) Thanks for using my design :P

[@TheSoprah]

OH MY GOD! I can't wait to start with this tutorial. Thanks a lot man!!

[@StylizedStation]

Anytime! More coming :)

[@teroblepuns]

I'm listening to this while I'm playing Splatoon

[@felipealbuquerque6309]

Man... some tips Enable Native Addon named F2. Provided you have 4 vertices to fill in a row you just need to select the first edge and keep pressing F to close the loop.. Numpad Divide key "/" will make it go to something called Local View, which isolates the selected objects. It works as a toggle so you don't need to Select, Ctrl+I and H. Also it just unhides what was visible before and not everything which is pretty convinient. Bevel modifier set to Weight it's an interesting way of sharpenning edges, select the edge, set the Edge Bevel Weight to 1. Use it before the Subsurf (actually sometimes you don't even need to subsurf specially with models with a lot of flat surfaces), this way you don't need to manually add the holding edge loops. After bevel and subsurf(or not) think you should not use Edge Split modifier as it may bring you some unwanted sharp edges(actually split), that's why the bevel wasn't working good I believe. Alternativelly to the Edge Split you can use Auto-Smooth which does pretty much the same but not spliting the edges.... but still don't think it's very useful for the HP model. There is a way to select most of the sharp edges of a model while in Edge select in Edit mode, go Select> Select Sharp Edges, there is an angle slider. Then you can set the bevel weight, sharp or seam. I'm just trying to help ;)

[@StylizedStation]

Dude thank you so much for all of the tips, had no idea about the "/" shortcut. I'll keep all of these in mind for the next video!

[@felipealbuquerque6309]

@@StylizedStation You're welcome :) Blender is full of tips and tricks... Most of them not too obvious.

[@terminatorpg1067]

Quick question: Wouldn't it be much easier and faster to use the mirror modifier instead of always using symmetrize? Loving the tutorial so far :)

[@zack48708]

bro right i was watching this and was like WHY ARE YOU DOING IT LIKE THAT?? lolz i know everyone has their process but man, i come from a maya background and doing it like that is easier in maya then here but still id use the mirror modifier instead

[@terminatorpg1067]

@@zack48708 I started with the symmetrize workflow but then got fed up and changed all the meshes to mirror :)

[@wilmermonsalvo2560]

Still working as of today, ty!

[@0nelifeliveit1987]

How did you get the background image to rotate with viewport? I can assign a background but when i rotate as you have it vanishes

[@simonmalicek]

Thanks for video will be very helpful keep up a good work, do you have some tips for begginers

[@StylizedStation]

Break everything down into small pieces to make it easier :)

[@SleepyRPGsuperCharged]

Ernie would like this

[@neoblaze9040]

From what I learned from the dvds is there's probably a easier way of doing it. However I would probably have made it in a similar way to how you did because it would be easier for me to understand instead of learning the easier way. But you do you.

[@spencerlinkous7714]

Random question that I always want to know, how do you get the thing that says what you're doing on the bottom left? an add-on?

[@StylizedStation]

yep :) github.com/nutti/Screencast-Keys

[@user-ln2ri9nx8u]

Bro i fell asleep in front of my tv and when i woke up this was playing

[@anne-marie1039]

Hi, very nice to follow along. Just one question: If you move a vertex onto anotherone with the snapping, wont you have two vertecies on the same location? wont this cause problems when creating the faces and later when detail adjusting the edges or faces? I often have multiple vertecies on one locatioan by mistake and then if i mark and grab something it always messes up the mesh because i did not actaully want to have more than one vertex on this location. Or do you have to "collapse" them into one vertex? Or does blender actually do this automatically?

[@RadioactiveHax]

Im having this problem as well. Idk if there's an addon that im not aware of or something. What I just do instead, is I just extrude the vertex for example, then while it's selected, click the other vertex I wanna snap on to, then press M to merge. You will want to select Last as that is the vertex you wanted to connect to. Idk if my comment will still be relevant to you and I started blender about a week ago. Im sure you had a workaround for this somehow haha.

[@tyrellanderson9528]

There's a button up in the top right corner by the modes that looks like two vertices with a curve connecting them, that's auto merge, it will automatically merge any vertices placed on one another

[@davidbenon3078]

Hi! Thanks a lot for the tutorial, it's awesome! I'm facing a problem right now though. I'm stuck at creating the circle. First it doesn't appear like you, right where it should be, I have go look for it in whatever place and when I finally manage to put right where I want, I can't extrude like you. I checked your screen, I'm in edit mode, it's a mesh circle, press E and then it extrudes along Z. And I really can't figure out why. Could someone help me please? Thanks a lot!

[@StylizedStation]

Press extrude, and then right click to release the extrude. Then Press 'G', and you should be able to move around the extruded piece freely :)

[@davidbenon3078]

@@StylizedStation Thanks a lot for your reply. I tried your method unfortunately it didn't work for me but I managed to find the solution. I just to press E and then S and it worked. Thanks anyway!

[@vaaszt6857]

give this man 1m likes

[@BolognaPONYProduction]

Question ❓ When in X-Ray mode, how is it that your mesh has some sort of grid like pattern on it? Or maybe I'm just seeing it from a different angle or not getting something. And I'm not talking about the actual grid in the viewport. Again maybe it's just because I'm watching this through my cell phone so I'm not getting the best image.

[@freakface1234]

I didn't know I could do this in blender (still a big noob). I'm hoping to eventually be able to recreate and model weapons from my favorite video games and this looks like it really helps. Do I just open an image file into blender or do I need some extra steps?

[@EzLevi]

This is like 1% of blender, you can do modeling(props), modeling(enviroment) animations, rigging, vfx, etc

[@EzLevi]

You just need a reference image for start working on a new project. For example, for me its easier to "draw" the vertices and later make them to faces

[@dragonking1348]

When I did that symmetry tool, both mesh were too far apart know a way where I could get them closer

[@StylizedStation]

The origin point of the object needs to be in the center :)

[@elpolodiablo5486]

Can you post the reference image too ?

[@meyssantazi3401]

how do u make it so that the mesh are transparant

[@irinarostova7958]

I also made a buster sword .

[@evgenios2600]

Thanks for the video! i have a question thought, at 14:12, why dont you just extrude it all the way down? what do you need this additional points for?

[@chrheca]

To align with the rest of the geometry so you can keep a quad geometry

[@evgenios2600]

@@chrheca Why is it important?

[@ys-fz9mt]

@@evgenios2600 a face always needs to have 4 corners

[@qww177]

U can isolate object by pressing "/" on numpad, instead of clicking and hidding all others. :) And of the top u can change to Local Transformation. It will help u to change sizes (Z, Y, X) without "funny" things xD

[@StylizedStation]

Thanks for the tips :)

[@qww177]

@@StylizedStation when u release next part?

[@itsuki5528]

I have a question, how come i can't extrude the circle in version 2.82? it would be helpful if you could answer it. cheer!!

[@_lonelysoul]

U just have to extrude -> right click and size it (for blender 2.82 )

[@wayverleesoulsong]

Do you think this could work for gun replicas too? I really want to try and model a shotgun for 3d printing

[@daniel12141]

How would you add textures to this?

[@StylizedStation]

Perhaps the next video?

[@gehh613]

excuse me sir can i ask what do you mean by tweak_L? pls reply asap

[@MuoMuoMuo]

how do you manage uv maps for these projects? seems like a nightmare to me

[@EzLevi]

I learnt that every hard edge need to be a uv cut. So its easier to understand :D

[@AllExistence]

You need to start using knife tool... Or at least F2 addon (which is activated by default already). And creases, and mark sharp. You are wasting polygons. Also, bevel modifier can replace subdivide for smoothing edges, and it can be limited by angle and edge marking.

[@kmanL3G3N3D]

Easiest way to do symmetry is scale over an axis in negative direction

[@lightfeather7948]

only one hour in and already learn a lot about modelling something out of concept art. I wonder why this only has 70k view. Ah yea probably becauses its 3 hours long. Some people really think that you can learn stuff without putting time and effort into it

[@noodle1228]

Makes me wish for a cyberpunk Monster Hunter-type game

[@Halftonetiger]

This is oddly satisfying to watch, it’s kinda asmr-ish lmao

[@Swyse]

fyi, if you spam the F key with two vertices selected, Blender will automatically create the quad for you.

[@StylizedStation]

Didn't know that. Thanks for the tip.

[@hihithxbye1381]

How do you do the loop cut?

[@StylizedStation]

CTRL + R :)

[@hihithxbye1381]

@@StylizedStation thanks

[@Eknightus]

Reminds me of Noctis's engine blade sword thing idk.

[@whocare9645]

3:33:53 you can use Bevel

[@Identifcador]

I thought it was really cool, it looks a lot like a Noctis sword from Final Fantasy XV

[@nuclearboy3859]

part 2 : 3d printing it out

[@kesura7273]

why we must make a low poly model and a high poly model at the same project im new at this i hope you answer my question.

[@EzLevi]

10 months later but its just to make normals maps for games optimization lol

[@dee170]

Looks like legendary m13

[@mystix4926]

link to the reference image? I jsut keep searching "futuristic sword" and can't find it ;-;

[@prenticetaylor4395]

I believe it's neros sword for devil may cry

[@zadencotton3774]

When I did the symmetrize it got rid of the middle indent for me

[@zadencotton3774]

Yeah I cant symmetrize when I get to the heat core thing

[@saian001]

Where is the video for the textures?

[@dantep6318]

11:05 it get an error saying could not create merged face. Can anyone help please?

[@marleyprincefordYT]

Just had the same issue, after I filled in the face above it with F, it worked.

[@grindelwald6907]

I really thought this was the sword that came in the valorant new bundle

[@retyll7485]

3:00:00

[@karmakitty6998]

What I wanna know is do I have to be good at art? Like could i model a decent weapon or a decent anime character without drawing

[@StylizedStation]

Great question. Art fundamentals are ALWAYS important, but you can definitely get great at 3D art without having to learn the fundamentals. A lot of my modeling is based off of concept art anyway, so I barely have to flex my art skills.

[@karmakitty6998]

Stylized Station ok that’s good cause I can’t draw but I think I could model something simple and work up from there thanks you have been a huge help!

[@strmStorm]

Can someone help me to understand how the patreon support you?

[@amitlevi373]

wanting to do my own ambient soft and am having an issue finding a soft witNice tutorialn the program wNice tutorialch works for the MAIN soft I'm

[@abhisheksrivastava5446]

Ur video was nice can u give ref image sir please

[@AYMPianist]

I have a problem on making a face on 4 vertices. It is not working. The first time I tried only 3 vertices become a face. The next time I tried, it had error on it. Today nothing is happening. crazzy. btw I'm new in blender. thanks for your response.

[@AYMPianist]

another thing, how do you put the image under the grid. mine is on top.

[@StylizedStation]

shoot me an email with an image or video of the problem and I'll try to help! [e-mail]

[@flamet]

Just in case you haven't found what's wrong with that yet, usually, what I find causes this is that for some reason you have two vertices overlapping each other. So after you select the 4 vertices you want to make a face out of, check at the status bar at the bottom of blender and see how many vertices you have really selected.If it says more than 4 you can press ctrl+m and merge by distance.

[@thedarkestdarklink3150]

that sword looks like Qrow Brawens sword from RWBY called Harbringer

[@wakeup1089]

second part pls

[@StylizedStation]

Sure :)

[@shaolinsnake9650]

51:18 Personnaly i make this creased line into normals

[@tulumba9416]

Класс!

[@Jack-rr9nh]

Looks like a sword from the jrpg God Eater

[@mistertigrou23]

Omg i search a design for making a steampunk sword and actually a can take this sword and modify them for meking more look steampunk

[@domd]

cool video i like it... but im seeing a distinct lack of pressing x y or z when you move stuff and makes my perfectionist self mad lol

[@ancanaro]

too!

[@TheMo5151]

BIO BLADE

[@killaboymol]

know this is old but why are you selecting 4 vertices like that why not just select the edge and repeatedly f to fill

[@panacea5154]

Yo is Scarlet Quinn from Devil May Cry 4 Reference?

[@HaRu-ul5ef]

Looks like God Eater sword

[@hiking517]

52:25

[@K7TZ]

I came here thinking this is a god eater weapon

[@Depressoclinical]

"this is actually very straight forward" ****3:42:48****