When it comes to 3D modeling, it is important to have references,   

3D artist use Reference materials, and it is vital when building 3D models for production. If you’re create something from real life, you want the actual object in your hands so you can examine it, measure it, and see it from every angles. When it’s not possible to get the actual object, photographs are a great help in making sure your modeled geometry matches as closely as possible.  On  video games or animated films, the same overall idea of Reference material comes as the important key for references. You want as much reference as possible, this reference will likely come as well in the form of drawings and paintings. It’s likely when you begin modeling on a project that a lot of work has already gone into designing the world you’ll be modeling. Sometimes concepts are created in 3D, but many times they exist as 2D drawings. These is some specific references that require more detail and measurements, those a called blueprints and will be essential when we star modeling some specific shapes that need attention on their respective sizes. (e.g modeling a specific table to fit in room, an engine for a bike, etc.) 

Methods of sourcing reference material can be:

• photographs
• developmental drawings
• blueprints
• schematics
• video footage.
• etc..

when is think or references and with see this list above,that seems easy and obvious, isn’it? But I am going here to be a bit more specific from 3 best sources why and how they are so important when we use 3d modeling.

1.Photographs 

The Problem with our Visual Memory is short term and limited…

When remembering what we saw in the past, Inevitably, there will be many elements of the full picture that you won’t be able to recall even if you’re good in memorisation… We are pulling from our imperfect, limited visual memory and the brain rule is for everyone the same. Even when you have spent a focused time studying and analyzing your subject and were able to remember lot of elements, it is very likely that you don’t know all the relevant details needed to recreate it. This is not an arbitrary imperfection; in fact, visual memory needs  to be limited, allowing your brain to be economical with the information it stores by remembering the “gist” of an object while omitting detail . Simply put, remembering everything would be impractical and just clutter up your brain with too much information! 

The importance of reference photographs cannot be forgotten! In fact, it is impossible to create without having them, image are a sort of reminds of what we see with the magical pause of the details, and the details it is what our brain skipt. To bridge the gap between reality and the incomplete image stored in your visual memory, leaning on reference images can make all the difference. and use every detail through 3d modeling.

In 3d modeling a common technique of Image-Based Modeling are a perfect example how the 3d artist don’t hide how the reference of the photographe is vital to recreate the shape of the reference through every point and lines from the image sources.

2.developmental drawings

Drawing technique as a reference can be very useful when it come to animate a character or simply a character you want to create.   

 

3.Blueprints

First let’s start by asking this question, what is a blueprint? 

Well, a blueprint is a reproduction of a drawing! However, a technical a drawing! 

Generally using a contact print process on light-sensitive sheets, in which lines are shown in white on a blue background…
But that, it’s the old school one…  Generally speaking we have to remember that is the process that allows rapid, and accurate, production with measurements and specification of your model in 3d or anything else you want to create. from your sources. In short it as from your reference a more technical draw. 

Drawing, again!? Once more, this is the old school process, there are out there so many ways to make a blueprint even with some simple lines and brief specifications make a perfect blueprint,but the rules stay the same… I like to simplify by a technical drawing!

Blueprint can be very important when we create special 3d modeling such as 3d machinery or specific 3d model. It is not very complicated to understand that if you want to create a 3D engine for a car company your must follow strict measurements from a draft and those draft measurements are from…. the blueprint. 

Blueprints nowaday can skipt the blue background (even if we leave it more for the historical meaning) but essentially it must have all the specification to allow the 3D artist to create accurate 3d modeling according to the request. So if one day you want to create a table for your parent’s kitchen better help you to use a nice blueprint!