How can you avoid common 3D modeling mistakes?

Always note down what you want to do. This is a must. Either sketch, or get a storyboard, some reference image on to your folder. With this, you will have a clear picture of what you want to achieve. And get a rough timeline on how fast you want to achieve it. My personal advice is DO NOT RUSH the process. Allow yourself to make mistakes along the way but limit the mistakes and also work smart. That's why you have those reference images and a storyboard or moodboard.

First thing First: Get the real life dimensions of whatever it is you want to model and input them to your modeling software. This definitely helps when you introduce modifiers to it and maybe include them in a real life footage in terms of VFX. Second: Have lots of reference so you won't burn out during texturing and trying to make it look real.

In my experience, one must completely understand the statement of work. A thorough reading of the specs and/or a call/conversation with the client will ensure that you are producing what is needed. This will eliminate re-work, delivering on time, and producing a positive outcome for the client.

I always find that if I am going to model something inspired by a real life object, I will get as many reference shots as possible. If it is hard surface I will break down the model in stages. Each stage will be a milestone/file with save history activated. This way I can take my design as far back as I want to tweak any changes at any stage.

GOALS !!! NEVER start any kind of model, with undefined goals ! 1. origin for collaboration, tested with small a cube. 2. model for what ? 3D, coord, render..., what written in the EIR...? 3. follow the BIM manual and template rules ! 4. ensure that the BEP is followed for me, this are the base for starting !

Good Topology is important for complete 3D production pipeline. You can't just say it makes only 3D model efficient, "it makes whole production pipeline efficient". Modeling/Sculpting: When sculpting high-detail models, good topology ensures that the sculpting tools interact predictably with the mesh, allowing for finer detail and control. UV/Texturing : When it comes to UV unwrapping & texturing, good topology make the UV process easy. Non-manifold geometry gives you hard times while unfolding. Rigging/ Animation: Good topology helps in deformation/animation like facial expressions, stretch n squash of character/object. Lighting/Rendering: Proper topology reduces Rendering issues such as shading/lighting artifacts, occures with poor mesh.

This is actually an important part when you're in the initial stage of modelling your scene. If your scene is huge and would require alot of poly's, work smart where limit the polygon count and avoid n-gons. The more n-gons you have in your scene, the more memory it takes to render and you will eventually have problems at the end. Might even crash the software during a render. So always do check the poly count and also with the vertices.

For great 3D models, remember: good topology matters! Use quads, avoid n-gons and triangles, and keep edges even. Say no to pinching and stretching!

On the other end of the spectrum, n-gons and triangles have their place depending on what the model is going to be used for. For example, for non-game related applications or for certain use cases in high poly modeling, n-gons tend to be forgiveable when used on flat surfaces. Triangles can also be used to terminate or end edge loops in hidden areas if it means you won't have to spend way more time rerouting topology just to make it purely quads. Quads are still best practice but it's not an absolute. At the end of the day, it's always about the final result, how long it took to make, and what you're modeling for. Know the best practices for your use case and you should be good to go (games, archviz, mobile, etc.)

3D modeling tools are just TOOLS! Get to know your tool better, Get to know what you have in mind better ( maybe using sketches or reference images), And only then start using the 3D tool!

Trim your 3D model! Make it lighter and faster without sacrificing quality. Use modifiers like subdivision, decimate, or remesh to adjust detail. Remove hidden or unnecessary parts.

Another thing to remember is that keeping the silhouette is key. If that edge loop or vertex doesn't contribute to the overall shape and deleting it doesn't make much of a visual difference, you can delete it to lessen the polygon count. Also be mindful of the model's shading. Sharp edges should be sharp and softer areas should be smooth. This comes in handy especially when you start having less polygons to work with and can make all the difference.

"Optimising mesh reduces render time" For movies/animations it only affects rendering time but not the final output as it becomes a video in the end. But for games and AR/VR, rendering is happening real-time thus affects the final output/ performance.

Keep it as simple as possible and try understanding the fact that you need extra mesh, only and if only there is a "must" detail, like a significant change... In many cases you may leave it to "Normal map" or "Displacement map"...

Depending on the aimed level of detail, choose the proper amount of 3d model details. This should be one of the things you keep in mind once you start modelling.

Nail scale and proportions for lifelike 3D magic! Off-kilter sizes or wonky parts = unnatural vibes. Keep it real by checking with actual measurements or references. Use software tools like units, grids, and symmetry for that perfect, balanced look!

The key to avoiding common 3D modeling errors is to get the proper fit and size in your virtual works. First, make sure that all things have the proper proportions by utilizing reference photos or measurements. This will help to avoid objects looking deformed or unnatural. To prevent inconsistencies, keep your project's scale consistent throughout. Check your model frequently from various perspectives to identify any problems early, and use the grid or snap capabilities to accurately align pieces. Finally, keep in mind that fitting and scaling are vital abilities for producing 3D models that seem and react realistically in virtual settings, thus practice makes perfect.

In this regard for animation purposes scale of characters should be as close as possible to show the height differences between each other, but not characters alone buildings, cars, and other structure must be to scale as what you will find in the real world, but for technical Draughting scale 1:1 when modelling to the nearest points of measurement is crucial.

In the realm of 3D modeling, scale and proportions are the compass guiding us through the landscape of realism. It's akin to the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring harmony and believability. Regularly verifying our dimensions against real-world references is like tuning an instrument, making sure our creations resonate with authenticity. Embracing tools like symmetry is akin to choreographing a dance, ensuring balance and consistency in our 3D symphony. And when it comes to scale and proportions, the theory "imperfections are digital perfection" Doesn't apply for realistic architectural or 3D environment projects

Not only does modelling to real-world scale help avoid uncanny valley proportioning issues, in many cases it make the work of lighting setup far easier, and it almost always makes physics sims both more accurate and faster.

Lighting and camera angles you can do everything right in the modeling process but if your camera angles and specs are not right and the lighting isn't realistic your end result will never be up to par. learn your lights and work with professional cameras to get a hang on the program's camera. never use full resolution on your test renders and find the rendering setups that work for you and your system.

Finishing touches matter! Materials and lighting bring your 3D model to life. They add color, texture, and mood. Test them in various settings and scenarios to ensure harmony. Match materials and lighting to your model's style, purpose, and context.

Reference, reference, reference and also units... Check your model during the initial phase iteratively. These are the keys to have a scaled model.

Test your materials not only with HDRI but with a basic 3-point lighting rig, and also in-scene before you declare them fit-for-purpose; implicit in this discussion of materiality (and the earlier one of scale) is that though not fun and ‘sexy’, proper development and updating of your UVs is critical path.

Make sure that your pivot is where you want it to be and reset/freeze transformations to insure that the exported mesh is exactly as intended.

Start small specially if you are just starting because it can be daunting at first. Create small but easy projects, then work your way up. don't eat more than you can chew because that can make you quit and always respect your topology.

To have true material and lighting, start from a pure light in right units over a truly managed and scaled model. Start from checking and rectifying your material. The next phase would be lighting. Try sticking to the real world laws about the light color and and units. Remember we have no pure color, dim your sharp lights a bit. Keep some references nearby to check your results in intervals,

If you're new to 3D or to a 3D software but wish to learn it, don't let the vast and complicated UI and numerous tools intimidate you. The key is to begin and to trust the process. Consistency is key. Check out different learning materials besides your primary one; there's a lot of quality free resources online these days.

Observation without observation you can't do anything in 3d observation is main key skill if observation is perfect we can do any types of modelling in any 3d software

When seeking feedback and critique, try to gather input from a variety of sources with different perspectives. Diverse feedback can provide you with a more comprehensive view of your work and help you make well-informed decisions about improvements.

There is a critical issue that I should remind: Backup the files you are working on occasionally. It is possible for your hardware or software to let you down and waste your time and efforts.

Failure is key to succeeding. Do not be shy to showing off your experiences. Take it as a hobby, a serious hobby though. This is the fun way of the fast track path.

I would like to add that focusing on one small section at a time makes thins much easier. One of the main things in 3D modeling is breaking complex models into simpler ones; taking a big design and dividing it into smaller, more manageable parts. This makes it easier to handle each piece, work on the details, and eventually put everything together to create the final masterpiece.

Using the walk around function in Revit - Something I do when modelling is have a virtual walk around the space myself or a colleague has created. Look around in the space as if you were physically there and see if anything looks off or is missing. This has saved us so many errors in the past and has made the checking process easier. Use the correct BIM models- Check the dimensions (and any other important info) of any BIM models used. We have used AC equipment Revit Families which were incorrect from the manufacturer. It cost us time and money when realising they didn't fit in a prefabricated frame we designed based on the Revit family dimensions.

Work constantly with smoothing groups. These will guarantee a propper graphic interpretation of your 3D model smoothness. *Cheat: sometimes works as a fast poly selection.