Follow this tutorial step-by-step to create a low poly wolf model that you can use in video games, graphic design and illustration projects whilst learning Cinema 4D quickly.
Some of the skills you'll learn in this tutorial include creating basic 3D modelling, importing reference images, adding lighting to the scene and basic rendering techniques.
In the first part of the two-part tutorial, I showed you how to:
- How to Import Reference Images
- How to Prepare for Modelling
- How to Model the Wolf Body
- How to Model the Wolf Head
In this, the second part of the the tutorial series, I'll show you how to:
- How to Model the Neck
- How to Model the Legs
- How to Model the Paws
- How to Prepare for Rendering
- How to Create a Background
- How to Add Lighting and Render the Scene
5. How to Model the Neck
Step 1
The same technique that was used to model the head and the body will be used to model the fur for the neck. Use the Move, Scale and Rotate tool to position the Loft and n-Side.
Step 2
Duplicate the neck fur by holding the Control button on your keyboard. Click and Drag the new object to a new position.
Step 3
Continue to tweak the neck fur using the Move, Scale and Rotate Tools until you are happy with the results.
6. How to Model the Legs
Step 1
The same technique that was used to model the head, the body and the fur will be used to model the legs. Use the Move, Scale and Rotate tool to position the Loft and n-Side. You can use your reference image to help you with the shape and positioning of the legs.
Step 2
Switch to Perspective View. Select the leg and use the Move Tool to move it to the side of the Wolf's body.
Step 3
Select the first n-Side. This will be the n-Side that we will edit and manipulate (you can select the other n-Sides to manipulate as well). Use the Rotate and Move Tools to shape the leg.
Step 4
Once you are happy with the position of the leg, use the Symmetry modifier to create the second leg (using the same technique that was used to create the second ear)
Step 5
Repeat the steps above to create the front legs for the Wolf.
7. How to Model the Paws
Step 1
Create a cube by clicking on the Cube button in the top menu.
Step 2
Use the Scale Tool to scale the cube down to a suitable size for the paws.
Step 3
Make sure that the cube has been selected and click on the Make Editable button.
Step 4
Use a combination of all the different buttons on the side (Polygon, Points and Edges) to manipulate the cube. Remember that you create new polygons by having the Polygon button selected using the Move Tool (whilst holding down the Control button on the keyboard).
Step 5
Create the shape of the paw that you want by using a combination of all the different buttons on the side (Polygon, Points and Edges). You can follow the final paw shape in the image below for your reference.
Step 6
Duplicate the paw four times and use the Move Tool to place them in the right place underneath the legs.
8. How to Prepare for Rendering
Step 1
Select all the objects in the project by clicking on the first object (the text should change colour) and then holding the Shift Key on the keyboard and clicking on the last object.
Step 2
Press Alt > G on the keyboard to create a new group out of all the objects you have selected. Then rename the 'null' group to 'Wolf'.
Step 3
Create a new plane by expanding the menu from the Cube button at the top of the screen and selecting Plane.
Step 4
Make sure that the plane is selected and go into the object tab. From here you can edit the object properties to your liking (in this tutorial we have created a plane which is 4,000cm x 4,000cm with 20 x 20 segments).
Step 5
Select the Wolf group and use the Move Tool to move the Wolf above the plane. Try and get the paws to touch the plane or have them penetrate slightly. This will help with the shadows when we render the project.
Step 6
Create a new material by clicking on Create > New Material at the bottom of the screen. Double click on the new material once it has been created.
Step 7
Click on the arrow next to the Texture button and select Gradient from the drop down menu.
Step 8
Double click on the Gradient.
Step 9
Choose the colour of the gradient for the floor. For this tutorial we have chosen a dark grey gradient. Click on the drop down menu next to Type and choose 2D - Circular.
Step 10
Apply the gradient by clicking and dragging the material to the plane.
9. How to Create a Background
Step 1
Select the material and under the Projection drop down menu, select Frontal.
Step 2
Right click on the Plane and select Cinema 4D Tags > Compositing.
Step 3
Make sure the compositing tag is selected and tick Compositing Background.
Step 4
Select Floor > Background from the top menu.
Step 5
Apply the material to the new background. You can also click on Render to Picture Viewer to view how the background looks at this stage.
10. How to Add Lighting and Render the Scene
Step 1
Add a light object by clicking on the Light button on the top menu.
Step 2
Use the Move Tool to position the light above the Wolf. With the light selected you can also increase or decrease the intensity of the light in the options menu on the bottom left of the screen.
Step 3
Click on the Render Settings button on the top of the screen.
Step 4
Choose your output resolution.
Step 5
Choose the directory for the image and the file type. The image for this tutorial was rendered as a JPEG.
Step 6
Click on the Effect button. From the dropdown menu select Ambient Occlusion and Global Illumination.
Step 7
Click on the Render button on the top menu.
The End Result
Wait for the final render to finish. Once the render is complete you can repeat the steps above and change the camera for the viewport to create a new image from a different angle.
Feel free to share your own creations below. You can also export your image into Adobe Photoshop to enhance it further or to use it as part of a larger image.
