Chapter Six. Professional Modeling Practices

Becoming a professional modeler requires more than just a knowledge of points, polygons, and the various modeling techniques. Modelers must be organized, pay attention to details, and gain full control over the mesh. Polygon count, flow of the geometry, and other attributes of an object should be dictated by the modeler, not the software or tools used to create the mesh. Knowing proper object preparation for the other departments in the pipeline is another skill often overlooked and is what separates a professional from a hobbyist.

This chapter focuses on the important skills most digital artists overlook: naming conventions and directory structures, clean modeling, and preparing a model for production. Mastering these skills is essential to a successful career as a digital modeler.