Even the office chair you are sitting in is a hard surface object. For example, the computer monitor or telephone you are reading this article on would be considered a hard surface. One obvious difference is that a hard surface is anything machined or man-made. Just as there is no right or wrong workflow for modeling, everyone works differently, so artists will necessarily define things in different ways. As mentioned above, many artists have very different definitions of hard surfaces and organic matter.

Nonetheless, as a 3D modeler, you need to have an in-depth understanding of both categories and the techniques involved. What is the correct difference between a hard surface model and an organic model? It is important to point out that there is no right or wrong way to distinguish between the two. In your 3D experience, you may have heard many different interpretations of hard surface and organic models. Another artist might define it as anything that deforms and animates is considered an organic model. One artist might say that a hard surface model is anything machined and man-made and that an organic object is any living thing, such as a human, animal, plant, etc. It depends more on the artist’s preference. Rendering-wise, hard surface models tend to have contrasting, clean colors, and minimalist settings. That’s because they still have a smooth surface when modeled. However, if you were to model a car, the wheels would also be considered hard surface modeling, even though they are rubber and therefore deformed. objects that do not deform (as opposed to organic bodies that are designed to move and flow).

But essentially, with hard surface modeling, you need a smooth geometric mesh with less small details than needed for organic elements such as animals.Ī nice difference is that hard surface modeling tends to be applied to rigid bodies, i.e.

Currently, there is no strict definition of what makes a model a “hard surface”, and it often depends on each person’s own definition. There is some debate about what constitutes hard surface modeling and what does not.

This technique is widely used in science fiction and shooter video games because it is ideal for building weapons, robots, armor, machines, and structures. Hard surface modeling is a modeling technique used to model cars, armor, machines, and generally inanimate objects with smooth, static surfaces.

Zbrush hard surface modelling