3D art for infographics

Not any infographic should use three-dimensional models. But sometimes 3D art can do a better job explaining how something works or show a structure and its components. This is the case with two of the infographics I am currently working on.



The first is a mountain, whose top has been blasted with explosives in what is called Mountaintop removal (MTR). I completed the model in 4-5 full days. The most difficult part was texturing it. I used real photos of MTR and created the textures in Photoshop, using the Maya command Create PSD Network. For a more complex model, in which texture details are important, PSD networks work really well, allowing me to draw each part of the texture separately and then blend them nicely. Look at how many shades, colors and vegetation types are present with this mountain. It will accompany Chris's story and show the before-after stages.

 

The second one is a windmill. This is a simpler model, for which I needed all the exact measurements (to keep the proportions), details of components and a good texture. Well, the texture seems a dirty white. In fact, it is a selection of a real photo of the windmill I have visited in Texas, edited in Photoshop to create a seamless texture (pattern) and applied in Maya. The infographic will show the windmill's components and how a windmill operates.