Artist enhances DreamWorks-style character with lifelike details through ZBrush and Maya applications
Shuhang Li, a 3D artist from Chengdu, China, has captured the imagination of many with his captivating piece, 'Plant Pterosaur'. This masterpiece, which draws inspiration from the movie How to Train Your Dragon, has been featured in the renowned 3D World magazine.
To create this breathtaking work, Li utilised a variety of tools. He used ZBrush for the model, Maya for the forest setting, and Arnold for the dragon's body and skin. For texture painting, he turned to Substance 3D Painter, and in the final compositing stage, he employed the filter effects in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Li chose a photographic style for the final composition to better express his artistic requirements. To unify the colour tone and avoid a cluttered look, he used an HDRI. The dragon's body and skin, in particular, used the Sub-Surface Scattering material effect in Arnold, while self-luminous shaders were used for the dragon's wings.
The 3D landscape background software used for 'Plant Pterosaur' was World Machine. Li focused more on emphasising colour variation for texture painting, which adds a vibrant and dynamic quality to the piece.
You can view this stunning artwork online, and to stay updated with the latest design news, consider subscribing to the Creative Bloq Newsletter. Li's work can also be found on his ArtStation platform.
Li simulated a real forest environment in Maya for 'Plant Pterosaur', adding a level of realism and immersion that makes the piece truly stand out. This young artist from Chengdu is definitely one to watch in the world of 3D art.
