What are the key principles of 3D modeling for motion graphics?

Houdini, Maya, and Cinema4D have long stood as the giants in the mograph industry, however, in the last few years, Blender 3D has taken the 3D motion design world by storm. With the advent of geometry nodes and simulation nodes, Blender has incorporated many of the functionality features that industry professionals were missing, with much more flexibility that leans on procedural workflows that allow for quick iteration and variation without sacrificing progress on your projects.

Although C4D is included in After Effects and theoretically the workflow should be the most combinable, I have to say that Blender is much more powerful than C4D for Motion Graphics. Also with very simple addons/scripts you can use the blender cameras in After Effects getting unbeatable results. Why do I prefer Blender? Easier handling, less computer resources, better results, procedural design, and it is 100% free.

After Effects and Cinema 4D seem like the ultimate BFFs, but for knocking out killer motion graphics, Blender throws down way harder punches. Don't get me wrong, C4D is cool, but Blender's the real heavyweight champ.

10 years ago I would choose Cinema 4d with my eyes closed. Today, if I had to start from zero, I would go for Blender, as more and more artists are choosing it as their default 3d software.

The most important aspect of 3D modeling is to keep your models low-poly and as simple as possible. Avoid unnecessary subdivisions and ensure that you use quads for your polygons. Additionally, it is crucial to choose software that integrates seamlessly with your motion graphics workflow. For example, if you use After Effects for your 3D motion graphics, Cinema 4D is an excellent choice due to its strong compatibility with Adobe After Effects. However, if you use a 3D software that can handle all your motion graphic needs within a single application, you have more flexibility and options.

Try your best to keep Quads the entire way thru. There are scenarios you'll need to deviate from this, but you should always try to keep quads and good edge loops. Keeping your geometry as low poly as possible is sage advice, then use SubD to smooth out the mesh. Google Box Modeling and you'll see what I mean. Try giving John Dickenson's material a watch. He's a good dude and terrific modeler.

If your choice is Blender (which I highly recommend) you can combine both polygonal and parametric modeling. Polygonal modeling: I have experience in three 3D modeling software: Cinema 4 D, Blender and 3D Studio Max. Without a doubt the easiest is Blender. Once you understand the "edit mode" you will feel like playing a video game. Parametric: Blender includes a powerful tool called Geometric Nodes. As the name suggests, it is a system of nodes. The node system is eating ground to the traditional way of designing. It is true that it is more complicated than Polygonal, but once you master it, there are no limits. You will work 20 times faster.

keep it sleek! Imagine your model as a sleek race car, not a clunky bus. Too much detail might look amazing close-up, but in animation land, it can slow things down. Less detail translates to smoother movement, so focus on clean geometry that gets the job done.

Lighting is everything in the graphics world, and in 3D animation, it is paramount. One way to level up your understanding of lighting techniques is to step away from the software and work with a production studio to see how they light subjects in the real world. Once you have a solid understanding of how to shape light, bringing that experience into the virtual world is much more intuitive.

Textures are like clothes for your model, and they gotta fit perfectly! That's where UV unwrapping comes in. It might sound fancy, but think of it like unwrapping a present – you want the wrapping paper (texture) to lay flat on your model without any weird wrinkles or creases. Mastering UV unwrapping makes a huge difference in the final look.

Organization is in the name of the game here. No matter what creative project you take on, it is a great practice to act as if a large team will be deep in your files on a daily basis. By naming files, layers, and scenes in a way that describes their use case and iteration, you minimize confusion. Extend this same practice to linking asset files, packaging up the deliverables and their supporting documentation, and archiving in a way that allows for quick access.

We're currently doing a lot of motion design for mobile videogames. The main challenge we've found is creating high quality low-poly meshes (under 2000 polygons). I'd suggest to anyone who wants to work in that industry, to get really good at modelling low-poly meshes, and try exporting them to Unity.

It seems obvious, but before embarking on a new project you have to ask yourself the following question: Does this project need 3D motion design? Motion Graphics means telling a message with animated images, text, sounds, etc. The most important thing here is to clearly convey this message. Most of the time it can work just a static image, others a 2D animation, 3D, and my favorite: combining 2D and 3D. Focus on the message.