Drawings, digitizing, scanning and sculpting have not replaced modeling yet. They remain tools in the modeler's toolbox. So much about the model is tied directly to animation and rendering. Therefore, the modeler must depend on information that is specific to the production pipeline to make decisions about how to make the model, not restrictions imposed on them by the data acquisition process. One day, these process may be the way all modeling is done. In the meantime, knowing about these technologies and how they work can save the modeler hours of time. The finished product, at least for now, remains the work created by the modeler.

To learn more about character modeling and other topics of interest to animators, check out Inspired 3D Modeling and Texture Mapping by Tom Capizzi; series edited by Kyle Clark and Michael Ford: Premier Press, 2002. 266 pages with illustrations. ISBN 1-931841-49-7 ($59.99). Read more about all four titles in the Inspired series and check back to VFXWorld frequently to read new excerpts.

Author Tom Capizzi (left), series editor Kyle Clark (center) and series editor Mike Ford (right).

Tom Capizzi is a technical director at Rhythm & Hues Studios. He has teaching experience at such respected schools as Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Academy of Art in San Francisco and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He has been in film production in L.A. as a modeling and lighting technical director on many feature productions, including Dr. Doolittle 2, The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas, Stuart Little, Mystery Men, Babe 2: Pig in the City and Mouse Hunt.

Series editor Kyle Clark is a lead animator at Microsoft's Digital Anvil Studios and co-founder of Animation Foundation. He majored in film, video and computer animation at USC and has since worked on a number of feature, commercial and game projects. He has also taught at various schools, including San Francisco Academy of Art College, San Francisco State University, UCLA School of Design and Texas A&M University.

Michael Ford, series editor, is a senior technical animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks and co-founder of Animation Foundation. A graduate of UCLA's School of Design, he has since worked on numerous feature and commercial projects at ILM, Centropolis FX and Digital Magic. He has lectured at the UCLA School of Design, USC, DeAnza College and San Francisco Academy of Art College.