eli5 what is a character model in a video game or animation?
In: Technology
Any kind of virtual 3d model, character or otherwise, is a collection of points in 3d space. They connect to each other in specific ways to make faces, or polygons. Materials are collections of pictures and other effects (textures, emissives, normal maps, etc. for some specific terms) displayed on the polygons to make the model look like a real object.
Characters are special though because they also move. Unlike a chess piece or any other rigid object, characters usually have to deform. That means they have to be “rigged” or set up for animation by adding extra programming that’s not visible in the final product, but allows them to move realistically.
Hope this helps a bit. I got my AS degree in game design over 10 years ago but things haven’t changed enough that I’m out of touch. 😛
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