• Free 3D Models
  • Environment free 3D models
  • Environment (0)
  • Nature (15239)
  • Landscape (12443)
  • Exterior (11979)
  • Forest (9207)
  • Plant (8375)
  • Tree (7335)
  • Terrain (6338)
  • Game (5567)
  • Mountain (5423)

Free Environment 3D models

Free 3D Environment models available for download. Available in many file formats including MAX, OBJ, FBX, 3DS, STL, C4D, BLEND, MA, MB. Find professional Environment 3D Models for any 3D design projects like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), games, 3D visualization or animation. ...Show more

  • Environment
  • Reset filters

Premium models

  • Jump to page:

Polydin

3D Environment Design | Everything You Need to Know

  • March 1, 2023
  • No Comments

Welcome to the world of 3D environment design ! As the backbone of modern video game development, the importance of skilled environment artists cannot be overstated. They are responsible for bringing game worlds to life and immersing players in stunning and believable environments. But what exactly does it take to become a 3D environment artist? What are the stages involved in creating these intricate digital worlds? And what software and tools are used by professionals in the industry? In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about 3D environment design and provide some inspiring examples of this art form. So grab your notepad and get ready to dive in!

What is 3D Environment Design?

What is 3D Environment Design

3D environment design is a crucial element in modern video game development. It’s a process of creating immersive virtual environments that the player can explore and interact with. This can include anything from natural landscapes and urban cityscapes to sci-fi spaceships and fantastical realms. Essentially, it’s the art of building virtual worlds that look and feel real enough to transport players to another world entirely.

As video games continue to evolve and become more complex, the demand for skilled 3D environment artists is on the rise. With stunning graphics and immersive environments becoming the norm, game developers must ensure their virtual worlds are as visually appealing and believable as possible. 3D environment design plays a huge role in achieving this, which is why it’s such a critical aspect of modern game development.

Who is a 3D Environment Artist?

Who is a 3D Environment Artist

A 3D environment artist is a creative professional responsible for designing, creating, and implementing digital landscapes in video games, movies, and other forms of entertainment media. These skilled individuals bring digital worlds to life by crafting 3D models of buildings, terrain, objects, and other environmental features with which the players will interact throughout the game.

They are often part of a larger team of artists, including concept artists and character artists, all working together to create a cohesive visual experience. 3D environment artists must be familiar with various modeling and texturing techniques and understand lighting and how it affects a scene. They must also be able to work efficiently within the constraints of the game engine and maintain a balance between visual fidelity and performance.

In addition to technical skills, a successful 3D environment artist must also possess a strong sense of creativity and imagination, as they are responsible for visualizing and bringing to life the game’s world. This role requires high attention to detail and the ability to collaborate effectively with other development team members.

What are the Characteristics of 3D Environment?

1. polydin studio post 01 zahir 01 Polydin

The characteristics of a 3D environment refer to the distinctive qualities and elements that define the virtual space created through three-dimensional graphics and technology. These characteristics contribute to the realism, interactivity, and immersive experience within a 3D environment. Here are some key characteristics:

  • Depth and Dimension: Unlike 2D environments, 3D environments provide depth and dimension, allowing objects and elements to have height, width, and depth. This creates a more realistic representation of the physical world.
  • Realism and Detail: 3D environments strive to replicate real-world elements with a high level of detail. This includes realistic textures, lighting effects, shadows, and physics simulation, all aimed at creating a visually convincing and immersive experience.
  • Interactivity and Navigation: 3D environments often offer interactive elements and the ability to navigate and explore the virtual space. Users can move, interact with objects, and even manipulate the environment itself, providing a more engaging and interactive experience.
  • Dynamic and Changing Environments: 3D environments can be designed to change dynamically, allowing for dynamic weather conditions, day-night cycles, and other environmental variations. This adds to the sense of realism and enhances the immersion within the virtual world.
  • Spatial Audio: Alongside visual elements, 3D environments often incorporate spatial audio, which enhances the immersive experience by simulating sounds that originate from different directions and distances. This adds another layer of realism and enhances the overall sense of presence.
  • Scale and Proportions: 3D environments can accurately depict scale and proportions, allowing for the creation of vast landscapes, architectural structures, or miniature settings. This provides opportunities for diverse and imaginative world-building.
  • Integration of Interactive Objects and Characters: In a 3D environment, objects, characters, and other elements can be seamlessly integrated and interact with each other. This allows for dynamic storytelling, gameplay mechanics, and realistic interactions between virtual entities.

These characteristics collectively contribute to creating immersive, visually appealing, and interactive 3D environments in various applications such as video games, virtual reality experiences, architectural visualization, and simulations.

What are the Types of 3D Environment? 

7. polydin studio post 36 zahir 01 Polydin

There are several types of 3D environments, each serving different purposes and catering to various industries and applications. Here are some common types:

  • Virtual Reality (VR) Environments: VR environments are immersive, computer-generated simulations that can replicate real-world or fictional spaces. These environments are experienced through VR headsets and provide a fully immersive and interactive experience.
  • Video Game Environments: Video games utilize 3D environments to create virtual worlds for players to explore and interact with. These environments can range from realistic open-world settings to fantastical and imaginative landscapes.
  • Architectural Visualization Environments: Architects and designers use 3D environments to create virtual representations of buildings, interiors, and urban spaces. These environments allow clients and stakeholders to visualize and experience architectural designs before they are constructed.
  • Training and Simulation Environments: 3D environments are often used in training and simulation applications, such as military or medical training. These environments provide a safe and controlled space for individuals to practice and learn complex tasks or scenarios.
  • Product Visualization Environments: In product design and marketing, 3D environments are used to showcase and visualize products. These environments allow for realistic rendering and presentation of products in different settings and lighting conditions.
  • Animated Film and Visual Effects Environments: 3D environments play a crucial role in animated films and visual effects production. They provide the digital backdrops and settings for characters and objects, allowing for the creation of visually stunning and realistic scenes.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) Environments: AR environments blend digital content with the real world, overlaying virtual elements onto the user’s view. These environments enhance real-world experiences by adding interactive and informational digital content.
  • Scientific and Data Visualization Environments: 3D environments are used in scientific research and data visualization to represent complex data sets, models, or simulations. They allow researchers to explore and analyze data in a visually intuitive and interactive manner.

These are just a few examples of the types of 3D environments that exist. The applications and industries utilizing 3D technology continue to expand, leading to the creation of new and innovative environments to cater to specific needs

Process of Designing a 3D Environment

AlterVerse game Polydin

Designing a 3D environment is a meticulous process that involves several key steps to bring virtual spaces to life. From concept development to optimization, each stage contributes to creating visually captivating and immersive environments.

The process begins with concept development, where ideas are brainstormed, rough concepts are sketched, and references are gathered to establish the desired look and feel of the environment. This phase helps define the visual style, theme, and mood.

Once the concept is established, a detailed 3D model of the environment is created using specialized software like Autodesk Maya or Blender. This model includes elements such as terrain, buildings, and props, forming the foundation of the virtual space.

Texturing and shading breathe life into the 3D model, as textures and materials are applied to surfaces, enhancing their realism and visual quality. Lighting design is another crucial aspect, as strategic placement of light sources, adjustments in intensity and color, and the creation of shadows add depth and atmosphere.

To enhance the environment’s realism and interactivity, dynamic effects such as particle effects and interactive elements are incorporated. These effects add movement, life, and immersion to the virtual world.

Optimization is the final step, ensuring the environment runs smoothly and efficiently on various platforms and devices. Polygon count reduction, texture optimization, and fine-tuning of lighting and effects strike a balance between visual quality and performance.

Throughout the process, collaboration between artists, designers, and technical experts is essential to realize the artistic vision and technical implementation. With attention to detail and a combination of artistic creativity and technical expertise, captivating and believable 3D environments are brought to fruition.

Designing a 3D environment is a fascinating journey that allows for the creation of immersive and visually stunning virtual worlds, whether for video games, virtual reality experiences, or architectural visualizations. By following a systematic approach and embracing the iterative nature of the design process, designers can create captivating environments that leave a lasting impression on viewers.

the Evolution of 3D Environment Design

Polydin - Concept Art

The evolution of 3D environment design has been a remarkable journey, marked by advancements in technology and the ever-growing demand for immersive digital experiences. From its humble beginnings to the cutting-edge techniques employed today, the field has undergone significant transformations, pushing the boundaries of creativity and realism.

In the early days of 3D environment design, limited computational power and software capabilities presented challenges. However, pioneering artists and developers laid the foundation for what would become a flourishing field. They created basic 3D models and environments using simple shapes and textures, often with limited interactivity.

As technology progressed, so did the possibilities of 3D environment design. The advent of more powerful hardware and software brought about a revolution, enabling designers to create increasingly complex and detailed virtual worlds. The introduction of real-time rendering engines and advanced modeling tools allowed for greater realism, enhanced lighting effects, and improved texturing.

The rise of open-world games and the demand for expansive, immersive environments further propelled the evolution of 3D environment design. Designers started incorporating procedural generation techniques, allowing for the creation of vast landscapes and dynamic environments that felt alive and organic. The integration of physics simulations, dynamic weather systems, and day-night cycles added another layer of realism and immersion.

Today, the evolution of 3D environment design continues with the emergence of cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These immersive platforms demand even higher levels of detail, interactivity, and realism. Designers are pushing the boundaries by leveraging advanced techniques such as photogrammetry, procedural generation, and physically based rendering to create stunning and lifelike virtual worlds.

The evolution of 3D environment design is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of artists, designers, and technologists. As technology continues to advance, we can only anticipate more exciting developments and immersive experiences in the realm of 3D environment design.

What Does an Environment Artist Do?

What Does an Environment Artist Do

Environment artists play a crucial role in the video game industry, responsible for bringing digital worlds to life. They are skilled professionals who specialize in creating immersive 3D environments that players can explore, interact with, and, ultimately, become lost in.

A 3D environment artist is typically part of a larger team of game developers and works in close collaboration with level designers, concept artists, and programmers to create the various elements of a game’s environment. Their responsibilities include designing, modeling, texturing, and lighting the game’s environments and creating visual effects, props, and objects that populate the world.

One of the main goals of an environment artist is to create a believable, cohesive world that captures the game’s overall aesthetic and narrative. They must ensure that every element in the environment — from the trees and rocks to the buildings and vehicles — is seamlessly integrated into the game world, creating an immersive and visually stunning experience for players.

Environment artists are also responsible for optimizing their work to ensure the game runs smoothly on various platforms and hardware configurations. They must consider factors such as memory usage, draw distance, and performance to ensure that the game’s environments look great and run smoothly.

In short, environment artists are the architects of the digital worlds that players explore in video games. Their work is essential to creating immersive and engaging gameplay experiences that keep players coming back for more.

The Main Task of 3D Environment Artists

The Main Task of 3D Environment Artists

The main task of a 3D environment artist is to create immersive and believable virtual environments that enhance the player’s experience. They work closely with other game development team members, including level designers and art directors, to bring the game world to life. The process involves various stages, from concept art to 3D modeling and texturing. It requires a combination of technical skills, artistic vision, and an understanding of game design principles. 

What are the Stages of 3D Environment Design?

Stages of 3D Environment Design

The process of 3D environment design is complex and requires a lot of planning and preparation. It typically involves several stages, each with its own set of tasks and goals.

The first stage is the concept art phase. Here, the 3D environment artist works closely with the art director to create sketches and drawings of the environment. This stage is critical as it sets the tone for the entire project and helps everyone visualize the final product.

Once the concept art is complete, the 3D environment artist moves on to the modeling phase. This stage involves creating the 3D assets that will make up the environment. The artist must use specialized software to create models of trees, rocks, buildings, and other objects that will populate the environment. This stage requires much attention to detail as every object must be carefully crafted to fit into the environment seamlessly.

After the models are complete, the artist moves on to the texturing stage. This involves adding color and texture to the models to make them look more realistic. Texturing is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of skill and patience, as every object must be given a unique texture that complements its shape and design.

Once the models are textured, the environment artist moves on to the lighting phase. This stage involves setting up the lighting for the environment, including the placement of light sources, the light’s intensity, and the light’s color. The artist must carefully consider how the lighting will affect the mood and atmosphere of the environment.

Finally, the 3D environment artist moves on to the final stage, which is rendering. This involves using specialized software to create high-quality images and videos of the environment. The artist must ensure that everything looks realistic and that there are no glitches or errors in the final product.

How 3D Environments in Video Games are Made?

How 3D Environments in Video Games are Made

Creating 3D environments in video games involves a complex process requiring high skill and attention to detail. The process begins with the concept phase, in which the game designers and artists collaborate to create a visual concept for the environment. This may include sketches, storyboards, and mood boards to help define the look and feel of the environment.

Once the concept is approved, the 3D environment artist creates a rough block-out of the environment using basic geometry shapes. This allows the artist to experiment with the layout of the environment and make any necessary changes before moving on to the next stage.

The next stage is the creation of high-resolution models for the environment, which includes modeling objects, textures, lighting, and materials. This requires great technical skill and attention to detail, as each element must be carefully crafted to create a cohesive and believable environment.

After the high-resolution models are complete, the 3D environment artist will optimize them for use in the game engine. This involves reducing the number of polygons in the models to improve performance and create a smooth gameplay experience.

The final stage is integrating the environment into the game engine, which includes setting up lighting, textures, and special effects to bring the environment to life. This iterative process requires constant testing and tweaking to ensure that the environment looks and performs as intended.

What Software is Needed for 3D Environment Design?

What Software is Needed for 3D Environment Design

Creating 3D environments requires a specific set of tools and software, and the choice of software can greatly impact the quality and efficiency of the design process. While there are a variety of software options available, some are better suited to specific tasks and workflows.

Autodesk Maya is one of the most popular 3D modeling and animation software used in the industry. It is known for its versatility and is widely used for creating complex 3D models, character animations, and detailed environments. Maya’s advanced toolset includes features like modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and animation, making it a go-to choice for many 3D environment artists.

Another popular software for 3D environment design is Maxon Cinema 4D . While Cinema 4D is also a full-featured 3D modeling and animation software, it is often preferred by motion graphics artists and designers due to its intuitive interface and ease of use. It features tools for modeling, texturing, lighting, and animation, as well as motion graphics-specific tools like MoGraph, enabling artists to create complex animations quickly.

Other popular software options for 3D environment design include Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Houdini. Each software has its unique features, strengths, and weaknesses, so the choice of software ultimately depends on the artist’s specific needs and preferences.

It is also worth noting that hardware plays an important role in 3D environment design. High-performance graphics cards, processors, and sufficient RAM are essential for working with large and complex scenes. Therefore, investing in quality hardware is just as important as selecting the right software.

Examples of 3D Environment

Examples of 3D Environment 

When it comes to 3D environments in video games, there are countless examples of stunning and immersive virtual worlds. From sprawling open worlds to confined spaces, game developers have the ability to transport players to all sorts of imaginative locations. Here are just a few examples of memorable 3D environments in gaming:

  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The game’s open world is vast and varied, filled with towering mountains, dark forests, and bustling cities. The level of detail in each environment is impressive, from the way the sunlight filters through the trees to the snowdrifts that gradually accumulate on the ground.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The game’s open world is a masterpiece of 3D environment design, with a seamless blend of natural landscapes and ancient ruins. Every corner of the world is filled with secrets to discover, whether it’s a hidden shrine or a stunning vista overlooking the horizon.
  • Half-Life: Alyx – This VR title features some of any video game’s most immersive and detailed environments. From the dilapidated apartments of City 17 to the alien-infested wastelands beyond, every location feels like a real place that has been lived in and abandoned.
  • Horizon Zero Dawn – Set in a post-apocalyptic world where robotic creatures roam the land, Horizon Zero Dawn’s 3D environments are both beautiful and dangerous. From the towering ruins of the Old Ones to the sprawling grasslands of the game’s open world, every environment is meticulously crafted and full of character.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – The game’s vast open world is a masterpiece of 3D environment design, with a range of different landscapes that reflect the game’s various regions. From the winding streets of Novigrad to the rolling hills of Velen, the world of The Witcher 3 is rich in detail and atmosphere.

The Challenges of Designing 3D Environments

Challenges of Designing 3D Environments

Designing 3D environments for video games can be a complex and challenging process. While advancements in technology have made it easier to create highly detailed and realistic environments, there are still several challenges that 3D environment artists face.

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring the environment is aesthetically pleasing and functional. A game environment needs to look good and be designed to allow the player to easily navigate and interact with it. This can require great planning and careful consideration of factors such as lighting, texture, and terrain.

Another challenge is the amount of time and resources required to create a 3D environment. Creating highly detailed environments can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. This can be especially challenging for smaller game development studios that may have limited budgets and manpower.

Another problem is technical limitations. Creating complex environments can be limited by the technical capabilities of the game engine or hardware. High-detail environments can cause performance issues such as long loading times, low frame rates, or crashes. Balancing visual quality with technical limitations is a challenge that environment artists face.

A subtle problem 3D environment artists might face is consistency. The environment should look and feel consistent with the game’s overall style, theme, and setting. Maintaining this consistency can be a challenge when designing complex environments with multiple elements and details. Even small deviations from the established style or setting can break the immersion of the player and negatively impact their experience.

Finally, 3D environment artists must also be able to work effectively as part of a team. Game development is a collaborative process, and environment artists must be able to communicate effectively with other team members, such as game designers and programmers, to ensure that the environment meets the game’s requirements and functions properly.

3D Environment Design in Polydin

Polydin Studios is a leading game development and outsourcing company with a talented team of environment and level art designers who are passionate about creating immersive game worlds. Our designers work closely with clients throughout the development process to ensure that their vision is brought to life with stunning visuals and attention to detail. We pride ourselves on our ability to listen to and incorporate feedback, resulting in designs that exceed expectations. With our expertise and dedication, we are committed to delivering high-quality 3D environments and level designs that transport players to new worlds and engage them in unforgettable gaming experiences.

Benefits of 3D Environment Modeling Software

The utilization of 3D environment modeling software offers a myriad of benefits across various industries, from gaming and architecture to virtual reality experiences. One significant advantage is the ability to create highly realistic and immersive virtual spaces, enabling architects and designers to visualize and refine their projects before physical implementation. In the gaming industry, 3D environment modeling software enhances the creation of detailed and visually stunning game worlds, contributing to a more engaging player experience. These tools streamline the design process, allowing for efficient collaboration among team members, as changes can be visualized in real-time. Moreover, the versatility of 3D environment modeling software extends to industries like film and simulation, where the creation of lifelike environments adds depth and authenticity to visual narratives. As technology evolves, the benefits of these software tools are likely to expand, influencing the way we perceive and interact with digital environments.

Benefits of 3D Environment Modeling Software

How to Hire a 3D Environment Design Artist?

The process of hiring a skilled 3D environment design artist involves several key considerations to ensure a successful collaboration. Firstly, a comprehensive portfolio showcasing the artist’s previous work is crucial in evaluating their proficiency and style. Assessing their expertise in using relevant software and understanding their approach to project challenges is equally important. Effective communication skills are essential, as a 3D environment design artist must comprehend and translate the client’s vision into captivating visual representations. Collaborative abilities and the capacity to work within a team are vital, especially in projects where interdisciplinary collaboration is common. Additionally, references and testimonials from previous clients can provide valuable insights into the artist’s reliability, professionalism, and ability to meet project deadlines. By conducting thorough interviews and assessing the artist’s technical skills, creativity, and compatibility with the project requirements, organizations can make informed decisions when hiring a 3D environment design artist.

Skills Required to Become a 3D Environment Artist

Becoming a proficient 3D environment artist involves cultivating a diverse set of skills that span both technical and creative realms. Mastery of 3D modeling software, such as Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max, is fundamental, allowing artists to create detailed and realistic environments. A strong understanding of design principles, including composition, lighting, and color theory, contributes to the creation of visually compelling scenes. Problem-solving skills are crucial, as artists often encounter challenges in translating conceptual ideas into tangible 3D spaces. Collaboration and communication skills play a pivotal role, as 3D environment artists frequently work in interdisciplinary teams, requiring effective interaction with designers, animators, and other professionals. Staying updated on industry trends and technological advancements ensures that artists remain at the forefront of their field, capable of incorporating the latest tools and techniques into their work. As the demand for skilled 3D environment artists continues to rise across industries, honing a combination of technical expertise and artistic sensibility is key to a successful career in this dynamic field.

The Fundamental Principles and Concepts That Govern 3D Environment Art

3D environment art is guided by fundamental principles and concepts that are crucial for creating immersive and captivating virtual worlds. These principles include composition, lighting, color theory, perspective, and scale. Composition dictates how elements within the environment are arranged to create visual interest and guide the viewer’s eye. Lighting plays a key role in setting the mood, atmosphere, and believability of the environment, while color theory influences the emotional response and cohesion of the scene. Perspective and scale are essential for creating depth and realism, ensuring that objects within the environment interact convincingly with one another and with the viewer’s perspective.

The Essential Tools and Software Used by 3D Environment Artists

To bring their creative visions to life, 3D environment artists rely on a variety of tools and software tailored to their specific needs. Industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and 3ds Max are commonly used for modeling, texturing, and animation tasks. These tools provide robust features for sculpting organic shapes, creating detailed textures, and animating objects within the environment. Additionally, specialized software like Substance Painter and Quixel Mixer are invaluable for generating realistic materials and textures that enhance the visual fidelity of the environment. Furthermore, rendering engines like Unreal Engine and Unity enable artists to showcase their creations in real-time, allowing for interactive experiences and dynamic lighting effects. By leveraging these tools and software, 3D environment artists can unleash their creativity and craft stunning virtual worlds that captivate audiences.

3D environment design is the complex process of creating immersive digital landscapes that mimic real-world environments in three-dimensional space. Designers use a variety of tools and techniques to create virtual worlds that can be used in video games, simulations, architectural visualizations, and other applications.

What software is commonly used to create 3D environments?

Professionals in the field often use software such as Blender, which is known for its versatility and open source nature. In addition, game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine provide robust platforms for creating, animating and rendering complex 3D environments with dynamic lighting and interactivity.

Do I need artistic skills to create 3D environments?

While artistic skills certainly enhance the creative aspect of 3D environment design, the field is not limited to artists. Technical skills such as mastering 3D modeling tools, understanding material properties, and manipulating lighting are equally important to creating visually appealing and realistic environments.

Is 3D environment design just for games?

No, the applications of 3D environment design extend far beyond the realm of gaming. Architects use it to visualize building designs, filmmakers create virtual sets for special effects, educational platforms use it for interactive learning simulations, and even virtual reality experiences rely heavily on well-designed 3D environments.

How important is attention to detail when designing 3D environments?

Attention to detail is paramount when designing 3D environments. Small details such as surface imperfections, carefully crafted textures, realistic lighting effects, and careful placement of objects all contribute to the overall authenticity and immersion of the environment.

Can 3D environment design be a collaborative process?

Yes, 3D environment design often involves the collaboration of professionals with different areas of expertise. Modelers create the physical structures, texture artists add visual detail, lighting experts enhance mood and realism, and programmers implement interactive features, all working together to bring the environment to life.

What is the role of lighting in 3D environment design?

Lighting plays a multifaceted role in 3D environment design. It not only illuminates the scene, but also sets the mood, highlights focal points, and creates depth, all of which contribute to the overall realism and atmosphere of the environment.

What is the process of creating environmental concept art?

The process typically begins with research to gather references and inspiration. Artists then create thumbnail sketches to explore compositional options before refining their chosen concepts. Color studies help establish the desired atmosphere, and detailed renderings bring the environment to life. The iterative process includes feedback and adjustments to ensure the final artwork meets the intended vision.

Polydinlog Polydin

to stay updated on our current and coming projects, join our newsletter

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

[email protected]

environment 3d project

Copyright © 2023 Polydin Game Studio

Showcase spatial concepts with 3D environmental design.

Prototype and visualize spaces such as architectural interiors, signage, floor layouts, retail storefronts, and more.

3D prototype of 555 East signage created with Adobe Substance 3D tools

Credit:  Kyle Jones . Created with Substance by Adobe, 3ds Max, and Corona Renderer.

Go from 2D to 3D to the real world.

We experience the world in three dimensions, so it can be difficult to make decisions when presented solely with 2D diagrams meant to represent it.  Building out physical spaces in a digital environment allows reviewers to get a much better sense of what they’re seeing and how well it meets their intended goals. Quickly prototype ideas to convey a general sense of the concept, or achieve a more fleshed-out concept that incorporates photorealistic elements and real-world settings.

Seeing the proposed elements in a 3D context can make a dramatic difference in the perception of designs compared to viewing the items on their own.

3D render of an environmental visualization of Earthly tent's location before an event

Credit: Vladimir Petkovic . Scene staged and rendered with Adobe Dimension; tent created with Marvelous Designer. Created as an example visualization of a tent prior to an actual event.

Building out your spatial designs in 3D can help persuade the audience by capturing full clarity of the design intent and how well it accomplishes the project’s objectives. Visualizing 3D designs is extremely valuable for audiences. They might not be used to reviewing or approving only 2D mockups to showcase what the designs might look like in actual space.

Augmented reality streamlines review processes even further by visualizing how the concept will work in the physical environment it will exist in. Explore how well the designs work in context, viewing them in the real world from every angle. Save costly production errors by avoiding the creation of designs that aren’t the right size for the space or don’t work well when placed in their proposed locations. Avoid trial-and-error when creating things like branding signage for convention centers, making sure it fits the physical space and is visible from all angles.

Clearly communicate design concepts in 3D.

Prototyping proposals in Adobe Dimension helps speed up the process and makes it easier for designers to do quick mockups of concepts without having to outsource expensive spatial renderings. The available tools make it easy to show multiple perspectives and different iterations of concepts. It’s also easy to continue iterating designs by swapping out logos, materials, colors, and more.

Anna Natter 2

Credit: Virtual Conference with Meetingbox by Anna Natter . Created with Adobe Dimension, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Substance Source.

True photorealism for the final pitch.

Ronan Mahon Image

Credit:  Ronan Mahon using Substance Source materials.

With more 3D practice, achieve photorealistic surfaces in your scenes for objects and building architecture by adding materials and textures to your 3D models using  Substance Painter . Personalize your textures using Substance Alchemist , or pull from the robust library of materials offered by Substance Source . Leverage additional 3D content available on Adobe Stock . Sourcing or creating environmental or architectural models can help more accurately represent environments like offices and buildings. Textured cloths on objects like tote bags containing brand elements and reflections on signage make for a more convincing presentation of physical concepts. Incorporating photorealistic objects and rendered scenes can more precisely showcase the full intent of the design and impress stakeholders and clients with an accurate representation of the setting.

Examples of different surface textures

The tools available in the Adobe 3D & AR ecosystem can help reduce friction points for managing and editing 3D assets. Take assets from one app to another to make use of a vast array of tools. This can avoid the need to outsource designs to a 3D expert or external agency, saving valuable time and money.

Getting started with 3D environmental design with Adobe.

step

Design your 2D elements in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Use whichever tool suits your needs best for creating any 2D components that you might need. Illustrator is great for crafting graphics and logos to place on 3D objects, while Photoshop can be used to create brand images or edit existing photos.

step

3D authoring and aggregation with Dimension.

Place models from Adobe Stock templates , or import Adobe Stock assets that are optimized for Dimension. Or import models from other sources. Dimension supports OBJ, Autodesk FBX, STL, and SketchUp SKP file formats.

step

3D material iteration in Substance.

For more advanced users, get the perfect appearance by adding further materials and paint textures onto models to create photorealistic effects using Substance. Personalize your textures using Substance Alchemist, or pull from the robust library offered by Substance Source . Substance brings even more photorealism to spatial design surfaces such as building architecture, tables, furniture, and more.

a) If your scene includes 2D elements such as branding, place the graphics or logos onto the 3D models, either as decals or fills, and then adjust the layer’s material properties to get the look you want.

b) Combine all the elements to create a full scene to illustrate the design projected into space.

c) Change background images to show “environmental design” in different contexts. Choose a background image from the Starter Assets panel or Adobe Stock, or import your own. Use Match Image to automatically create realistic 3D lighting based on the background image, or adjust the Environment Light and Sunlight settings yourself. 

step

Sharing 3D and 2D outputs in Dimension.

a) Export and share scene templates you’ve created so that clients, stakeholders, and other team members can easily edit certain elements if needed. This makes it easy to update as needs change, such as updating signage with a redesigned brand logo.

b) Render traditional 2D images or publish 3D designs with 360-degree views (with bookmarked camera angles) via web links for stakeholders to review. You can also embed the 3D web viewer into your own portfolio site to showcase your work.

step

Visualize in augmented reality with Adobe Aero.

a) Get one step closer to reality by importing your assets into Aero to offer immersive experiences that can showcase products overlaid in the real world. The free Aero app gives viewers an engaging experience that lets them interact with your designs in a whole different way.

b) Share your AR experience via a download link, or take a photo or a video of your installation in space. It’s so easy to share it with a colleague or a client and get instant feedback.

Low-light shot of an interior living space beneath stairs.

Image by Vladimir Petkovic

Do more with Adobe Dimension.

See what's possible in 3D, from branding projects to packaging design .

You might also be interested in…

Cold brew coffee product shoot

Brand visualization in 3D & AR: The power of seeing your brand in context. Discover the tools in the Adobe 3D & AR ecosystem that help visualize any 3D design you can imagine.

3D rendering of digital flowers.

Creative Play in 3D & AR: Explore new styles or craft a masterpiece. The tools in the Adobe 3D & AR ecosystem have everything you need to let your imagination run wild and prepare for the next generation of design.

Ultra-modern fireplace in a cabin in the woods

Synthetic photography: Picture-perfect photos, no studio required. Learn how 3D technology is reshaping traditional commercial photoshoot creation with synthetic photography.

Vector art graphic of a cheetah in the moonlight.

What is vector art?

Learn more about creating art and illustration with this versatile file type.

Discover more on 3D & AR

Get Adobe Dimension

Create photorealistic 3D images for branding, product shots, and package design.

7 days free, then  US$34.49 /mo.

stickypromobar

Try Dimension, free for 7 days, then  US$34.49 /mo.

Language Navigation

Factor3D

Blender 3.2 recibe superpoderes con el soporte de OpenVDB

nvidia-rtx-machinima-top-goose

«Top Goose»: un corto de NVIDIA hecho con RTX que te volará la cabeza

unity addressable interface

Unity Addressable assets. ¡Tienes que empezar a usarlos ya!

curso domestika escenas ciencia ficcion blender

Blender para ilustración de fantasía en 3D

como usar nanomesh en zbrush

ZBrush: ¿Qué es NanoMesh y cómo usarlo?

ashley adams zbrush

Ashley Adams, una PRO de Zbrush que debes conocer

Factor3D

Creating 3D environments in Blender

' src=

Blender version 2.81 or above

After four years, the creating 3D environments course, is now finally here for Blender 2.81. Thousands of students participated in the first version of this course and there were a lot of requests for a follow-up course. Prepare for a new chapter in the world of 3D environments!

The profession continues

For centuries, making environments has been something that many artists do to impress other people. Since the advent of computer graphics there is a new wave of designers studying this lovely profession. This course reveals some fundamental lessons from the old painting masters. Use the course to get the max out Blender and learn to create high quality 3D environments.

Starting from scratch

The complexity of many scenes is often holding people back from creating environmental scenes in 3D. Most designers drop-out halfway and are then facing their unfinished work because it takes a lot of time and work to create scenes with architecture and nature. I faced this many times, but because I was so inspired by medieval architecture, I took the time to learn how to create 3D environments in a way in which I could express myself. During this process I struggled hard and made many unnecessary choices that slowed down my progression. The power of this Blender course is that it shows you exactly what you need to design 3D environments and which details you might want to avoid or postpone in order to make the most out of your own progression.

The road to perfection

We all want to create beautiful scenes, but making these scenes can be a big challenge. This course is not only a technical education, it also covers topics like focus, inspiration and organization. I believe that a well-organized focused designer, with the right inspiration, will be able to make every 3D dream come to life. This course is well documented and guides you through the process of creating 3D scenes in Blender 2.81.

From ruin to castle

This course will guide you through the new Blender 2.81 interface. Together we make our first steps in Blender. Slowly we start building objects and after one chapter you will be able to make a small dice scene. This warming-up is needed to get used to the workflow and make you comfortable with Blender and the things that will come. Shortly after that, we will jump into the node editor. We will start mixing textures, just like the old painting masters, to get decent looking results.

We will apply the material on a ruin and build the first environment scene. Then we will start building a farmhouse in a medieval style. We will use the workbench for modeling, Eevee for the texture work and Cycles to render the scenes to get the max out of it. After finishing the farmhouse, we merge the building with a nature environment. We will create the trees with the sapling add-on, so you will not need any external plugins. There is a full chapter about creating nature assets and in the final castle scene we will merge everything together to make a wonderful environmental scene. All content and textures come from Texture/HDRI Haven and are included in the course.

My name is Rob Tuytel and I have been a environment designer for the past 13 years. I have a huge passion for the Dutch 17th century and mainly focus on medieval architecture, I run the platform Texture Haven together with Greg Zahl who also runs HDRI Haven, I recently completed my latest project Batavia 1627, a Realtime VR project for a Dutch museum. I love to study old environment paintings and use these as an inspiration for my work. You might know me from the Tears of Steel open Blender movie or from my previous environment course for Blender 2.79

This course is meant for artists who like to grow in their workflow Beginners Environment artists Game level artists

Los alumnos que compraron este curso también vieron estos

curso de blender

Curso de Blender | PACK 10 CURSOS desde cero a avanzado

curso animacion 3d personajes blender

Aprende a usar Blender en español para animaciones

escultura digital con blender

Escultura digital con Blender 2.9

Añadir comentario, cancelar respuesta.

Correo electrónico *

Guarda mi nombre, correo electrónico y web en este navegador para la próxima vez que comente.

Relacionados

modelar assets en blender

Experto en Modelado de Assets 3D HARD SURFACE y Blender 2.8

curso domestika modelado escenarios blender

Creacion de environments en Blender – crea una escena sci-fi

uv mapping en blender

Blender 2.8 EXPERTO en UV Mapping de Assets para Videojuegos

  • Top products
  • BIM Collaborate Pro
  • Fusion extensions
  • View all products
  • View Mobile Apps
  • Collections
  • Architecture, Engineering & Construction
  • Product Design & Manufacturing
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Buying with Autodesk
  • Pay as you go with Flex
  • Special offers
  • Industry solutions
  • Educational access
  • Product support
  • System requirements
  • Download your software
  • File viewers
  • Students and educators
  • Installation
  • Account management support
  • Educational support
  • Partner Finder
  • Autodesk consulting
  • Contact support
  • Certification
  • Autodesk University
  • Conferences and events
  • Success planning
  • Autodesk Community
  • Developer Network
  • Autodesk Customer Value
  • Deutschland
  • ASEAN (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Europe (English)
  • Hong Kong (English)
  • India (English)
  • Latinoamérica
  • Magyarország
  • Middle East (English)
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore (English)
  • South Africa (English)
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Besuchen Sie die für Österreich, Deutschland, Schweiz relevante Site
  • Stay on our United States site

architecture engineering and construction collection logo

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D

product design manufacturing collection logo

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD

media and entertainment collection logo

Entertainment content creation tools, including 3ds Max and Maya

Forms Maintenance: Feb 22-23. Thanks for your patience.

3d environment modeling software

Create high-quality 3D environments with full artistic control using 3ds Max’s rich and flexible toolset. 

Image courtesy of Rashed Abdullah  

What is 3D environment modeling?

Image courtesy of Yosr El Hadidy  

What is 3D environment modeling?

3D environment modeling is the generation of realistic environments for games, film, architectural renderings, and advertising using specialized computer software.   

3D environment modeling with 3ds Max

Image courtesy of Bartosz Domiczek  

Best-in-class 3D environment modeling with 3ds Max

3ds Max’s advanced tools and unique features allow for efficient creation of large-scale 3D environments, and includes powerful animation, simulation, and rendering capacity for artists who work with complex, high-resolution assets.

Media & Entertainment Collection for 3D environment modeling

Image courtesy of Darko Mitev   

Using the Media & Entertainment Collection for 3D environment modeling

The Media & Entertainment Collection includes everything you need to create advanced 3D environments – from 3ds Max for shaping 3D objects and scenes to Maya and Mudbox for sculpting, texturing and refining the look of models. 

Creating an immersive 3D environment

Image courtesy of Andrey Plaksin

Creating an immersive 3D environment

See how an Egyptologist used 3ds Max to create a realistic 3D reconstruction of Queen Nefertari's tomb. 

Benefits of 3D environment modeling software

Create stunning and detailed environments for games, film and TV, and design visualization using extensive and powerful 3D modeling software included the Media & Entertainment Collection.

MASTER DETAILED ENVIRONMENTS

Master detailed environments

The Media & Entertainment Collection includes powerful 3D modeling and sculpting tools optimized to help you work faster and more efficiency without sacrificing creativity.

Image courtesy of Prasanth Chundakkattil

ALL-IN-ONE 3D MODELING TOOLS

All-in-one 3D modeling tools

Build expansive environments and detailed 3D objects with 3ds Max’s extensive modeling toolset.

Image courtesy of Alt Shift

INTRICATE DETAILS

Intricate details

Use robust 3D tools in Maya and Mudbox to sculpt, texture and, refine the look of your models.

Image courtesy of Darko Mitev

RENDER QUICKLY

Render quickly

See high-quality previews and iterate changes quickly with Arnold’s artist-friendly UI and intuitive controls.

Image courtesy of Miłosz Cieślikowski-Ryczko  

Media & Entertainment Collection

Image courtesy of Rashed Abdullah

Media & Entertainment Collection

Get all the tools you need to bring breathtaking environments to life for film, TV, games, and design visualization.  

Use 3ds Max, Maya and Mudbox to build intricate worlds and detailed environments

3ds Max

3D modeling, animation, and rendering software for games and design visualization

Maya

3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software for film, games, and TV

Mudbox

Digital painting and sculpting software

3D environment modeling resources

Swiss army knife of 3d artists.

Learn how 3ds Max helped define a game development career and gave new life to the video game Black Mesa. 

3D workflow functionality

Explore how Arnold, Maya, and Mudbox were used to create a stunning 3D film noir scene. 

3D environment modeling frequently asked questions

How is rendering handled for 3d environments using the media & entertainment collection.

Autodesk’s Media & Entertainment Collection provides all the tools you need to make rendering fast and easy. View scene changes in real time, including lighting, materials, and camera. See your scene in a near-final rendering quality as you’re working. Plus, seamlessly and consistently change materials, lights, cameras, and renderers from one to another. 

How can the Media & Entertainment Collection improve productivity for 3D environment artists?

Robust toolsets included in the Media & Entertainment Collection deliver tight pipeline integration, allowing you to stay connected to teams and track massive quantities of content all on a single, intuitive platform. 

Are there any 3D environment templates, textures, or other assets included in the Media & Entertainment Collection?

The software included in the Media & Entertainment Collection includes an extensive library of 3D environment templates and textures. 

What third-party software or file types are compatible with the 3D environment modeling tools in the Media & Entertainment Collection?

The Media & Entertainment Collection supports a wealth of formats for scene import and export, texture import, and bitmap export formats. Other formats are supported through external plug-in models.  

Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal  |  © 2024 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved

The Gnomon Workshop

  • By Category
  • By Instructor
  • Digital Production
  • Entertainment Design
  • 3D Printing
  • Character Animation
  • Character Rigging
  • Cinematography
  • Compositing
  • Creature Animation
  • Digital Sculpting
  • Digital Sets
  • Effects Animation
  • Game Engines
  • Lighting & Rendering
  • Look Development
  • Matchmoving
  • Matte Painting
  • Motion Capture
  • Photogrammetry
  • Texturing & Shading
  • Visual Effects
  • Character Design
  • Color Theory
  • Comic Book Art
  • Creature Design
  • Environment Design
  • Perspective
  • Prop Design
  • Storyboarding
  • Vehicle Design
  • After Effects
  • Agisoft Metashape
  • Clip Studio Paint
  • Corel Painter
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Gravity Sketch
  • headus UVLayout
  • Marmoset Toolbag
  • Marvelous Designer
  • Octane Render
  • Oculus Medium
  • Quixel Bridge
  • Quixel Megascans
  • Quixel Mixer
  • Reality Capture
  • SketchBook Pro
  • StoryboardPro
  • Substance Designer
  • Substance Painter
  • World Creator
  • World Machine
  • Gino Acevedo
  • Sarah Arduini
  • Peter Aversten
  • Shahin Badiei
  • Bhavika Bajpai
  • Christopher Barischoff
  • Wayne Barlowe
  • Danny Barnhart
  • Aritz Basauri
  • Harald Belker
  • Joe Benitez
  • Eddie Bennun
  • Ehsan Bigloo
  • Jean-Michel Bihorel
  • Brent Le Blanc
  • Pascal Blanché
  • Kevin Bolivar
  • Jose Borges
  • Jack Bosson
  • Robby Branham
  • Toni Bratincevic
  • Rodrigo Brea
  • Crystal Bretz
  • Shiflett Brothers
  • Bill Buckley
  • Vitaly Bulgarov
  • Dominique Buttiens
  • Luis Cadavid
  • Alessandro Cangelosi
  • Jessica Canter
  • Antonio Cappiello
  • Ciro Cardoso
  • Erik A. Castillo
  • Robert Chapman
  • Charles Chorein
  • James Clyne
  • April Connors
  • Alexander Corll
  • Carol Cornils
  • Francesco Corvino
  • Arturo Coso
  • John William Crossland
  • Stephen Cunnane
  • Cameron Scott Davis
  • Kurtis Dawe
  • Gina DeDomenico
  • Stephen Delalla
  • Scott Denton
  • Christophe Desse
  • Hossein Diba
  • Dave Dorman
  • Olivier Dubard
  • Krystal Sae Eua
  • Kristin Farrensteiner
  • Brad Faucheux
  • David Finch
  • Steve Firchow
  • Jesse Flores
  • Johnny Fraser-Allen
  • Hamish Frater
  • Wendy Froud
  • Marc Gabbana
  • Victor Javier Garza
  • Philippe Gaulier
  • Reza Ghobadinic
  • Rafael Grassetti
  • Jeremy Griffith
  • Francesco Guarini
  • Jason Michael Hall
  • Mike Harris
  • Alasgar Hasanov
  • Jonas Hassibi
  • Josh Herman
  • Carlos Huante
  • Sebastien Hue
  • Andre-Lang Huynh
  • Sefki Ibrahim
  • Alexander Jaeger
  • Ibraheem Jara
  • Jama Jurabaev
  • Eric Keller
  • Ara Kermanikian
  • Richard Keyes
  • Taeyoung Kim
  • Chris Kirshbaum
  • Santhosh Koneru
  • David Krentz
  • Sang Jun Lee
  • Perry Leijten
  • James Lewis-Vines
  • Aaron Limonick
  • Simon Littlejohn
  • Erika Lochs
  • Giovani Magana
  • Eric Mancha
  • Gavin Manners
  • Jerad S. Marantz
  • Pawel Margacz
  • Sean Marino
  • Miguel Martinez
  • Jannis Mayr
  • Iain McCaig
  • Ted Mebratu
  • Ryan Meinerding
  • In-Ah Mellor
  • Dylan Mellott

James A.J. Miller

  • Nick Miller
  • Rembert Montald
  • Pablo Munoz
  • Choi Gil Nam
  • Victor Navone
  • Luca Nemolato
  • Tomasz Opasinski
  • Francesco Orru
  • Miguel Ortega
  • Timucin Ozger
  • Paul Ozzimo
  • Neville Page
  • Adrien Paguet-Brunella
  • Joe Peterson
  • Wojtek Piwowarczyk
  • Stephen Platt
  • Aleksey Pollack
  • Ali Pournassari
  • Patrick Przybyla
  • Dominic Qwek
  • Pascal Raimbault
  • Guilherme Rambelli
  • Nikolai Razuev
  • Brian Recktenwald
  • Nick Reynolds
  • Scott Robertson
  • Rafael Sarmento
  • Matthew Savage
  • James Schauf
  • Jordu Schell
  • Yohann Schepacz
  • Jana Schirmer
  • Elaina Scott
  • Madeleine Scott-Spencer
  • Miguel Perez Senent
  • Derrick Sesson
  • Rasha Shalaby
  • Madhav Shyam
  • David Silberbauer
  • Charleston Silverman
  • Stavros Sofianos
  • Jordan Soler
  • Vladimir Somov
  • Glen Southern
  • Adam Spring
  • Igor Staritsin
  • Asim A. Steckel
  • Nate Stephens
  • Phil Stoltz
  • Kat Tamburello
  • J.P. Targete
  • Furio Tedeschi
  • Martin Teichmann
  • Mike Thompson
  • Erik Tiemens
  • Bruno Tornisielo
  • Hector Abraham Torres
  • Kat Unsworth
  • Colin Valek
  • Adrien Vallecilla
  • Frederick Vallee
  • Marshall Vandruff
  • Peyton Varney
  • Kelly Vawter
  • Maarten Verhoeven
  • Jeremy Vickery
  • Daniel Weiss
  • Terryl Whitlatch
  • Taylor Whitsett
  • Keagan Williams
  • Brandon Yates
  • Daniel Zeni
  • Peter Zoppi

Efficient Techniques for Building 3D Environments

Tips for nuke, clarisse, houdini, speedtree, maya & more with james a.j. miller, description.

Learn a variety of efficient industry-proven techniques for creating a range of 3D environment styles in this 3-hour workshop by James A.J. Miller, Environment Artist at DreamWorks Animation.

The workshop begins with a demonstration of a large 3D city environment in a desert setting. This type of scene offers a great opportunity for James to cover the importance of Triplanar materials, take a look at Houdini's Terrain tools, look at modeling to shot requirements, as well as scattering in Clarisse. This then sets things up perfectly to lead into AOVs in Nuke, where James dives into an explanation about what they are, and how artists can use them to their advantage. He demonstrates how to install Gizmos as well as his best practices for when to use AOVs in Nuke before returning back to a shot and finishing off a composite.

The proceeding section takes a break from shot work to introduce the topic of photogrammetry in 3D environment building, and how to use it effectively. This demonstration walks through an environment scan using Agisoft Metashape.

Up next, James opens up SpeedTree to walk through his “Mothertree” shot, which makes use of the new SpeedTree for Clarisse plug-in. He additionally animates atmosphere using Houdini, which can be taken back into the scene in Clarisse for added impact and realism. 

Moving on, the workshop details some of James’s top tips, tricks, and shortcuts that he uses regularly in production to speed up the modeling and texturing, particularly for city environments, with the end goal being to build a scene that utilizes all of the assets with textures applied in Clarisse. This project is then used as a launching point for James’s final shot: “The Squatter Village.” 

This workshop offers a great opportunity to learn how to create AOVs and even write your own, using Light Path Expressions. The closing chapter looks at how to deal with heavy renders, as well as how to use different projection techniques to help avoid rendering more than you need to in 3D. 

Project files are included with this workshop.

Duration: 3h 06m

Format: HD 1920x1080

Chapter List

  • 01. Desert City: The 3D Side
  • 02. AOVs: A Closer Look at Using Them in 2D
  • 03. Desert City: The 2D Side
  • 04. Photogrammetry
  • 05. The Mother Tree: A Look at SpeedTree & Building Atmosphere in Houdini
  • 06. Modeling from Projections, Texture Optimizations & Building Materials
  • 07. AOVs: A Closer Look at Creating Them in 3D
  • 08. The Squatter Village: Using Projection Setups
  • compositing
  • digital sets
  • effects animation
  • environment design
  • lighting & rendering
  • look development
  • texturing & shading
  • visual effects

Software Used

environment 3d project

IMAGE GALLERY

Efficient Techniques for Building 3D Environments

  • Personal Website

Environment Artist, Dreamworks Animation

James Miller has been working in digital media since 2002 and has been building environments for franchises such as Star Wars , the Marvel Cinematic Universe , Fast and Furious , and How to Train Your Dragon since 2012. During this time, he has worked for ILM, DreamWorks, and Double Negative as a Generalist, and he continues to thrive off of finding new and exciting techniques to add to the proverbial bag of tricks.   His environments vary wildly from photoreal to fantasy — yet are always iconic, ranging from dark and sinister to surreal. He has a passion for teaching and finds sharing his tricks and techniques with others almost as exciting as discovering them in the first place. You can also find first-hand techniques from some of the shots he's created for Hollywood productions on   his YouTube channel , and   find him on ArtStation .

James is an artist of the highest grade and a consummate teacher. He is always pushing the edge of what's possible in 3D artistry with today's tools. Having worked on some of the biggest blockbusters in the film industry, James has a wide range of knowledge that he brings to his classes. His biggest asset when it comes to teaching is his patience; the willingness to walk someone through the process at their own pace.

- Chris Grun Head of Environments at DreamWorks Animation

Related titles.

Designing a Custom Kitbash Library

  • Privacy Policies
  • Terms of Use
  • Instructors
  • Testimonials
  • Subscription
  • Team Licenses

Gnomon School

10 ways to build better 3D world environments

Experts share the techniques they use to build beautiful 3D worlds.

A fantasy building o the edge of an enchanted forest [Image: Albert Valls Punsich]

If you want to stay on top of your game as a 3D artist, it's important that you brush up on your skills every now and then. This includes building world environments, an area which has its own criteria to keep in mind.

To help you build better world environments, we caught up with CG environment modeller Albert Valls Punsich and senior generalist at Industrial Light & Magic, Damient Penoit . Together, their expertise will help you create believable worlds packed with character and style.

And if their tips whet your appetite for more 3D inspiration, why not head on over to our round up of the most stunning 3D art .

01. Gather references and research

There is no other way to start working on a CG environment. If we skip this step or we try to make it quicker, we will pay for it later in production time by being slower, vaguer and much less focused. Take your time to create a full research library for the project, and the early effort will make all the difference.

02. Consider image composition

Make the image tell the story. Create an illustrative sketch or photo-bashing using all the cinematographic techniques that you have within reach. Work on the silhouette, depth of field, lines of action, camera shot, colours and base lighting. By taking this approach, we make the viewer's eye land where we want it to.

03. Perfect the art of blocking

This is the most important step of the production process. Create primitive models to adjust the proportion and shape of the assets in our scenes. Watch out! It’s a common mistake to start working on final assets before completing this, and then having to redo it later. Make sure you have perfect blocking.

04. Maintain a balance

Keep the modelling, texturing and shading at the same style and level of detail for all the assets of your scene. Always use a hero asset to define these values at the beginning of production, and use it as a guide throughout the process.

05. Create a set dressing library

One of the biggest tricks is creating a set dressing library by producing a bunch of reusable assets to decorate and populate your scene, in order to add realism. Simply take your base models and apply small modelling and texture changes to create completely new and different ones to feed your library.

06. Use World Machine

When you're doing the layout of your future project, I strongly recommend using World Machine for open worlds. It’s the easiest way to create fantastic landscapes and bring them into your favourite 3D app. You can find lots of good tutorials on YouTube , and it's nodal, fast and already UV mapped!

07. Lay down quick lighting

I like to link my dome light rotation to the HDRI horizontal rotation for a quick lighting setup. It enables me to quickly change the direction of my lights and upgrade my scene atmosphere. Do it with the Wire Parameters in 3ds Max using the Animation, Wire Parameter dialog. Click Vraylight > Zrotation > SceneMaterials, then HDRI Horizontal Rotation and finally Connect.

08. Use Forest Pack in 3DS Max

If you're using 3ds Max, Forest Pack is your best friend. Create each pack, such as grass, cobble stones, rocks, trees and so on separately, and then copy and paste the ones where you want more density. Being able to tweak them independently will help you to bring much more variation to your scenes.

09. Use brush combos

When you're using ZBrush for environments, the Trim Smooth Border and Mallet Fast brushes are your best combo. Use with a square alpha and a sharp brush (set intensity to 100 and focal shift to -100) and they will enable you to create very nice rock shapes, destroyed walls or damaged ruins.

10. Convert for fast rendering

At the end of your scene assembly, when everything looks good, always convert as much as you can into VRayProxies. Your RAM will thank you for that, and you might be very surprised to see that you divided your render time by 1.5 or 2! But use it with caution, because you’re losing your stack history.

This article was originally published in issue 130 of 3D Artist. Buy issue 130 or subscribe to 3D Artist .

Related articles:

  • The best 3D modelling software 2019
  • These 3D portraits are unbelievably realistic
  • 20 Cinema 4D tutorials to up your 3D skills

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

Related articles

Pingle Studio Logo

  • Game porting
  • Co-development
  • Multiplayer Game Development
  • Unreal Engine game development
  • Unity game development
  • Game testing
  • art portfolio
  • Join the team
  • 3D Environment Design. Everything you need to know

3D Environment Design. Everything you need to know

  • Art and animation

environment 3d project

What Is 3D Environment Design?

Who are 3d environment artists, what are the types of 3d environments, how to create 3d environment art the stages of 3d environment design, conceptualization and design:, blockout and layout:, 3d environment modeling:, uv mapping and texturing:, material creation:, lighting and atmosphere:, testing and iteration:, finalization:, what software is needed for 3d environment design, the challenges of designing 3d environments, the bottom line, looking for game development assistance.

Message us and let's bring your game to life!

Why do the players of TES V: Skyrim and Dark Souls remember the atmosphere of these games for years but don’t really care too much about the game’s protagonist? Because these games have absolutely astonishing game worlds. The world of the game is often what players remember the most, and also it’s something that brings players back to the game, which helps to expand the game’s lifespan.

To build an attractive and atmospheric game world, the developers should be really good at all the aspects of game environment design. In this article, we will cover the general principles of 3D environment design in video games, and what specialists could help developers in this area.

In our industry, 3D environment design is the art and science of crafting immersive, interactive worlds that serve as the backdrop for gaming experiences. This discipline involves creating digital landscapes, interiors, and exteriors that captivate players and seamlessly integrate with the game’s narrative and mechanics. It’s a holistic process that combines artistic vision, technical prowess, and an understanding of player psychology.

3D environment design is the invisible hand that guides players through a game’s world, emotions, and narrative. Enhancing immersion, emotional engagement, and gameplay integration can make a good game great. When executed on a decent level, environment design transforms games into remarkable experiences, leaving players eagerly awaiting their next journey into virtual worlds. This multifaceted discipline combines artistic creativity with technical expertise to construct immersive, visually compelling, and interactive game environments.

So, what kind of professional do you need for your game to have a proper 3D environment design? Obviously, 3D environment artist! 3D Environment Artists are architects and engineers behind the world of your game. They are the visionary artists who bring virtual landscapes and settings to your game’s world.

If you are considering empowering your project with 3D environment artists, here’s a list of their skills we recommend taking a look at:

  • 3D Modeling and Sculpting: Proficiency in 3D modeling tools like Blender, Maya, or ZBrush is fundamental (we will cover the required software further). Artists should excel at creating intricate, lifelike, and stylized objects and terrains and sculpting organic and hard-surface assets.
  • Texture and Material Creation : Skill in creating high-quality textures and materials is crucial for visual appeal. Artists must understand PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows to correctly create materials that react to light.
  • Understanding of Lighting and Shading : Lightning has become increasingly important with graphics technology advancements. Artists should understand how to create lighting setups and be familiar with shader systems.
  • Environmental Storytelling : Good environment art can tell stories through their designs. 3D environment artists must be able to convey a sense of history, mood, and narrative through the placement of objects, environmental details, and overall composition. This is a part of the game development pipeline where 3D environment artists work closely with game designers.
  • Optimization and Performanc e: Optimization is crucial in the era of demanding hardware. Artists must create visually stunning environments running smoothly on various platforms, balancing visual fidelity with performance considerations.
  • Knowledge of Game Engines : An artist must be proficient enough in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine to understand how to integrate assets, work with level editors, and troubleshoot technical issues.
  • Collaboration and Communication : Effective communication and collaboration with other team members, such as level designers and concept artists, are essential. Artists must be adaptable and open to feedback.
  • Staying Current : The gaming industry is evolving rapidly. To remain relevant, 3D environment artists should keep up with the latest tools, techniques, and industry trends. Continuous learning is vital.

3D environments come in various forms, each contributing distinctively to the player’s experience. These environments serve as the canvas upon which the game’s narrative unfolds, and they can significantly impact gameplay, mood, and immersion. Here are some general types of 3D environments commonly found in games:

Natural Landscapes : Natural environments include lush forests, serene meadows, arid deserts, and towering mountains. These environments can affect gameplay by offering challenges like navigating rough terrain or encountering wildlife.

3d environment design castle

Urban Environments : Urban settings include sprawling cities, futuristic metropolises, and quaint villages. They are the bustling hubs where players interact with NPCs, uncover secrets, and engage in quests. Urban environments impact gameplay by offering diverse opportunities for exploration, parkour, and dynamic encounters.

3d environment design example urban

Interior Spaces : Interior environments range from spooky haunted houses to futuristic space stations. These spaces add depth to the game’s world and often serve as key locations for story progression. Interior spaces can influence gameplay by creating puzzles, providing cover in combat, or introducing environmental hazards.

3d environment design example room

Fantasy Realms : Fantasy environments introduce players to magical realms, from enchanting fairy forests to mystical temples. These settings allow for creative storytelling and offer opportunities for epic battles and encounters with mythical creatures.

3d environment design example fantasy

Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Worlds : These environments present bleak, ruined landscapes, often filled with danger and despair. They set a somber mood and impact gameplay by emphasizing survival, resource management, and decision-making.

3d envoronment design example apocalypse

Sci-Fi Settings : Futuristic space stations, alien planets, and high-tech laboratories fall under this category. Sci-fi environments introduce cutting-edge technology and advanced weaponry, influencing gameplay with futuristic mechanics and challenges.

3d environment design example space

Creating captivating 3D environment art for games is a multi-step process that requires a combination of artistic vision, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of how narrative and mechanics should work in this particular game. Here are the key stages in creating 3D environment art:

  • Reference Gathering: Artists collect references, including photographs, paintings, and real-world locations, to inform their design and ensure authenticity.
  • Concept Art: The process often begins with concept art, where artists visualize the environment’s look, feel, and key elements. These initial sketches serve as a foundation for the 3D design.
  • Blockout: This stage involves creating a rough, simplified version of the 3D environment using basic shapes and geometry. It allows artists to establish scale, layout, and gameplay considerations.
  • Layout Planning: Artists determine the placement of key assets, landmarks, and points of interest within the environment. They also consider player flow and level design at this stage.
  • Low-Poly Modeling: To optimize performance, high-poly models are simplified into low-poly versions suitable for real-time rendering. Artists must maintain visual fidelity while reducing polygon count.
  • High-Poly Modeling: Artists create detailed 3D models of the environment’s assets, including terrain, structures, objects, and vegetation. These models aim for realism and detail.
  • UV Mapping: UV maps are created to unwrap the 3D models, allowing 2D textures to be applied accurately. Proper UV mapping is crucial for texture quality.
  • Texturing: Artists apply textures to 3D models, including diffuse, normal, specular, and other maps. Textures bring life and detail to the environment.
  • Shader Development: Artists create shaders to define how materials react to lighting and other environmental factors. Shaders play a significant role in achieving realistic visuals.
  • Lighting Setup: Artists design the lighting environment, including natural and artificial sources. They carefully consider how light interacts with materials to create realistic and dynamic scenes.
  • Atmosphere and Effects: Environmental effects like fog, particles, and post-processing effects are added to enhance the atmosphere and mood.
  • 3D Environment Artists test the environment in the game engine to ensure it performs well and aligns with the intended player experience. Iterations are made to address issues and enhance the environment’s quality.
  • Once satisfied with the result, artists finalize the environment, ensuring all assets are properly placed, optimized, and integrated into the game.

Creating 3D environment art is a collaborative process that involves close communication with other team members, including level designers, writers, and animators, to ensure a cohesive and engaging gaming experience.

Creating 3D environment art for games requires a suite of specialized software tools catering to different design process aspects. Here’s a list of essential software used by environment artists, along with how each tool is utilized:

Modeling and Sculpting: Blender is a versatile open-source software that environment artists use for 3D modeling and sculpting. Creating 3D environments in Blender is a great idea for a wide range of assets, from terrain to intricate objects.

Autodesk Maya:

Animation and Rigging: While primarily known for animation, Maya is also valuable for environment artists. They use it for rigging and animating environmental assets, such as moving vegetation or dynamic objects.

High-Poly Modeling: ZBrush excels in high-poly modeling and sculpting. Environment artists rely on it to create intricate, detailed assets like character models, statues, or terrain details.

Game Engine: Unity is a popular game engine for real-time rendering and development. Environment artists import their 3D assets into Unity, where they set up scenes, apply materials, and create interactive environments.

Unreal Engine:

Game Engine: Similar to Unity, Unreal Engine is another widely used game engine. Environment artists utilize it to build, light, and optimize game environments, using its advanced rendering capabilities.

Autodesk 3ds Max:

Modeling and Visualization: 3ds Max is a powerful 3D modeling and visualization tool. It’s used by environment artists for architectural modeling, interior design, and creating complex objects or structures.

Substance Designer :

Texture Creation: Substance Designer is a dedicated software for procedural texture creation. Environment artists use it to design and edit textures for 3D models, ensuring high-quality, realistic surfaces.

Substance Painter:

Texture Painting: Substance Painter is another tool for texture creation, focusing on texturing 3D models with precision. Artists use it for detailing and adding intricate textures to game assets.

World Machine:

Terrain Generation: World Machine specializes in generating realistic terrains. Environment artists employ it to craft diverse and natural landscapes with realistic erosion and terrain features.

Procedural Generation: Houdini is renowned for its procedural capabilities. Environment artists use it to generate complex, dynamic environments and effects, such as terrain deformation and destruction.

Vegetation Creation: SpeedTree is used for creating realistic trees and vegetation. Environment artists design custom foliage for their game environments, enhancing realism and variety.

Texture Editing: Photoshop is indispensable for texture editing and compositing. Artists refine and enhance textures, create normal maps, and design texture variations.

Marmoset Toolbag:

Real-Time Rendering: Marmoset Toolbag is a real-time rendering and presentation tool. Artists use it to showcase their 3D environments in high-quality, real-time renders for portfolio or feedback purposes.

Environment artists often use a combination of these software tools, depending on their specific project requirements and personal preferences. Familiarity with multiple tools allows 3D Environment Artists to create environments that are not only visually attractive but also seamlessly integrated into the gaming experience.

Designing 3D environments for games is a rewarding but complex endeavor with its own challenges. For example:

  • Performance Optimization : Balancing visual fidelity with performance is a constant challenge. High-quality 3D environments can be resource-intensive, and artists must optimize assets, textures, and shaders to ensure the game runs smoothly on various platforms.
  • Consistency : Maintaining visual consistency across an entire game world can be difficult, especially when multiple artists work on different assets. Ensuring that the art style, lighting, and textures remain cohesive is essential for immersion.
  • Asset Creation : Creating detailed 3D models and textures for a vast environment is time-consuming. Artists must manage their time effectively and prioritize assets to meet project deadlines.
  • Realism vs. Artistry : Striking the right balance between realism and artistic expression is challenging. While realism can enhance immersion, too much realism may limit creative freedom. Artists must make decisions that align with the game’s vision.
  • Scale and Proportion : Properly conveying the scale of an environment can be tricky. Designing spaces that feel vast or intimate, as required by the game’s narrative, is important but challenging to achieve.
  • Storytelling Through Design : Environment artists often need to tell stories through their designs. Ensuring that environmental elements convey meaning and narrative without overwhelming the player can be delicate.
  • Technical Constraints : Staying up-to-date with the latest software, hardware, and rendering technologies is demanding. Artists must adapt to new tools and workflows to remain competitive.
  • Interactivity : Designing environments that respond to player actions and fit within the game’s mechanics can be complex. Artists need to consider how the environment will impact gameplay and player engagement.
  • User Interface Integration : Ensuring that the 3D environment seamlessly integrates with the game’s UI can be challenging. Elements like HUDs, menus, and interactive elements must be designed to complement the environment.
  • Environmental Effects : Implementing dynamic environmental effects like weather, day-night cycles, and destruction can be technically demanding. Artists need to ensure these effects enhance gameplay without causing performance issues.
  • Narrative Alignment : Ensuring that the environment aligns with the game’s narrative and world-building is critical. Artists must constantly reference the game’s lore and storyboards to maintain consistency.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility : Games are often developed for multiple platforms with varying hardware capabilities. Artists must account for these differences and create environments that perform well on all platforms.

Navigating the 3D environment design challenges requires a blend of artistic expertise, technical acumen, and adaptability. Successful environment artists are adept at finding creative solutions while maintaining a strong commitment to the game’s vision. Overcoming these obstacles results in immersive and visually stunning game worlds that leave a lasting impact on players. Drop us a line if you need any kind of assistance with the 3D environment art for your game

have a project to discuss?

How to breathe life into your game characters using Vertex Animation Technology: interview with the Head of Tech Art Department

How to breathe life into your game characters using Vertex Animation Technology: interview with the Head of Tech Art Department

3ds max vs. Maya. What to Choose for Game Modelling?

3ds max vs. Maya. What to Choose for Game Modelling?

Blender vs Maya. A perfect tool for game art creation

Blender vs Maya. A perfect tool for game art creation

environment 3d project

The Public 3D Asset Library

environment 3d project

16k+ resolution, and always unclipped for one-click realistic lighting.

environment 3d project

Photoscanned seamless PBR materials, at least 8k resolution.

environment 3d project

Hyperreal 3D models, for visual effects and next-gen video games.

Not just free, but CC0 , meaning you can use them for absolutely any purpose without restrictions .

No paywalls or signup required, simply download what you want and use it immediately without worry.

High Quality

"Free" and "quality" don't always have to be mutually exclusive.

We don't want to pollute the web with more trash, so we focus on creating the best assets that you can actually use .

Our target is to create content that will not just hold up to today's standards, but higher future standards, and the potential of future hardware too.

Supported by you

Thanks to your donations, we can work sustainably on growing our library of assets and improving our standard of quality.

Newest Patrons:

Top patrons:.

environment 3d project

"In today's fast paced content creation environment, Poly Haven is a free library of quality content with no strings attached to get your project off the ground!" -Tudor Bodeanu, Sr. Tech/Product Artist at Unity

environment 3d project

"Any time I'm looking for an awesome HDRI, Material, or high quality model the first place I always look is on polyhaven.com. I've used it a ton for my Blender projects and it's definitely a site every VFX artist should know about!" -Fenner Rockliffe, VFX Supervisor at Corridor Digital

Poly Haven is a small company based in South Africa, working with artists around the world.

Our goal is to create a constantly growing community-funded resource of open content, for complete freedom and usability by professionals and hobbyists alike.

Previously we ran HDRI Haven , Texture Haven and 3D Model Haven as separate independent projects, but ultimately decided we could serve the community better by joining forces and creating a single new platform: Poly Haven .

If you like what we do and want to keep this site alive, consider supporting us on Patreon .

environment 3d project

Community Renders:

Join the community.

Poly Haven is your community project.

Everything we do, we do with your help, for the greater 3D community.

Thanks to our Patrons for making Poly Haven possible

  • Game Development
  • 2D Characters

The science of creating 3D environments

How 3d environments in video games are made, what is a 3d environment, who are 3d environment artists.

  • It must be in line with the game's lore;
  • Locations should be atmospheric and immersive;
  • The world must be interesting to explore.

The main task of 3D environment artists

Creating a 3d environment from scratch, what software is needed for 3d environment design, finals words.

  • Staff picks
  • Downloadable
  • Collections
  • Community members
  • Sketchfab Masters
  • Animals & Pets
  • Architecture
  • Art & Abstract
  • Cars & Vehicles
  • Characters & Creatures
  • Cultural Heritage & History
  • Electronics & Gadgets
  • Fashion & Style
  • Food & Drink
  • Furniture & Home
  • Nature & Plants
  • News & Politics
  • Places & Travel
  • Science & Technology
  • Sports & Fitness
  • Weapons & Military
  • Best selling
  • 3D Printable
  • For business Sketchfab for Teams Augmented Reality 3D Viewer 3D eCommerce 3D Configurators Find a Partner Pricing Customer Stories

Environment 3D models

Environment 3D models ready to view, buy, and download for free.

Popular Environment 3D models

Buy Environment 3D models

Search code, repositories, users, issues, pull requests...

Provide feedback.

We read every piece of feedback, and take your input very seriously.

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly.

To see all available qualifiers, see our documentation .

3d-environment

Here are 14 public repositories matching this topic..., allenai / holodeck.

Language Guided Generation of 3D Embodied AI Environments.

  • Updated Jan 4, 2024

mdn / canvas-raycaster

Using the <canvas> element to do software rendering of a 3D environment with ray-casting

  • Updated Sep 9, 2022

GuilhermeRossato / 3D-Redstone-Simulator

A web app to simulate redstone circuitry (boolean logic) in a minecraft-like 3D environment.

  • Updated Sep 6, 2023

SSubhnil / RacingCARLA

Learning Model Predictive Control (LMPC) for autonomous racing in CARLA 3D environment.

  • Updated May 25, 2021

AdarshRevankar / Desktop-Simulator

OpenGL project which consists of 3D Environment, to demonstrate assembly and disassembly of desktop parts

  • Updated Nov 27, 2022

jbakams / slimebot-volleyball

3D gym environments to train RL agents to play the Slime Volleyball game in 3 dimensions using Webots as simulator.

  • Updated Jul 28, 2023

rafaelcostafrf / autonomous_quadrotor_environment

Autonomous Quadrotor 3D environment, based on python.

  • Updated Jul 6, 2023

Priyansh-15 / 3-D-Image-Build-from-Multiple-Images

This Project Initially takes 3 Image Views as Input ( Front View , Side View , Top View ) and generates a 3D model corresponding to it .

  • Updated Nov 25, 2023

psambit9791 / Stereoimage-based-3D-Mapping

3D Environment Render from Stereo Images

  • Updated Jan 11, 2018

vrfest / unity-env

1st place at Draper U Hackathon 2019. Unity component.

  • Updated May 1, 2019

AhmedIssa11 / 3D-Game-and-Computer-Graphics

3D Game from scratch using computer graphics concepts

  • Updated Feb 13, 2022

davidmartinezros / the-new-web-concept

A project developed by David Martínez Ros that will be the new web concept.

  • Updated Jul 3, 2018

ForestKatsch / quest-environment-toolbox

Scripts to build custom home environments for Oculus Quest

  • Updated Feb 22, 2021

bettoalsur / ray-casting

Algorithm for detection of ray light collisions with objects and simulation of 3D environment from 2D environment (index programming)

  • Updated Jan 21, 2022

Improve this page

Add a description, image, and links to the 3d-environment topic page so that developers can more easily learn about it.

Curate this topic

Add this topic to your repo

To associate your repository with the 3d-environment topic, visit your repo's landing page and select "manage topics."

Explore models

  • Commercial 137
  • Historic 48
  • (other) 111
  • Facade element 8
  • Playground 18
  • Swimming pool 9
  • Urban Environment 125
  • Floor Covering 8
  • Molding / Carving 26
  • Structure 37
  • Stone Panel 1
  • Wood Panel 7
  • Full Body 26
  • Internal organ 4
  • Accessories 52
  • Footwear 43
  • Headwear 25
  • Man Clothing 7
  • Woman Clothing 11
  • Fantasy Hero/ Heroines 19
  • Monster / Creature 20
  • Bag / Suitcase 32
  • Bed sheet 1
  • Clock / Watch 74
  • Decoration Set 78
  • Fireplace 23
  • Beverage 151
  • Fruit / Vegetable 148
  • Kitchenware 173
  • Sweets / Dessert 78
  • Tableware set 124
  • Holiday Decoration 62
  • Picture 191
  • Sculpture 151
  • Miscellaneous 467
  • Motion design 2
  • Simulations 4
  • Technical 1
  • Container 127
  • Equipment 67
  • Machinery 23
  • Handtools 54
  • Powertools 14
  • Armchair 197
  • Accessories 83
  • Furniture Set 14
  • Toilet / Bidet 32
  • Towel rail 20
  • Wash Basin 33
  • Bookcase 36
  • Shelving 95
  • TV Cabinets 38
  • Bar Chair 80
  • Regular Chair 296
  • Dressing Table 11
  • Furniture Set 12
  • Miscellaneous 8
  • Kitchen Appliance 120
  • Kitchen Set 69
  • Ceiling Light 202
  • Floor Lamp 45
  • IES Light 11
  • Industrial Light 22
  • Outdoor Light 29
  • Table Lamp 109
  • Wall Light 74
  • Stationery 45
  • Outdoor Furniture 68
  • Restaurant / Bar 63
  • Chair-table Set 17
  • Sofa-table Set 2
  • Shopping / Retail 24
  • Sideboard / Drawers Chest 135
  • Wardrobe 69
  • Watercraft 8
  • Historic 131
  • Smoke / Fire 3
  • Wind Setup 1
  • Environment Elements 138
  • Lab Equipment 23
  • Medical Equipment 27
  • Microbiology 3
  • Miscellaneous 15
  • Pharmacy 15
  • Miscellaneous 25
  • Satellite 2
  • Spacecraft 23
  • Hobby Accessories 65
  • Miscellaneous 50
  • Accessories 16
  • Instruments 145
  • Audio Devices 121
  • Components / Hardware 97
  • Game Console 30
  • Keyboard 14
  • Peripheral 15
  • Celullar Phone 7
  • Corded Phone 3
  • Smartphone 26
  • Household Appliances 75
  • Miscellaneous 147
  • Photography 21
  • Robotics 73
  • Video devices 34
  • Accessories / Part 9
  • Helicopter 3
  • Private Jet 1
  • Historical 21
  • Luxury / Supercar 22
  • Standard 46
  • Ambulance 2
  • Industrial 10
  • Historical 4
  • Passenger 4
  • Small Electric Vehicles 1
  • Vehicle Parts 179
  • Accessories / Part 2
  • Hovercraft 1
  • Submarine 2

3D Urban Environment

Everything from an ancient Greek tower to a modern garbage can. Make 3D city design great again.

Highly detailed Blender 3D model featuring train warning lights with realistic textures and rail-track base.

Scan Train Warning Lights

Telephone booth-Freepoly.org

Telephone booth-Freepoly.org

Scan Fire Hydrant2

Scan Fire Hydrant2

Concrete Road Barrier

Concrete Road Barrier

Red Fire Hydrant (Photoscanned)

Red Fire Hydrant (Photoscanned)

Skate Ramp (Photoscanned)

Skate Ramp (Photoscanned)

Electrical Box (Photoscanned)

Electrical Box (Photoscanned)

Scan Rail

Fire Hydrant (Photoscanned)

Realistic 3D model of a detailed, weathered fire hydrant suitable for Blender cityscape rendering.

Scan Railway turnstile

Electric Box 02

Electric Box 02

Scan Abandoned iron box3

Scan Abandoned iron box3

Detailed 3D model of a textured old brick for Blender rendering, suitable for urban environment design.

Old brick 01

Detailed stone 3D model with texture, ideal for urban Blender scenes, ready for rendering.

Scan Railway Transformer 02

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Scan Manhole Cover 11

Scan Manhole Cover 11

Scan Roadblock

Scan Roadblock

Detailed 3D wooden railway sleeper model with realistic textures, ideal for Blender urban scene rendering.

Scan OLd Sleeper

Electrical Box (Photoscanned)

Subway Entrance

Scan Abandoned iron box

Scan Abandoned iron box

Brick Wall Old (Photoscanned)

Brick Wall Old (Photoscanned)

environment 3d project

Virtual reality for all creative minds

environment 3d project

               

About OpenSpace3D

Openspace3d is a free and open-source platform, designed to create virtual and augmented-reality applications or games. if you are a 3d artist, a designer, a lab researcher, or just someone with a lot of passion and curiosity, you don’t need software development skills to use our platform., download openspace3d, learn openspace3d, create augmented reality applications, for computer, tablets and mobiles, virtual reality easier than ever, create htc vive, oculus and google cardboard applications, full scene editor, import and place your 3d models from more than 40 supported file formats, visual programming – plugits system, create full applications by assembling functions without programming, 3d models library, openspace3d includes a full 3d models library for your projects, provided by the community, 3d models exporter, export all the assets with animations and shaders from your favorite modeler, native support of the main devices, leap motion, use your hands to control virtual and augmented reality applications.

www.leapmotion.com

HTC Vive / Oculus

Enter the virtual reality world and make your htc vive / oculus games and applications.

www.vive.com

Google Cardboard

Make virtual reality applications for mobile.

vr.google.com

Control your application with Myo armband

With this eye tracking system you can use the gaze position to control your application.

tobiigaming.com

Suggested Searches

  • Climate Change
  • Expedition 64
  • Mars perseverance
  • SpaceX Crew-2
  • International Space Station
  • View All Topics A-Z

Humans in Space

Earth & climate, the solar system, the universe, aeronautics, learning resources, news & events.

environment 3d project

Experience the Launch of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Mission  

A man sets up recording equipment and a solar panel in the California desert.

NASA Instruments Will Listen for Supersonic X-59’s Quiet ‘Thump’

Webb Finds Evidence for Neutron Star at Heart of Young Supernova Remnant

Webb Finds Evidence for Neutron Star at Heart of Young Supernova Remnant

  • Search All NASA Missions
  • A to Z List of Missions
  • Upcoming Launches and Landings
  • Spaceships and Rockets
  • Communicating with Missions
  • James Webb Space Telescope
  • Hubble Space Telescope
  • Why Go to Space
  • Commercial Space
  • Destinations
  • Living in Space
  • Explore Earth Science
  • Earth, Our Planet
  • Earth Science in Action
  • Earth Multimedia
  • Earth Science Researchers
  • Pluto & Dwarf Planets
  • Asteroids, Comets & Meteors
  • The Kuiper Belt
  • The Oort Cloud
  • Skywatching
  • The Search for Life in the Universe
  • Black Holes
  • The Big Bang
  • Dark Energy & Dark Matter
  • Earth Science
  • Planetary Science
  • Astrophysics & Space Science
  • The Sun & Heliophysics
  • Biological & Physical Sciences
  • Lunar Science
  • Citizen Science
  • Astromaterials
  • Aeronautics Research
  • Human Space Travel Research
  • Science in the Air
  • NASA Aircraft
  • Flight Innovation
  • Supersonic Flight
  • Air Traffic Solutions
  • Green Aviation Tech
  • Drones & You
  • Technology Transfer & Spinoffs
  • Space Travel Technology
  • Technology Living in Space
  • Manufacturing and Materials
  • Science Instruments
  • For Kids and Students
  • For Educators
  • For Colleges and Universities
  • For Professionals
  • Science for Everyone
  • Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, or Speakers
  • STEM Engagement at NASA
  • NASA's Impacts
  • Centers and Facilities
  • Directorates
  • Organizations
  • People of NASA
  • Internships
  • Our History
  • Doing Business with NASA
  • Get Involved
  • Aeronáutica
  • Ciencias Terrestres
  • Sistema Solar
  • All NASA News
  • Video Series on NASA+
  • Newsletters
  • Social Media
  • Media Resources
  • Upcoming Launches & Landings
  • Virtual Events
  • Sounds and Ringtones
  • Interactives
  • STEM Multimedia

Observatories

Observatories

All the major structures that will form the core stage for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for the agency’s Artemis III mission are structurally complete. Technicians finished welding the 51-foot liquid oxygen tank structure, left, inside the Vertical Assembly Building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans Jan. 8. The liquid hydrogen tank, right, completed internal cleaning Nov. 14.

Rocket Propellant Tanks for NASA’s Artemis III Mission Take Shape

environment 3d project

Teams Add Iconic NASA ‘Worm’ Logo to Artemis II Rocket, Spacecraft

ROSES-2024 Amendment 1: A.47 Earth Action: Wildland Fires Final Text and Due Dates.

ROSES-2024 Amendment 1: A.47 Earth Action: Wildland Fires Final Text and Due Dates.

Arctic Ocean

Meet NASA’s Twin Spacecraft Headed to the Ends of the Earth

What’s made in a thunderstorm and faster than lightning gamma rays.

Meet the Creators, Part 4: Two New 2024 Total Eclipse Posters

Meet the Creators, Part 4: Two New 2024 Total Eclipse Posters

Ride the Wave of Radio Astronomy During the Solar Eclipse  

Ride the Wave of Radio Astronomy During the Solar Eclipse  

NASA-Funded Science Projects Tuning In to ‘Eclipse Radio’

NASA-Funded Science Projects Tuning In to ‘Eclipse Radio’

Universe Stories

Universe Stories

Hubble Views an Active Star-Forming Galaxy

Hubble Views an Active Star-Forming Galaxy

Two images - Left, Diana Acosta holding her daughter in front of the cab of NASA's Vertical Motion Simulator. Right, Diana Acosta with her daughter inside the control deck of the Vertical Motion Simulator.

Math, Mentorship, Motherhood: Behind the Scenes with NASA Engineers

A black YF-12C aircraft with a white U.S. Air Force logo on the front section and an orange NASA logo on the tail flies above white clouds and a blue sky.

NASA Center Boosted YF-12 Supersonic Engine Research

Radioisotope Power Systems Resources

Radioisotope Power Systems Resources

Girl in a wheelchair with a laptop display on a mount

Seeing is Communicating

Photo of a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA).

How NASA Uses Simple Technology to Track Lunar Missions

Enhancing Engagement: Strategies for STEM Professionals to Encourage Youth to Consider STEM Careers

Enhancing Engagement: Strategies for STEM Professionals to Encourage Youth to Consider STEM Careers

Northern Maine Educators Prepare for Totality!

Northern Maine Educators Prepare for Totality!

environment 3d project

NASA Astronomer Sees Power in Community, Works to Build More

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio uses a tool in his right hand as he activates a space biology experiment that is studying how weightlessness affects genetic expression in microbes.

Ciencia destacada del año en el espacio del astronauta Frank Rubio

Frank Rubio, un hombre de pelo y ojos oscuros y con lentes, sonríe y tiene los brazos cruzados. Va vestido con un polo oscuro y pantalones khaki. Detrás suyo se ve la atmósfera de la Tierra a través de las ventanas de observación de la cúpula.

Misión récord de astronauta ayuda a planificar viajes al espacio profundo

monnikin

Pruebas de la NASA con maniquí de Artemis I aportan información para futuras misiones tripuladas

Martians wanted: nasa opens call for simulated yearlong mars mission.

The headshot image of Roxana Bardan

Roxana Bardan

Nasa headquarters, johnson space center.

environment 3d project

NASA is seeking applicants to participate in its next simulated one-year Mars surface mission to help inform the agency’s plans for human exploration of the Red Planet. The second of three planned ground-based missions called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) is scheduled to kick off in spring 2025.

Each CHAPEA mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat, called the Mars Dune Alpha, simulates the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental stressors. Crew tasks include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth.

NASA is looking for healthy, motivated U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are non-smokers, 30-55 years old, and proficient in English for effective communication between crewmates and mission control. Applicants should have a strong desire for unique, rewarding adventures and interest in contributing to NASA’s work to prepare for the first human journey to Mars.

The deadline for applicants is Tuesday, April 2.

https://chapea.nasa.gov/

Crew selection will follow additional standard NASA criteria for astronaut candidate applicants. A master’s degree in a STEM field such as engineering, mathematics, or biological, physical or computer science from an accredited institution with at least two years of professional STEM experience or a minimum of one thousand hours piloting an aircraft is required. Candidates who have completed two years of work toward a doctoral program in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, completed a medical degree, or a test pilot program will also be considered. With four years of professional experience, applicants who have completed military officer training or a bachelor of science degree in a STEM field may be considered.

Compensation for participating in the mission is available. More information will be provided during the candidate screening process.

As NASA works to establish a long-term presence for scientific discovery and exploration on the Moon through the Artemis campaign, CHAPEA missions provide important scientific data to validate systems and develop solutions for future missions to the Red Planet. With the first CHAPEA crew more than halfway through their yearlong mission, NASA is using research gained through the simulated missions to help inform crew health and performance support during Mars expeditions.

Under NASA’s  Artemis  campaign, the agency will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.

For more about CHAPEA, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/

Rachel Kraft Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 [email protected]

Anna Schneider/Laura Sorto Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 [email protected] /[email protected]

IMAGES

  1. save earth project 3d model

    environment 3d project

  2. Creating 3D Environment Art

    environment 3d project

  3. 3D nature environment

    environment 3d project

  4. Forest Environment

    environment 3d project

  5. ArtStation

    environment 3d project

  6. 3D Environment Design Company

    environment 3d project

VIDEO

  1. #architecturedesign #3delevation #3danimation

  2. Creating A 3D Photorealistic Landscape in 60 seconds

  3. Environment 3d UE5

  4. Let's do environment designing

  5. 3d Environment creative mind 2023 extended video

  6. How to Run a 3D Project Successfully From Start to Finish

COMMENTS

  1. Free Environment 3D Models

    Environment Free Reset filters Premium models All premium models Premium Lowpoly PBR $20.00 obj, fbx, unitypackage, prefab, mtl and more Premium $4.00 blend Premium Lowpoly $59.00 max, obj, fbx, gltf, glb and more Premium $2.99 obj, fbx, dae, blend, gltf and more Premium

  2. 3D Environment Design

    March 1, 2023 6:03 pm No Comments Welcome to the world of 3D environment design! As the backbone of modern video game development, the importance of skilled environment artists cannot be overstated. They are responsible for bringing game worlds to life and immersing players in stunning and believable environments.

  3. 3D Environment Projects :: Photos, videos, logos ...

    Paper Crowns. 516 6.2k. 3D art Low Poly / 3d illustration / Environment design. Ina Mad. 40 110. 3D Metaverse Environment. Timothy Harrington. 33 108.

  4. 3D environment design software

    Use Cases Showcase spatial concepts with 3D environmental design. Prototype and visualize spaces such as architectural interiors, signage, floor layouts, retail storefronts, and more. Credit: Kyle Jones. Created with Substance by Adobe, 3ds Max, and Corona Renderer. Go from 2D to 3D to the real world.

  5. How to create detailed 3D environments

    To use them, select your object and go to the Paint effects tab (Rendering mode for Maya 2015 or Modeling>Generate in Maya 2016) and click Make Paintable. When you're happy with the look of your stroke, go to Modify>convert>Paint effects to Polygons, check Quad Output and Apply. 05. Making UVS easier.

  6. The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to 3D Environment Art

    Only $49. Forever. ...more ...more Super excited to announce my new Blender & Unreal Engine course for beginners! Learn how to create your own beautiful worlds using Unreal Engine. Fluffy tree...

  7. Environment 3D Models Projects

    212 730. environment projects. Leo Proulx. 1 4. 1. Cartoonish House 3D Model. Harrymatics . 1 9. Aris's island/concept art/3d models.

  8. Blender tutorial: Creating realistic 3d environments

    This course will guide you through the new Blender 2.81 interface. Together we make our first steps in Blender. Slowly we start building objects and after one chapter you will be able to make a small dice scene. This warming-up is needed to get used to the workflow and make you comfortable with Blender and the things that will come.

  9. 3d Environment Modeling Workflow

    Best-in-class 3D environment modeling with 3ds Max. 3ds Max's advanced tools and unique features allow for efficient creation of large-scale 3D environments, and includes powerful animation, simulation, and rendering capacity for artists who work with complex, high-resolution assets.

  10. 3D Environment projects

    ᗩᑎᗪᖇIY ⚡ 3D character & Game design & 3d model & 3d animation & 3d modeler & 3d animator & 3d art & 3d artist. 32 149. Save. Alternate Reality challenge.

  11. 3D Environments

    3D Environments Transform your creative vision into reality with our premium 3D environment models. Discover a diverse range of options, from serene landscapes to bustling cityscapes, and elevate your projects to new heights. 819 Products Popular CHROMATICA - BLENDER HDRI TEXTURES by saintricchi in 3D $19 3d Forest Pack by LomellRueca in 3D $50

  12. Efficient Techniques for Building 3D Environments

    Learn a variety of efficient industry-proven techniques for creating a range of 3D environment styles in this 3-hour workshop by James A.J. Miller, Environment Artist at DreamWorks Animation. The workshop begins with a demonstration of a large 3D city environment in a desert setting. This type of scene offers a great opportunity for James to cover the importance of Triplanar materials, take a ...

  13. 10 ways to build better 3D world environments

    01. Gather references and research There is no other way to start working on a CG environment. If we skip this step or we try to make it quicker, we will pay for it later in production time by being slower, vaguer and much less focused.

  14. 3D Environment Design. Everything you need to know

    In our industry, 3D environment design is the art and science of crafting immersive, interactive worlds that serve as the backdrop for gaming experiences. This discipline involves creating digital landscapes, interiors, and exteriors that captivate players and seamlessly integrate with the game's narrative and mechanics.

  15. How To Create Beautiful Realistic Forest Environment

    - #blender #environment #realistic #tutorial #imduong2k6 In this video today I will teach you how to make a Beautiful Realistic Forest Environment using Ble...

  16. Poly Haven

    Poly Haven is a small company based in South Africa, working with artists around the world. Our goal is to create a constantly growing community-funded resource of open content, for complete freedom and usability by professionals and hobbyists alike. Previously we ran HDRI Haven, Texture Haven and 3D Model Haven as separate independent projects ...

  17. The science of creating 3D environments

    On massive complex projects, 3D environment artists usually work exclusively in their narrow niches, while in small studios, they must be proficient in multiple specializations. Apart from the scale of the project and team size, there is also another important thing to consider while assigning tasks to the 3D environment design team.

  18. Environment 3D models

    41 DAE Diorama - Rustborn 1.4k 6 80 Temple Environment 1.6k 0 69 Trellis 301 0 32 Samurai Arena Building 275 0 33 Clouds cartoon lowoly - Pack 02 1.4k 6 75 modern tower office apartment house home 833 1 45 Enchanted flowers (花朵) bloom 224 4 29 Warehouse Forklift Gameready 635 0

  19. 3d-environment · GitHub Topics · GitHub

    To associate your repository with the 3d-environment topic, visit your repo's landing page and select "manage topics." GitHub is where people build software. More than 100 million people use GitHub to discover, fork, and contribute to over 420 million projects.

  20. FREE 3D Urban Environment models

    3D Urban Environment Everything from an ancient Greek tower to a modern garbage can. Make 3D city design great again. 122 models. Free Plan Scan Train Warning Lights 10 Free Plan Telephone booth-Freepoly.org 9.3 Free Plan Scan Fire Hydrant2 10 Free Plan Red Fire Hydrant (Photoscanned) 10 ...

  21. OpenSpace3D

    OpenSpace3D is a free and open-source platform, designed to create virtual and augmented-reality applications or games. If you are a 3D artist, a designer, a lab researcher, or just someone with a lot of passion and curiosity, you don't need software development skills to use our platform. Learn more Download OpenSpace3D Download Learn OpenSpace3D

  22. Environmental Science Science Projects

    Science Fair Project Idea. There is strong interest in "going green," including using products that cause less environmental damage when they are disposed of. In this environmental sciences project, you will compare the toxicity of "green" and conventional liquid detergents using worms as test organisms. Read more.

  23. Environment

    41,583 results Explore a wide collection of Resources for 3D Game Environment design. Find various 3D Models of Buildings, Interior and Exterior elements, Nature objects. Assets are ready to use in Blender, ZBrush, Photoshop and in other Software. Trending Best Selling Special Offers Sale Top Rated Free Latest Hide products created with AI

  24. Martians Wanted: NASA Opens Call for Simulated Yearlong Mars Mission

    Each CHAPEA mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat, called the Mars Dune Alpha, simulates the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other ...