1 year after starting 3D (Patreon)

This is my feedback after a year since I transitioned to the "new" style and art creation process.

By starting, I mean starting to "create" things and also making a new method of producing visuals.
I was already manipulating 3D (but not creating) with Daz3D before CwG, doing Iray renders.

There are still objects that come from prefabs that I modified, like Emma's skirt, but I'm creating more and more from zero myself, like these high heels above, I used no models, just used imagination and basic sculpting tools in Blender.

As I was already doing stuff with 3D renders in Iray with Daz Studio for Harem Island, so at least I didn't have to learn Daz from zero.

So, what I learned is:

- Using Blender, specifically for my use

- Setting up a process to make visuals using all softwares I know. (Blender, Daz3D, Clip studio paint, Photoshop)

- Creating objects and clothing from zero with Blender, importing them into Daz, and making them a Daz object/clothing.

This includes creating UV maps... ERK!!

The first Image is an example, Today, I just created my first pair of High heels totally from zero, using Blender, then imported them into Daz, and converted them into high-heel shoes that fit any character. Now that I "know" how to sculpt and/or modify, I could change the style how I want, the only limit is my imagination!

I LOVE high heels O_o I will make more in the future, I can use the bottom part and change literally how I want, make high-heel boots, change the attachment style, etc...

- Creating easy fix and parameters for Daz3D:
For example I can export the model from Daz to Blender, make a modification, then import the modification into Daz as a Parameter that I could use again, as example creating a cleavage morph, making of morph on the boob when it's grabbed, etc...

Once you understand how to navigate between Blender modifications/creations and Parameter creation and manipulation in Daz, the possibilities are insane!
Daz is usually for manipulating premade things, now I use it to manipulate things I created myself :D

1) The visual results.

I know not everybody is a fan of the new visuals, I understand this is super subjective and depends on people's taste.

I just accept it and consider people who like it will continue to follow my projects.

I, personally, prefer it over my own drawing, which sounds impossible for some people.
It's more stable and just more beautiful into my eyes, and it's just my taste, maybe because I was already used to see 3D before, I know many people find the orgasm faces horrible, but I personally love it (I mean I don't try to make cute faces, I make deformed by-pleasure faces, still there is a big room for improvement, I admit.)
Some people mentioned they feel the uncanny valley, I don't feel that so I don't know. I just hope with the future evolution these wouldn't feel like that anymore, my style isn't fixed.

When I started with my drawings July 2020:

In game version that I modified later:

My current style, March 2023, using 3D (I've remade this image for this post, not included in game):

I just noticed she has no collar and no ring on the in-game images haha!

I know some people would still prefer the drawings, I'm not trying to convince anyone, preferences are not something you can change. I just wanted to show evolution.

I also evolved in the 3D, this is my first render of Emma (March 2022):

Current (March 2023):

The shirt is the same and was using a premade asset that I modified, so it looks weird, if I have to make a similar shirt in the future, I will recreate it from zero to make better lines & structure.

Also, consider that this is only the beginning of my experience, I still hope it's gonna continue getting better and better.

And yes, I also prefer the 3D animated results over the 2D animations, unbelievable for many, even if I don't consider the process and just the result. That's just how it is for me.

2) The process of creating art and animating

Let me explain, It became MUCH MORE pleasant to create images and animation, you can't imagine the difference in comfort for me.
Psychologically AND physically, all my back pain has disappeared.

Before I made the transition, It was really painful to create (especially 2D drawing animations), but I was kind of happy with the result. Now, I'm happy with the result AND with the process!
It's not a "task I have to do." anymore, it's a "task I'm excited to do!".

For real, I'm having FUN animating and creating in 3D (I already had a bit of experience from before, so it wasn't 100% new for me.) it's more of something that is built, like, I make a work, then I use that work in subsequent works, like a function that uses a function that uses a function etc... I enjoy better to work like that.

I regularly receive messages from people that ask for tips because they want to start creating games:

I think It may be different if you're a big team/big company, and if you're just a single independant artist.

As a single independent artist I would say that you should pay attention to the process. Make a pleasant process a priority because you will have to keep doing it for the long term, and if it's not a minimum pleasant, you could abandon it one day.
Players only see the result and not the creation process, so some of them consider "You should work like this or like that" and don't take that aspect into consideration.

It could be more different in a team or company where you try to be more "professional", but I'm just a creator who wants to create and have fun, so I can't talk about that situation.

Anyway, it was a very long post, feels like I wanted to write x)

Here is your reward for reading everything: