Learn how talented artist Amelia (Prompt Muse) creates lively Pixar-styled Chun Li and brings her to life with poses. The process involves leveraging user-friendly tools Character Creator 4 (CC4) and AI techniques, from reference gathering to character modeling, outfit creation, and final touches in Blender.
Gathering References of Chun-Li using Dall-E 3
Amelia needed to start off by collecting visual references to kick off her project. She does this by using Dall-E 3 to create reference images for her Pixar-styled Chun Li.
Use Dall-E to create reference images
Seeking additional inspiration, she scoured Pinterest for more references, compiling them efficiently in Pure Ref — a powerful and free tool designed to gather reference images in one application.
Pure Ref
Using Character Creator
To accelerate the process, Amelia opted for a kit bash technique by combining ready-made assets in Character Creator (CC). Utilizing the free CC base model, Camilla, she employed morph sliders to quickly shape the character.
Use morph sliders in Character Creator
The model was then sent to ZBrush for further sculpting, where the ‘Move’, ‘Standard’, and ‘Smooth’ brushes were used to bring out the signature Chun Li personality.
Amelia seamlessly transitioned between Character Creator and ZBrush, refining the base shape and adjusting details like eyes, lashes, and eyeballs. To maintain a stylized look, she replaced realistic textures with bold, bright, and cartoony designs. Her goal was to enhance the overall aesthetic without having the character’s appearance descend into the uncanny valley.
Adjust the eyes
Teeth and hair underwent similar transformations. She crafted custom teeth in ZBrush and sculpted hair purchased from the Reallusion Content Store, using morph sliders to ensure a cohesive and visually appealing character.
Clothes and Outfit on the Blender Market place
By leveraging kit bashing with clothing found on the Blender Market Place, Amelia quickly found a suitable cheongsam and imported it into Character Creator.
Blender Market Place
By adjusting skin weights and employing repeated processes for each accessory, she effortlessly brought Chun Li's outfit to life. To texture the character, Amelia utilized the control painting function in ZBrush to restrict the painting area and painted the UVW map using Photoshop.
Simplifying what would be considered a mundane procedure into a simple click of a button, she was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the entire process.
Transfer to Blender
After donning a costume, Amelia posed her character using the edit pose dialogue, adopting a "kung fu pose" and a smiling face using the ‘Facial Profile’ tool.
Afterward, she imported her character into Blender and used "Blender Auto Setup" to easily assign a Blender Metarig to the character.
Final Touches
For the final polish, Amelia fine-tuned the lighting, adjusted a few parameters, and made use of some scene tools to spruce up the backdrop. These finishing touches added additional flair and life into Chun Li.
Hopefully you have gleaned some insights into Amelia’s meticulous workflow of combining advanced tools and creative techniques. In this evolving landscape of character design and animation, her journey from concept to final render is proof that opportunities for artist expression are ripe for the taking.
To find more about the details of creating the iconic 3D character Chun Li, please see the original post.
About the Author
Prompt Muse is a Website and YouTube channel, hosted by Amelia Player & Alex Player, that offers a comprehensive look at the world of artificial intelligence (AI) image-generating software, SEO and more. This channel offers tutorials and tips to help users get the most out of the software, while providing a comprehensive look at the industry. In addition, the channel provides the latest tech news and opinions to help keep users informed and up-to-date on the latest trends.
Prompt Muse’s tutorials offer step-by-step instructions on how to use the software, as well as advice on best practices and troubleshooting tips. The tutorials are geared towards both beginner and experienced users, giving them the tools to make the most out of their image-generating software.
The channel also provides the latest news and opinions on the AI image-generating industry. This includes industry-specific news such as new software releases, updates, and advancements, as well as broader topics such as emerging trends, legal issues, and ethical considerations. This helps keep users informed and prepared for the future of the industry.
