A little sneak peek at the painting process for a scene I’ve been working on based on Tolkien’s Silmarillion. I will be dropping a series of painting materials reels using the new tools available in Unreal 5.3 while I break down the process and discuss technical, art direction, and lore details. I will talk about vertex painting material layers, performance, and the previous and latest generation of creative approaches when modeling and texturing assets for Middle-Earth-themed projects. Stay tuned for more! #unrealengine #ue5 #nanite #displacement #vertexpainting #materiallayers #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #3dpainting #pierofolly #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #dorthonion #gorlim

Find the link to my ArtStation in bio! A shader ball of the latest texture I posted. • • • #substancedesigner #surface #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #unrealengine #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #realtime #gameart #dorthonion #moss #3dterrain #sketchfab #tileablematerial #mossyterrain #postrain #dirt #photogrammetry

This is a PBR terrain material I created using Substance Designer, Marmoset, and Photogrammetry techniques that represents a post-rain, softly plowed terrain with mossy growth and puddles. This tileable texture was developed thinking about a scene of the First Age of Middle-Earth that I’ve been working on for a while. It sets the terrain mood for a gloomy spring day after a soft rain that would happen in a mountainous region of the northern landscapes of Beleriand. I created a curved mat with 2-sided mirrored UVs to display different light angles and dense displacement. All maps are in 2k resolution. • • • #substancedesigner #surface #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #unrealengine #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #realtime #gameart #dorthonion #moss #3dterrain #sketchfab #tileablematerial #mossyterrain #postrain #dirt #photogrammetry

Link to my ArtStation in bio • • • #substancedesigner #surface #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #unrealengine #3d #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #realtime #gameart #dorthonion #ploweddirt #3dterrain #sketchfab #tileablematerial #3dearth #photogrammetry

This is a PBR terrain material I created using Substance Designer, Marmoset, Maya, and Photogrammetry techniques to represent soft-plowed earth with small rocks and debris. All maps are optimized in 2k resolution and are tileable horizontally and vertically. This material was developed mainly for another scene that I worked on, together with multiple other materials that I will be uploading here later. The biggest challenge that I had was to try to display it interactively, therefore I decided to adopt a curved shaped 2-sided mat mesh instead of the traditional rotation sphere to prevent north/south sphere deformations and stretchiness of the textures. You can check in more details and interact with this texture on my ArtStation. The link is in my bio. • • • #substancedesigner #surface #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #unrealengine #3d #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #realtime #gameart #dorthonion #ploweddirt #3dterrain #sketchfab #tileablematerial #3dearth #photogrammetry

This is the final piece with breakdowns of the gates of the Nargothrond scene that I wanted to share. It took me some time to gather these materials and render them to showcase because since I created them in the very beginning of the project they were the foundation that was modified and thus, evolved a lot during the process. Therefore, I had to return to the source files and upgrade them to match the final props after multiple back and forth because of the art direction iterations. The two foundational materials created at first were a blue core turquoise and a surface green turquoise. These two materials would permeate and blend all the architectural assets of the scene as if they were the source material extracted from the cave that would create the cave pocket itself and then populate the scene with their refined substances after being crafted by the elves and the dwarves. This part of the creation process I decided to follow very closely to the lore of this environment, second Tolkien in his books. The third and the fourth pictures show these two materials blended. Yet, they are shown separated when I created the original sidewalk of the bridge (pic 3). Since this separation was too clean and perfect, later in the engine scene I blended them with other top textures using vertex painting to give the adequate grit that belongs to this piece. The same methodology was applied to the brute Icelandic type of rocks that I created for the cave walls, first developing them with Photogrammetry in Mixer and SD, and then applying a blending layer of the turquoise materials to finalize it. • • • #3dmaterial #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #substancedesigner #4k #3d #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #materialartist #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #dwarves #noldor #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #turquoise #quixelmixer #photogrammetry @substance3dart

The pillars of the gates of Nargothrond are another asset I've delved deep into technical details when creating it. The artistic part of its development was highly influenced by the engineering and historical aspects of this piece of architecture. Its design language mixes Elven and Dwarven cultures based on Tolkien's lore. The city itself was built by both cultures at different times and simultaneously. Originally, the cave system belonged to the dwarves, who made the architectural base of it - sturdy, imposing, and bulky. But as the dwarves left and the Noldor arrived, they started to excavate and add a coat of elvish aesthetics to it - fluid, curvy, and slick elements then were mixed with the rough forms. Having that information in mind, I started quickly modeling the two pillars and keystone blockouts in Maya, tossed them in Zbrush, and finished the tech details using Zmodeler. Since they are of gargantuan proportions, one of the challenges was to have a consistent texel density. The solution I found was to venture into playing with a mix of old and new techniques. I used the good old UV stacking and mirroring to preserve memory (it was created pre-nanite release), and UDIMs to paint each element. I also set it to work with 512 pixels per meter as my texel density rule. This way, it was a good balance to prevent the framerate of the engine from overloading and still keep high-resolution textures in real-time, since I was using an older video card (Rtx 1080). Finally, I created some unique props to give identity to the pillars, having the precious metal frames and Finrod's house crest on the keystone. I used the other materials I had developed for the scene and followed the turquoise theme I established for the environment earlier to vertex-paint slight variations in Unreal later. • • • #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #noldor #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #turquoise @substance3dart

These bases with the mosaics were the first elements that I worked in depth in the scene. I decided to represent two passages of the Silmarillion on each mosaic, being the first “The flight of the Noldor” where one of the families of the elves escape Valinor after committing fratricide and stealing the swan-shaped boats of the Teleri. The second mosaic depicts another family of noldori elves that were tricked and left behind, therefore forced to march to Middle-earth through the northern frozen wastes of Helcaraxë. Two subtle details on these mosaics are the seven stars on the former one that were put in the sky by Varda to help the elves to sail, and the moon on the latter, that rose for the first time in the sky when Fingolfin and his host of exiles stepped on Middle-earth. First, I worked on the clean base without any mosaic and damage. After I had the bases textured and rendered like that, I went back to Zbrush and added the mosaic as layers, then I ran the same process for the sculpted damage. That way, I was able to work procedurally and create multiple variations of the prop from a single source. The nine maps showcased here demonstrate a more detailed process that I used to texture in Painter. I used extra maps to create subsurface scattering and multiple layers of stone and metalwork. The maps in order are: wire-framed material, diffuse, normal, roughness, occlusion, thickness, metallic, height, and ID map. • • • #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #noldor #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #turquoise @substance3dart

The actual gates of the scene “Gates of Nargothrond”. This might be the asset that i’ve spent most time texturing details. The research about it and its references were probably the deepest in symbolism and meaning. The most obvious motifs are the two trees of Valinor, which can be seen in the innermost part of the gate. Telperion, the silver lighting tree, on the left, and Laurelin, the golden one, on the right. In the center of the door, the three Silmarils are represented in three differently colored gems. Above them there are also the seven stars of the Valacirca (polaris). • • • #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #noldor #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium #turquoise @substance3dart

The Gates of Nargothrond is a scene that I worked on for a while and it’s part of a series that I’ll be releasing soon about the Tolkien Universe. It is an environment from the early books and the history of Middle-earth that is very dear to me, so I revisited the scene multiple times to reiterate more details. I cannot say it is completely finished, and that I won’t come back to it in the future, but I’m happy with it from where it stands now. I started it inspired by the concept of @jonathanguzi (make sure to check his concept art) of the entrance view of Nargothrond, then I expanded it to have a full cave view back and forth, left and right with environmental details like waterfalls, more statues, pillar architectural details, and history telling of the Noldor using the mosaics on the doors and stands. Some interesting details about the history behind this complex cave system that the Finrod Felgung (one the Noldor kings of Beleriand during the First Age) is that it was originally created by the Petty Dwarves much before the Eldar scaped from the west lands of Aman. The Petty Dwarves being an outcast group of Dwarves themselves arrived in Beleriand thousands of years before the sun and the moon was created and reigned there undisturbed until their numbers naturally dwindled. The leftovers were hunted down by the newly arrived elven lords not knowing that these furtive and secretive people weren’t savage animals, which was due mainly to their refusal to speak, leading the Elves to believe they were the only intelligent race awake in Arda yet. Much of that knowledge led me to design the pillars and some elements of the scene with a mix of dwarven and elvish architecture. More story and technical details can be found on my Artstation page: @pierofolly #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #photogrammetry #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #noldor #historyofmiddleearth #legendarium @substance3dart

Sculpture of Turin I made for the scene “Gates of Nargothrond”. First I made it in clay, then used photogrammetry to transfer to Zbrush and finish small details. The textures are made in substance painter using 4k and consistent texel density. Turin Turambar’s story is one of the pillars of Tolkien’s universe, and trying to imagine his figure always intrigued me. I sculpted him with the aesthetics that I saw most plausible when he was the commander and war counselor of Nargothrond. The rough and brittle surface comes form the idea that this statue had been charred by the dragon breath of Glaurung, his arch enemy in the book “Children of Hurin”. #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #photogrammetry #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #turinturambar #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #childerofhurin #noldor @substance3dart @unrealengine @maxonzbrush

Sculpture of Orodreth I made for the scene “Gates of Nargothrond”. The textures are made in substance painter using 4k and consistent texel density. The shield and the surfaces were made from scratch in Zbrush, and the base of the body was captured with photogrammetry. #zbrush #madeinzbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #megascans #photogrammetry #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #orodreth #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #shield @quixelofficial @substance3dart @unrealengine @maxonzbrush @tolksoc

Sculpture of Finrod I made for the scene “Gates of Nargothrond”. The textures were made in substance painter using 4k and consistent texel density. Some parts of the sculpt were made in Zbrush (head, hands and small details), and some parts were made with photogrammetry (clothes and the base). #zbrush #substancepainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #substance3dpainter #agisoftmetashape #megascans #photogrammetry #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #4k #3d #3dsculpting #3dart #3dartist #3dtexturing #piero #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #finrod #nargothrond #silmarillion #thesilmarillion #tolkien #lotr #jrrtolkien #firstage #middleearth #elves #noldor @substance3dart @unrealengine @maxonzbrush @tolksoc

This is a prop I created for a bigger scene called “Gates of Nargothrond” which was inspired by Jonathan Guzi’s concept of the city of Narogothrond in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Silmarillion” The video on the second slide is w.i.p of this scene showing the breakdown and the passes. The finished scene is coming up soon! Stay tuned! #nargothrond #silmarillion #jrrtolkien #tolkien #lotr #thesilmarillion #middleearth #firstage #elves #finrod #zbrush #substancedesigner #substance3ddesigner #adobesubstance #substancepainter #substance3dpainter #adobesubstance3dpainter #unrealengine #ue4 #ue5 #3dart #3d

more 3D texturing and environment work @art.o.folly

• • • #substancedesigner #material #surface #3dart #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #materialart #environment #environmentart #realtime #gameart #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #piero #adobesubstance3ddesigner #adobesubstancedesigner #gamematerials #procedural #procecuralart #nodebased #noai #rocks #rocktexture #stonetexture #moss #phaneritic #igneoustexture #bryophyte #quartz #granite

More details at https://www.artstation.com/artwork/w08qLY • • • #substancedesigner #material #surface #tree #3dart #adobe3d #marmosettoolbag #materialart #environment #environmentart #realtime #gameart #pierofolly #pierolsfolly #piero #adobesubstance3ddesigner #adobesubstancedesigner #gamematerials #bark #old #oldwillow #treebark #procedural #procecuralart #nodebased #noai

artstation.com/artwork/nYaQP4 • • • #substancedesigner #adobe3d #materialartist #3Dart #3dartist #marmosettoolbag #shading #vertexpainting #turquoise #copperore #ore #mineral #malachite #chrysocolla #brick #tileable #procedural #proceduralart #nodebased #unreal #unrealengine #realtime #gnomon #environmentart

Dry turquoise stone brick pattern - created for the "Gates of Nagothrond Environment" in Unreal Engine. • • • #substancedesigner #marmosettoolbag #3dart #3dmaterials #3D #3dtexturing #environmentart #environmentartist #unrealengine #gnomon #gnomonschool #proceduralart #nondestructive #marmosetrender #3Drender #materialart #materialrendering #stone #floor #stonefloor #brick #turquoise #lotr #silmarillion #realtime

Sculpted a new type of ATAT. The siege cannon walker. Model and Render in Zbrush going for the style of early 70's Star Wars concepts from Ralph McQuarrie. • • • #zbrush #pixologic #pixologiczbrush #digitalsculpting #vehicledesign #3d #3dart #3dmodeling #atat #atatwalker #starwars #conceptart #starwarsart #starwarsvehicles #starwarsconceptart #ralphmcquarrie #starwarsblueprints #cgart #cglife #hardsurface #hardsurfacemodeling #hardsurfacedesign #zbrushrender #turntable #starwars3d

Tulkas Astaldo, Champion of the Valar. All aspects are done by me. I will put this guy in an engine one day to beat Morgoth's ass. • • • #3D #3Dart #3Dartwork #characterdesign #characterart #charcatersculpt #charactermodeling #gnomon #gnomonschool #zbrush #zbrushsculpt #maya #mayamodeling #xgen #vray #thefoundrymari #marvelousdesigner #lotr #silmarillion #tulkas #lordoftherings #lotronprime #tolkien #tolkienart #silmarillionart

Logo with name initials based on old futhark runes. Wunjō, Fehū, Sol, Laguz. As in any binding runes, there are others hidden along the lines. Can you see it? • • • #logo #initials #brand #cg #3d #3dart #3dartist #runes #vikingrunes #vikings #vitki #bindingrunes #futhark #oldfuthark #futharkrunes #norse #norsemythology #norseheritage #asatru #valhalla #asgard #wunjo #fehu #sol #laguz