Festive Wrap: 3D Modelling in Unity using uModeler

This post is part of our Festive Wrap series, where we review all the creative themes we’ve covered this year and bring you up to date with the latest software developments. Call it a free gift 🙂

Let’s start with an AI generated image generated to represent ‘Creating 3D models in a festive way’ – The full prompt used is below:

A digital artwork of a laptop on a decorated box with glowing geometric shapes, snowflakes, and wrapped gifts, creating a festive and technological atmosphere.

The full prompt used with DALL-E3 to generate this image

An illustration of festive gift wrap that artistically represents the theme of creating 3D models on a futuristic laptop. Position the laptop as the centerpiece, showcasing a 3D modeling interface with wireframe designs and complex geometric shapes emerging from the screen. Surround it with a pattern of floating holographic models, such as abstract sculptures, architectural structures, and intricate designs, all shimmering in a vibrant and multidimensional color palette of neon greens, blues, and metallic golds. Incorporate subtle holiday elements, like digital snowflakes or polygonal stars, to infuse a festive atmosphere. The overall design should convey a sense of innovation and creativity, perfectly capturing the spirit of technological advancement and holiday celebration.

Last month we introduced 3D modelling using uModeler for Unity!

Illustration of a red off-road vehicle on a cliff edge, against a blue sky with clouds. Text promotes a month of 3D modeling with uModeler, targeting beginners and enthusiasts.

Here’s what we covered in the uModeler series of explainers, as we built our very own Simpsons ‘Canyonero’!

Install the Unity Hub and Unity LTS
Create a new Unity project and install the Umodeler asset
Create a UModeler object and explore the UModeler interface
Navigate the scene and scale, rotate and move 3D objects
Create unique shapes by adjusting vertices, edges and faces
Block out a simple Canyonero-style car model
Create materials and textures and apply them to the model

Missed it? Head back there now!

uModeler developments

uModeler continues to be a popular way to learn basic 3D modelling techniques inside the well supported development environment of Unity. At time of writing, uModeler can be purchased from the Unity asset store for around £100 / $120:

Asset Store page displaying "Ancient Dungeon" 3D model by UModeler, priced at €115.01. Image shows a detailed virtual dungeon environment with blue lighting. Add to cart and refund policy options visible. — Asset Store page displaying “Ancient Dungeon” 3D model by UModeler, priced at €115.01. Image shows a detailed virtual dungeon environment with blue lighting. Add to cart and refund policy options visible.

If you’d like to try out the more powerful and complex ‘brother’ of uModeler, uModeler X, you can currently try out the ‘basic’ version for free:

Screenshot of Unity Asset Store page featuring UModeler X Basic. The asset is free and offers tools for 3D modeling, available on Unity version 2022.3.8f1.

…and if you like what you see, you can purchase the full version of uModeler X, currently available at an ‘early bird’ price of under £80 / $80:

Screenshot of UModeler X Plus product page showing a 3D landscape with a windmill and houses. Price is €91.08. Options to add to cart, view refund policy, and secure checkout are visible.

Where to next for 3d modelling?

We asked Leonardo.ai to conjure up ‘A visual representation of a futuristic 3d model of a large family truck in 2049, 25 years from now’ Using their ”Graphic Design’ engine and the ‘Graphic design pop art’ preset…

AI interface displaying three futuristic 3D red truck models with various feature adjustments and templates on the left and image thumbnails on the right.

Here are the results. (Note the captions shown were AI-generated when the images were added to this page – They are not the original prompts used to create the images).