Knife Bear Machete
3D Model Design and Printing of the Knife Bear Figure – A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Process
In this blog post, I’ll be walking you through the design and printing process for a 3D model I created for the band Knife Bear, a Dublin-based rock group. This project was conceived as a character for an animated short music video for their song My Own Private Eidolon. You can check out the music video here: Knife Bear - My Own Private Eidolon.
The concept behind the figure is a leather-jacketed woman, confidently leaning on a large machete, embodying both toughness and mystery. The creation of this model went through several stages, including conceptual design in ZBrush, 3D slicing for high-resolution resin printing, and finally, the printing, painting, and finishing processes. Let’s dive into each step.
1. Modeling the Character in ZBrush
The journey started with designing the character in ZBrush, a powerful digital sculpting tool. I aimed to create a figure that captured the essence of the character’s strength, attitude, and style. The model features a detailed leather jacket, a dynamic pose with the machete, and intricate facial features that align with the rock aesthetic of Knife Bear.
Since the figure is meant to be used in both the music video and a future video game project, I focused on crafting clean lines and efficient topology to ensure the model would work well in various applications. The machete and other accessories were designed with attention to detail to make them look realistic, but also stylized to fit the animated nature of the short.
2. Slicing and Preparing the Model for Printing
Once the model was finished in ZBrush, I moved on to the next step: slicing the 3D model for printing. This step is crucial because it determines how the model will be printed layer by layer. I used Lychee Slicer software for this process, specifically tailored for high-resolution resin printing. The figure was designed to be printed on the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra, a 3D printer known for its high resolution and precision, which is perfect for capturing the fine details of this character.
The slicing process took a bit of time to get right, as the figure is highly detailed and required precise placement of supports to avoid any issues during printing. I made sure the model was oriented in a way that minimized the need for post-processing and ensured the best possible quality for the final print.
3. Printing the Model on the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra
The printing process itself took about 13 hours to complete. Given the complexity and the resolution needed, I used high-quality resin to ensure the details of the leather jacket, the machete, and other parts of the model were captured as precisely as possible. However, during the print, I encountered an issue with the machete – it didn’t print properly on the first attempt. Thankfully, reprinting the machete and doing a quick repair with super glue solved the problem, and the piece was ready for painting.
4. Painting the Figure Using Miniature Techniques
Once the print was completed and the parts assembled, it was time to move on to the painting. As this figure is intended for display and use in the game, I employed miniature painting techniques, such as dry brushing, highlighting, and shading with washes, to give it depth and character.
Dry Brushing: I applied lighter colors to the raised surfaces of the model, like the folds of the leather jacket and the contours of the face, which helped to bring out the finer details.
Highlighting: Subtle highlights on the edges of the figure, especially on the machete and the leather, added contrast and helped emphasize the texture of the materials.
Shading and Washes: I used dark washes to bring depth to creases, folds, and shadows, especially in the jacket and around the machete’s handle. This added a realistic worn look to the figure, enhancing its overall presence.
While this version of the model is not the final polished iteration, it serves as an excellent starting point. The textures and cel-shading you see here are still in the experimental stage, and I’ll be making further updates and refinements as the project progresses. You can expect more character designs and animations for the short music video soon.
5. Future Plans: Knife Bear and the Game Project
In addition to its role in the My Own Private Eidolon music video, this character is also going to be the main player for a forthcoming video game project I’m working on. The game is a third-person, driving experience with a Soviet synthwave vibe. The world and characters will have a retro-futuristic aesthetic that complements the music and themes of Knife Bear. I'll be sharing more updates on this exciting game project in the future, so stay tuned!
6. 3D Print Files for You to Download
For those who are interested in printing their own version of the Knife Bear figure, I’ve made the 3D print files available for download. You can find the file here: Knife Bear - Machete Figure on MyMiniFactory.