Realistic Human Skull: Clay to 3D Render

For this project, my goal was to recreate a realistic human skull. By using the clay skull I’d created for the Proko Portrait Sculpting Course with oil-based Monster Clay and transforming it into a final 3D render.

I took 175 photogrammetry images to scan the clay sculpture. Then processed them using RealityCapture. I used ZBrush was used to clean up and refine the 3D model. I unwrapped the UVs in Blender. All the textures were hand-painted in Substance Painter.

Final rendering and animation were done in the real-time rendering software Marmoset Toolbag 4.

You can find a video detailing my approach to the process below.

Realistic 3D Human Skull Left Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Left Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Left Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Front Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Front Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Front Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Right Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Right Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Right Side Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Video – Breakdown Reel of Taking Clay to 3D Render
Realistic 3D Human Skull Underside Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Underside detailing was created in Zbrush.
Realistic 3D Human Skull Underside Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Underside detailing was created in Zbrush.
Realistic 3D Human Skull Underside Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Underside detailing was created in Zbrush.
Realistic 3D Human Skull Rear Three Quarter Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Rear Three Quarter Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Skull Rear Three Quarter Anatomy PBR Render by Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Side View Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Side View Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Side View Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
3D Teeth in Open Mouth Skull created by Artist Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Teeth with Enamel and Roots Created with PBR Rendering by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Teeth with Enamel and Roots Created with PBR Rendering by Roy Nottage
Realistic 3D Human Teeth with Enamel and Roots Created with PBR Rendering by Roy Nottage

I removed my original clay teeth entirely and digitally sculpted new ones from scratch to replace them.

Photogrammetry Setup Using Lumix G9 Digital Camera
Photogrammetry using Lumix G9
Photogrammetry Setup Using Lumix G9 Digital Camera
Photogrammetry using Lumix G9
Photogrammetry Setup Using Lumix G9 Digital Camera
Photogrammetry using Lumix G9
Photogrammetry Image Compiling in RealityCapture Software
RealityCapture
Photogrammetry Image Compiling in RealityCapture Software
RealityCapture
Photogrammetry Image Compiling in RealityCapture Software
RealityCapture
Realistic Human Skull Post-Photogrammetry Clean Up in Zbrush by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Refinement in Zbrush
Realistic Human Skull Post-Photogrammetry Clean Up in Zbrush by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Refinement in Zbrush
Realistic Human Skull Post-Photogrammetry Clean Up in Zbrush by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Refinement in Zbrush

Photogrammetry using 175 photos taken with a Lumix G9 Digital Camera. Processing via RealityCapture. Finally, Zbrush for clean up.

Realistic Human Skull Close Left View Anatomy by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Final Render.
Realistic Human Skull Close Left View Anatomy by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Final Render.
Realistic Human Skull Close Left View Anatomy by 3D Artist Roy Nottage
Final Render.

I find immense satisfaction in the process of taking traditional medium work and pushing it further using digital techniques. However, the photogrammetry results did require a huge amount of refinement. Even when employing a much more powerful camera (previously I used a smartphone for this technique). Therefore, this is certainly an area I’m keen to explore and streamline. Overall though, pretty happy with the results.

My intention is to return to this project and create face and neck muscles to create a digital écorché.

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