Voxelart Guidelines

Here are some thoughts and processes, describing how to switch from pixelart to voxelart. It’s not meant to be the only way to do it, we hope this will give you ideas for creating your own way!

Play by the rules

With great power comes great responsibility: the most important is to stay in tracks and compliant with our constraints!

The default size is 32*32*32, which is translated to a Meter (3,2 f) on The Sandbox Universe, and therefore characters and ASSETS would have to be created having this measures as a reference. It is not necessary to use all of this detail, but 32x32x32 is the maximum detail available to make inside a cubic meter.

Avatar creation : if a human character average height is 1,80 metres (5,9) on the game, his construction should be based on the height of two cubes of 32*32*32.

Get your Assets ready for the Marketplace

Once you’re done modeling and texturing, prepare your assets for the marketplace!

Hints and Tips

Let’s focus on some details from the scene.

Details

Adding volume to the overall texture is great - no need to overdo it, only use subtle variations here and there.

Textures

When texturing, keep in mind that the model should be readable from a distance. Keep it light, you can add worn-out effects (humidity, dark corners...) if wanted.

Faking light

I always found it usefull to add some light intention when texturing (painted shadows and highlights). This effect should be faint since we will already have lights and shadows in the renderer.

Diagonals

Try to keep diagonals as even as possible, with the same amount/ratio of blocks.

Large overall scale

Any detail added to the pattern of terrain cubes, would have to be added through the Atlas system

Textures #2

The squared pattern that was suggested in the pixel mockup can be reproduced here, and adds cohesion and readability to the models

Scale

A good way to determine the scale of any monster is to focus on their eye: a single dark dot for the pupil, a white one underneath to give it some toon aspect, and you’ve got your ratio.

Is it meant to be animated?

Parts that are meant to be animated, are different models that are 'linked' together when rigging a model in VoxEdit