.png)
Blender has become a power tool for 3D artists, and creators like Zane Olson show us just how amazing it can be.
Recently, Zane shared a post on Reddit, featuring a character model with cloth that moves and folds realistically. The community loved it, and many were curious about how he achieved such lifelike results.
Zane’s model features a tunic with realistic folds and eight paper seals, giving the character a unique look.
While the simulation doesn’t run in real-time, it manages 4-6 frames per second—pretty fast for such a detailed model. Zane explained, “For projects like this, I bake everything. I’ve tried to make it as optimized as possible.”
How Zane Made It
Zane shared the steps he followed to create the realistic cloth simulation. Here’s how he did it:
1. Starting with the Tunic:
Zane made the tunic from a simple cylinder shape, leaving the top and bottom open.
He attached it to the character’s rig (skeleton) using automatic weights, so it moved with the character.
2. Fixing Weight Painting:
He adjusted the weights to make sure the tunic didn’t stretch or clip through the character’s body, especially at the hips and spine.
3. Adding Folds and Wrinkles:
Using Blender’s cloth sculpt tool, Zane added folds and wrinkles to the tunic to make it look more natural.
4. Using a PIN Vertex Group:
He created a "PIN" group to control how much of the tunic would follow the character’s movements versus how much would be affected by the cloth simulation.
5. Fine-Tuning:
Zane spent about 45 minutes adjusting everything, so the tunic looked right as it moved with the character.
6. Adding Pressure:
To prevent the cloth from collapsing inward when the character bent forward, Zane added a bit of internal pressure to keep it puffed out.
What Inspired This Model
Zane got the idea for this model from a post on ArtStation by a lead character designer for Space Marines in the new Amazon Secret Level show. The ArtStation post features stunning renders of their work, which Zane used as a reference for his design.
More of Zane’s Work
In addition to character models and simulations, he has experimented with photogrammetry—using real-world objects to create highly detailed 3D models. Some highlights include:
Visit his Reddit submissions to explore his other creations.
Zane Olson’s work is a reminder of how much Blender has improved and the endless possibilities it offers. You can also follow Zane on Instagram for updates on his projects or check out his YouTube channel for helpful tips and tutorials.
Follow us on Instagram and twitter for regular updates and more content.
.jpg)
.jpg)
