Learn Digital Sculpting Using Fusion 360

Hello sculptors! This lock down has closed all the stores and hardware shops, but do not let it close your creativity. I know, you may be running out of your sculpting tools, don't worry lets Digital Sculpt using Fusion 360.

By the end of this instructable you will be able to digital sculpt any random object with ease. To challenge myself I've searched all over the house and picked the most 'organic shape', this wooden replica of One horned Rhino from Assam.

The main objective of this instructable is not to show you how to sculpt a rhino but, to make you sculpt your own model.

All the best

⚪Any object in your house (Organic)

⚪Fusion 360 https://www.autodesk.in/products/fusion-360/free-t...

(Students get free education license)

⚪Pencil, Scale, Paper

⚪Camera

⚪Patience!

Draw a box around the rhino.

(always place in that box)

Take picture from top angle, side, bottom and front

First lets insert pictures in canvas.

Select the pictures respectively. For example select *Top plane and add the top view picture you have taken with your camera. (Axis and Planes are located at right top corner)

⚪Select Insert > Canvas > From my computer > Select the appropriate photo > Click on the plane

tip: Increase opacity of canvas for clarity.

⚪click on create form > select cylinder > insert on Back plane > draw circle with diameter matching rhino body.

this will create a default cylinder.

⚫To increase size, we can press pull it with the arrows.

⚫To increase number of edges, drag the small button (-<>+)

⚫To select multiple faces press and hold ctrl and select faces.

⚪Now mirror two faces in the symmetry option.

Blue colour is the operated one and yellow is the mirrored one .

⚪ Click edit form in modify

Play with this for a while to get the hang of it.

Try to adjust the body shape looking at the canvas. The form mainly consists of a vertex, edge and a face.

we can scale, move and rotate them.

This function is used to insert a new edge beside existing one.

⚪ Go to modify > add edge > set distance > ok

Click on existing edge :-

⚫single mouse click (only that part of edge),

⚫double mouse click (for complete round edge)

Modify from front view, top view and back view

This feature divides the face, with added edges. This is helpful for detailing

⚪ In modify > select subdivide option >choose the face(s) > set number of divisions > ok

In 'edit form' usually dragging the arrow simple extends the or "pulls" the sculpt.

⚫If you want to add "material" , without disturbing the form press and hold 'alt' and then drag.

This also applies for 'scaling' and 'rotating'

Okay, so using these basic features play with sculpt mode, take your time and try to create similar body. This feature will be used a lot in sculpting.

We want the curves to be perfect :)

You might be feeling impatient, but don't give up. Fusion 360 gets way easy and better with use!

Now, select the bottom plane.

⚪Subdivide the face near the leg.

⚪Extrude (alt+mouse pull) from it.

⚪now, hold alt+scale , this increases the added part. Adjust the leg size and shape with other planes too.

⚪Near the ankle rotate and pull. This gives a beautiful leg.

⚫Repeat this with other legs!

By now, you would start loving this sculpt mode in Fusion 360.

Using previous techniques lets sculpt the rhino head.

⚪Extrude the neck (alt+mouse ) pull till the end of nose.

⚪*Fill hole(next step)

⚪Create new edges and modify them.

⚪Also scale down the face looking at front view plane.

tip: follow the video

⚪On top of the head, subdivide the face and pull out a horn (alt+pull).

⚪Scale down on top of the horn to make it sharp!

Use this to fill holes in the model.

⚪in modify select fill holes. Then select the complete 'polygon' (double clicking on the edge) and select collapse.

Woow, we are almost there! Lets sculpt ears!

Now select the back plane and extrude the ears.

⚪Do this by subdividing the top of the head. Look from both front and back plane.

⚪Extrude (alt+pull) the ears.

⚪again alt+scale till middle part of ear pull.

⚪Scale down the tip of the ear.

oh wait, this reminded me a tip: clear symmetry (in symmetry select the planes) for both the ears. Sculpt them separate for realism.

Lets create eyes for our Rhino.

⚪Subdivide the face and select the center squares for operation.

⚪Now lets give some indention. alt+push inside and then pull it a bit.

⚪For the mouth, insert double edges from modify. similarly select the faces, alt+push inside and pull out a bit.

⚫Now add some details near the neck, back, etc.

by the way: I've added 3D walnut material to it in Appearances

tip: do not try to perfect all those edges, corners, etc in sculpt mode. Go with the flow

Well done mate! I hope you've learnt something new today.

Still having doubts, watch out this basic sculpting tutorial and sculpt real objects with this method (Inserting Canvas) https://www.instructables.com/id/Sculpting-in-Fusi...

We just learnt how to digitally sculpt a handmade wooden antique (crazy right?) so nothing else can be intimidating. So don't stop here, go pick out the craziest object from your house and start modelling.

Let's render our beautiful model. For that we need a stunning environment.

I'll give a glimpse on, how the sculpt mode (form) is used for creating this environment!

⚫Grass

Start with cylinders> edit form and make them very thin> fill holes

How to add texture

Appearance > Select material > Edit > Advanced > Change the default picture (here I've added grass picture from net)

Multiply the grass using Pattern feature (Rectangle, Circle, Path)

⚫Water

Create a plane in form > Edit form > Extrude till shape > Give ups and downs (wavy) > ok

Appearance > Calm sea >ok

⚫Stone

Create form > Cube > Edit form > scale and rotate it to look like rocks > Copy paste them randomly with changing sizes

Appearance > Stone > Granite red > edit > custom texture of rock from net.

⚪Render

Give appropriate materials for all > select scene > environment / camera F 100-200 better / Depth of field enable

Fusion 360 has this superb feature called Cloud Rendering. I am really thankful for it, as I could render beyond my laptop capabilities within no time.

tip: Use HDRI packs from internet. ex: HDRI Haven

Who doesn't love low poly!

Converting models into low poly is very simple inn Fusion 360. Just follow these steps.

⚪Click Create Mesh

⚪Select BREP to MESH > Select the rhino body > Set Surface Deviation and Normal Deviation High and Aspect ratio to Low. > Preview Mesh > OK

⚪Select Remesh and set Density and Shape Preservation to Low > Preview > OK

⚪Select Reduce Mesh and set Face count to Low. > Preview > OK (change this for desired shape)

⚫To 3D Print

⚪Select Thicken feature in Create > Select body > Give thickness > OK

⚪Right click on body > Save as STL > 3D print !

Stay Home Stay Safe!