From Vision to Virtual: Crafting the White Tiger Crew’s 3D Characters
Creating characters for a game is more than just a technical process—it’s a journey of trial, creativity, and problem-solving. When we set out to bring two distinct characters to life—a digital double of the artist and Pear, a charismatic addition to the White Tiger Crew—we knew it would be a multifaceted adventure. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what we went through, the tools we used, and how our vision evolved along the way.
It all started with an idea: we needed to create a virtual version of the artist, a digital double that felt authentic and true to their personality, alongside Pear, a bold character who would bring their unique energy to the White Tiger Crew. Both characters needed to complement each other while standing out in their own right.
Our first step was to capture the essence of each character. Using Procreate and Photoshop, we sketched out the initial designs. These weren’t just doodles—they were explorations of identity, personality, and style. The digital double had to feel realistic yet slightly idealized for the game world, while Pear was a canvas for creativity, blending imagination with the aesthetic of the White Tiger Crew.
Turning a sketch into a living, breathing 3D model is where the real work began. We used Character Creator 8 to sculpt the digital double. This was an intense process, as we worked to capture the subtle details of the artist’s face and features. Every wrinkle, every shadow had to reflect the personality we aimed to convey. Using photos of the artist as references, we built a base that was both accurate and expressive.
Pear’s creation, on the other hand, was a playground of ideas. Blender became our go-to tool for modeling. The flexibility it offered allowed us to experiment with proportions, shapes, and stylized features that fit perfectly within the game’s world. Unlike the digital double, Pear was all about pushing boundaries and embracing bold design choices.
One of the most rewarding yet painstaking parts of the process was texturing. Using Photoshop and Blender, we layered textures to add depth and realism. For the digital double, we focused on fine details—skin tones, pores, and subtle blemishes. Every detail mattered because it helped sell the realism of the character.
Pear, however, was a different story. Their design was an opportunity to play with bold colors, striking patterns, and a sense of uniqueness that made them instantly memorable. Each texture pass felt like peeling back another layer of their personality, and seeing Pear come to life was a moment of pure creative joy.
After the characters were modeled and textured, it was time to bring them into their world. This part of the project was like watching everything click into place. We worked on a scene where the digital double and Pear could interact, testing their presence in an environment that matched the game’s tone.
Lighting became a key focus here. We experimented in Blender to create a setup that highlighted the characters’ features and made them pop on screen. It was here that we truly saw their personalities come alive—not just as models but as living, breathing entities in the game world.
The process wasn’t without its challenges. There were countless late nights spent refining models that just didn’t feel quite right, textures that wouldn’t align, and scenes that didn’t come together the way we hoped. But those moments of frustration were outweighed by the thrill of seeing the characters evolve with every iteration.
Pear, in particular, was a character that challenged us creatively. Finding the balance between bold design and functionality for the game wasn’t easy, but it pushed us to think outside the box. And when the digital double finally felt like the artist—not just in appearance but in essence—it was a moment of triumph.
Creating these two characters taught us that the journey is just as important as the result. Every tool we used—Procreate, Photoshop, Character Creator 8, and Blender—played a part in shaping the final product. But it was the vision, the countless hours of trial and error, and the passion for bringing these characters to life that made the project special.
This was more than just another game dev project; it was a labor of love. Seeing the digital double and Pear standing side by side, ready to take on their roles in the White Tiger Crew, reminded us why we do what we do: to create worlds, tell stories, and bring imagination to life.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the White Tiger Crew and explore what’s next in the world of character creation!
