Hello 3D artists and all those who are interested in 3D models created using AI. Are you ready to learn all about Leonardo AI and Meshy.ai?I guarantee, by the end of this post, you’ll be all excited and ready to create some magnificent 3D artwork.
Introduction: The Power of AI in Three-Dimensional (3D) Modeling
Remember those long days spent staring at a screen building your 3D models by manually entering polygons? Those days are long gone, thanks to giant leaps in artificial intelligence, which have resulted in Leonardo AI 3D Models and Meshy.ai, among others, that only require a few clicks to bring our imagination into the virtual world.
Now why should I care about objects that are created by artificial intelligence? Picture being able to design stunning video game assets or even create immersive VR worlds without having any coding knowledge whatsoever. If ever there was a time when you needed attention-grabbing product designs which could win over investors during those big pitches but needed more artistic skill or time then look no further.
The great thing about powerful AI-driven software is its user-friendliness – anyone can use it! You don’t need years’ worth of experience or even an educational qualification related to computer graphics design; if there’s creativity within someone they’ll find success using these tools. Think of having a team full of experts waiting around ready to take on board any creative ideas inspired by users like yourself before turning them into stunning visual representations – That’s essentially how easy working with Leonardo feels.
But hey veterans – don’t panic just yet because this technology isn’t here to replace humans but rather enhances their capabilities; allowing them to achieve more than ever thought possible when it comes down to three dimensions creating. These are exciting times indeed!
Learning Leonardo AI from Scratch
Now before we go too deep into putting together 3D models with this software let us take some time to appreciate Leonardo AI’s greatness, shall we? Unlike other programs controlled via Discord servers (yes, I am looking at you app makers), the interface of Leonardo AI is simple and clean making it very easy to use.
So how do get started? It is a walk in the park:
- Visit Leonardo AI website
- Sign up for an account which costs nothing to start with
- There you have it! But hold your horses because we still have a long way ahead.
Pro tip: just get familiar with the interface before you start your first project. Play around and click things, try hovering over buttons so you can see where everything is. I promise it will save you hours in the long run. Maybe you’ll find that weird little feature that will make your 3D art awesome.
Creating 3D Images: A Step-By-Step Guide
And here comes the fun part! Leonardo AI has a huge variety of tools and presets to help you transform your 2D image into a mind-blowing 3D one. Here that:
Leonardo Realtime Generation Tool
You need results fast. This bad boy is like having a 3D artist on steroids pumping results out at the speed of light. To access Leonardo Realtime Generation Tool, go to Leonardo AI dashboard and click on Real Time Generation Tool. I have a detailed blog post on Real-Time Generation to create colouring books here. If this is the first time you are using the Real-Time Generation tool, I highly recommend you read this article as most of the concepts described in this article will be replicated here.
Source: Leonardo.ai
Once you are in the Realtime Gen tool you should see the empty image and the elements on the right side default values set to 0.
Source: Leonardo.ai
Here’s an example prompt to get started which you can copy and paste into the input prompt text box:
“Massive blue battle mech, 3D concept art, heavy armour plating, visible hydraulics, cockpit details, weapon systems in the neutral background full body visible”
Source: Leonardo.ai
But don’t stop there! The real magic happens when you experiment with different prompts. Mix elements that shouldn’t belong or add specific lighting conditions. Try something like this:
“Armored battle rhinoceros, 3D game asset, heavy plate armour, steam-punk weaponry, glowing energy core, charging pose in the neutral background ”
The key here is detail — give as many specifics as you can so Leonardo AI knows what you’re looking for. And don’t be afraid to get weird sometimes; often the most amazing results come from the most unexpected combinations!
Leonardo AI Presets
Now let’s talk about your secret weapons in the world of 3D – the Leonardo AI presets! Each one has its own unique flavour, so let’s go over when to use them and what sets them apart:
To access these presets disable the Legacy Mode in the Image Generation Tool to access the following Presets. To learn more about each of these Presets and other models in Leonardo AI check out this in-depth article.
Phoenix Preset (3D Render, Ray Traced Preset Styling):
Perfect for: Creating stylized 3D characters and environments with a balance of detail and artistic flair.
Style: Semi-realistic 3D rendering with enhanced lighting and texture detail.
When to use: When you need characters or scenes that blend realism with artistic interpretation.
Choose a 3D render style in the Preset Styles which is best suited for creating 3D images.
Example prompt: “A 3D model of a young hero in a Disney-Pixar animation style. The character should have a wide-eyed, curious expression, with tousled hair and a lively, dynamic pose. The outfit should be adventurous and fun, with bright colors and playful details. The overall look should be heartwarming, with a mix of innocence and determination”
This preset is your go-to for:
- Character designs that are more detailed than cartoon-style but not fully photorealistic
- Environments with a mix of realistic lighting and stylized elements
- Concept art that requires a 3D feel without striving for complete photorealism
Concept Art Preset (Game Concept 3D Preset styling):
Ideal for: Creating characters and environments for video games and concept art.
Style: Stylized, game-ready look with a focus on visual appeal and functionality.
When to use: When brainstorming game design ideas or creating assets for a stylized game world.
Example prompt: “3D character of a cyborg fighter in a game. The character should have a half-human, half-machine appearance, with cybernetic enhancements such as a robotic arm, glowing red eye, and mechanical armour plating. The outfit should be futuristic, with a mix of metal and fabric, and the character should wield a weapon like an energy blade.”
If you’re a game developer or concept artist, this one’s your best friend. Use it for:
- Creating unique and visually striking game characters
- Designing eye-catching environments and levels
- Conceptualizing props, weapons, and items with a distinct style
Graphic Design Preset (Graphic Design 3D Preset Style):
Perfect for: Making eye-catching 3D logos, product designs, and marketing materials.
Style: Clean, modern, and visually striking with a focus on bold shapes and colors.
When to use: To create attention-grabbing visuals for branding or marketing campaigns.
Example prompt: ‘Slick, low-poly tech startup logo with floating geometric shapes and a retro-future font.’
This preset is your go-to for:
- Designing unique and memorable 3D logos
- Creating visually striking marketing materials and infographics
- Developing product concepts with a modern, design-focused twist
Illustrative Albedo (3D Render, Game Concept 3D and Ray Traced Preset Styling):
Perfect for: Creating detailed textures and materials for 3D models with a stylized edge.
Style: realistic detail of surfaces, lighting and material properties, with a mix of realism and stylisation.
When to use: When you want to accentuate texture and material quality, but still retain a stylised look.
Example prompt: “High-end sports car paint job with metallic flakes and a glossy clear coat.”
The Illustrative Albedo preset is your secret weapon when you want to:
- Create detailed textures for 3D models that pop with style
- Experiment with different material properties while maintaining a stylized look
- Blend realistic lighting and textures with more fantastical or exaggerated designs
Legacy Mode Image Gen (3D Animation Style Model):
Perfect for: Creating a wide range of 3D animated characters, objects, and scenes with various stylistic options.
Styles available: Anime, 3D Render, Ray Traced, Dynamic etc which are relevant for 3D images.
When to use: When you want to achieve diverse looks in your 3D animations, from nostalgic to modern anime and dynamic action scenes.
To use the 3D Animation Style Model, switch to Legacy mode in the Image Generation Tool and pick the Finetuned Model as 3D Animation Style. Also, by default the high resolution is turned off in Alchemy settings, if you want your output to be in higher resolution, turn on this option. You might also want to turn on the Prompt Magic Option to V3 for better prompt adherence.
Example prompts for different styles:
Anime Style:
“A legendary boy samurai-mech fusion, cherry blossom petals swirling, wielding an energy katana that cuts through dimensions. Hyper-detailed armour with glowing runes, eyes blazing with determination.”
3D Render:
“3D character of a charming villain in the Disney-Pixar style. The character should have a sleek, stylish outfit with a slightly mischievous expression. Incorporate exaggerated features, like a long, pointy nose or an elaborate hairstyle. The design should balance humour and menace, with smooth, rounded shapes and a vibrant color scheme.”
Ray Tracing:
“A 3D model of a sprawling cyberpunk city at night, with towering skyscrapers, neon signs, and elevated highways. The city should have a dense, layered look with various levels, flying vehicles, and crowded streets. Include small details like street vendors, holographic billboards, and dark alleys to bring the scene to life..”
Dynamic:
“A time-bending battle between cosmic entities, reality fracturing around them. Multiple arms trailing motion blur, manipulating the fabric of space-time. Swirling vortexes of energy, debris frozen mid-explosion.”
The Legacy Mode is great for:
- Designing characters for animated shorts or series in various styles
- Creating assets for both retro and modern-style 3D games
- Producing anime-style 3D characters and scenes
- Generating dynamic action sequences with a 3D animated feel
These are just starting points – the true power lies within these tools as you begin tweaking settings & combining different elements together. For instance, try using the Phoenix preset but then add stylized elements inspired by concept art or use the graphic design preset as a base for a logo before enhancing it with some of the detailed texturing from illustrative albedo. Play around until you find what works best for your specific project; don’t worry if the first few attempts don’t turn out how imagined – like any skill mastering AI takes practice so keep at it! Remember, half the fun is getting there.
From 2D to 3D: Enter Meshy.ai
So you’ve made stunning 3D images in Leonardo AI; but what about when those need to become complete models? Introducing Meshy.ai!
Meshy.ai is like magic that turns flat creations into three dimensions. Here are the steps:
- Go to Meshy.ai and create an account and in the dashboard click on Image to 3D which is present in the left side bar.
- Upload your Leonardo AI image and wait some time till Meshy.ai converts your image into a 3D model
Source: meshy.ai
- Download the new model by clicking on the download icon and download it in fbx file format because this format preserves the color of the 3D model.
Wait there’s more! Not only can Meshy.ai convert two-dimensional graphics into three-dimensions, but it also has the following features for premium users:
Texture Generation: Automatically create textures for your models without spending hours on them.
Animation: Easy animation-making process by creating animation in character automatically.
Low-Poly Conversion: Need a less resource-intensive version of your model? Meshy.ai can create low-poly versions while keeping the overall shape and details.
I know what you’re thinking: “This sounds too good to be true!” And you should be sceptical. While it is incredibly powerful, Meshy.ai isn’t perfect. Sometimes you’ll need to do a bit of manual tweaking in your favorite 3D software to get things just right. Even then, though, it’s still a huge time-saver over starting from scratch.
Bringing Your Models to Life: Animation Techniques
Now that you’ve got your 3D models ready to go, it’s time to make them animate!
Animating with Meshy.ai:
Meshy.ai offers some basic animation tools that are great for adding simple movements to your models. Want your character to walk? Or maybe you want your product to run? Either way – Meshy.ai has got you covered.
Here’s a quick guide to animating in Meshy.ai:
- Select your 3D model in the Meshy.ai interface
- Click on the ‘Animate’ tab.
- For Meshy.ai to animate the 3D model, it’s better to have a model in a T-pose and a clear gap between limbs, body and palms. You will also find this information in the instructions below.
- For better results, centre your character and adjust the height based on your image.
- Place the markers in your image as shown in the example below. Meshy.ai would use these markers to animate your model. After this is done, click on next and it will start generating an animated model which could take a few minutes.
- Choose from a selection of pre-made animations and click download (Downloading animated model in Meshy.ai is available to only paid users).
- Export your animated 3D model
Animating 3D Model with Adobe Mixamo: The Free Animation Tool
This is a free tool to animate your 3D models, it has even more animation styles compared to Meshy.ai. If you want to take your animations to the next level, Adobe Mixamo is your best bet.
Here’s how to use it:
- Export your 3D model from Meshy.ai in a Mixamo-compatible format (like FBX).
- Head to Mixamo.com and upload your model.
- Choose from hundreds of pre-made animations. Want your character to breakdance? There’s an animation for that!
- Customize the animation to fit your needs. You can adjust the intensity, and speed, and other settings in the animation.
- Download the animated model and show it off to the world!
Remember, animation is all about creating life! Don’t be afraid to experiment – see what happens when you push the boundaries – and, above all else, remember this is supposed to be fun, too.
Real-World Applications: Where Can You Use These 3D Models?
But wait, what?! I can hear you thinking: ‘That’s Cool but what exactly am I supposed to do with them?
Here are some ideas of where you could apply these skills:
1. Video Game Development: Create characters, environments, and objects for your next indie game hit. Imagine being able to design an entire fantasy world filled with unique creatures and landscapes all generated by AI!
2. Film/ Animation: Design stunning visual effects or even entire animated shorts – now imagine doing this as a one-person studio using AI-generated models.
3. 3D Printing: Turn digital creations into physical objects – whether prototyping new products or just printing cool figures you can bring those AI images into the real world with 3D printing!
4. Social Media Content: Create unique 3D assets for posts – what if you could create a virtual influencer or brand animated entirely using AI?
5. Art/Sculpture: Push boundaries in traditional art forms by incorporating AI-generated models into your work – there is no telling where human creativity and artificial intelligence can take us visually.
The possibilities are endless folks! These AI-generated models are here to help unlock potential like never before. So don’t hold back, dream big and make something incredible!
FAQs
Q: Do I need to be an expert in 3D Modeling?
A: Not required. Even if you are a beginner you can still create good 3D Models with the help of AI as long you have a good imagination.
Q: How much time does it take to create a 3D model from start to finish?
A: It depends. But with practice, a basic model could be done in a matter of minutes. A more complex one could take longer, especially if you are doing a lot of iterations.
Q: Do I need a powerful computer to create 3D models?
A: Probably not – Leonardo AI 3D Models and Meshy.ai do most of the heavy lifting in the cloud, but you want a good computer if you’re planning on doing a lot of post-processing or high-res work.
Q: Can I edit the 3D models after they’re created?
A: ABSOLUTELY – you can export it to 3D modelling software (Blender or Maya, for example) for more detailed edits or when you add custom details or combine a few models.
Q: Can I use Leonardo AI to create 3D models of real people?
A: Yes, Leonardo AI can create very realistic-looking humans, but you should be respectful of others’ privacy and copyright so as not to reproduce real people. You can create original characters using it, but I wouldn’t recommend it for replicating existing real people.
Conclusion: The Future is 3D – And It’s Awesome!
Phew! I think we covered enough ground there. From creating beautiful 3D images with Leonardo AI 3D Models to breathing life into them with Meshy.ai and Adobe Mixamo, now you have all the tools you need to create beautiful 3D models that will make your friends say: ‘Wow. How did you do that?’
Keep in mind that 2D to 3D is an adventure, and all adventures are about discovery. So experiment, screw up, and have fun! Who knows what you might create when you are just messing around?
And so? Open up Leonardo AI, roll up your sleeves and let your imagination run amok in three dimensions! The next viral 3D character might be just a couple of clicks away.
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