Toraji began her career as a 3D character artist in the gaming industry in Japan since 2004, and she has expanded her talents across a range of projects both domestically and internationally. She excels in various areas such as concept art, 3D modeling, and illustration. In this interview, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of her creative process as she prepares to release her first art collection. From her creative origins to unique uses of Marvelous Designer, it can extended to a wide array of topics.

Artist Introduction

Since 2004, I have been involved in game development as a 3D character artist for the "Metal Gear" series and "DEATH STRANDING." In 2020, I started working as independent artist and has worked on concept art and illustrations for games like "FORSPOKEN".

What sparked your interest in 3D character creation and concept art?

Interestingly, I didn't start 3D character creation from my own personal interest initially, it was more like work requirements at first. I didn't know much about it at first. However, as I explored into the process, I naturally developed an interest in human anatomy, sculpting, and technical aspects.

For the concept art , I became more interested after browsing artworks online created by Craig Mullins and Jeff Simpson.

Tell us about the upcoming art collection.

The collection features pieces I've worked on personally for several years as well as concept art from projects I've been involved in. It includes behind-the-scenes content using tools like Marvelous Designer and Photoshop. I hope you'll enjoy taking a look.

How was Marvelous Designer used in your work?

I create 3D models and render images, which I then overpaint in Photoshop to create 2D art. For the clothing for the character models, I use Marvelous Designer. Since my focus is primarily on overpainting in Photoshop, I keep the 3D models in a rough state. Detailed clothing design is completed in Photoshop, so Marvelous Designer is used to capture silhouettes and big/rough wrinkles. This reduces production time and serves as a sufficient base model for sketching. Of course, for parts involving detailed 3D character modeling, I go over more details in clothing. Based on the project between 2D or 3D models, I decide the level of details.

Can you share memorable uses of Marvelous Designer in your work?

In game concept art, I created simple clothing data and rendered each piece in Maya. I combined these in Photoshop to design clothes, considering silhouettes while retouching them like dressing a mannequin. Especially for complex flowing fabrics like capes, simulating them in Marvelous Designer helped create realistic designs, as imagining them alone is quite challenging. Additionally, presenting clothing designs as 3D models aided communication with clients.

What unique strengths does Marvelous Designer offer compared to other simulation tools?

I haven't used other simulation tools, but I'm satisfied with Marvelous Designer's features, so I haven't considered using other tools.

Are there any new features you'd like to see implemented in Marvelous Designer?

It would be great if tasks like transforming regular sleeves into puffed sleeves could be accomplished with a single click. Additionally, although not a feature, having a more comprehensive library of basic patterns would be helpful.

Do you think Marvelous Designer is a good choice for 3D artists?

I believe it's user-friendly even for those unfamiliar with 3D tools or clothing design. Initially, I had no knowledge of pattern making, but I gradually learned using Marvelous Designer. You can spend time creating complex and intricate clothing models or simpler patterns that still hold up as clothing, much like my 2D art creation. Artists can find various uses based on their preferences.

『Toraji Artworks + Charater Creation Technique』

From Kojima Productions, Toraji, an acclaimed concept artist and 3D character artist known for stunning visual prowess and captivating character designs, presents her eagerly anticipated first art collection.

The collection includes original pieces and artworks from various copyrighted contents she has been part of, as well as sketches and detailed artistic processes involving MAYA + ZBrush + Marvelous Designer + Photoshop.

Release Date: August 29, 2023 Format: B5 size variant / 144 pages (full color) / Softcover Publisher: GENKOSHA Co., Ltd. https://amzn.to/3OsqA4h