Modelling Digi-Doubles for VFX 2025

Learn how to create a digi-double from scan to final topology

Modelling Digi-Doubles for VFX is a live/online course that will take you through the process of creating an industry-standard digital double model and sculpt, ready to be rigged and textured.

For those that cannot make the live/online sessions, they will be recorded and uploaded to the CAVE platform, so you’ll be able to work through the teaching at your own pace.

The course will begin by working with a production-quality scan data provided by Clear Angle Studios and then fitting the CAVE base mesh to block out the initial proportions. From here, we’ll look at lining up the model to the reference using Faceform Wrap, and then using the photographic reference for final lineup. We’ll then model and UV the costume before moving into ZBrush and transferring/adding high resolution detail.

We’ll also look at creating a basic character rig, allowing us to easily switch between scan pose, A-pose and T-pose.

Lastly, we’ll create a series of production style renders and turntables to make our asset ready for review and sign off.

Students who enrol on the course will also have access to our on-demand course, Introduction to Maya 1001, to ensure you are ready for the course from the offset.

Course Details

Type: Online
Level: Intermediate
Format: Online Zoom meetings
Term 2: Summer
Schedule: 19th May 2025 - 11th July 2025
Workshop Session: 3hrs. Date TBC
Feedback Session: 2hrs. Date TBC
Tools: Maya, ZBrush, Faceform, Nuke, Arnold
Prerequisites: Introduction to Maya 1001
Course Access Time: Lifetime

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Lessons in this course

Week 01. Reference, Pipeline and Workflows

In this lesson, we’ll break down the asset brief, prep our scan data, and then set up our Modelling environment. We’ll also cover some modelling pipeline steps and workflows for creating digi-doubles.
Available on: 2025.05.19 9:00 am
Week 02. Working with Scan Data, Base Meshes, LODs and Topology

This lesson, we’ll prep the scan data that has been provided by Clear Angle Studios, give an overview on the importance of LODs, topology, and assess our base mesh.
Available on: 2025.05.26 9:00 am
Week 03. Model Alignment with Wrap

In this lesson, we’ll use Faceform Wrap to align our base mesh to the scan data and look at how to resolve some of the issues that may arise.
Available on: 2025.06.02 9:00 am
Week 04. Refining the Body

With the base mesh blocked out and roughly lined up, we’ll move on to refining the lineup of all the key features of the body using our photographic reference.
Available on: 2025.06.09 9:00 am
Week 05. Refining the Head

Following on from the body, let's now focus our attention to lining up all the key features of the head using our photographic reference.
Available on: 2025.06.16 9:00 am
Week 06. Modelling the Costume

In this lesson, we'll be modelling and creating the UVs for the costume.
Available on: 2025.06.23 9:00 am
Week 07. Transferring the High Res Details in Zbrush

Working with both the full body and the high res head sculpt, let's take a look at how we can go about extracting as much high resolution detail as possible and transfer it over to our production model. We'll also look at using the photographic images to add additional pore detail.
Available on: 2025.06.30 9:00 am
Week 08. Finalising the Model and Creating Turntable Renders

In this lesson, we'll check our model is production-friendly and create a series of production qulaity model turntables for supervisor/client review. This will include full body and head renders aligned to the camera views, and studio-sytle renders using a custom 3-point lighting setup.
Available on: 2025.07.07 9:00 am

Course Information

Course Type: Live, Online Zoom meetings
Schedule: 19th May 2025 - 11th July 2025
Workshop Session: 3hrs. Date TBC.
Feedback Session: 2hrs. Date TBC.

Tutor: Christopher Antoniou

Head of Assets

Our Head of Assets, Christopher Antoniou is an artist at heart, who aims to uplift and inspire others with his work. On his travels towards this goal, he has been working as an asset supervisor for advertising, tv and film. Chris is currently a VFX Supervisor at Outpost VFX. Previously, Chris has held positions as Head of Build for MPC Episodic and DNEG, and as an Asset Supervisor ILM. Chris also teaches at numerous educational institutes around the world.

Early Bird Offer: save 20%

Enrol before 01st May: £224.99 (Standard Course Fee: £279.99)

Enrol on Course

FAQs

How will this course be delivered?

This course will be delivered live and online via Zoom. Each week, we'll run 2 workshop sessions and 1 feedback/review session. On occasions, you may be presented with some pre-recorded content (for example, if we are on an external shoot) but for the most part, the primary content will be delivered live.
What day and time is the live workshop?

4hrs. Date TBC.
What day and time is the live feedback/review session?

2hrs. Date TBC.
If I cannot make the live sessions, will they be recorded and made available for viewing later on?

Yes. All live sessions will be recorded and made available on the course lesson page. This usually takes us around 24hrs to edit and upload the video recordings.
Can we pay in instalments?

Yes, depending on the length of the course, you can pay an initial deposit and then spread the remainder of the cost over a series of months. If you are enrolling on multiple courses, we'd be more than happy to create a custom payment plan for you.
Is there a discount if we purchase multiple line/online courses?

Yes, we are happy to offer a 10% discount per course for enrolling on 2 courses, and a 20% discount per course when enrolling on 3 or more courses. Please get in touch for more info.
Will we have lifetime access to the recorded course content?

Yes, you will have lifetime access to the course content via our CAVE platform.
Will we be required to complete exercises?

Each week, we'll be setting an exercise. You will be treated as adults, so it will be on you to complete the exercises. We understand that time is precious and you may have other commitments, which result in you missing an exercise or possibly falling behind. If so, do get in touch and we'll be more than happy to support you in catching up and developing your skills. We will be using SyncSketch for the review sessions, of which you will be able to access as a CAVE Academy student.
Will there be a final assignment?

Each course will have a slightly different outcome but overall, yes, you will be tasked with creating an 'output' for each course. For Modelling, this may be a final model plus model turntable renders. For a Concept Art based course, this might be a series of production quality images. For every course, you will have an output for your portfolio (should your work be signed off by the tutor).
Will any support be provided outside of the live sessions?

Yes - we use Discord for out of class discussions and if you have any other issues, you are more than welcome to send us an email directly. And if required, we'd be more than happy to catch up via a one-to-one Zoom session.
Will there be any support after the course has finished?

We'll be more than happy to continue supporting students after the duration of the course as they work on their final assignment.
Will data be provided for the courses?

Yes - we'll be providing data where required and dependent on the course. The majority of our course content is project-based and created using CAVE IP (scripts, concepts, models, textures, HDRIs, video footage, etc.) of which you will have access to. Please note that the data should not be shared externally for any purpose.
Will software be provided for the course?

Where possible, we will provide software at student rates. For example, for any students enrolled on our live/online courses, we can provide access to the Adobe and Substance Suite, and students are able to access the Foundry products at student rates (95% discount). We will also be providing access to Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid) and SyncSketch. We are in discussion with Maxon and Autodesk for student licences but currently cannot provide these apps.
Will we be working within a specific colour space?

We will be working within an ACEScg colour space with an sRGB viewing LUT (out of the box Maya 2022+ setup).

Modelling Digi-Doubles for VFX 2025

From scan data to final topology, learn how to model a production-ready digi-double asset for VFX