Modelling Digi-Doubles for VFX 2025

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

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

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 automatic access to the following on-demand courses to ensure you are up-and-running from the offset for character creation:

And thanks to the wonderful folk at Faceform, enrolled students will also be provided with a FREE license of Wrap throughout the duration of the course.

Course Details

Type: On-demand
Level: Intermediate
Lessons: 12
Duration: 30+ hours
Format: Video on-demand
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.
Week 02.01. Introduction to CAS Scan Data

In this lesson, we'll assess a standard CAS handover package for a full body scan and a head scan.
Week 02.02. Prepping our Full Body and Head Scans

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.
Week 03.01. Scan Cleanup and Alignment with Wrap Overview

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.
Week 03.02. Prepping and Cleaning our Scan Data

Now that we've seen one approach to cleaning up and wrapping a basemesh to a scan, let's now wortk through the steps from the ground up (and using a slightly different approach). In this lesson, we'll focus on cleaning up our scan and creating selection sets for east wrapping.
Week 04. Wrapping the Head and the Body

With the scan prepped, let's now look at wrapping the base mesh to the head and the body. We'll also look at transferring textures and combining dfifferent meshes together.
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.
Week 06. Refining the Body

In this lesson, we will continue the cleanup of our asset with a focus on the body.
Week 07. Modelling the Costume

In this lesson, we'll focus on modelling the costume.
Week 08. Finalising the Model and Creating Studio 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-style renders using a custom 3-point lighting setup.
Week 09. Creating the Full Body Light Rig

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-style renders using a custom 3-point lighting setup.
Week 10. High Res Detailing, Final Tweaks and Renders

In this final lesson, we'll add high res details to our sculpt, make our final tweaks and renders for review.
Available on: 2026.05.01 9:00 am
BONUS. Shooting Geometry Reference

Capturing geometric reference is both useful for the modelling and the camera tracking departments. We’ll look at how to go about capturing reference for both assets and environments to support both teams.
BONUS. Asset Shoot Exercise

Using the techniques demonstrated in the previous lessons, we’ll run through the process of capturing a full data set (geometric, texture, look development and lighting reference) for an asset.

Tutor: Jahirul Amin

CAVE Academy Founder | VFX Teacher

Jahirul Amin is a Computer Animation and Visual Effects Teacher and Consultant. He specialises in designing and delivering courses to create solid and diverse production ready skills in all 3D related departments and across a number of facilities worldwide. His background in academia feeds into his ongoing connections with Universities and Colleges which provide Computer Animation and Visual Effects courses. He is also involved in course and examination design as well as lecturing, running workshops and mentoring.

Course Fee: £299.99

Format: Video on-demand

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Modelling Digi-Doubles for VFX 2025

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