Güiro frog

A carved wooden güiro frog, the percussion instrument that sounds when you rub its back with its little stick. We use it to show how we build a 3D asset at the studio, from the first shape to the final render.

1. References and blockout

It all starts by looking at the real object: photos from every angle, measurements and how the light falls on it. From there we build a blockout of simple shapes to nail proportions and silhouette before going into detail.

2. Sculpting

On that base we sculpt the detail: the ridges on the back, the gouge marks and the grooves that make the güiro sing. We want the craftsman's hand to show, not a perfect computer shape.

3. Retopology and UVs

The sculpt has millions of polygons. We turn it into a light, clean mesh, unwrap its UVs and bake the detail into normal and occlusion maps. The model stays light and keeps all its relief.

4. Texturing

We paint in layers, just like the real piece: first the wood, then the turquoise paint and then the wear, which reveals the wood on the edges and wherever it's touched most. The result is a set of PBR maps that work in any engine.

5. Lighting and render

With the material ready we set up studio lighting and capture the views: full turnaround, details and shots for store, social media or presentations.

6. Delivery

The asset ships ready for whatever the client needs: high-res renders, turnaround video, a light model for web or augmented reality, or a file for 3D printing.