Sword Tutorial

17 Jan

Using the ‘**Creating a Stylized Sword**’ by 3D Artist, Sabrina Echouafni, I decided to follow this tutorial to reintroduce myself back to 3D Space.

Start 17/01/2026

Feeling slightly overwhelmed with the 3D UI in Maya and Zbrush, I have been unable to keep up with the latest programs due to my recent switch into working within the Education industry. This is something I hope to tackle with following this tutorial.

Programs Used

Maya
Zbrush

STEPS MAYA

Scene Prep Part 1 : Setting Project window

Open Maya > create new project > File > Project Window
New > (name project) > click file icon > select where file will be, desktop is good
Accept (this will create many needed files)

Scene Prep Part 2: Setting Project

File > set project > ensure project set to project folder
Select Maya folder > Set
TO CHECK: File > Save As > project should open in ‘scenes’ folder to save as

Setting Project window

What Project file should look like

'Save as' should take you here

Scene Prep Part 3: UI

Switch to Modeling layout > Workspace > Modeling - Standard
Ensure ‘Outliner’ is on

Workspace > Modeling - Standard

Outliner selected

Outliner Visible

Reference:

Spacebar + hold right-click .> Front view
*This will open front view locked camera
View > Image Plane > Import Image
Select image > W > Drag image along axis, position above ground panel
Spacebar > Hover over perspective view > spacebar > adjust position
Spacebar + hold right-click .> Front view
Select Image > Display > Click blue ball with grey diamond ‘create a new layer and assign selected objects’ > this will create a layer for the ref
Click on box beside V,P, _, until R appears
*This will lock the image, unclickable

Adjusting camera angles

create a new layer and assign selected objects

Sword ref layer should look like

Example of correct ref setup

Creating Rough Shape

Mesh Tools > Create Polygon
*Tip: Draw clockwise = Normals face backwards
Draw Anticlockwise = Normals face forwards
*Tip: Mesh display > Reverse = This will reverse Normals
*Tip: Press G to repeat last action
Create Polygon tool, Press Y to use tool again
Create outline of sword using ‘Create Polygon’ tool
Create another ‘inside’ of sword using same ‘Create Polygon’ tool
Highlight sword’s inner face and move outwards to create depth in sword
Adding more details > Hide layer ‘H’ > Mesh Tools > Create Polygon > Start drawing in new details
When half complete > Press ‘ENTER’ > Mesh > Mirror
*This will Mirror the mesh
Direction > +
Border > Merge border
Merge Threshold > 0.1