Ever since Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) emerged, one can say that visualization and research have taken a huge leap into the future. However, while that’s the case, it can never be compared to the breakthroughs that 3D characters introduced. 

With 3D characters, we gained the ability to view and understand things from an entirely new and far clearer perspective. But for years, 3D character artists faced one major issue: the complex and time-consuming process of bringing these digital beings to life

However, that’s now in the past. Thanks to the AI 3D character generator, things are way easier than they ever were. The years of training once required to master 3D artistry have been reduced to mere moments, and just about anyone can be a master of 3D character artistry. 

Sounds fascinating, right? You’re about to discover just how exciting the AI 3D character generation experience can be.

From CGI to AI: The Evolution of Digital Visualization

Did you know that CGI was initially invented in the 1960s for research and engineering? Yeah, many aren’t aware, but that was the initial purpose of the computer-generated imagery. It was only around the early twenty-first century that movie producers found out that it was possible to produce movies using CGI, particularly using 3D modelling.

One of the first movies to be produced using 3D modelling was Toy Story (1995). These movies consisted only of 3D characters, and the end product turned out pretty good. As a result, a lot of movie producers followed suit in implementing 3D characters in their movies.

At the end of the day, things were going exceptionally well on the surface. However, the problem was that the producers were spending outrageous amounts to create these 3D characters. What’s more, there was also the technicality and time involved. Only a few could keep up.

However, that’s in the past. In the year 2017, AI 3D character generators joined the quest for visualization and 3D character creation. And ever since, things have never been the same. 

What is an AI 3D Character Generator?

Just in case you are still wondering what an AI 3D character generator is, you should know that it’s a digital tool that uses artificial intelligence to automatically create three-dimensional characters. These 3D characters could be either human or non-human. The creation is done in such a way that the anatomy, texture, and everything look pretty realistic, and all it takes is just a few lines of text, prompts, images, or sketches.

Unlike the olden days, one doesn’t really need to have so much experience to create 3D characters using an AI 3D character generator. All the work is done in the mind, depending on one’s imagination and sense of creation.

The Technology Behind the AI 3D Character Generator 

Comparing the two times, back in the days, AI 3D character creations involved several steps. In sequence, it was from concept design to geometry creation, texturing, and rigging, and then animation and rendering. Now, it takes just a click of a button to achieve all of those tasks simultaneously. So how does that work?

How the AI 3D character generator works is that it processes the text or prompts using AI and machine learning models. Although before this stage, the models must have been trained on large datasets of 3D shapes and materials. So, they are able to process the results accurately. 

For a realistic face and texture, the Generative Adversarial Networks play an important role, while the diffusion models ensure that an accurate geometry is generated. On the other hand, physics-based rendering plays its part in ensuring that the natural lighting and shadows blend well. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Apparently, the bulk of the work goes into ensuring the systems learn the real structures so that they are able to create more natural results. The more data they process, the more realistic and customizable their creations become.

Popular AI 3D Character Generators You Can Find

Just as it is with several other AI generators, it seems like there are already a couple of AI 3D character generators flooding the internet as it stands. One of the most popular ones I’ll recommend if you are looking to create 3D characters includes:

1. Ready Player Me

Kicking off the list with Ready Player Me, you should know that this particular AI 3D character generator is one of the most popular ones out there. It was developed by WOLF3D to enable users to generate full-body 3D avatars in seconds just by uploading a selfie. Yes, that simple. And the characters could even be modified as one sees fit. 

And you know the great part? It can be used in several kinds of applications, games, and virtual realities. At this point, this AI 3D character generator has become a go-to place for a whole lot of developers and companies because of its reliability. So you might want to check it out.

2. Luma AI

Next on the list is Luma AI by Luma Labs. This particular AI 3D character generator enables creators to generate realistic 3D models, environments, and animations from everyday inputs like text prompts or just regular images. The AI responsible for the beautiful, realistic result you get at the end is known as Genie. 

Beyond text-to-3D, Luma AI also supports advanced scanning and capture workflows. What this means is that you can capture real-world objects and turn them into a 3D Neural Radiance Field that can be imported into tools like Unreal Engine.

3. Meshy

This one isn’t just an AI 3D character generator; it’s also an asset generator that’s changing how digital creators bring ideas to life. It’s popular amongst artists, animators, and game developers. As a matter of fact, the working principle of Meshy is similar to Luma AI in the sense that it converts text prompts to 3D models. 

The only difference here is that there is no need for manual modeling since the generator is capable of generating high-quality meshes already.

4. Inworld AI

Compared to the others in this list, Inworld AI sort of takes things to a whole other level. You know how the characters in your games get interactive and provide an immersive experience; that’s basically what this one is capable of. 

As an AI that powers 3D characters, Inworld AI was founded in 2021 in California, centered around the field of AI-driven non-player characters and narrative systems. And it has more than helped in enabling real-time conversational AI that blends speech to text, text to speech, and various other support that characters need.

Conclusion

While AI 3D character generators continue to strive towards perfection, I predict that by 2030, CGI will take yet another leap into the future in a bid to enhance visualization to total perfection. Think about it: with the growing number of AI generators flooding the market, developers are constantly in pursuit of excellence.

This competitive drive will only accelerate innovation, refining the performance and capabilities of AI 3D character tools at an incredible pace. It’s exciting what awaits us in the future. Are you as excited as I am?