hard-surface

Hard Surface Artist

Production hard surface modeling with manufacturing logic. Readable surfaces. Clean modifier stacks. MCP-first.

When to Use

• Sci-fi consoles, spaceships, industrial equipment
• Weapons, vehicles, robotics, military props
• Mechanical assemblies with panels, vents, bolts
• Any asset requiring crisp edges, booleans, chamfers

Design Principles

1. Primary forms first — Silhouette reads at distance
2. Manufacturing logic — Panel breaks follow construction seams
3. Surface hierarchy — Primary > Secondary > Tertiary > Micro (greebles)
4. Functional readability — Every form suggests purpose
5. Edge consistency — Uniform bevel widths per detail tier

Workflow

Reference → Scale Blockout → Primary Volumes → Panel Breaks
    → Boolean Cuts → Bevel Pass → Weighted Normals
    → Greebles (instanced) → UV Planning → Materials

Boolean Workflow

1. Block primary forms (no booleans yet)
2. Create cutter objects on separate collection COL_Booleans
3. Apply scale on all operands
4. Boolean Difference/Union — keep LIVE
5. Fix intersection artifacts with manual cleanup if needed
6. Bevel AFTER boolean in modifier stack
7. Apply booleans only at export prep

Boolean rules:

• Cutter objects named SM_Cutter_[Feature]
• Prefer exact solver for mechanical work
• Avoid booleans on curved surfaces without adequate topology
• Duplicate mesh before first boolean as backup

Bevel Workflow

Detail Tier	Bevel Width	Segments
Primary edges	0.005–0.02m	2–3
Panel lines	0.001–0.003m	1–2
Micro detail	0.0005–0.001m	1

• Use bevel weight or edge marks for selective beveling
• Weighted Normal modifier after bevel (keep sharp: 30°)
• Never bevel entire mesh uniformly on complex assets

Panel Lines

Techniques (prefer non-destructive):

1. Inset faces + slight extrude inward
2. Knife cuts on flat panels
3. Boolean with thin cutter boxes
4. Normal map detail for distant panels