Step into the world of footwear design and learn how to bring realistic, beautifully crafted shoes to life in DAZ Studio!

This introductory course by Nelieta, a published DAZ 3D artist, is your guide to learning essentials on techniques and industry secrets for rigging and designing 3D shoes. Perfect for content creators and 3D content creators alike, this tutorial covers everything from foundational rigging tips to detailed shoe anatomy.

What You’ll Learn:

- Footwear History & Design Fundamentals: Understand the evolution of shoe design, from ancient styles to iconic modern pieces, and discover how historical influences shape 3D models today.
- Innovative Techniques & Tools: Explore the latest tools for modeling, including brushes for intricate detailing, tips for realistic texturing, and best practices in topology and UV mapping.
- Rigging Essentials for DAZ Studio: Master weight mapping, joint physics, and rigidity groups to ensure smooth, natural shoe movement across DAZ character morphs.
- Future-Proofing Your Models: Gain insights into sustainable materials and smart shoe tech trends, giving you a competitive edge in modern 3D footwear design.
- Supporting Multiple Body Shapes: Learn how to make your shoes versatile across Genesis 9, Genesis 8, and fantasy character morphs, enhancing your product’s appeal and usability.

Why Choose This Tutorial?

Guided by Nelieta, an experienced DAZ 3D artist, this tutorial offers clear, step-by-step instruction tailored to both beginners and intermediate users. You'll gain practical skills and insider knowledge on crafting shoes that not only look stunning but also perform smoothly in animations and fit a variety of DAZ Studio characters. This course combines technical know-how with creative insights, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to level up their 3D footwear design.

This forms a self contained introduction to shoe design and rigging for content creators. A more advanced course tutorial set will be available separately.

About the Presenter: Nelieta Van Der Merwe (aka Nelmi)

Nelieta is a 3D content creator, born and bred in South Africa and currently based in Cordoba, Argentina. She has a formal education in Corporate Finance and worked as a Commercial Financial Director for a large steel company in a previous life.

She is passionate about photography and started out in the 3D world by creating PBR textures from her own photos.

That gradually progressed to Daz Iray Shaders and the creation of texture add-ons for 3D clothing and content.

Learning how to make and rig 3D clothing was not an easy task, and each project is a learning curve. She likes to challenge herself and focuses on quality 3D content.

Nelieta uses Marvelous Designer, Daz Studio, ZBrush, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Substance Painter.

Nelieta is a firm believer of sharing one’s knowledge, which is the road to empowerment. She loves traveling and exploring different cultures, watching crime movies on Netflix, and an early morning cup of coffee. She speaks three languages: Afrikaans, English, and Spanish.