Audiences instantly judge the believability of a project based on whether or not it meets their appearance expectations. For realistic human figures and scenery in a museum diorama, the benchmark is based on our previous interactions with the real world. For figures and scenery based on an animated film, the benchmark is based on the visitor’s experience with the IP across the films, toys, posters, etc.  

In each case, we mix and match a variety of appearance details – form, texture, color, lighting, etc. – to create the most accurate appearance of each element in a project. In this image, we’re exploring the best tones and application techniques for a museum figure.