In my first Cgtuts+ premium tutorial, I'll guide you through the process of creating a detailed high resolution Civil War cannon using 3D Studio Max, Photoshop and xNormal. The tutorial spans a full Seventeen hours, and covers the entire process from start to finish in real time. The cannon we'll be building is based on the “12-pound Whitworth Breechloading Field Gun” and we'll make every attempt to recreate it as accurately as we can. (given the available reference)

We'll utilize a wide range of tools and techniques, including basic poly modeling and spline work, to more advanced subdivision modeling. With the model completed, we'll move onto uvmapping, using many of Max's built in tools. We'll also discuss mesh optimization and how to approach mapping high-res geometry.

In the final part, we'll move into Photoshop where we'll create our Diffuse, Bump and Specular maps. Rendering out uv templates, exporting geometry, creating AO maps, lighting the scene, shader creation and completing a final render are also covered in detail. Note* Because this is designated as Premium Content on CgTuts+. You must have a premium membership ($9 per month) to view the tutorial.