Hard-surface realism · 2022

Thor’s Mjölnir

Mjölnir from the Marvel films, modeled in Blender and textured in Substance Painter to read as a real object.

Year

2022

Type

Personal study in realism

Output

Stills on two backgrounds, and animation

Tools
  • Blender
  • Substance Painter

A long focal length keeps the composition flat, and a shallow depth of field keeps the hammer in charge, quieting the background without losing its small details.

Process

  1. Reference

    A collection of references from the films.

  2. Mood board and sketches

    Ideas for the composition.

  3. Modeling

    Built in Blender.

  4. Texturing

    Worn metal and leather in Substance Painter.

  5. Camera and render

    Long lens, shallow depth of field.

References

Gathered before modeling: stills and posters from the films, replica props, an engineering drawing and fan art. These are not my work; artists are credited where known.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor holding Mjölnir, in a still from the films
Marvel Studios
Poster art: an armored hand gripping Mjölnir as lightning strikes it
Mjölnir standing on its head in dirt, its leather strap looped at the top
Mjölnir lying in heavy rain, its handle wrapped in leather
A costume replica of Mjölnir with a brown wrist strap, on white
A silver replica of Mjölnir resting on a tree stump
An engineering drawing of the hammer in three views, with dimensions
Drawing via Dreamstime
A render of Mjölnir standing in cracked desert ground
Render by Rafael S. Benedicto
A black-and-white comic ink drawing of a hand gripping Mjölnir amid lightning
Ink by Mike Deodato Jr.

3D modeling

The geometry, the black-and-white maps for the engravings, and the result in clay.

Blender viewport, front view: the hammer in wireframe, its head outlined in orange
Wireframe, front.
Black-and-white map of the knot with runes, used for the engraving on each face
Map for the knot and runes on each face.
Clay view of the head: the knot, its runes and the braided side panel cut into plain grey
Clay: the knot cut into the face.
Blender viewport, three-quarter view: the hammer in wireframe, its head outlined in orange
Wireframe, three-quarter view.
Black-and-white map of a ring of runes, used for the engraving around the handle
Map for the ring of runes around the handle.
Clay view from above: the pommel’s cross and inscription inside a ring of runes
Clay: the pommel and the ring of runes.

Two backgrounds

The same hammer, set two ways.

Mjölnir on sunlit desert rock, the engraved knot facing the camera
Mjölnir against a dark forest at dusk, its engraved knot glowing gold

Still frames

Mjölnir, engraved with a Celtic knot, resting on mossy rocks in low golden light
Mjölnir standing on sunlit desert rock, casting a hard shadow
The whole hammer on black: a worn metal head and a leather-wrapped handle
Looking down the handle at the pommel, engraved with a cross and the words “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor”
The base of the handle: a knurled steel collar ringed by engraved runes
Close-up of the engraved knot and runes on the hammer’s face, with braided knotwork along its edge

Details

Modeling
Blender
Texturing
Substance Painter
Camera
Long focal length, shallow depth of field
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