Zaf, known on Instagram as @zafcinematic, is a solo 3D visual artist and influencer whose work is defined by its atmospheric, cinematic quality. Unlike creators fixated on intricate details, he prioritizes lighting, fog, and mood, crafting scenes that feel quiet and moody. For Zaf, 3D art is less about perfection and more about capturing a vibe, a philosophy that shapes every project he undertakes.
Why Zaf Struggled: Modeling and Texturing Killed His Creative Flow
Working solo, Zaf relies on a toolkit that includes Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Marvelous Designer, and more to bring his visions to life. Yet, for years, one aspect of his workflow consistently held him back: modeling. These technical steps—crafting base shapes, refining UVs, and perfecting textures—often pulled him out of the creative zone, distracting him from the work he loved: tweaking lighting, adjusting fog, or experimenting with composition to nail that moody, cinematic feel.
"Modeling has always been the part that takes the most time for me. And sometimes getting realistic texturing can slow things down too — it can pull you out of the creative flow when you just want to work on the mood or composition."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Before discovering Meshy, Zaf found himself stuck in slow starts. The time spent on foundational modeling tasks made it harder to play with ideas freely. This delay didn't just eat into his schedule—it stifled the organic, loose creative process he prefers, where he lets ideas evolve as he builds.
"Before, I'd overthink whether an idea was worth modeling because it could take hours. Now I can test things in minutes, which keeps the process moving and feels more fun."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Enter Meshy: The Tool That Turned Zaf's 3D Workflow Around
Zaf stumbled upon Meshy while actively searching for tools to speed up his early modeling steps. What caught his attention was Meshy's ability to generate a 3D model from a simple image—an feature that felt tailor-made for his workflow.
" The idea that you could drop in an image and get a 3D model felt perfect for quick scene blocking — especially for the kind of moody, story-driven scenes I like to make."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Unlike other tools that required complex setups or technical expertise, Meshy stood out for its simplicity. Meshy would help him skip the “boring parts” of modeling, letting him dive faster into the creative work of shaping mood and composition.
"It's just quick and simple — less technical setup, and the results are usable right away."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Zaf's 3-Step Meshy Routine: From Image to Cinematic 3D Scene
Meshy integrated seamlessly into Zaf's process, becoming a cornerstone of his early workflow. Here's how he uses it:
1. Early-Stage Scene Blocking
Zaf starts by dropping a reference image into Meshy, which generates a base 3D mesh. This step replaces hours of manual modeling, letting him quickly block out the structure of his scene.
"I drop in a reference image and let Meshy handle the base mesh. It helps me block out ideas quickly before I get into details."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
2. Expanding Variety
To add depth and diversity to his scenes, Zaf often generates multiple versions of the same reference image using Meshy, then scatters these variations throughout the scene. This trick eliminates the need to model every element by hand, saving time while enriching the visual landscape.
3. Seamless Integration with Other Tools
After using Meshy to lay the groundwork, Zaf shifts to his usual toolkit: Blender for refining scenes, DaVinci Resolve for editing, Marvelous Designer for fabric details, Embergen for effects, and Photoshop for tweaks. Meshy's output acts as a flexible foundation, letting him focus on elevating the mood rather than redoing basic shapes.
The Result? Faster Ideas and Richer Atmosphere
Since incorporating Meshy into his workflow, Zaf has seen dramatic changes in both his process and results. The early stages of his projects—once a bottleneck—now move at a pace that keeps up with his creativity.
"It made the start of the process way faster, so now I can test ideas more easily and focus on the parts I enjoy most."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Freed from time-consuming modeling, Zaf devotes more energy to what makes his work unique: lighting, fog, and camera angles that enhance the moody, cinematic feel.
"Some people were surprised it was done so quickly and asked what tool I used. They seemed curious about the workflow and liked seeing how it all comes together behind the scenes."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
What's Next? Meshy & the Future of “Less Tech, More Creativity” in 3D
For Zaf, tools like Meshy are reshaping the future of content creation by stripping away technical barriers. By handling the tedious parts of 3D creation, Meshy lets artists like him focus on what matters: testing ideas, refining mood, and crafting visuals that resonate emotionally.
As Zaf continues to build his portfolio of atmospheric 3D art, Meshy remains a key ally—proof that the best creative tools don't just speed up work, but unlock the freedom to create more authentically.
"They take out the slow, technical steps so you can spend more time being creative. Makes it easier to test ideas and focus on the look and feel instead of the boring parts."
zafcinematic
3D Artist
Ready to skip the tedious modeling grind and dive straight into crafting moody, cinematic 3D scenes? Try Meshy today—turn your ideas into immersive worlds faster, and let your creativity take the lead!
