The base scene was created in Maxon Cinema4D, with shading, lighting and rendering handled in Autodesk Arnold – see our guides to the best 3D modelling software and the best rendering software. Lighting and textures Once the composition is set, I focus on the lighting and textures. I refine materials to achieve a retro anime feel, using Arnold’s node system while adding noise for subtle imperfections. Final polish in post After rendering, I move into Adobe Photoshop for the final touches. I also handle colour grading and lighting at this stage, often using Adobe Camera Raw presets for consistency.