Vibrant, bustling, and rich with history, the New Delhi Kit brings the energy and texture of India’s capital into 3D worlds. From busy spice markets and tangles of street wires to intricate hanging lights and weathered plaster walls, every asset reflects the city’s unique character.
In this edition of Behind the Kit, we spoke with the artists who built this Kit, exploring the immersive details they loved creating, the technical challenges they overcame, and the lessons learned in capturing New Delhi’s authentic spirit. Discover how the team combined meticulous textures, modular efficiency, and artistic storytelling to breathe life into every corner of this world.
What was your favorite part about working on New Delhi and why?
“I tend to model a lot of 'clean' shapes and forms, so it was a lot of fun being able to go nuts on the chaotic tangle of cables and add a lot of fun variety.” - Brandon Acree, 3D Modeler
“I had many favorites during this project: 1. The Indian culture, with its diversity and richness of visual images, which I immersed myself in when collecting references and analyzing the architecture and materials used in India. 2. I would also like to mention some of the props that I textured. These included beautifully decorated pendant lights, which immediately captured my attention with their retro style. For them, I created tileable materials in Substance Designer and then used them in Substance Painter to texture complex elements. 3. And of course, the materials, for this project, I created several tools for generating different types of Plaster, and the most interesting were the decal materials with damaged plaster layers and exposed bricks.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“Texturing props with unique details was my favorite part; every little element tells a story, and that's what brings the design to life. I love how a simple detail can transform an object into something memorable and full of personality!” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
What was the most challenging part of this Kit? How did you overcome that challenge?
“In this project, we actively used the Blender Asset Browser as a collaboration tool, as the team of modelers and texture artists worked in parallel. This posed several technical limitations and inconveniences. In my free time, I developed a set of automation and asset management tools for Blender to help the teams move faster, especially when we needed hundreds of different module variations with different materials for various building elements.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“New Delhi is not just a city, it is a collage of textures with soul. The challenge was to infuse that spirit into every material: the cracked plaster of the temples, the rusted metal of the street stalls... We solved it with layers of dirt, color variations, and teamwork. The result was a Kit full of personality, ready to take scenes to the next level.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
What was the biggest thing you learned while developing the Kit?
“Developing the New Delhi Kit taught me that authenticity lies in imperfections, and I learned to balance procedural efficiency with artisanal details: how strategic layers of dirt and subtle color variations can make each prop feel lived-in. Now I see every material as an opportunity to hide narrative clues for artists to discover.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“In this project, I learned a lot of new things about working with the Asset Browser and discovered many pitfalls both in the Blender API and in using Blender in a project where multiple teams are working on it simultaneously. This is especially true when it comes to a single file that multiple people need to access.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“Set dressing was a fun challenge since this is something I'm fairly new to. It was still a ton of fun to go through and add the little quirks and imperfections that make the environment feel lived in.” - Brandon Acree, 3D Modeler
Is there anything about the New Delhi Kit you'd like to highlight or shout out?
“The texturing team knocked it out of the park on this one. There is a ton of detail and a lot of coordination between us that really helped this Kit shine.” - Joseph Sylvester, 3D Modeler
“I knew it was going to be a good-looking Kit while it was being modeled, but the detail and variety that Alexey and Gabs added to the textures blew me away! The color palette is amazing and really helps pull me!” - Brandon Acree, 3D Modeler
“Alexey's incredible guidance throughout the development of the New Delhi Kit! Working closely with him was key to polishing every detail, from the authenticity of the textures to the optimization of the models. His expertise helped us find the perfect balance between artistic quality and technical functionality.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“The main thing in any Kit is the team that worked on it. I want to especially mention the efforts of all the artists who participated in making this Kit.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
Do you have a favorite asset from the New Delhi Kit?
“My favorite assets from this Kit are the hanging lights, the damage decals, and the large Doors and Windows sets that I've textured using Trims to make them as optimized and efficient as possible.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“Probably the large spice market is my favorite. Tons of detail in the architecture as well as a lot of vendors at the base to create that bustling feeling.” - Joseph Sylvester, 3D Modeler
“The dumpsters and wood tables.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
Was there anything that surprised you about this theme or the Kit while you worked on it?
“This set amazed me with the amount of content, options for walls, doors, windows, a lot of props like garbage on the streets, but nothing amazes me more than the people who made it all come to life. From 2D concept to 3D visualization ready to fill your worlds!” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“Absolutely! The most surprising thing about this Kit was discovering how a city as chaotically beautiful as Delhi actually follows hidden visual patterns. The mismatched colors of the walls, faded pinks, washed-out blues, create a harmonious palette when viewed together.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
Which material or asset were you the most excited about creating and why?
“I was really excited about the props I textured. These included beautifully decorated pendant lights, which immediately captured my attention with their retro style. For them, I created tileable materials in Substance Designer and then used them in Substance Painter to texture complex elements. And of course, the materials for this project, I created several tools for generating different types of Plaster, and the most interesting were the decal materials with damaged plaster layers and exposed bricks.” - Aleksei Druzhkov, Technical Artist
“The street props were my favorite! The food carts with their rusted textures and peeling paint, and the tables/chairs with their unique wear and tear, capture the vibrant essence of Delhi. I loved recreating those imperfections that tell stories. Every detail, from the marks of use to the worn stickers, adds authenticity.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
From the colorful chaos of street markets to the subtle imperfections of plastered walls and rusted props, the New Delhi Kit celebrates authenticity in every detail. The dedication of the team, from modelers, texture artists, and technical innovators, ensures that every asset feels lived-in and full of story.
The New Delhi Kit is available now in Cargo and on our web store. Immerse yourself in its streets, textures, and treasures, and tag @KitBash3D in your creations.
