We’ll be incorporating some of Gnomon’s wonderful DVD tutorials into upcoming programs (and updates). Meanwhile, why not check out some of their free tutorials? Lots of Maya and some Photoshop. This is great for people who are switching from 3ds Max to Maya – you know the concepts, you just need practice finding the tools.
Tag Archive for '3D'
What do set dressers do at Pixar?
Working with the production designer and director, we choose and place all the props—vegetation, furniture, etc.—in the 3-D movie sets. Everything you see in the foreground and background has been placed by a set dresser. Our goal is to best support the film’s characters and their needs.The art department makes “shader packets” that show what types of textures we have to work with. After we put all the props in place, we apply all the graphics, such as a soda can label, and textures, such as a prop that has different types of wood to choose from. (Wood could have a walnut, ash or maple texture and either long or short grain variants.) We apply shader textures to architecture, foliage and props of all types.
Really great interview with an environment artist at Pixar.
My high-school French is really rusty, but my eyes are open wide when enjoying this set of 3D-generated images by Zamak, whose real name (if my gmail detective skills are in order) is Olivier Bucheron. He’s got some amazing character designs and does a lot of texture and render experiments that are simply breathtaking.
The Digital Arts Technology Training Institute has registered on the Autodesk Student Engineering & Design Community networking site. This website community will allow our students to connect with students and faculty in dozens of countries in order to share interests and get inspired.
Students will be able to:
- Download free Autodesk software
- Take self-paced tutorials
- Show off projects
- Learn from experts
- Explore industry careers
Registered users will also have access to question and answer forums, job postings, tips and tricks, a magazine archive, an extensive article database and a resource link repository.
Currently, the community has a Student Design Challenge running with several prize packs including:
- Xbox 360 Game Console
- Full version of Maya® 2008
- Profile on Autodesk.com and in the online Autodesk Student Magazine
- $200 (USD) Visa Gift Card* (or local currency equivalent)
- Grand Prize Winning designer awarded a contract with Disruptive Media Publishers, the leading independent publisher of gamer themes on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace
Students are invited to check their email for an invitation link from their instructor that will allow them to join our school in this community.
I know I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I just came across a great behind-the-scenes post on Autodesk’s website about how their 3dstudio Max software was used to create the game art, and I couldn’t help but post it. It’s an extremely beautiful game, and this post details visually how a combination of simple geometry, displacement maps, normal maps, specular maps and diffuse maps create the look.
This is just the niftiest thing! You can click and drag on the simulated cloth and it will bounce back with elasticity, and turn on an external force in the form of a fan. Fascinating and a little addictive.
OK, I really need to tout our own wares here. Our NEW 3D Game Artist program will give you all the skills necessary to apply for a job such as 3D Background Artist, 3D Artist, or Environment Artist.
The course materials are based on the requirements listed in actual employment ads for these jobs from companies such as Bioware, Blizzard Entertainment, and the Walt Disney Company.
You’ll be learning about the Game Industry, 3D Modeling for Games using Autodesk 3dstudio Max 2008 (including low-poly and subdivision theory), UV Mapping, Game Textures using Adobe Photoshop (including visual effects), ZBrush by Pixologic, Normal Mapping & Texture Baking, how to import your 3D assets into a game engine, and how to set up and display your work in an online portfolio for employers.
The program is in development and we expect it to be enrollable in the spring of 2008.
*Pending Department of Education Approval.
Sign up to be notified when the 3D Game Artist Diploma Program launches! –>
Awarding cash, electronics, software and scholarships, students are given multiple opportunities to win monthly with a grand prize at the end of the competition. Studica Skills is a set of international design contests in 3d animation, character modeling, graphic design, page layout, web design, digital sketching, photography, and dozens more digital media categories.
Created to challenge students both technically and creatively, Studica Skills is designed as an addendum to classroom learning. Awarding cash, electronics, software and scholarships, students are given multiple opportunities to win monthly with a grand prize at the end of the competition.
The competitions can get pretty heated and are a great way to stretch your creative muscles. There are competitions in design categories as well as competitions to test your knowledge of specific software such as Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Illustrator or InDesign.
CD-ED’s Digital Arts Technology Training Institute is working to incorporate the Studica Skills competition into its curriculum to allow students a chance to compare their skill levels and creativity with that of students across North America, as well as with their own local classmates.
It is open to all students, and even if you don’t win you can post your work and have it seen on the largest social networking site on the Internet.
We encourage our best & brightest to submit (that means you!)
* All Competitions are Free to Enter
* Enter as many Competitions as you wish
Studica Skills Competitions at Facebook –>
Studica Skills Competitions online –>
I don’t usually link to our admissions website – it seems narcissistic, somehow, especially with the link quite evident in the sidebar there. However, Evan and I recently completed this Behind the Scenes photo essay. I had a quick concept for a character, and Evan put in the man-hours to flesh out the concept, then model, texture and rig him using 3ds max and ZBrush. (ZBrush isn’t yet offered in our programs, but we expect it to be added this summer.)
After the model was rigged up, I posed him and created a print ad, and Evan did up some Flash animations. There are some longer animations which will be available on our website at a later date, as well.
The photo essay takes you through all the steps, and gives a pretty good impression of the work (and fun!) involved in creating a 3D character from scratch.
This is absolutely perfect for my graphic design, 3d and gaming students. It’s an online portfolio site specifically for artists without web skills. It’s sleek and clean, and I’ve had one or two students submit their portfolios by sending me the URL (which is how I found it). I’ll be suggesting it as part of your final portfolio project!
(Plus, it’s pretty and a good example of webdesign.)