The 3d Blogger

Punk Girl

2011-07-01T19:30:00.002-04:00

Ready for adventure...

2011-06-11T12:06:00.001-04:00

There is no ages for adventure..

Completely done in zbrush4, composited in photoshop.

Steampunk worker

2011-04-11T16:41:00.002-04:00

Hi this is my last work, it is a steampunk work who use a giant mecanised screwdriver.
Dobne in zbrush and 3dsmax. Composited in photoshop.

selfportrait

2011-02-25T10:11:00.002-05:00

Hi to pratice anatomy modelling and specially face modelling I use myself as references. Done in zbrush 4 and composited in photoshop. All my friend told me it look like me except maybe for the left eyes...

2011-02-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

My latest work, done it with the new zsketch zsphere in Zbrush 4. Rendered in Zbrush and composited in photoshop.

MoonBall

2011-01-27T15:44:00.002-05:00

Hi this is the latest thing that ive done with my new pc. Just for fun took me about 2hour modelling texture and compositing.

2010-12-23T17:16:00.002-05:00

This is John '' Piggie'' Chops. He's living in Porkland on Hellhamm Street boulevard.

Enterely done in Zbrush, textured in zbrush and photoshop. Composited in photoshop.

2010-05-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

Toujours en wip, le concept a changé un peu. La texture est pas mal finis et je fais des test de posture et de coupe de cheveux.. et des test de render et de composition pour me donner un apercu de ce que le résultat final peut avoir l'air.. Sur la deuxieme photo en plus gros plan on voit que c'est facile changer l'expression du visage avec zbrush. :OP

Bad rabbit

2010-03-24T10:35:00.004-04:00

A vision of what I would have like to see in a more dejanted and hardcore version of Alice in wonderland. Ive modele in Zbrush with the help of zsphere. I rendered it in zbrush and composite it in photoshop. The texture is polypainting.

Joker..?

2010-01-23T15:46:00.004-05:00

HI this is my last project... Actually this is just the head of my latest project That im still currently working on it.

I was trying some correction on the head texture in photoshop and end up with that saturate look with the green resorting in the eyes zone and the more saturate lips. At first I didint like it but Ive still done a render of it just to compare between other render with differents texture.

When I checked the render Ive thought it looks a little like the joker and I decided to make a picture for my desktop background for fun. The final character will not look the same at all.

Hope you like it! Have fun!

Sam the 3d blogger

Asian Lodge

2009-10-16T22:37:00.003-04:00

done in 3ds max and the texture are done after pictures and worked in photoshop

What's up Doct!

2009-06-01T23:24:00.006-04:00

Hi! This my last project that Im working on. Just having fun with the zsphere. It seems I understand better how they work now and as well my sculpting skills in anatomy are upgrading so it is kinda fun. No bugs no unwraps! I will sculpt the body more ... trying to refine it as much as possible than texture the body in the same mood of the head.

Hope you like it :O)

Sam the 3d blogger

Dog, pig, alien, elf?

2009-05-04T16:30:00.003-04:00

Hi this is my last character. Entirely done in zbrush for fun. I made the basemesh with zsphere and I sculpt it. The shader are from the matcap material and I use polypainting to paint it. The render is done in zbrush too.

Happy April First!

2009-04-01T12:21:00.003-04:00

Watch your back today or you will get stab in the back!!! He he maybe not stab but just stick with a paper fish on it. :OP

I'm kinda lucky as I can stay home all day long alone... so no one will do me this stupid but some kinda funny trick!

Just teapotizing!

2009-03-27T23:37:00.004-04:00

Just a little test that I'm doing this week. Ive saw a beautiful render and it was said that the person use mental ray arch design material. These material are optimized for mental ray. I use mental ray a lot in my last project, but never with the expected result. In fact It was like if I have a car with a powerful engine needing Diesel to work properly and I was feeling it with unleaded gas.. No wonder why it doesn't work as well as I wanted.

When you work with mental ray if you want the best result you must use the tool optimized for mental ray. This include the material obviously but also the lights. Mr lights with ray traced shadows are mean to be use for mental ray. Just like the architectural mats... Beside it you don't really have to edit them to make them look good.

The only bad point is that depending on the quality of the render you want and of final gather it take a fair amount of time to render... This one about 400X 300 took about 4 minutes. But in the end you get a very photo realistic render... I guess it all finish where you want to put your priority.

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Specular bloom

2009-03-25T14:24:00.007-04:00

Hi! Today I will talk about the specular bloom. For those who don't what it is, it is an effect that occur on certain picture were the light hit a white surface or a highly lite surface. The effect look like an emission of light blurred by the object.

Neil Blevins on his tutorial about it say:

''Specular Bloom (also called Diffuse Glow, Bloom, Glow, Ghosts, Flare, Glares) is what we call it when the bright objects in your scene glow. This happens in real photography for a number of different reasons, bright areas can be so bright that the actual emulsion of the film bleeds, bright objects can cause internal reflections inside your camera lens causing lens artifacts from glow to lens flares, the photographer has placed a special "soft filter" over the lens, the photographer has placed vaseline on his lens to give their photo that "soft" look. Simulating this effect in cg is actually pretty straight forward, and helps remove some of that "cg" look from your images.''

As it is said in the last sentences, this is a effect that can be add to improve your render and giving it a more realistic look as our eyes are use to saw this effect in real life and on photos. Personally I think it improve a lot the lighting of a scene. Even if you do a simple scanline renderer it add a lot to the final result. Here are some picture that Ive done with the specular bloom so you can see by yourself what we are talking about.

This picture that Ive done that you already see in a previous post is a scanline render. In this one I use the specular bloom plug in. You can see most of the effect were the light is strong on the brick of the column. You see the blooming effect is blurring the detail as if we were blown by the light.

I prepare also a little render with the effect way to exaggerate. SO here is the infamous teapot in all his glory! I write last night on my facebook status that I was doing tutorial with teapot and a friend of mine answered that I was Teapotizing!! Very funny guy! :O)

The two render are from the same scene and the same camera shot with the same lighting setup. The first is without specular bloom and the second with the effect added. You can definitely see how where the light reach an object more strongly the effect appear. Obviously the effect in not applied correctly here and I could have use it more subtlety but I wanted to show it very clearly.

I use it a lot but we must use it carefully if not it will look to much like an effect and what we want to achieve in using it will be cancel. It is about the same phenomenon as for the filter and effect in photoshop if you use it to much people will notice it and it is bad... You know when people can already tell what filter you have use... But when use correctly people will told you that you did an amazing job with the lighting!!

Now you want to know how to achieve it. In 3ds max you can use two different way to achieve it. The first is by using the specular bloom plug in. You surely can find it easily on the Internet if not try to contact me. It is a nice plug in where you can achieve also 3 more light effect as haze, stocking and glow. They all affect the bright area and the lighting but in different way. Very cool to use, sometimes I use the stocking effect to do fog. You just have to install the plugin in the right folder and then restart 3ds max, hit the 8 button, that give you the environment & effects roll out. Then you go on the effect onglet hit add and then you should be able to add the specular bloom effect. To use it you activate it and you do a render then you will see the effect add at the end. If you use the interactive button then you could now work with the settings to achieve the wanted effect without redoing every time a full render.

If you do not have or find the specular bloom you can still achieve the same result. You just have to use the already install plug in name blur. Do you remind when I said that the effect was a blurring effect? With the blur effect you can blur all your render but it is not want we want. We just want to blur area where the light is very bright when hitting object and surfaces. So you see two onglet, the first is Blur type and the second is pixel selection. Hit the second onglet, so we dont want to affect the whole image as by default but only the light so we unchecked whole image and just check the luminescence box. Now the blurring and bleeding effect will only be achieve on the very bright area regarding how the setting are.

So this is it for the specular bloom effect. I don't really know if you can use it in Maya or other software but I do know that in Maya we got a build in material effect call glow. If I recall well it does about the same if not try to affect the luminescence in the render. I think that there is a place where you can do it but it has been a while since Ive not open Maya!

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Slow pc?

2009-03-24T12:53:00.002-04:00

Hi! As I was working on the Nick 3d project I was all leaving on my desktop in a folder among a lot of other folder. I had also about 30 files of hi res textures and hi res images and render in this folder. As a result my PC was going very slow at a point that I could even not let open msn or listen to itunes while rendering my character!!

Also my my computer has started to freeze due to unknown cause. It is very irritating to be forced to reboot your computer while you were talking to someone important for you or in the middle of a critical task.

The PC I currently use is not mine... it was lent to me by a close friends because he bought a new one this falls. It already got a lot of stuff in it and it cause the computer to run slowly. He didn't want me to format it because he may need it in the future. I spoke with my friend about my problems and he told me some trick as to not put directly things on the desktop because it use too much of ram. Or just deactivate the software that load automatically when you boot your PC. You know the little icon at the bottom right?? :0)

He gives me a little list of thing that we all should do to keep our PC running smoothly. I guess if you have a mac that could applied too... but I don't know to much about mac...

1. Let your PC boot up completely before opening any applications.

2. Refresh the desktop after closing any application. This will remove any unused files from the RAM.

3. Do not set very large file size images as your wallpaper. Do not keep a wallpaper at all if your PC is low on RAM (less than 64 MB).

4. Do not clutter your Desktop with a lot of shortcuts. Each shortcut on the desktop uses up to 500 bytes of RAM

5. Empty the recycle bin regularly. The files are not really deleted from your hard drive until you empty the recycle bin.

6. Delete the temporary Internet files regularly.

7. Defrag your hard drive once every two months. This will free up a lot of space on your hard drive and rearrange the files so that your applications run faster.

8. Always make two partitions in your hard drive. Install all large Software's (like PSP, Photoshop, 3DS Max etc) in the second partition. Windows uses all the available empty space in C drive as virtual memory when your Computer RAM is full. Keep the C Drive as empty as possible.

9. When installing new Software's disable the option of having a tray icon. The tray icons use up available RAM, and also slow down the booting of your PC. Also disable the option of starting the application automatically when the PC boots. You can disable these options later on also from the Tools or preferences menu in your application.

10. Protect your PC from dust. Dust causes the CPU cooling fan to jam and slow down thereby gradually heating your CPU and affecting the processing speed. Use compressed air to blow out any dust from the CPU. Never use vacuum.

So this is basically what he told me in his last email. Now the computer seem to work way better. Hope that this can be useful for you too. For my next project I will work more properly and with more order.

Sam the 3d blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Monday March 23,, the week that I will gain a job!

2009-03-23T12:54:00.002-04:00

Hi fellows blogger!

Another week begin, today I'm pretty joyful as I receive some good news about job opportunity yesterday. My mom phone me to tell me that my grandmother had a meeting with a woman which is son work for a big video game company here in Quebec city. She told him that I was looking for a job and he told her that they will need a lot of 3d artist soon so we should start posting or resume right now. Needless to say that this is what I should have done if I had not post my resume and portfolio already since last Tuesday :OP

This a company that back in November told me that they should call me at the beginning of 2009... So I had given them time to start their project and to call me, by this time Ive worked on my newest project. But since November I still didn't receive news from them but hope this time Ill get an answer fast.

I am somewhat confident on the new stuff I got on my portfolio. Beside it the Nick 3d project is getting a decent quote on cgtalk. But I'm kinda disappointed for the time it have took me to achieve it didn't turn as spectacular that I expect but it is my most achieve character so far so I guess it is fine like that.

Now I don't know if I will start already a new project... Ive planned to do another character but way much simpler but don't know if it would be more productive to start an environment as it has been three months since the last that Ive done... I'm waiting for extra cash to come and want to buy a new screen, mine is way to dark and cannot be lighten more. This is why my work can seems sometimes to light and with not enough contrast so it kinda bug me to start already a new scene...

But anyway stay tune this week as I will give you update about my getting a job process. I want also to write some more technical article about texture and map and also about lighting and rendering.

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Steamnocchio Tutorial !

2009-03-20T13:22:00.004-04:00

Hi! Just a little post today as one of my friend send me a link to a very cool tutorial. This is the tutorial of the Steamnocchio by Fabricio Moraes. This picture is his final result. You may have seen it on cgtalk already.

He won the Individual Image Master Award in CGSociety's 'Steampunk: Myths and Legends' CGChallenge. This picture is fantastic and beside it when you read the tutorial you see that it is somehow simple to do. I guess it is where talent and skills came in the equation :OP

here is the link to this tutorial by Fabricio Moraes:

http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4950&page=1

I wanted to take a little break from 3d as my latest project is done but seeing this it makes me wants to dive into another project really soon! Very inspiring !!

Enjoy!

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

2009-03-19T01:13:00.004-04:00

At least it is done! SO this is the final render of the Nick 3d project. Gosh I tought I will never finish it.... But yeah now it is done :O).

It is not technically perfect. I realize as posting it that Ive made some mistakes and things that I should have done better... But anyway I did learn a lot for this project from the sss skin shader to the normal map in zbrush, rigging and skinning as well as lighting. My next project will inherits from this one for sure.

Usually I post a view with the wire frame on the textured character to show the base mesh topology. It show also where the actual modelling finish and where the normal maps begins. I wanted to do it for this one but except for the main body the mesh is not so low res so I tought whats the point beside looking cool for showing an hi res topology... This one of the mistake I have done I should have not use mesh smooth on the boots and on the arms but I wanted a hi res look and no edgy side on the silhouette.

So this is the end at least for this one. Don't want to work on it anymore. Tomorrow Ill post a version on it on cg talk and on the zbrush central forum. Hope to have some nice crits and comments :OP

ps: just click on the image to see it full size!

Sam the 3d blogger

Happy St-Patrick day!

2009-03-17T11:34:00.003-04:00

Yeah! I'm back in town since yesterday evening. Hope this week will be productive. I work a lot last night to finish the Nick 3d project.... Yeah I know it was supposed to be done about 2 weeks ago... I'm kinda disappointed about it but now it is really about to be finish. I wanted to finish it last Tuesday but my bro came out to soon to take me. Result I didn't had the time to do what I was planning.

Last night have finish the pose and begin to work on the lighting more. It is getting well. I will do the other pass today and tomorrow hopefully I will be able to post it and than to post my resume to company. I definitely need a good job hehe.

Ive done a Leprechaun for the game cake mania last years and I wanted to show it to you as a St-Patricks day gift but instead I will show you Yu Ching Bob... A Japanese Irish sumo who like play bagpipes and drink Sake!

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

nevercenter.com

2009-03-12T13:06:00.002-04:00

Hi! this is probably my last post here for about about 5 or 6 days. Im going on a little travel this weekend. Im leaving this evening. I will have an access to internet so I may came write a little something in a couple of days who knows!:OP

Regarding the Nick 3d project.... lol it is mainly finish... Just need to redo a beauty shot and do a zdepth + a occulision pass. Composite all them in photoshop to make a beautiful final image! I will do that this afternoon right after this message befor my ride came take me. After that byebye the time consumming project hehe. I may post the final result befor I leave in a couple of hour.

Ive just met a new friend on twitter. He own a very interesting website where he post video tutorial about modelling and give them for free. Hehe is well-known for helping new artist. His name is Glen Southern. You can check his work at this website:

http://nevercenter.com/videos/tutorials/

Go take a look it have a very nice Minotaur tutorial! I was planning to doing one someday maybe I took his way.

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

How to become a successful 3d artist or how to behave in a videogames company.

2009-03-10T13:35:00.003-04:00

It has been awhile since I did not write any article so as promised yesterday its is time to post a new one today!

How to become a successful 3d artist in a video game company or in 3d studio? Or the question could be how to behave in a video game company? Both question are intimately linked. In fact how you manage yourself regarding your work and your relationship with your colleague is what will decide if you will become successful. If your boss will like you and eventually promote you or gives you a better salary.

I guess everyone who wants to work in the field want to become successful. So let assume it. What you should ask yourself now is: How should I behave? If you read my article about how to behave in a 3d school you already got a good piece of the answer. If you don't have read it just go at this link:

http://the3dblogger.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-behave-in-3d-school.html

In this article I talk about how to behave on a personal and relationship level with colleague in class in a wise way. In fact the way you should work at class is about the same that you should do in enterprise. You should develop good aptitude to work in team at the school and use them in enterprise. You got to develop good relationship with your colleague.

Developing good relationship could be done in a lot of ways like in your personal life. However you should always remember that you are in a business and there to work so you should inform yourself about how the things goes in that company. You got to know what is prohibited and what is socially accept as behavior in that specific company. Walk the walk and talk the talk!

It is always fun to become good friend with coworker because it lighten up the mood and the day pass faster. Try to go eat with them, take your break with them but try not to over impose yourself in the groups in a hard ways. People tend to not like people who do to much. So just be cool and relax and you surely do fine. It may seem obvious but it is critical because what will save your butt when you first start in your first job it is the good relationship you will create with the bosses and your coworkers.

It is crucial because at the beginning you will surely not know all that you need to know to work properly. Many company offer a couple of month or weeks in training with a lower salary and pass this period they consider if they want you or not. But don't worry pass three months if your doing fine usually they keep you and your already working for them after just a couple of weeks. If they don't like you, you will know it way before the end of the probation period.

Than in this period of time they teach you how to work properly but at one point you will need help from your coworker because you don't want to always go ask to your lead for some answer or directives. Don't get me wrong it is always better to ask if you don't know beside not telling anyone and do like if everything is alright.

A guy who use to work at the same studio than me have done that. It is bad because he was a good guy and this is because of the good attitude that he have regarding is colleague and his job that they give him a chance. But at one point his mistake lead to a lot a trouble that other may have to correct instead of doing what they was assigned to.

In video games time equal money always remember that! If i got to redo the job of another person that will cost a lot in time and in money. They fired him after a couple of mistakes. He didn't listen well to directives and understand well. I know a lot of youngster these days have trouble of attention,,, you know the kind who got to take Ritalin to keep them focus... In a company you should always well listen to what your boss is asking you. Bring a notepad with you and take notes of things he want you to do and how he want it. Also he may use your notepad to explain you something if you are more a visual person than an auditive which may probably be if you work as a 3d artist!

Again it is crucial you don't want to go ask three times in a row the same question. And you don't want to redo all your work because you didn't understand or do the correct thing the first time. It is okay if you don't catch what your lead need but than take time to understand and ask the right question. Don't do as if you understand all if it is not the case.

But in the case you don't know in example how to blurry a shadow what do you do? I know it may seem simple but actually it happen to me! I was not so good at lighting in 3ds max ... In this case what I should do is to try to find the solution by myself first. But it doesn't work if after 1 hour I didn't succeed to find how to correct the situation.

After having try to find the solution and not being able I should ask to coworker to help me. Now it is where you find that having good relationship is primordial. The guy or the girl sit next to you has no obligation to help you. If they like you they will be glad to help but if your a real pain in the ass chance are that they don't want to...

In resume, try to be as friendly possible with your coworker and try to listen very well at what is ask to you. In this way you will probably do a fine job. If you got question try to answer it by yourself but if your not able ask a colleague before asking to your boss. In doing it that way, if your job is well done and you don't bother your boss at anytime they will begin to like you and maybe after a couple of month you got an increase in your revenues!

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Monday, monday,,,

2009-03-09T12:43:00.002-04:00

So good to me,,, Oh Monday morning... LOL

Another weeks begin! This week there is no escape I definitely must finish the Nick 3d project. I didn't succeed at finishing it last Friday because I wanted to redo the skinning and rigging. Ive decided to give me another weeks because anyway I'm going on a trip Friday for three or four day so I didn't want to be bother if a company call me for an interview next Monday!

Anyway stay tune this week because Ive tought about a couple of subject I want to talk you about as how to behave in a company, how to do specular bloom without specular bloom in max and possibly in Maya etc...

Its been awhile since I didn't write a good article but now the inspiration is return. I wanted to write one today but I think I'm mainly going to focus on finish this damn project! :OP I'm so hasty to begin my next project Ive learn a lot whit this one. Ive got some nice idea I want to try. First another character and than a new environment.

Have a nice week and stay tune!

Sam the 3d blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

The 3d studio.com

2009-03-07T00:02:00.003-05:00

A quick post tonight! Ive just been contact by a website call The 3d studio.com. This is a website a little bit like my blog but more elaborate. They have everything you need when your are a 3d artist from 3d model to buy or sell to tutorial and software. They have a nice selection. They seem to have a very nice affiliate program going for as mush as 20% in commission.

This quote is directly taken from their site. T

''The3dStudio.com is one of the oldest and largest 3D resource sites on the Internet. We have a vast selection of 3D models, textures, tutorials, plugins, scripts, gallery art, and much more for programs such as Autodesk 3ds max, Cinema 4D, LightWave 3D, Softimage|XSI, Maya, Rhinoceros, Sketchup, Strata 3D, trueSpace, Bryce, Carrara, ZBrush, Poser 3D, Vue, XNA Studio, OpenFlight, Second Life, and many others''

dStudio.com" border="0">

I'm happy to be contact directly by an official website shows that my little blog is making is way in the blogosphere slowly but steadily! Last week I've got a mail from a professional recruiter because she saw my two blogs too.

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

almost finish!

2009-03-06T15:32:00.005-05:00

Somehow I manage to do a nice render last night. However talking with a friend about the trouble Ive got regarding rigging and skinning he offer me to take a look at it. I had trouble with the hand and was not able to close them properly and he see why. Also I had trouble with the legs and he found that it was because the clavicul was to much on the side of the legs... These are all stuff that I don't know to much about, at my former studio I was the one modelling the character and he with another guy were the one rigging and skinning so they have much experience in that than me. But it is okay everyone may specialized in wich they like the most.. I understand tought that I may have to do it properly in a next company and it sad when you are not able to put in a nice pose your own character...

My friend specialized himself in animation and he is very good at it. He is also a very good technical guy and a good 3d artist. Go see his portfolio ---->

http://pierre-luclacroix.blogspot.com/

So this is what it look so far, all textured except for the eyes I kept them for the end. It is not the definitive stance. My friend offers me to do me a nice rigging and I will have to redo the skinning. In definitive I don't think I'm gonna finish it before 5 o'clock, but it will be for the good as the result will be better.

I kinda like the lighting but I will work that a little bit much. I want to add some reddish and more blue color to it... I will also boost a little bit more mental ray as it is at a low setting now. When Ill finish it I will post it on zbrush central and on cgtalk, so you will be please to put some comments and crits as usual! :O)

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Just a little update!

2009-03-05T14:59:00.002-05:00

Hi! I'm waiting for a render so I figure I could write a little post just too keep you in touch.

Yesterday Ive mainly finish the texture for all the parts except for the eyes which I most redo. I'm still searching for a good material to use... So far it didn't give the realistic look that I want. I will have to go search for tutorial.

Also last night Ive done the rigging and start the skinning but I encounter some problem and as I said on twitter skinning and rigging is not my favorite parts and the parts where I'm the better at. The whole body seems to be fine but the boots are problematic and the hands.... But for the hands maybe I was just to tired to do them correctly. The trouble with the boots is that they have rigid and smooth part.. So some most be flexible but not be able to deform according to the calf and other according to the foot. Ive tried a lot of different way to skin but with no concluing result so far. But I did realize that I should have separate the hard part in different pieces. So this is what i was doing this afternoon. I finish to separate them in example now the boots are form of a knee pad a shin pad and a shoe. It seem that it will work fine because I will skin the knee pad on the calf at 50% and on the leg at 50% too and the shin pad to the pad at 100% and the shoe to the feet bone at 100 also. So each will move according his one bone without deforming.

It might not be the regular ways... Ive seen some rigging demo that really kick ass but from now as long as I'm able to put it in a nice pose Ill be glad. Remember Ive said that I wanted this project to be finish by Friday afternoon! :OP I'm still in the race but don't know if Ill be able to beat the clock! It still remain the eyes and maybe a belt and a helmet according to the original sketch and the lighting and rendering process... I guess I shouldn't lose time in writing here but anyway I got to change my mind from time to time!

Sam the 3d Blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Coloration almost done!

2009-03-03T12:56:00.005-05:00

Yeah at least it is going somewhere now... I work late yesterday on the Nick 3d project I want to finish it very soon! The deadline should be Friday afternoon. I want to apply for a job next week. I think it gonna be a great asset for my portfolio.

Right now it only left the boots to texture. I think I'm gonna do to one for each boot. I kinda like it like this with one with no paint... It give it a used look or like he change part of his outfit from time to time. Ah yes it still left the gaunt but It wont be too long as I didn't generate map for them. I think it will be just a plain leather texture.

Here a shot that I made before going to bed just for the fun to see how it looks with more dramatics lighting.

So stay tune, As I will surely post other render and show the lighting and composition process. And Oh yeah I still forgot about the rigging thing.... Like unwrapping uv's it is something that I so much like.... Irony...:OP

Sam the 3d blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Good Morning!

2009-03-02T11:27:00.004-05:00

Hi! So this my first march post today. Soon it will be a month that I'm posting on this post :O) time goes fast!

To begin the week in beauty I got a news from the 3d world magazine. It seem that Pixar may start to works on a sequel to the famous Monster inc movie. According to my source.... (The 3d world magazine forum on facebook :OP) Director Pete Docter has announced that he may return to the city of \"Monstropolis\" for a sequel to “Monsters Inc\". Since Docter is preoccupied with the most recent Pixar film \"UP\" and with release approaching, he was proud to mention that there may be a possible 2013 release of Monster Inc 2.

Here it is what seem to be the next Logo of the movie... apparently.

Also my friend Martin Kearney just post today on Facebook a tutorial about the pelting tool. It is not himself who done it but Ive decided to put it on my blog as it could help a lot of people who are struggling at unwrapping uvs.

As for me today I will continue the Nick 3d project a little this afternoon and will try to come out with some more complete render of it for tomorrow. But today I got to study for my kung fu test this evening so I'm a little bit stress, but it will surely go fine.

Stay tune for more developments by the week.

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

small updates on the Nick 3d project..

2009-02-28T13:19:00.003-05:00

HI! Today it is my Drink & Draw day so I will not have time to work as much as I want on it but I did a lot yesterday. Right now the shoulders pad and the neck armor part are textured and I work a lot the material so it look real. It is the main goal I attempt to achieve here. I want it to look real and not a cartoon. At the beginning I draw by myself some of the detail and color it with flat color in photoshop but it give that cartoon look that I didn't wanted. So I dig in my cg textures bank and found nice metal material.

The ligthing is a basic three point light that I will optimize but I think it already look cool on the character. So Next step is the arms and than I will finish by the boots. They are complexe so it would take some times too. I so much want him finish by next week. It been too much time am on it including all the head process.

So that's all for today! Have a nice week-end everybody!

ps: Just click on the picture to see a full size one!

Sam The 3d Blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

A Quick Post

2009-02-26T15:07:00.006-05:00

Just a little post here to talk you about my new amazon shop call ''Sam The 3d Blogger aShop '' you can directly go in by this link:

http://astore.amazon.com/the3dblogger-20

or just see beside this post at the top right of the blog the links and a carousel of some of the featured products. You can also scroll down to the bottom to see the my favorite square in which I briefly describe some good product for beginners in 3d. Ive select cheap item because we do not have a lot of money to spend when we begin.

Ive put in my brand new aShop a selection of some of the most well known and best quoted Book and DVD about 3d arts, animation and video games. In example you could see the famous Richards Williams ''Animator's survival kit'' a must have book for wanna be animators as well as seasoned ones.

So feel free to check. I will update it regularly. It is an amazon affiliate aShop so there is no fear to have. It works like amazon do usually with shopping cart and their payment system.

Mike Alexander Newel one of the creator and moderator of the facebook forum ''3D world- the magazine for 3d artists'' which is affiliate with the ''3dworld'' magazine, just sent me by mail some picture of what will be the new Pixar film ''UP''. The render looks cool even thought it is difficult to overcome ''Wall-E'' who just win the Oscar for the best animation picture this week.

Take a look!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Update on the Nick 3d Project

2009-02-26T11:53:00.007-05:00

Hi Yesterday I didn't post because I was very busy working on the texture for my character. It is going fine in my opinion. It took me awhile to figure out which color use and what should be the concept for it as the original sketch is monochrome. At first I wanted him to have a more retro look and style with light color but it turn out more dark and aggressive but kinda cool. I have mainly work on the torso yet and on the legs. The arms should not take to longer to texture as I know now which color and how to do to texture them.

Just click on the image if you want to see it full size.

I use photo reference for the most part of the texture. Then I overlay the cavity map and the normal map generate by zbrush on the top of the colored layer. But in top of that I also put the normal map and the cavity map in the bump map slot. When I put it in multiply in the color map it give more a sens of volume and light that you don't have to draw by yourself necessary. Also It give along with the UV map indications where the details of the sculpt

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Sad stories

2009-02-24T15:08:00.002-05:00

Hi fellow Blogger!

Today I would like to talk about something that make me kinda sad... Remember a couple of weeks ago Ive wrote a series of article about what to put and what not to put on a proper demo reel for a 3d artist? Ive also done an article about how to behave in a 3d classroom. If you didn't read it before just go down right to the blog archives section and you will find them there.

I want to talk about it because I receive news in the last days about two of my former classmate back in the times. Both of them sadly never got the chance to work in the industries, video game or movies. They were both talented and dedicated student so why do they never get to work in the field? This was a question I ask myself and speak with other colleague and friend in front of a beer.

In fact one of them was my co-locator last year and I saw him work on his animation almost everyday. The other use to send me his stuff so I can help him or give him a good advice. I even get to his home to show him some of the coolest stuff to know in Zbrush and in 3ds max.

What make me sad the most is that the one I help with Zbrush was as good as me at school and was very brilliant and a quick learner, which I never be. I heard that he give up. After three years of hardworking he is giving up his dream of working in a video game company as a 3d artist. The one who were my co-locator and a close friend as not giving up yet and stay focus on his dream to become a 3d animator but still he is struggling to achieving it.

OK So I'm asking myself what makes good guys and good artists to never had the chance to work in the field...? I'm figuring that I must do little research and investigate it. Of course it have social and economical reason to it. In example my ex co-locator just had about a month ago an interview for a job as a 3d artist for a local TV network but due to the slowing economy they finally decided to resign the assignment. The other never get more than two interview in three years... Company always answering him that they will contact him when they will have new position to fill up.

But at the other side I had a couple of interview in three years and I had two job in the field and I know other former classmate who were successful in finding a job in the industry.

It all lead me to think about the fact that why do they not having a lot of interview which should resulting in obtaining the jobs? I may seem to repeat myself but where I'm going is that maybe their demo reel is not enough efficient. Because as said in a previous article, a demo reel is the contact
card you give to employers. Having figured it out, I ask my two friend to show me what they were sending to potential employers.

When I saw their demo reel I knew it was the problem right away. They obviously didn't had read my article before :OP I'm just kidding, but I'm serious at the same times. Obviously I didn't have a blog back in the day so they could not have read it before, but they had the same teachers as me so no excuses! In fact they have a lot of mistakes that I've already pinpoint such as bad choice of soundtracks, not really respecting the ''sandwich effect'', the character were not in a nice pose. Both they had mix animation and modelling in the same demo which I'm not to fan of. But the thing that almost make me cry is that their demo reel was almost the same that the first they have done three years ago!

Let me explain myself. If your demo was kicking ass or rocking your sock off it is cool, but chance are that a three years old demo reel is way to dated now. Put you in the place of a employer and you receiving a demo reel labelled 2006 or 2007... Are you jumping all around the place saying wow so cool a vintage demo, I absolutely need this guy?? NO! Or sadder, the employer remember himself to have seen your demo back in time when he was with his ex-wife... Or maybe he was a fan of the song you use at this time but not anymore :OP OK so let be serious. You applying for a jobs as a 3d artist in the same company and for the same job you already applied one year ago. Fine! It is not prohibited in fact it show that you really are interested in that company. However the people who receive the demo remember your reel and realise that you just put one or two new thing in it after one year! They will ask themselves some questions as: Do he have the time to put some new stuff? Is he lazy? Is he really slow so he cannot have enough time to make a brand new demo reel? is he so proud of his stuff he want to show us again even after a year? That stuff was cool back in the time but not anymore.... It also make them think that maybe your not so motivate to work in the field because you didn't put the effort to make a new demo reel. Maybe you are lacking of consistency and do not manage well your time...

S.O.L (slice of life) here :OP. One day a couple years ago I receive an email from a company asking me and other people to send them our demo reel, resume etc.. before the 31 august. Ive done what they said because I wanted the job. Unfortunately they were needing someone with a lot more experience than me but they like my new stuff and ask me to reapply when a new job offer will show. The case happen a month later, but I had only one new thing to show from the previous time. I applied and never got answered back.

A couple of weeks later the college were I took my 3d class was organizing a meeting with people from the industry that work as human resources and recruiters from the leading company here in Quebec city. I was invited even tough Ive already finish my class since eighth months ago. Ive saw the woman I used to communicate and already had an interview with but she seem to be shy or not interested to talk with me. But she was very funny and cool with the graduated students. In fact a lot of the student from this year were hired before having finish their class. I was a little mad and my teacher ask me why . I told him that she didn't seem to be interested in me (professionally :OP) anymore! I didn't know but three or four days later I went to the college to take news and talk to my teacher and he told me that she contact him and when he ask about me she told him that I had not enough new interesting stuff to show. I can tell you I was angry! I was frame by newly graduate kids.

One month ago my stuff were great and now not enough good to be hire! The fact is that the new student jump on the market with brand new and fresh demo reel so this is what caught their eyes before they remember that I was waiting for my time.

The moral of this story is that you should at least always produce new stuff to show even if you are working at a full time job to pay your bills. If you do that and always applying with new stuff than you will begin to stand out of the crowd and they will think that your motivate, you like doing your stuff, you want to work and that you are a hard worker who never fear to rework or surpass him. This is all good positive attitude to have. The kind of attitude that employers like and research in many domain. In fact the first to get a job in my classroom was a guy that after one month the class was finish not finding job yet, decided to quit is new job as a cook in a fast food just to concentrate on building a brand new demo reel. He work alone at his demo reel for a month and came out with a totally new demo that impress the employer. They tell him that they never knew he could came out with so much amazing new stuff in such an amount of time and hire him!

Finally I should add that even when working consistently and updating regularly your demo reel you should not put your first thing in it. In example you don't want to put your first Zbrush head if it sucks! Nor even your first walking cycle... You don't want to apply for a character modelling job if you just have model one character in your entire life and put it in your demo. We got a saying in french about that who basically mean that a good worker or artisan should redo his work at least one hundred times... before he get really good at it.

normal map done!

2009-02-23T17:04:00.006-05:00

Hi! Ive worked on the normal map and cavity map for my Nick 3d Project today. I think it is looking good so far taking in account that it doesn't have texture and real material on it. Tonight after the Kung Fu class I will start the color process but I still don't know yet I to color it... Take a look!

Sam The 3D Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Mental Ray Or Vray??

2009-02-22T17:30:00.009-05:00

Humm,,, a fellow twitter friend ask me which renderer I use and which one I prefer? Personally I use mental ray and the default scanline renderer in max. I think both could give good result. Take a look at these two image. The first is a mental ray generated image and the second a render done with the default scanline renderer.

Both images are interesting. Some may prefer the mental ray one and other the scanline. Personally I prefer the mental ray one. I think it kinda give that clean and photo realistic look to the picture. I remember when Ive finish this picture people at work prefer the right one (the scanline one) They said the image as more personality to it. I think you can achieve great result in scanline, you can even fake global illumination but it is more difficult to get that pelicular effect as in mental ray. You really got to work the light and the shadows to do it. Here is a picture that I'm proud of entirely done in scanline.

But enough talking about my work. Is v-ray good? Of what I heard it is more easier to get a photo realistic image with v-ray. Some even say it work better and that it is more easy to set a good render than with mental ray. I may not tell it myself but it is the subject to this post. I want to know which renderer you use and why. I'm planning to use v-ray as it have a really good reputation but doesn't it worth the purchase or may I continue with mental ray?

here is a link to a forum on it but I want to hear from you here to get some action! :

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/8300-mental-ray-vs-vray.html

a link where you can download a demo version v-ray:

http://www.digimation.com/home/Downloads.aspx?sm=vr

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Good Sunday Morning!

2009-02-22T11:25:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! Just a little word to takes everybody who follow me directly or by rss. I'm about to reach the 1000 page impressions since a start this blog. I am pretty happy of it, that show it is beginning to grow! The week-end I'm never to much into 3d arts but this week Ill try to write a good article by day so you can enjoy it more.

Right now on the Nick 3d Project except for little things to correct and the belt to do in zbrush, I'm almost done with the sculpting. Next stage will be to generate the normal map for all the pieces and maybe reexport all the low subdivision in 3ds max if needed. Originally I planned to use the original meshes of 3ds max but I don't know yet if the mesh is not to different now... I should have use the store morph target button. In this way he should have remain the same. What happen with zbrush is that if you subdivide the mesh and you got the smooth button on the way the algorithm works is that it smooth also the first subdivision. The result is that when you came back in example from the 6Th level to the first it kinda smooth the mesh in reverse to... Don't know really why but it is what it do. So Zbrush have now the store morph target... If any have question on how Ive modelled some details please feel free to ask. Ill may do a small tutorial or video to show how I do it this week.

Here is an other project that Ive done in November 2007. It is a warhammer priest. Ive done it with a reference sketch that Ive found on the warhammeronline site. It is the first model that I heavily use Zbrush to put detail on the mesh. I kinda use the same technique as for the Nick 3d project. I used separated piece so I could put more detail in each one and each pieces have their own texture. Also As I'm not so good at rigging it is easier in this way to put it in a cool stance. However at this time I was using Maya and my computer doesn't want to generate the render for the character because it was to heavy so I manage to put all the pieces together in Zbrush and do a Zbrush render. Now I'm using 3ds max and the normal map seems to work better and easier in 3ds max for me so I will be able to do a nice render in mental ray.

So that's it for now I may send you some update this afternoon on the Nick 3d project. Stay tune and thanks again for the following!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Nick 3D Project is going fine!

2009-02-20T14:49:00.005-05:00

Hi everybody! So today I work a lot on the Nick 3d project. I have almost done the zbrush sculpting part. So far I think it looks cool. It is the first time that I use zbrush to add so much detail on a character or object. Usually zbrush would crash but don't know why with this one nothing happen yet so I'm touching woods. Each part are separated sub tools that I will do a normal map and a cavity map of them. The sub tool are approximately 400 000 to 600 000 each so I could put a good amount of details on them. As you can see the left side is not yet sculpted but It is because I'm just gonna duplicate the rigth part and mirror them before exporting them to 3ds max.

It has been awhile since I didn't post anything on the zbrush forum because I got no time to do zbrush model and I was not so proud of the works done but I think I gonna try with it to see if it got any good feedback. As usual crit's and comment's are welcome here too so don't be shy to post a comment below! I put back the concept here so you can easily see where I'm going. It is not perfectly similar but I had to go with the flow and let myself express in the process.

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

some update!

2009-02-20T01:33:00.003-05:00

As promised! Just took a render view in zbrush of what Ive done so far. I'm getting pretty excited, if I manage to have all the details to get visible in the normal map the final render will be so cool. But so Far it is what Ive done best in Zbrush. I should have take it in way before. Anyway As I'm looking to it I see how I could improve it but I'm so tired now,, I make a mistake I erase what I had done on the arms they were looking cool too.... But it never hurt to restart often you only get better!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Zbrush at Least! Nick 3d project

2009-02-19T22:45:00.004-05:00

Hi! Sorry I didnt put really a lot of stuff since tuesday on the blog but I had the visit of unexpected guess hehe. However I manage to finish all the uv of the Nick 3d character this afternoon. Now Im beginning the Zbrush and normal map phase. Here a render of what the total armor/suite look in Zbrush. Hope to get some more screen shot until tomorow.

Cake Mania: In The Mix!

2009-02-18T12:05:00.008-05:00

Good Morning!

This morning I receive a email from a friend of mine giving me a link to the review of a game we both work on. The game is call ''Cake Mania: In The Mix!'' Maybe you already heard about it if you got young daughter's or nieces. Here is the link to some review of the game:

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/cakemaniainthemix

The grade for the graphics are not excellent but decent. I mainly work on the pre-rendered scene interiors and on the character modelling. The Doctor , the penguin, the sumo, the alien human head etc. Ive done I think 17 character for the games but they are not all still in the game ! :OP Once you get use to modelled character it goes well in fast. Usually I was starting with the same base mesh depending on the morphology of the character. Often it was the Doctor`s mesh that I use.

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Rick Baker the Monster makers!

2009-02-17T15:42:00.003-05:00

Ive just tumbled upon the Rick Baker Zbrush Thread. He is doing a wolfman. I think it is done by now but you can watch the evolution at this link:

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=66457&page=3&pp=15

For those who don't know him is one of the best in the special effects artist in Hollywood and in the world. Now he use zbrush as well as traditional medium to achieve his goal. He is a master in zbrush! For those who like zbrush I strongly recommend you to follow his work.

According to the imdb.net, he was the first recipient for the Oscar for best make-up for the movie ''An American werewolf in London''. I got the DVD of this movie, this is so cool. The transformation of the hero in a wolf sequence is truly spectacular!

Here a list of the most famous movies he work for:

The Wolf Man (2009) (post-production) (special makeup effects)

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) (special makeup effects consultant)

The Ring Two (2005) (special makeup effects artist)

Cursed (2005) (special makeup effects artist) (special makeup effects creator) (special makeup effects designer)

Hellboy (2004) (special makeup effects artist)

Planet of the Apes (2001) (makeup artist) (special makeup effects designer and creator)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (special makeup effects)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) (special makeup effects)

The Frighteners (1996) (special makeup artist: The Judge)

Batman Forever (1995) (special makeup designer and creator)

Wolf (1994) (special makeup effects)

Harry and the Hendersons (1987) (makeup artist)

Thriller (1983) (V) (special makeup effects creator) (special makeup effects design)

The Howling (1981) (special makeup effects consultant)

As you can see he work on a lot of werewolf and beast-man movies! He also love gorillas. Here is a link to an interview with Rick Baker for Zbrush.

Sam The 3d Blogger

How to use zsphere in Zbrush to do a cute and scary little character!

2009-02-17T12:20:00.005-05:00

Hi this morning I didn't know what to talk about as I have no upgrade to show on the infamous Nick 3d project except dull UV unwrap... which are not even finish yet. I have to kick my butt to do it this afternoon :OP

So I take a look to my portfolio blog and came across this little fella that I did in February 2007. So this is two years ago. Ive done it in zbrush 2 at this time. Have done it near the Valentine's Day and I wanted to do a cute little character to give to a girlfriend but it turn up a little weird :OP

This little rabitosaurus like I call it is entirely done in zbrush 2 with zsphere. The materials and the render are from zbrush too. At this time I was experimenting with the power of rendering within zbrush because I didn't know how to do normal map yet. Now that I know it kinda give me an idea... I could redo something the same but with normal map and fast skin shader. It could be very cool.

When I saw it Ive said to myself that I could do a little tutorial to explain a little bit about the zsphere, one of the most powerful tool of zbrush. When Ive open my zbrush I saw a button name movie. In this panel you could create turntable which I already know and you can record yourself too so you can make little tutorial :OP.

So this is a little movie showing how to model with zsphere. Don't know why it is so fast.... It is not me who is that fast in modelling... But it is a quicktime movie so I guess you can go frame by frame to see it properly. It is just a little doodle it take me 10 minute to produce. If you like it I could do better stuff in the future. If you got any question on how to do the same according to zsphere or the movie in itself dont be shy and post a comment!

Sam The 3d Blogger

www.The3dblogger.blogspot.com

3ds max or Maya?

2009-02-16T11:26:00.006-05:00

Oh my ! This weekend was cool but I was not in my best shape at all! I was not feeling good and yesterday I pass it on the couch watching TV and drinking hot water with lemon. So I dd int work on the Nick 3d project as I planned to do. But the base mesh modelling is pretty much done I think I gonna start to unwrap the UV's this afternoon, but I'm not to exiting about it. I hate unwrapping. Usually I only do planar or automatic mapping and use mix map material. I think it work well for me but you cannot really use it for character... Here is a example of what this technique can do.

If you have seen my portfolio blog you may have already seen it. Believe it or not, It have few UV's that have been properly unwrap in this picture. About 98% of the modeling are planar mapping or automatic or face camera mapping. It is possible to achieve nice result even if it suck at some place... Like in the roof, but I could easily fix that.

The way it works is that you put your base texture and you try to fit the UV proportionally with the tiling. Obviously you want the texture to be proportional to the object. In example in the roof I wanted about one feet wide planks so I scale the UV's so it fit what I needed. Then in the diffuse slot you use a mix as modifier. If you are in 3ds max like in my case you will have a black rectangle and a white one. One will be your first texture and the other a second texture that you will put on the first with a mask.

Concretely in this picture it is what Ive done with the white wall. I first put a cement or plaster texture, than I organized the UV's the best way possible until it look good. After that I use a second texture to add some dirt on the wall, but remember you got to have an opacity mask. It is like in Photoshop, its a image file in black and white. The black will not be affect and the white will affect the result. So what it do its that in my first slot I got the plaster diffuse and the second I got a dirt texture and I got a mask. Where the mask is black the plaster texture will be show and where there is the white the dirt will be visible. You could also place a 50% grey image and it should make a multiplier effect on the resulting diffuse.

What is cool with that technique its that you could organize the UV's according each level of texture or mask as well. The first texture could have is own UV's set and then the second texture have UV on a second channel than the mask is on a third channel and all UV could be completely different. And you could add as much level of mask and texture as you want or you need to achieve what you want. This way you could do awesome materials for your scene, taking in account that you still have the other material option to use as the normal map the bump map, the specular etc... In this picture It was the first time that I was trying to do grass and I definitely use this technique and I love the result. it is like a game you try everything you think will do well until it look cool. In fact it is what I like the most in the 3d process, texturing and ligthing when all start to looking great!

As I have said I primary work only in 3ds max now and zbrush for normal map, but you could use the same technique with Maya but I think it is a little bit more complicated to connect all channel material.

3ds max or Maya software?? Which one you think is the better 3d software? Which one do you prefer? I want some interaction on my blog he he. I want fight! And please tell us why you like one more than the other that will be good!

Sam The 3d Blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Happy Valtentine's Day!

2009-02-14T10:42:00.006-05:00

Today as I'm not feeling so good due to a cold and not in the mood for writing big article, Ive decide to post you an old work that Ive done for a game last year. It is a Cupid or Cupidon like we say in french. It was on my old usb key and I saw other character for the game, that Ive done in the past but didn't post on my portfolio so far. Today I feel like showing them to the rest of the world! Enjoy!
The famous Cupid! I think it was about 1200 polygons. Model in 3ds max for the game Cakemania Wii. The wire frame are not too bad but not the cleanest that Ive seen.

There is a sumo from the same game. About the same number of polygons. I found it funny. It take me only 2hour to model and it came out good. At the beginning the eye were model but we put them out because of artistic and technical reason. In the final they were draw on the texture.
And the last one less cuter then the first! This is an attempt at Wolverine. Ive done it completely with zsphere in Zbrush. I kinda love the proportion and the shape. Don't know why I dd int finish it. Maybe I was planning to redo it in a better way. Oh yeah now I remember... I think it is because I want him to have modelled finger and open hands!

So this is what take a end to this Valentine's day! Hope tomorrow I will have some update on the 3d nick project to show you. If you have any question about how the model were done or technical question feel free to ask!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

How to behave in a 3d school.

2009-02-13T09:14:00.002-05:00

Hi! Today I wake up to much early due to a cold... it is so annoying. Since I have already check all my other stuff Ive decided to write my article this soon. As the title say I will talk you about how to behave in a 3d school or 3d graphics school. Ive already talk about how to do a good demo reel but I figure out that I should have start by the beginning :OP

So you read my last article yesterday about the top ten 3d art graphics school and you found The school you want to attempt to. Than you take the entry interview, some ask you to show them some of your previous art and portfolio and they liked what they have seen. Finally you succeed and you became a fully acknowledge 3d student. How cool! It is the best thing have done in my life so far since I begin kung fu this falls!

But now you got to go every day to that school and interact with other students. The first thing that you will realize, is that nobody is the same. Some have big ears, others long hair even some with big mouth! More in a deeply way you will realize that some are very talented or skilled and other less skilled. Some are very motivated and other doesn't seem to know why they are there. Some are better at modelling environment and other at character modelling. Some even are better at animation and other mostly girl prefer to textured :OP! Just kidding I know a lot of guy who like the texturing process including myself he he. But you know what? It take everything to make a world and it is okay. After all its all about yourself taking a 3d class that will maybe change your life.

The tricky part is that you are not an isolated island. You got to interact with other students and teachers even if you don't really get well along them. Remember the lotto ads in TV telling that you must always be kind with your friends, colleague etc because they may become the next big winners? It is kind of the same phenomenon here. You should always take in mind that the people who take the class with you are gonna be your next colleague in a video games company or would be the person to hire you. Maybe your teacher gonna be your next boss too. So this is always important to well behave in your classroom and computer labs. Further that you should always be in good term with your colleague even out of the school and in social events.

What if you are a genius at what you do or specialize but you don't give a F%*$ about helping other people or be a good team player or just don't want to socialize whit anybody at lunch time and breaks? You may be feeling good about it but chances are that you begin too be reject by the people surround by you. OK lets say that you are cold hearted and that doesn't make you blink an eye. Other will not just reject you they will not want to work with you anymore even if you are good, because you got a bad attitude. This is all the point here. A good attitude lead to be include in a good social network and to have good relationship. In the world that we're living social networking it is the most important things to have if someone want to be successful in his life and in business and work.

What if you are good but always picking on others or annoying or bullying others regarding their works and their personality in the classroom? You may say that it is no big deal since it is just in the school, that in a real job you will be a fine person. Maybe you are right but if the people hiring you is your teacher or a friend of it? Don't you think they will not talk each other about you, about how you behave in classroom? If you are always making trouble in the class maybe he will be less incline to speak well about you behaviors. Than the employers ask if you are a good team worker... oh oh I think you are done now. In fact are you a good team player is one of the question that they always ask in interviews. How do you get along with each other? Do you like to work in team? You may be a real genius in your field but video games industries and 3d art in general is all about team work. Why so? Because the project are so time consuming and laborious that is not possible anymore to do a video game in your basement like in the late eightieths or nineties.

Let me tell you a personal story here. When Ive done my 2d3d animation class in 2006, it have a girl in my class that didn't get along well with the other guys. I must say that in our class at this time they only have two girl, 3d was not really popular whit girl at this time since they are not naturally inclined to love video games but thing are changing now for the better! It is cool to work with girl and not only boys... She was always criticizing the other student, the classroom, the teachers. In team work she was very intransigent and hard with others. When we went out for lunch time each time she will say no telling that we were gonna eat crap. In fact that was true :OP. When we were out to cocktails she didn't want to come with us complaining that we were not mature and stupids... Than we slowly stop talking to her. When the teacher need some student to welcome one day visitors he will not asking her. Strangely she was not the first to be place in a company. Even in interview she seems to be picky with her future employers. We were told that one day she was in a interview for a job and then at this job they work with photoshop for 2d and 3d illustration. Beside showing a good positive attitude and telling them that it will do fine she told them that she prefer open canvas and that they should work with it. Guess what? The tell her that they should not work with her :OP

However she was an intelligent girl and she eventually realize that she should put water in her wine. But the bad was done. She got a bad reputation for a long time. One day I was in a company with two other guys who were in the same class as me and with the girl. Than the boss put a job offer and she found about it. She than contact us to ask us if we could talk in good ways for her to our bosses. I'm not a bad person and she was with no job a longtime after we finish the class and I was willing to tell a good word about her skill to the bosses. But I was less inclined to speak about how well she work in teams and that she would be a good member of our team. My two friend didn't want to work with her as well even knowing that she was good. In fact she was the most skilled in our groups.

Lets talk about me a little to finish quickly. In school I was always funny with everybody, was skilled in a sens but a hard worker for the most. Students were always seeing me stay late in the evening even after the class was done to work on my project. The result were there I always have cool things to show and good grades. They were free labs period were we could come and works with the school computer and I was often the only one to be there. The teachers than come by to see if anyone were working or to close the labs and they will see me each time sit a the same computer working over and over again. OK I'm not telling you that just to be show off. The point is that a was a good student like by most of the people except the jealous one who tough that I was getting privilege or not doing alone my stuff... So when the teacher need someone to welcome new visitor who he ask first?? You bet myself! The first job I get in the industry was as computer lab supervisor at the same school I was. The teacher already know that I was motivated and good in a lot of field and tough that I will be the best person to do the job. At this time the girl I was talking about was jealous because she knew that she was better than me... she even complain that the job was not post on any forum or job hiring website. Now talk about good connection, good contact and good relationship!

The first job I got in a video games studio was by contact. One of my friend I meet at the college work for that company. One day his boss told him that they will need a lot of 3d artist. He than contact the college. My teacher who was my boss at this time told me the jobs offer. I contact my friend and give him the link to my blog portfolio and ask him to take a look and if he like it to show it to his boss. The next is history, since he know that I was a good guy and that I love to work in 3d he was glad to introduce myself to his bosses and have good word for me...

To finish it, my ancient teacher and supervisor of the 3d department at the college often ask for ancient student to come give class to new students. It is how the wheel turn. So remember to always have good behaviors with your peer, in class and to be a hard worker. Respect that and you will mostly doing well in the industry!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

nick 3d wip

2009-02-12T14:47:00.003-05:00

This is the latest update of my character that I'm currently working on. Now you see the body is mostly done except for the hand that I'm modelling now. I hate do hands. Usually I use the same hand and reuse it everywhere :OP. It seems lazy but it is something that we do in industries. I mean re-utilize what we can re-utilize to save time and money. But this time the old hands that Ive got was for a low poly character and modelled with a lot of Triangle which is not bad for video games but smooth not very well if you do High resolution model.

Ive put some color and material as well as you can see. They are not definite and are just mix map material so no UV yet and I want to do them because I so much love to do UV's!! This is totally irony here... I'm not to sure about the color maybe anyone got feedback on it? when the hands will be finish I will unwrap it, then Ill go in Z brush to make the normal maps. So stay tune for more development to comes!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

the ten best 3d school and graphics school in Canada

2009-02-12T13:08:00.002-05:00

Hi today for the benefits of those who would like to take a class in 3d art and animation Ive decided to post a list of the best school in Canada, since I'm from there :O). I have make a top ten with the number one being the best but keep in mind that it is completely subjective as I have not gone to more than one school in the list! But it is OK it have almost a good school in all the province.

1.Cyclone Arts & Technologies - 2D-3D Animation
751, cote d'Abraham
Montreal
Quebec
G1R 1A2
Phone: +(1) 418 522-3906
Fax: +(1) 418 877-8024
ialex@cyclone.qc.ca
http://www.cyclone.qc.ca
Canada

Character Animation, Experimental Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art, Graphic Design, Multimedia/Games, Performance Animation, Animation History/Theory

It is my school!! Very good programs and a good community, it is a small college so everyone know each other. Also ancient students always came back and sometimes became teachers. Good way to learn french to. The class are given mostly in french. OK On that one a biased but I assume it.

2.Vancouver Film School
200-198 West Hastings Street
Vancouver
BC
V6B 1H2
Phone: 604 685-5808
Fax: 604 685-5830
admissions@vfs.com
http://www.vfs.com
Canada

Character Animation, Experimental Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art, Graphic Design, Multimedia/Games, Voice Acting, Performance Animation, Animation History/Theory

comments: Surely the best school in Canada for those who want to learn more about movies and cinema. They have a lot of student submission and take only the ones who are the best skilled or showing good art skill in general. Its also a little bit pricey but you should be able to receive grants and bourses from the government.

3.The Art Institute of Vancouver
3264 Beta Avenue
Burnaby
BC
V5G 4K4
Phone: 604-298-5492
Fax: 604-298-5403
pcholmondeley@aii.edu
http://www.aiv.aii.edu/
Canada

Character Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art, Multimedia/Games

comment: Don't know to much about this school but have seen a lot of students from there in forum like 3d total, zbrush and cg talk. They are very skilled.

4.National Animation and Design Centre
335, de Maisonneuve East Blvd.
Montreal
Quebec
H2X 1K1
Phone: +(1) 514 288-3447
Fax: +(1) 514 288-5799
info@nadcentre.com
http://www.nadcentre.com/
Canada

Character Animation, Experimental Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art, Multimedia/Games, Animation History/Theory

comment: Probably the best school in the province of Quebec. In the old Montreal, they have nice quarter. Their students are almost all take in the video game industry when they finish the class.

5.Ontario College of Art and Design
100 McCaul Street
Toronto
ON
M5T 1W1
Phone: +(1) 800 382-6516
Fax: -
jgrant@ocad.on.ca
http://www.ocad.on.ca
Canada

Computer Animation/Digital Art, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Multimedia/Games

6.Ottawa School of Art
Animation Certificate Program 35 George Street
Ottawa
Ontario
K1N 8W5
Phone: (613) 241-7471
Fax: (613) 241-4391
animationOSA@artottawa.ca
www.artottawa.ca/
Canada

Character Animation, Fine Art, Animation History/Theory

comment: I think you can also learn about making traditional cartoon and comic book. Also They have a nice theoretical cursus about art and how to develop way to be better. One of my friend goes there and he is very satisfied.

7.Nova Scotia College of Art & Design
5163 Duke Street
Halifax
Nova Scotia
B3J 3J6
Phone: (902) 422-7381
Fax: (902) 425-2420
-
http://www.nscad.ns.ca/
Canada

Computer Animation/Digital Art, Graphic Design

8.Alberta College of Art & Design
1407 14 Avenue N.W.
Calgary
Alberta
T2N 4R3
Phone: (403) 284-6233
Fax: (403) 289-6682
admissions@acad.ab.ca
http://www.acad.ab.ca
Canada

Character Animation, Experimental Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art, Fine Art, Multimedia/Games, Performance Animation, Animation History/Theory

9.Atlantica Centre for the Arts
274 Sydney Street
Saint John
New Brunswick
E2L 2M8
Phone: 1-506- 672-7625
Fax: 1-866-763-4212
jim@atlanticacentre.com
http://www.atlanticacentre.com
Canada

Character Animation, Computer Animation/Digital Art

10.College of the North Atlantic
P.O. Box 5400
Stephenville
Newfoundland
A2N 2Z6
Phone: +(1) 888 982-2268
Fax: +(1) 709 643-7827
info@northatlantic.nf.ca
http://www.northatlantic.nf.ca/
Canada

Character Animation, Graphic Design, Multimedia/Games, Distance Learning

Hope you like it, don't be mad if you are 3d student from Canada and your school is not in the list. Ive I said it is totally subjective but Ive tried to put some school from each province. Yes I know I didn't find about Manitoba but it surely have one. Anyways the big center are covert and it have a lot more school in the big center in example in the region of Vancouver Ive count at least 5 school! It is the same in Ontario. If you have any suggestion of school you want to be promoted just send me a post in the comment with the links to the website of the school or institute. Feel free also to give comment about the school Ive mentioned already, it would be cool to have feedback from ancient and existing students.

Sam The 3d Blogger

www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Nick 3d wip

2009-02-11T13:10:00.007-05:00

Today I will do modelling for most of the day. My last article yesterday took my juice off!:OP way to much long and beside I want to show you a little about my skills too here on that blog and put some 3d graphics content to lighten it a bit. So remember Ive post a picture of a head in one of the article down there. I'm currently working on that project right now. Originally I wanted to keep it secret until it was finish but Ive decided to show you some screenshot of the evolution of the project so far.

<---- So this is the original concept. It is so cool!! It is from my friend Tsib. He is a really good 2d artist. He currently work at Frima Studio (frimastudio.com). From now Ive got the head pretty much done exept for the eyes that im not too sure about and maybe Ill do it smile in zbrush because now it doesnt smile it is jsut his poker face :OP Ill show you now what Ive done.

So basically as I got only one picture of the character and not totally from the front I use this technique to understand the flow of the body and the proportions of it. It is similar to the technique when you are drawing a character and begin jsut by adding circle and square just to know where you are going with it befor starting to add a lot of details.

As Im speaking I have the boots done and have begin to do the pants. I always prefer to start with the feet whenever I modelled a character. I think it is because it is the foundation the base of the character and it will influence all the rest of the body structure. Also it have some mesh benefit in this technique. Usually I like to have 6 or 8 sided legs so they can be nice and rounder. I start with a cylinder with the amount of side needed than I do the tip of the foot and rise to the knee and than the hips and finally the root. In this way the root usually connect in a nice way. Than the torso will count 16 side and the arms will be able to divide by 8 side too. In this way you should have nice loops all around the body and no triangle.

here a close-up of the face. It is what the face look in zbrush ----->

So hope you enjoy it, if you got any comments or crits or question to ask just put a comment down there. Come see often to see the evolution.

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Seven tips for a Successful Interview

2009-02-11T12:58:00.003-05:00

HI! As we have speak in the last days about how to constitute a good demo reel to please the eventual employers we also touch a little about how well present yourself as well as how to well present your 3d demo reel. So Ive found this nice little article about tips for a successful interview! It kinda resume what I was talking. Enjoy!

Tips for a Successful Interview

Author: Steve McMains

People often get nervous in the name of job interview.It does not make any sense.Interviews might seem tough but they can be made enjoyable with the right approach. An interview is a good opportunity for both the employer and the employee to judge each other.While you go for an interview remember that the employer not only looks for your academic background and your skill but the qualities that are needed for the vacant post.

Whether it is an individual interview or a group discussion try to highlight the qualities within you that will help you to stand out in the crowd.Take time to greet and answer the questions with honesty,confidence and enthusiasm.Don't be afraid. It is your chance to prove yourself so make the most of it with a few simple tips.

Dress Properly

Before going for an interview be well prepared and remember the basic things.First of all you should be dressed properly. Your look matters a lot as far as first impression is concerned.Always wear a formal dress while going for an interview. Your dress should be clean and ironed and your shoes should be polished.

Carry Several Resumes

Spend much time over resume writing as it creates the first impression.Go through the ad thoroughly and write the resume according to the requirements.When you go for an interview never forget to carry the hard copy of your resume.Always carry more than one resumes because you don't know how many rounds will be there.You might need to submit your resume more than ones.

Reach Early

If your interview time is 10 am you should reach the office at 9:50 am.You should always arrive at the interview venue 10 minutes early.It will create a good impression and show that you are punctual.It is unnecessary to say that punctuality is a quality that every organization looks for in its employees.

Know About the Company

Many of the candidates go for the interview without knowing anything about the company.This is a wrong approach.You should research about the company before the interview.Ask relevant questions to show that you show that you know the business,target market,clients,objectives and goals of the company.

Body Language

During an interview the employer not only judges your skills and capabilities but also your body language and attitude. He/she will see whether you can also contribute to the cultural environment of the company.So sit with a smiling face and your arms and legs uncrossed.Make eye contact and listen carefully what the interviewer is saying.

Ask About the Company Benefits

You don't need to hesitate to ask about the benefits offered by the company.However ask about the salary and other facilities at the end.After all you are not going to do social service.

Close the Interview with a Positive Note

Close the interview very strongly.End it with a firm handshake.Don't forget to get a business card of the employer to send him/her a thank you note.You should also let him/her know that it was a good experience for you.Your positive attitude will surely leave a good impression.

You have as much power as the employer.Believe in yourself.Follow these tips and you will find preparing for a job interview is not that tough.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/tips-for-a-successful-interview-765717.html

About the Author:

Steve McMains is a media professional and writes for different online publications on media and advertising industry.For more information on journalism jobs or tv jobs he recommends you to visit http://www.mediajobmarket.com.

what constitute a good 3d Demo reel part 4

2009-02-10T12:23:00.002-05:00

HI! Today I will continue on my series of article where I lived yesterday. Than maybe you are asking your self is there something that employers want to see and something that they not want to see in a 3d demo reel? I will also talk about how to present your demo in term of media and how to approach the employers.

So lets start with your first question. In a sens Ive already answer it in the part 2 of this series of article in which I told you example of what you should put in it if your a modeller or an animator but are they some kind of stuff to prohibits in a demo reel? Are they things that employers doesn't want to see anymore? Well this is a good question. You might surf on the net there is some article about it! But I will summarize it here for you. First still it all depend on the employers and what they do as products and two it all depend if your are exceptional at what you do. But be assure that it is very difficult to be very original and they may have thousand of people coming with the same model character as you. But again if your model is really exceptional you may put it in your demo. I suggest you to be as more original than you can if you want to stand out of the crowd.

But actually it seems that they are an unofficial list of thing not to put in a demo. Let see some of them. First the infamous flying logos! It has been countless time seen and beside that it doesn't need a big amount of talent in animation to do it. Not so convincing for an employer.

Than you may be a fan of ''Star Trek'', ''Stars Wars'' or ''Battle Stars Galactica'' and absolutely want to model guess what? Yes you re right a magnificent spaceship!! Spaceships are cool but since the popularity of the TV series and movies on the big screen in the last decade, they grow to much liked in the 3d industries... You may like your spaceship but realize that employers who watch demo just cant stand anymore watching spaceship model. Sorry if it hurt you. Chocolate is very good tasting but eat to much of it at once and you will end sick.

W.O.W or world of walking like one of my friend use to say it to me! :OP You see me coming from miles away I know it! The well known orcs!!! Since the popularity of the world of Warcraft series of games it seem every beginner in the 3d want to model his own orc and guess what they love it so much that they put it in their demo as well. But chance are that your orc is not enough bad ass since you still a beginner so it can impress employers. Beside take in account that Blizzard apart how many company have game with orcs in it? Maybe Warhammer... OK maybe you can tell me 2, 3 or 5 company in the world but these company are the best and they took the best artist to work with them and guess what! Yeah they receive thousand of orcs by day. Are you good enough to stand out the crowd? Also take in account that the company where you may have your first interview don't have anything to do with a artist who model orcs.

Let me tell you a personal story here... The first job I get in a company of video games was in a company who do games for young girl aged of 8 to 12 years old. Not really the kind of jobs I was aiming for or dreaming of at the beginning but hey! you got to works. In the demo I show them I have a bad ass warrior barbarian like model in zbrush and 3ds max. You could see it at this link:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AYZMxksztHQ/RqZLm_XzMEI/AAAAAAAAAE0/HTI63kk7srU/s1600-h/2Fullbody.jpg

or see a turntable of it here:

I was really proud of it and still I am :OP The director of the studio and the producer who receive the demo were amazed by my model and it open the doors for me. After that they send me to the Art director and to the lead artist. Both watch my demo and find it very good as they said to me but they didn't focus on the barbarian except to tell me that it have some minor proportion problem and to ask me how long it took me to do. Question to which Ive get a little shy to answer since it took me a fairly good amount of time to finish. At this time I was not the fastest modeller in town to make it short.

In the demo I also had a Pixar like incredible character who was very cool but they hook on the only two girl that I have never model till now!! The first is on my demo reel you remember the girl with the pink hair and the other was a kind of little witch made in Zbrush. She was cute but the modelling was awful and the proportion not to well. But they did focus on it .Why? The answer is simple just because they were doing little girl games. They didn't care about an artist who could just do big bad ass character and orcs... So it take us back to my last article where I said that you must know what the products of the companies your applying are so you can adapt yourself to it.

In my demo I also put a motorcycle . It is a Honda cbr rr if I recall well. One of my teacher could tell it just having see it one time. A couple year ago a lot of demo from student have a Bike or a car in it. It was not a bad idea because a car or a bike is kind of a mix between organic and hard surface modelling. If you do it well it is a great asset for your demo because it show that you have great skills in modelling. But now the employers seem to be tired of seeing cars and bike. It toke me a whole month to model mine and in the first interview that I got they just pass over it without any comments I was SO sad! :OP

Other thing that you may consider its to put your character in pose not the usual boring ''T'' pose. The benefits to put the character in pose is that it show if it deform,well, and if it deform well it is because you are great at doing mesh. Also it gives personality to your character. Finally you may not want to copy an already known design. Try to be original and create your own. It is also usual to put the statistics of the model: the number of polygons, the size of the texture, the software you use.

Also some line of tough tend to tell that if your a modeller you may just focus on modelling and not texture or pose your model. But as I was been told it is better to show good all around skills. The last Lead Artist that Ive got was in the industry for almost 10 years. He use to tell me that he better like to see a poor model textured and in pose than a poor model not even textured and not posed . Because at least it show that you may not be a god modeler but you know enough to unwrap , pose your character and do the lighting. Maybe you could have just plain grey shader model in ''T'' pose and it show that you have great skills but if they are searching for jack-of-all-trades than they might prefer a less skilled guy or just asking you to do some test which is nerve breaking and annoying and in finish your not so sure of being hired. It is much I got to say about what or not put in your demo. You may find other article on the web who are more exhaustive about it.

Lets finish quickly about how to present your demo reel to employers. Now you know how to constitute your demo. What to put in it and what not to put in it and how to present your pieces. Now lets talk about the format of it and the media. In example a media could be a website, a blog, a movie, a DVD, a CD, a portfolio in paper etc.

A DVD is a good way to do it. Except that you may have the trouble to go give it in person or to post it which may occur in fees. In person is a good way because you get a first contact whit the employers. If you are well dress, clean etc you may do a good lasting first impression. The employer may even remind you when they see your demo reel or even look at it whit you if they have time.

Remember you should always contact them before go and get in their office. They are extremely busy people. Take a rendez-vous to tell them that you want to gives them your new demo reel. Try to set an interview before. Also if you do a DVD then try to give them the box with a nice covers and put a stickers on the DVD. Don't just give them a plain CD or DVD with a marker writing on it. Try to look professional as it show that you take that to serious.

What I personally use and that I would suggest you is a website or a blog or a video host ed somewhere easy to see. I'm currently using a blog where I put all my image and videos so it is much easier when I apply to a job. Also it is easy to manage. When Ive done a pieces of art I just post it on my blog and my latest post is on the top. Usually my latest post is my better piece of arts so it make good impression to the viewers and they can browse down to see the evolution of my arts. In this way they see that I'm always working and upgrading myself in the field and that is a good point.

If you do a movie than host it where it is easy to see and where you don't lose to much quality in compression. It is particularly important if your demo is full of 3d high rise still. You want them to be as clear as possible to reflect your work. The Internet way is a good way because when applying you send a email to their job application links or email. In this mail you attach your resume and a letter of introduction in which you present yourself and tell how you have hear of the company and what you could do for them. Than in the mail you just say go see this links it is where my portfolio or demo reel is host. Than you finish by thanking them and assuring them that you,re at their disposition if they want to do an interview to talk more about your stuff. Bingo it is so much easier in this way!

So finally this is what take a end to this series of article talking about demo reel. I didn't know in the beginning that it will be so long but I hop it could help some of you to ligth up their mind about the subject. I'm open to any comments and question so don't be shy! Bye see you tomorrow!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

what constitute a good 3d Demo reel part 3

2009-02-09T12:18:00.002-05:00

Hi! Everybody! It is a nice beautiful -15 Celsiuses day to begin the weeks! I didn't have the times yesterday to came out with the last of my article about what constitute a good 3d demo reel so this is about the time to end with it today.

Today I said in the last post of the same title I will go trough my demo reel that you can still see in the previous post of this series or article or you could just go and see at this link:

http://the3dblogger.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-constitue-good-3d-demo-reel.html

So now that it is done lets begin! First As I said in a previous post you can see right away that Ive done a opening screen or you may call it a presentation screen. It is like an introduction paragraph in a essay or a opening credit when you watch a TV movie show. It kinda give the feel of what the viewer is gonna see. So it is a good way to start a demo as you have no choice to start somewhere as a matter of facts!!! :OP So in my case I put my three character that Ive modelled and texture in position and in interaction on the left side and on the right side I put the title which include my name and the description of the demo which is a demo reel....

So you might find it redundant and you particularly right! Back in time a tough it was cool to specified that it was a demo reel but now I realize what is the point to specified that it is a demo reel as you will surely give it to the employers with a letter or face to face already saying that you give them your demo reel. It like I was sending you a letter and on the envelop I specified you that it is a letter :OP Beside the peoples who will look at it knows enough their works that they will know right away that it is a demo reel. But anyways that is no big deal put it or not it is as you will. I'm just giving you food for tough here. Anyways if you put it do as the automobile industries. If your done your demo in 2008 then specified it as a 2009 demo reel. It is particularly true if you finish your animation class in December and go on the market in January. You don't want your demo to look like or be identified as an old demo.

Just down the demo reel title I put a big red button saying start as you can see. So what this is doing there... My demo reel is a quicktime movie with low compression so I was able to put it on YouTube. It is not a DVD with a menu where you can choose your options etc... Than it is no point to have put a big red start button here, but I didn't know to much about DVD editing at the time and don't know to much now to and I tough that I could make this button the play button... but this didn't happen. I was in a hurry to finish it for the end of class. I think they are several software that can do that like Nero's. You might want do search on that even tough I'm not to sure if you can implement your own visual and graphics. Anyways at your school you surely have class with teacher that know about it. Remember to not be afraid to ask them for help as they are there for you and paid to teach you.

Now let get on the real thing the meat of our demo. As you edit your demo you might not want to put anything in a messed up way. Remember in a previous post Ive talk about the soundtrack of your demo and how it could and should influence the pace of it and could tell what to put at which place? It is still true but there is more to take in consideration.

When I took my class and at the time of the editing of my demo, one of my teacher told me is theory about how to manage my arts in my demo. What to put at the beginning and what to put in the last etc... Basically he call his theory the ''sandwich effect''. I tend to agree with it so lets take a look a this funny theory. What he mean by sandwich effect is that considering that in a sandwich the bread is the structure of it. The bread it is what put everything together and prevent others condiment to fall apart normally... Then the bread is what it is the most important. I know you see me coming from far away now! :O)

At the beginning of showing your art you will want to put ,according to this theory, a bread slice! NO!!! just kidding, you will want to put one of your big pieces. You got to start big! Impress right away your viewer in the most of the case the employer. Never had a second chance to do a first impression they said. You may put your finest pieces but I will save it for the last place in your demo. Why that? Because just like in any movies and novel or roman or even song before the actual end of the media which is in fact the factual ending. It may be the credit screen at the end of the movie, the conclusion of a novel etc it have what it is call a climax. The climax is like the summit of a mountain, it is the higher point you can reach before starting to go down again. In a movie in example it is often in the last tiers of the movie when the hero get to reach is goal after an epic battle and then in the last scene you see the hero came back to home. Just watch ''the condemned'' with Stone Cold Steve Austin!Now I know you understand me :O)

Concretely it mean like in the movies you got a generic of opening than you put maybe your second best piece to start strong, than you go with the condiment, some minor work or work that you like but not as strong in showing your abilities, than one condiment more strong build up until you end up with your final piece which is the cherry on the top of the sundae! Than you put your credit screen with thanks to family and teacher who help you and most important your name and how to reach to you.

Lets take a look to my own private demo reel. First my opening screen, the introduction, than Ive started with a motorcycle which I was very proud of at this time. Than I put other pieces that I liked and mostly the only things that I have with enough potential to be put in a demo. And then I finish with a big character space-marine-like which I was very very very proud of it at this time as I obtain the admiration of my colleague student. Finally I finish with a credit screen with my name again and my email and phone number (which one is not the same anymore!). I will not recommend you to put your phone number on it if you plan to expose your demo to the world via YouTube in example, but if you only plan to show it to employers that's not bad even tough they will have it in your resume.

OK now that you know how to put your art pieces in your demo and that you know how long to put each thing considering the timing and the beat of the song you use, maybe you are asking your self is there something that employers what to see and something that they not want to see? Well I will talk about it in a next post tomorrow. Id taught that I could be able to finish this series of article about demo reel in this post but in doing it I figured a lot of thing to talk about :OP So stay tune for the tomorrow article in which I will talk about what employers want to see or not and how to finally present your demo reel to the employer in term of media and the course of action to do it!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Dominance war IV: massive art challenge online

2009-02-08T12:15:00.002-05:00

HI! This morning when I open my hotmail account, Ive found that I receive a news from the CG Society. This is one of the biggest website and forum about 2d and 3d graphics art in the world. I don't know why I tell you about that you must already Know it :OP!!

Anyways in this website you can found a lot of goodies and most of all see portfolio of fabulous artist who do cg art in 2d and 3d. If you are a beginner I would recommend you to often go see what others are making not to compare yourself but to higher your goal and expectation. Its a matter of facts, you want to jump 2 meter away then you will land only at 1,50m... you should try to focus on jumping a 2,50 than you mostly will get to 2m.... Yeah I Know sound a little esoteric but it works! In definitive raise your goal you will surely land higher that if you focus on lower goal or no goals at all. Concretely see what good artist better than you do and try to understand how they do it and focus on achieving similar result. What is good about that site its that people gives comment about other artist works and artist often gives indication on about how they achieve their image.

But its not the most important! The mail was about the arrival of the new annual Dominance war IV challenge! The challenge will start the 20 February 2009 It is a challenge held on many forum about game characters. Each member of each forum compete between them and each forum against them too. But the cool things is that you can post some of your wip and ask for help and advice between the course of the challenge. Basically you got to do a character who could fit in a mythical and mystical universe at war, where they are several cast, guild, race etc... You got to define what type of character you will do , how he will defend itself and which weapon he will carry. Usually they are rule to made the character but they are not yet revealed as the contest is not begin yet. But in the past year they was restriction like no more than one element type, color, etc Technically it have rule like which format of texture you must use, how much map you could applied to your character, the number of polygons etc... Basically the character must be a part of a next gen games. So he must in a sens be playable and run in a engine. They will talk about it in their rules how to respect that.

You could win cash prizes. In fact it have more than 10 000 in us cash prize add to interview in magazines and some marginals profits. But take it as a way to learn and work in the same times with great artist as they will post on their respective forum some of their breakthrough process. I recommend you to go to this link to read more about that fabulous event that will going on in this next month!

www.features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4894&page=2

Go ahead and try it! When you push yourself trough limitation it often bring the best of you as you focus on respecting the rules you will have to be more efficient to achieve what you want. It is a great way to understand what a job as a 3d artist is in a video game company. I may enter it myself too depending on the free time I got.

So this is all for now. I'm leaving because I go see the new movie ''Push the division'' who play at the theater in about one hour. After that I will continue on my what constitute a good 3d demo reel articles.

Sam The 3d Blogger

www.The3dblogger.blogspot.com

Ok not to much time today to post a big article....

2009-02-07T17:23:00.004-05:00

so I decided to show you the last work I'm on. Its the head for a new character who was design by the same guy who I got the reference for the face! :OP Ive done that because my friend is a really good 2d artist and he often put his face on the sketch is doing. I found it quiet funny and beside the concept was really cool. By now I only work on the head and face, but I'm not to happy of the eyes... I plan begin tonight or tomorrow the body. I actually done a lot of test for the skin shader so it is what it took me longer than I tough. I have made the base mesh in 3ds max 9 and refine it in zbrush and done the normal map in zbrush to. Did I already said that I love zbrush!!! I plan to do article about that wonderful apps so stay tune! When the character will be done, ill do an article too about the whole process.

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Just testing

2009-02-07T16:49:00.001-05:00

Yeah because Im pretty green in blogging I just try some stuff here. Rigth now Im trying the subscription tool! Hope it works! Dont be shy to try it too it would be fun to have a first reader hehe!

Sam The 3d Blogger

Having a good attitude in a job interview the Key to the succes

2009-02-06T18:23:00.002-05:00

Hi following up what I was talking sooner today, I found this great article telling about what attitude to have in a job interview! Im just posting it because it kinda give legitimity to what I spoke about earlier. Enjoy it!

During my experiences in Big 4 recruiting I noticed a pretty unbelievable trend. Many of the candidates entered meet-and-greets and interviews with a very poor attitude. The target varied, but the attitude was the same. Candidates displayed negativity towards their professors (making excuses for only averages grades), their peers (complaining about classmates) and even themselves (using self-deprecating humor). While this is not as common during actual interviews, it is something that is seem frequently in the informal interactions with the Big 4. The Big 4 staff routinely send first or second year staff that are alumni of the school to participate in campus recruiting activities. These people are often only one or two years older than some of the students being interviewed. As such, informal conversations invariably strike up between Big 4 staff and candidates about professors, classes, etc. Be warned, this is a very slippery slope! While these conversations can seem harmless, YOU ARE BEING JUDGED ! It is the job of the first/second year staff to report their opinion of each candidate to the senior recruiters. Anything you say to them can and WILL be used against you. The Big 4 are looking for someone that is positive and polite. Any complaints, insults, or otherwise negative words, even in a harmless manner can significantly hurt your chances of getting hired. It is not an understatement to say that it can even prevent an otherwise perfect candidate from receiving an offer. Consider yourself warned!! For more information, please visit http://www.big4guru.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/interviewing-101-the-one-thing-that-could-make-or-break-you-758122.html

About the Author:
The Big 4 Guru is a CPA, proud Big 4 alumni and seasoned industry professional. His passion is helping new accounting professionals achieve their career goals.

what constitute a good 3d Demo reel part 2

2009-02-06T14:27:00.003-05:00

Hi! This is me, Sam The 3d blogger!

Yesterday for the ones who were there I was talking about what could constitute a good 3d demo reel. Specifically I was talking about what kind of music or song you should use as soundtrack in your demo reel. So basically I told you that a too much aggressive or to distracting song could be bad for your demo. I also told you to go with the content of your demo as if its a animation demo reel you need to put a song where the rhythm fit well with the rhythm of the animation. In this way the both enhance each other in a complementary way. You may also need a song where the cut of the demo could happen on specific beat or movement in the song. In example when the bridge of the song came you may want to put one of your nicest pieces.

So this is basically about that for the music, no need to add anything if not to be cautious and to realized that the people who will see your demo and hire you may not like or having the same taste as you.

That's been said lets talk as I said yesterday about the lenght of your demo and what you should put in it! The fun parts! As I'm talking I will refer to my own demo reel that Ive done for my 3d animation class when I was a student. Ive already put it on the blog on my last article yesterday so just scroll a little down to take a look a it.

How long my demo reel should be ? I know you are asking you that question! Well the answer should be as long as you got awesome stuff to show! But a rule of thumbs is that if your not yet a professional 3d artist you should not go pass 1:15 minutes. But it all depend on the content as I said and specifically on the genre of your demo. 1:15minutes its very long when you got only four render to show... but at the inverse if you got 4 animation it will go faster. You got it! Its all relative in a way but keep in mind that the purpose to have a demo reel is to show it to people who may and will hire you. They must not be annoyed in any sens, if they had a bad experience when watching your demo even if you are good you could be dismiss.

In the same way its like passing an interview for a job. You surely already take class on the subject at the school. You know when presenting yourself you should be shaved, looking clean, having nice and clean clothes.... You know the kind of stuff who should be natural and that we always been told at school... At equal talent or as pound for pound as they said in the boxing circle who may win? Talent for talent they might choose or should I said they will took the one who inspired them the most credibility and this person is the person who look well dress and clean because it tell to the employers that this person is cautious, loyal, nice, take the job application seriously and in extend that person is serious etc...

Back to the demo!! Sorry I tend to make digression sometimes but its all for your food!:OP. Than your demo should look slick and cool and professional. Looking like you put some effort in it. In example don't just put anything in anyways in it. Do a presentation screen and a credit screen! Take a look to my demo is what I'm talking about. Ive done a presentation screen with my name and already present some of my character in pose. It lead the employer to think that they will learn much about these character. Then on the credit screen you may want to thanks your teachers and your friend who gives you advice. The employers may even know your teachers because they were colleague or one of his old students! I'm not saying it is the only way but a good presentation screen is a must as well as a credit screen. Think about it like writing an essay. Have you ever read an essay without introduction and conclusion??

Select only your better stuff!. A guy from a video game company came one day at the college to give advice on what they want in a demo reel and the most important thing he said to remember is that in doubt of a piece, just don't put it in your demo! Just put the one you are the most proud of, you get it? In other ways there is no need to put 15 character if they are all botched or for 2minutes long of walk cycle if they are ugly or not finish yet... You can always in that case put the inscription w.i.p beside them but only if they are promising stuff that you have been told to put in by your teacher or friend that understand the field.

But concretely what I should put in it? Are you a modeller, a texture artist, an animator etc..? To ask is to answer in that case. If your a modeller and you suck a animation just don't put your animation in your reel as I said before it surely will not be your best works. Beside it you want to applied for a modelling job so don't confuse the employer..... Eh eh it always go back to the employers!! If by any chance your good at both than select just the best of your work or better do two demo reel! one for each field of competence.

OK let assume that your a modeller.... do you want to specialise in character modelling or in environment? or both... A good character modeller know the human anatomy very well so you migth want to put a male and a female in your demo, big shot of face and head modelling etc... In this way you will show that you are efficient in both anatomies. Put your character in pose so they can look more natural and funny not just the boring ''T'' pose.

You are good in environment? Are you good in modelling props? terrain? Building? That's right I know you get it! Put one or two example of your best work in each categories. The diversity is the key of the evolution as Darwin might have said! In this way the employers will look a your demo and see that you can do a lot of different things in modelling and will be tempted to hire you before a guy who just model character in example. But it still depend on what they searching for... so you may check before if your talent correspond to their demand. Do your homework do research on the company you want to applied, what they need when will they need people etc.. Beside that I know that little company and studios prefer to have jack of all trade people and big studios may categorize their artist by their competences and skills. In example some will just be texture artist other only lighting artist...

Let finish quickly with stuff to put for animators before that post became too much long... As for modeller the point is to show your skill. In animation it depend if you want to be a video game artist or a movie artist but both tend to collapse these days. The base a employer want to see usually are a walk cycle, a run cycle, a jump cycle, a lift, an animal. walking...and ultimately interaction between two character. You can also show your skill at cartoon and realism and do a facial acting. So you may also want to put each of these cycle for male and female. Take a look at the Richard Williams '' The animator's survival kit'' book, its the bible of animator try searching it in google. I know you can get it as pdf as well. All these cycle are show in it. So you could put all these animation in your demo but just the lapse of time needed to show correctly the cycle. In example no need to put 20 second of a walk cycle after 3 or 5 seconds its usually enough.

So this is it for today post, maybe tomorrow or Sunday I will continue on that matter in criticising more concretely my demo reel so you could learn from my mistakes as well as my good shot!

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

Ligthing and darkness

2009-02-05T16:26:00.002-05:00

Hi! I've found this article about how fine artist deal with the light and the color in there paintings. Obviously it applied to us 3d artist too. So you don`t really know about lighting and how create mood in your scene, render whatever they are I deeply encourage you to take a look to this article. It really open mind about the subject. Later I will surely talk to you a little about the light setup in 3ds max but until there........

The Many Facets of Lightness and Darkness in Fine Art by Chris Robertson

Those who appreciate fine art understand that lightness and darkness play a prominent role in the works of everyone from the Old Masters to contemporary artists. Indeed, seeing paintings through the prism of lightness and darkness can give us insight into the artist's soul, into our perceptions, and into our own experience.

Few would argue that paintings can trigger deep emotional responses. Throughout the ages, artists have captured moments of sorrow, of joy, of spiritual awakenings, and of the ordinary events of everyday life. To a large extent, paintings elicit emotions though their subject matter, the media used, and through the degree of realism or abstraction employed.

Subject Matter

In fine art, lightness and darkness is often used metaphorically. For example, contemporary artist Anthony Falbo created a Light and Dark Series in which he explores good and evil through the use of symbols. Painted in a surrealistic style, this series could be termed spiritual art or God art. While some of the paintings have recognizable religious themes - like images of Jesus - others use symbols for heaven and hell.

Color Perception

An artist uses lightness and darkness to convey moods, whether subtle or intense. Larry Poons' "Sunnyside Switch" is an in-your-face example of a work that uses both color and patterns to play with human perception and produce the illusion of movement within a painting. The result? A lightness that carries you into and away from the work. In contrast, Picasso's "Blue Period" paintings communicate despondency and even despair - largely through his use of dark and muted hues of blue. As the artist's mood lifts, his color palette expands, and more lightness enters Picasso's paintings. The result? His "Rose Period."

Composition

Lightness and darkness are also reflected in the composition or style of a painting. Impressionists, for example, used lightness or darkness to convey the mood - or impression - of the scene. Working quickly, often with a palette knife rather than a brush, 19th century Impressionists were derided for failing to render "realistic" paintings. Today, contemporary artists like Anthony Falbo use thick layers of paint applied with a palette knife to bring bold and colorful paintings to life.

Lightness and darkness also play an important role in cubism, a style pioneered by Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century. The process of deconstructing and re-assembling an image or object relies heavily on communicating the form through subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences in tone. Today, contemporary artists combine cubism and abstraction to transform everyday subject matter into what some would consider extreme - even going so far as to incorporate subliminal messages into the work.

At Home

The many elements of lightness and darkness in fine art are always food for thought. That's one of the reasons why it's important to incorporate art into your home decor. Thanks to the contemporary artists working today, you don't have to be wealthy or visit a museum in order to enjoy fine art. Indeed, although original works are purchased by collectors and museums, you can often find limited edition prints in various sizes and at affordable prices.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies.

For tips/information, click here: fine artVisit Majon's Arts directory.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

what constitue a good 3d Demo reel

2009-02-05T13:20:00.003-05:00

Hi! So let begin today by showing you my first demo reel done back in falls 2006 for my 2d3d animation class. Now that we are in 2009....3 yearssssssss after!!!!! lol I'm getting old... I can now look back at it and have some constructive critics and comments.

First of all,,, the music... The music is somehow critical but not to critical in a way. In this case this is a really slow and soft song by Massive attacks : ''teardrop'' . I think this is the kind of song that someone might want to use. Why? because it is slow and soft!! Lol OK let get serious...

When you put music on a demo reel you don't want it to be aggressive, attractive and to distracting in comparison of your content. If the song is the new hit parade song it may distract the employer. If it is to aggressive they might want to stop even before starting to watch it or finish it. If its that the case and one of your better piece is at the end your screw. At the opposed I'm not too sure with too heavy classic song to,,, you know the one like Beethoven or Wagner Valkyries... Heavy metal.... mmm not really I'm a big fan but that may be too much... techno.... that may do but depend on the song and on the rhythm of your demo... Some demo of animation do well with techno song. I have a friend of mine who done it and it happen to be a nice and paced demo. The rhythm in the music and the demo is really crucial... it kinda give a better impression when the timing between the beat and the switch of image are in sync. You remember in the beginning when I said that it is crucial in a way and not in another?? I recall have been called for a interview in a company for a modelling job. They ask me to sit at the table and then the two employers start my demo reel before my eyes. Needless to say my face was becoming red. I think it was one of my first interview for a 3d job... SO they start my demo reel and then mute the song of before even it start! So good for me who was proud of his choice of song..... They just want to see the model that I've done... The conclusion.... I guess it depend on the employers, but try not makes them throw your demo reel in the basket before that they even see if you suck or not.... :OP

So this is it for today's post.... I planned to talk about all the facets of a good demo reel in the same article but I realized it would be too much long. So Stay tune for tomorrow where I will talk about the length and what should be included in a demo reel! :O)

Sam The 3d Blogger
www.the3dblogger.blogspot.com

First post. A first word from the 3d blogger!

2009-02-04T22:45:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone here who happen to pass on my new blog! Hope to see you often here. Let me introduce myself.... im a man of wealth and taste!! No seriously I am Sam! Yes like the Sean Penn movie hehe.

So this is it Im inaugurating my new blog about whatever is related to 3d arts. Ive work a little in a compagnie who use to do game for little girl. Unfortunately the studio close his doors so I will not tell the name of it. It was not the kind of game very exiting to do and gratifient but we use to learn a lot.

Rigth now Im in search of a job in the field and try to become a successful freelancer. Im working mainly now on my portfolio which is hosted on another blog. Ive put the links in the useful links on the sidebar if anyone want to hire me or just see how im doing well in 3d! :OP As some could see my primary language is not english so its why in part I will working now on that new blog totally in english! Please dont be to harsh on my writing skill hehe.

Im not a pro so this is why I call my blog the ''The number one blog for 3d art's passionates and noobies!'' 3d is one of my greatest passion next to kung fu and beside not being totally a noob I have some clues and skills in the field. I have also good friend who works too and that are good at what they do so hopefully I could manage to get some article from them on subject I dont know to much about as rigging... Ive learn maya from the start at the college where I took my 2d3d animation class, but right now I prefer 3dsmax. I have also some good skill with zbrush who could be from some help for many beginners. Maybe Ill do a series of article on that as many friends of mine want me to show them some of my tricks!

So this is about the way it gonna be here.. I plan to post some of my previous work here and explain a little how I done it. I will try to find free tutorial here and there to post here so the blog could become a useful place for newbies and veteran of 3d arts. I want to create a little communauty for 3d artist... I m also open if some want to share with me their knowledge and show their art. I will also post everything I think its useful and related in a ways to 3d.

So nice to meet you! Hope to see some action here and long live to this blog!

Sam the 3d blogger!