Only 4 Seats Left for Jan 2025! Get Hired as a Compositor in the VFX industry (ILM, WETA, Sony, MPC, DNEG & more). Master the Craft by Training at Alpha Chromatica.
Chroma 0127 - In Which You Might Be Better Off Going to School to Study VFX - Part 1
Accelerated Artistic Development
When diving into the world of visual effects, you're stepping into a realm where photorealism is king. In a studio, every artist is on a quest to create images that are indistinguishable from reality. But here's the catch: while many can spot when CGI falls short, not everyone can pinpoint what needs fixing to enhance its believability.
This is where the expertise of a good school comes into play. A seasoned instructor can dissect reality into understandable chunks, guiding you through the nuances that breathe life into your work. The journey to mastering photorealism is a marathon, not a sprint. It's about sharpening your observational skills, a process that can span years.
I've observed students who rely heavily on online tutorials, attempting to mimic them step by step. They might follow a guide to create a CG car, meticulously adding lights and shaders, only to find the final render lacking that spark of authenticity. This is where a professional's approach diverges.
They invest time in understanding how light interacts with surfaces, delving into the why's and how's of material reactions to light, leading to a deeper comprehension of the real world and its replication in the digital realm.
So, if you're considering a path in VFX, think about the value an experienced instructor brings to the table. Someone who has honed their skills over the years, either in a school setting or in production, and is now eager to pass on that wealth of knowledge to you. The guidance of such a mentor will be a catalyst in your artistic journey, propelling you towards creating work that's not just good, but photoreal.
* That's an old render of mine! Looks real, doesn't it?
💬#AlphaChromatica#Chroma#HeyGanz#GotoAGoodSchool
🚀 𝐕𝐅𝐗 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 🚀
Hey all!
I recently shared a study I completed, inspired by one of my favorite films, Interstellar, however, I thought of creating a nice breakdown to demonstrate the thought process of it all. 🌌✨
In this project, I selected a few shots from the movie and replaced the characters with CGI models, meticulously matching the original lighting and mood. Here’s a breakdown of my process:
𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬:
- I studied the original lighting setups, paying close attention to light sources, direction, color temperature, and intensity.
- This involved deconstructing the key light, fill light, rim light, and ambient light to understand how they contribute to the overall mood.
𝐂𝐆𝐈 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
- With a pre-made model (credited in the original post), I carefully positioned the camera with an approximate configuration as seen in the movie (roughly a 35mm or IMAX 75mm in some shots).
- Using Maya as my DCC and Renderman, I recreated the lighting to match the original as closely as possible.
- Nuke helped fine-tune the integration, adjusting for color grading.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬:
- One major challenge was replicating the subtle interplay of light and shadow, especially in the highly reflective surfaces of the chosen CG model.
- Another was achieving the ambient lighting without the original set HDRI. This had to be done in a very unorthodox way. Utilizing AI, I removed the character from the original shot and used that as a makeshift ambient projected onto geometries around the CG model.
Lighting is crucial in storytelling; even minor adjustments can significantly impact the feel of a scene.
Attention to detail in matching the lighting and mood can make CGI characters blend seamlessly into live-action footage.
I’m always eager to connect with fellow artists and enthusiasts. Currently, I am open to work and excited for my next opportunity in the VFX industry. Feel free to reach out for discussions, collaborations, or job opportunities!
#VFX#Lighting#Compositing#CGI#Interstellar#FilmStudy#VisualEffects
For the final 8 weeks of our first school year at Games | Breda University of Applied Sciences, our VFX class had to create a full CG environment based off of a green screen plate given to us. We had full creative freedom, apart from being restricted by the original plate.
I was assigned the lead role for this project, which mostly meant I was in charge of creative decisions. I was also the person assembling the scene and implementing all the work from our team. I also did most of the texturing and shading work. The scene was assembled and rendered using Blender Cycles, but we also used other software like Maya, Houdini, Substance Painter and Mari to create our work. Nuke was used for compositing.
The Team:
Mark Rijs - Creative Lead, 3D Scene Assembly, Texture and Shader Artist
Hugo van Keulen - 3D Modelling, Tech Artist
Niek van Wijk - 3D Modelling
Tijmen van Menen - Tech Artist, Lighting Artist
Daniela Luniova - Animation, Matte Painting
Alp Eren Özbay - Compositing
I am very proud of what our team has achieved, especially for a first year project.
#Maya#Mari#Blender#Blender3D#Cycles#Nuke#Substance#Foundry#SideFX#Houdini#VFX#3DModelling#3DArt#VFX#Film#Texturing#Shaders#Procedural#TechArt#Lighting#Compositing#Realism
I'm thrilled to share my portfolio with you! 🌟
Check it out nickgirnet.artstation.com to explore my projects, experiences, and skills in the game industry as a 3D character artist.🎨
This portfolio is a work in progress, and I'll be consistently updating it with new content, projects, and refinements. I welcome your feedback and look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations about our shared interests.
Connect with me for any questions, collaborations, or to share your thoughts.
#networking#professionaldevelopment#portfolio
Exciting news for 3D Artists!
Adobe's latest update introduces the Structure Reference feature in Firefly, revolutionizing how you compose AI images.
With this new feature plus the 3D tools you already know and love, you gain unprecedented control over your AI images, including:
- object placement
- camera placement
- focal length of your camera
No matter if your project involves simple geometric shapes or complex 3D models, this feature empowers you to swiftly refine concept designs, achieving the precise composition you envision with ease.
Stay tuned for a detailed tutorial coming to my YouTube channel tomorrow. But for now....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
#Adobe#AdobeFirefly#Substance3D#madewithsubstance#AI#art#artist#design#designer#productdesign#render#renderart#cg#cgi#vfx#animation
This isn't exciting, this is horrifying. These are supposed to be tools to assist in repetitive tasks, not replace hours of handcrafted work. Artists will lose so much if they use AI in this way. They will lose their discipline to push through the conceptual parts of the process. They will lose their identity as they won't be known for their signature touches anymore. They will lose their creativity as the machine will produce results faster than they ever could and thus will devalue each result. And most importantly they will lose any meager amount of job security they had in the creative industry. "Faster, cheaper. Faster, cheaper." is something the money men that have never lifted a pencil in their life say, not artists. Artists say no to quick and dirty, no to cheap and easy, no to cutter cookie and plain. Learn from failure, pivot when necessary, and don't be afraid to speak the truth about all this "progress" in technology. Say no to AI and yes to the process.
Head of 3D Technical Artists | Substance 3D at Adobe
Exciting news for 3D Artists!
Adobe's latest update introduces the Structure Reference feature in Firefly, revolutionizing how you compose AI images.
With this new feature plus the 3D tools you already know and love, you gain unprecedented control over your AI images, including:
- object placement
- camera placement
- focal length of your camera
No matter if your project involves simple geometric shapes or complex 3D models, this feature empowers you to swiftly refine concept designs, achieving the precise composition you envision with ease.
Stay tuned for a detailed tutorial coming to my YouTube channel tomorrow. But for now....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
#Adobe#AdobeFirefly#Substance3D#madewithsubstance#AI#art#artist#design#designer#productdesign#render#renderart#cg#cgi#vfx#animation
I just received an invitation to use this platform.
With all my respect for everyone who is trying to make a business model from 3D models:
Until stronger cibersecurity measures are developed in order to protect artist and their creations and copyright lawsuits against AI companies show a resolution, I will reject any proposition to promote, participate, use or consume any of these business models, that for sure scrappers will target easily for easy datasets.
Sorry, don't count with me, my 3D models are not for sale.
"But they are not that good and alone they don't value that much!"
They have value for me.
The rest can do whatever you want, you're free, but every 3D artist out there, if you're reading this:
Respect yourself always, or no one will.
For all the people who's been layoff through all these years, through every company, (videogames, VFX or animation) again, my complete support and my support will start with no putting any 3D model online susceptible for scrappers.
And if you didn't hear of it yet, to every 2D/3D artist, start taking action today:
https://lnkd.in/dUyAqXaA
Thank you
#ai#3d#2d#cgi#animation#vfx#videogames
Been a while since my last post - here's a glimpse of an asset that is part of a Steam game I am working on as a 2D/3D artist. 👀
The original design was produced by a concept artist on the team, so my task was to translate the form and unique art style into a 3D space. This simple asset, one of several, would define the visual consistency for the rest of the project!
#gameart#gamedesign#visdev#blender3d#3dmodelling#3d#indiedev#gameindustry
Action films wouldn't be the adrenaline-pumping spectacles they are without the wonder of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). Those gravity-defying leaps, colossal creatures, and mind-bending explosions – they're all brought to life through the magic of CGI. But how exactly does it work? Let's delve into the world of pixels and explore the process behind the action!
Here's a peek behind the curtain:
👉 3D Modeling & Animation, imagine a digital sculpting studio. Here, artists meticulously craft 3D models using specialized software. These models can be anything from a character's face to a roaring dragon, or even entire cityscapes! Once the models are built, animators breathe life into them, defining movements and interactions that make them appear real.
👉 Visual Effects (VFX), this is where things get dazzling! VFX artists use various techniques to blend the digital world with the real one. Think of it like a high-tech paint job. They might use:
✅ Compositing, imagine seamlessly merging a digitally animated dragon with a live-action shot of a city. That's compositing at work!
✅ Particle Simulations, need a fiery explosion or a swirling dust cloud? Particle simulations create realistic digital effects for these elements.
✅ Green Screen Technology, ever wondered why actors sometimes perform in front of a green background? This green screen is later replaced with digitally created environments, allowing for fantastical settings.
👉 Motion Capture, this is where the action gets real (well, virtually real!). Actors wear special suits equipped with sensors that record their movements. This data is then used to animate the digital characters, ensuring lifelike motions and adding an extra layer of realism to fight scenes or athletic feats.
So next time you're blown away by an action scene, remember the invisible artists and the power of CGI that fuels the action and creates a truly immersive cinematic experience!
#LuckyLionFilms#ActionFilms#CGI#VisualEffects#Filmmaking