Week 03

Modelling Artist

Modelling Artist obliviously it’s for modelling, it is on one of the most interesting role in VFX, because you can design or create your models and you will get a great sense of accomplishment after you finish it. So what does Modelling Artist mainly do:

Modelling artists create characters, weapons, plants and animals on a computer in 3D.

So the Modelling Artist usually start with a simple polygons or planes to create models, they use extrude or sculpture to modelling. If they have some specific models to create, they will get this model’s three points view for modelling.

Modelling Artist good at:

  • Using 3D software: create artwork using a range of programmes, know the latest technologies and techniques
  • Using game engines: implement art into game engines, understand their technical constraints and possibilities
  • Art: have strong artistic ability, good understanding of form, colour, texture, and light, know how these elements work together
  • Knowledge of gameplay: imagine how a character or vehicle will be experienced when a game is being played
  • Collaboration: work well with the other artists, designers and producers
  • Organisation: work within the production schedule, manage files and meet deadlines.

Modelling Artists not only just in the movie industry, but also in game industry. Though my previous internship experience in a game company, modelling Artist is very different than film, they need to think about consumption more than details of model, because in the mobile game, sometime models or characters is not very big so that you there is not much different between low poly and high poly models, also, if this model has too much details, the mobile phone will gonna overheating and stuck, because it has too many details need to be calculating which is unnecessary. In film industry, modelling artists work with all the other members of the art department – the concept artists, environment artists, texturing artists and so on. They also work with the designers and programmers.

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Animator

Animator has many different types: 2D Animator, 2D puppet Animator, 3D Animator, Computer Graphic(CG) Animator, stop-frame Animator and Stop-motion Animator. Animator is also a very interesting and important role in VFX, Animators take a visual brief from a storyboard and a verbal brief from a director. From the brief, they create the drawings, models or computer images in a way that gives the illusion of movement. This ability to translate the brief into movement is at the heart of all animation. In general, Animator’s work is to create still images that are played in a rapid sequence to create the illusion of movement which means to make sense move.

2D animators


2D animators draw each frame by hand. Nowadays, animators tend to draw into animation software with a graphics pen and tablet. 2D animators don’t necessarily produce the finished ‘line’ seen on screen. They concentrate more on the overall action and character performance in a scene. They will usually produce a few clean, on model drawings as needed, for the assistant animator to follow. These are known as tie-downs.

2D assistant animators

Assistant animators take the animator’s drawings, make each frame precisely on model and apply the final ‘line’ that will be seen on screen. This is known as clean up. They will often have to fill in frames that the animator did not need to produce. To do this they follow the animators ‘charting’ – visual instructions left for the assistant animator as to where missing drawings should come in the timeline. This is known as in-betweening. They might also lip sync, which means drawing the mouth in a way that lines up with the speech.

2D puppet animators

2D puppet animators work with rigged models that are reminiscent of shadow puppets, with lots of separate moving parts that are interlinked. The kit of parts is often produced by the art department. The animator then uses the available assets to animate the character as detailed on the storyboard.

3D or CG Animators

3D animators use computers to fill in the frames of their computer-drawn models. The movement of their models is pre-programmed through a moving skeleton, or rig. 3D animators animate the most important frames – key frames. This is known as blocking the shot. Then they either draw the in-between shots by hand or allow the computer to do the rest of the work through the rig in a process known as interpolation.  During pre-production, 3D animators test the rig and check it will work for their characters.

Stop-motion animator

Stop-motion animators work with puppets or models made from clay or other materials. They move the models of characters by tiny amounts, one frame at a time, so they can be photographed and recorded, as though moving continuously in a sequence. On a large-scale project, such as a feature film, stop-motion animators can be hired for particular skills. For example, some animators might be especially good at working with action, others with charm, comedy or dialogue; some might excel in animating certain characters, others in non-creature objects. Common materials for stop-motion animation include clay or Plasticine, paper, or action figures like Lego.

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Texture Artist

Texture Artist is a very specific role in a big company, in some small company or studios, sometimes 3D Modelling Artists need to do texturing as well. Texture Artists basically need to put texture on the models to make them look more real in the senses. They will make rust and scratches on iron or skin props and scars etc.

Texture artists sometimes create textures from scratch, so they have a good understanding of different kinds of real-world materials. Sometimes they work from a library of stock textures. Or they might use photographs – often photographs from the live-action footage of the film they are making – in order to digitally project them onto a 3D model as a basis for the texture.

So texture artist need to have a good understanding of lights, form, colors and textures, and they know how these can be worked together. Also, to make textures more real, they need to understand cameras and cinematography, have technical proficiency, build a stock of photographs to use in the role. Texture artists work with the 3D models created by the modelling artists. They then pass on the textured work to lighting artists. All other VFX artists’ work is overseen by VFX supervisors.

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Environment Artist

As the name suggests, Environment Artist is to create a whole scene’s background and environments, it is a very huge works, because Environment artists create the computer-generated places in which actors move. They make galaxies, lunar landscapes and desecrated cities – any environment that it’s too difficult to film in real life. Environment artist need to know 3D modelling and also texturing so that they can make the environment such real. So Environment Artist good at:

  • Art: be good at drawing, have a strong understanding of form, colour, texture, and light, know how these elements work together
  • Knowledge of environments: understand architecture, have good awareness of city spaces and landscapes
  • Knowledge of 3D modelling programs: be adept at using relevant programs such as Blender, Maya and ZBrush, continuously learn new ways to fix problems in your environments
  • Collaboration: be able to work with other VFX artists in the pipeline, use each other’s resources and work effectively
  • Organisation: work within the production schedule, manage files and meet deadlines

Environment Artist is one of my favourite roles which i want to do in the future, because firstly i like modelling and secondly, compare modelling characters, i prefer environment design and modelling, i like the feeling of finish this works, when i see everything i have done and huge environment scene, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and also it is very important because the environment i have created is what actual camera cannot shoot in the reality.

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