VFX Visuals Blog

Category: Education

  • What is UV Mapping?

    UV mapping is a critical task in 3D modeling. Its purpose is to convert the 2D figure meshes into 3D while adding a layer of texture to it. It is quite a tedious job for anyone, let alone a beginner. Whether you hate it or love, you cannot still avoid it. They are essential to understanding 3D modeling.

    There are many problems that a novice can get into while working on UV mapping. However, with the right texture and knowledge of the concepts of UV modeling, it would not be impossible to correct the problems.

    In this article, we will be writing anything that an amateur would need to know about textures and UV mapping.

    What is UV?

    In UV mapping, everything depends on the ‘U’ and ‘V’ terms. These terms deal with the 2-dimensional planes. They denote the X and Y axes. In 3D models, all X, Y, and Z axes already exist. So the ‘U’ and ‘V’ are used to denote the axes in 2D models. They are used primarily in calculating quaternion rotations, a common operation in computer graphics.

    Using the seams as a guide, the 3D model is laid out on a 2D surface. Pattern-making in sewing can be compared to this process. A custom image can be created based on the pattern formed after the mapping process is complete.

    The 3D model is then used to apply it. Models with a high level of color and detail can be created using this method. However, there are other ways to color models, but they are limited in scope.

    UV Unwrapping

    It is possible to see some side effects when flattening or removing texture from a model. They’re called seams, and they’re a common side effect. To create a 2D UV map from a 3D mesh, a seam had to be created.

    In UV unwrapping, the seams are created in the model are kept as minimized as possible while making minor distortion in the wireframe. Distortions in the UV map depend on the size or shape the polygons used in the model changed. Too much distortion will affect the details that the model usually offers.

    More seams will result in more distortion. Some rules to follow to keep the seams unnoticeable are:

    • Follow hard edges where they are usually less noticeable to make them more noticeable.
    • Make them blend in with the rest of the design.
    • People are less likely to notice if you tuck them under or behind your model’s centerpiece.

    Overlapping UVs

    The overlap of UVs is another issue that needs to be addressed in UV mapping. In the UV map, two or more polygons are placed on top of one another and create overlapping UVs. As a result, the texture information for these two parts of your model will be identical because they occupy the same UV space.

    To fix the overlapping UVs, you need to fix them manually by following specific computer commands or Unfold and Layout features in your application.

    In most cases, only smaller models, like the programs for your mobile phone, tend to have overlapping UV problems. These will cause the program to lag behind and even show supplicate data.

    UV Channels

    Even though most games have a few UV channels, excessive use can cause the game to crash. Using a Static Mesh’s UV Channel, you can map the mesh’s vertices to 2D coordinates in 2D space. Since a single object can have multiple UV maps, video games typically have 1-2 UV channels.

    Texture with Varied Effects

    In most cases, a raw mesh will be a 3D monochrome model with no effects, animation, or textures in it. Unfortunately, you can’t simply add these effects into your model. Things aren’t that simple. To produce quality objects, you need to use specialized textures to enhance the realism of your work.

    To add an attractive texture to the model, you can use many other map system programs. Some of the more common ones are:

    Diffuse Map

    The texture it will give to your model will have an actual color. The color will also have a simple shaded effect that reflects in the light. The impact it forms will be subtle, almost invisible, but it will make your work much more realistic-looking.

    Albedo Map

    They have the same functions as a diffuse map and give your model the same sort of texture. However, it does not produce any contrasting lighting or sparkling effects. The paints used are extremely simple.

    Specular Map

    When it comes to the specular map, it has two different variations: the level map and the color map. The color map gives highly fancy and classy-looking textures to control the amount of light you want to reflect on your model. It also offers diffused lighting effects.

    Bump Maps

    These come in handy because they simulate relief in the maps. This texture shortcut allows you to show relief on a surface without adding polygons to the model. It helps make a curved surface look curved instead of looking flat. You can also change every pixel on a scale of 0 to 100% to determine the height of each pixel on the surface.

    Normal Maps

    They are used to control surface warping in real-time. The image can only be processed in RGB forms- red, green, and blue. By combining these colors, you can warp the surface in 3 Dimensional rather than the two axes.

    Conclusion

    The journey to learning UV mapping is long and winding. As long as you resolve and have a clear view of your goal, you will make it in no time.

    After reading through this article, hopefully, you have a better understanding of UV mapping. Practice more, and you will surely get past the hurdle you were stuck in before.

  • What is a Storyboard Artist?

    A storyboard artist takes a script (or just a concept) and turns the words into a visual story. It plays a significant role in many vital industries and media. Even as a choice of career, it comes off as very exotic and exciting. But it is also quite similar to being a comic artist. Storyboard artists are often called story artists or visualizers.

    They are an essential persona when it comes to animation, filmmaking, and many other fields. Storyboard artists’ work translates a director’s idea, probably verbal, into a visual interpretation.

    It’s a critical position because how the storyboard comes out will control what the film will become in the end. Other members related to the production of the media will take references from the storyboard and make progressions in their project.

    Storyboard artists will often be compared to comic artists due to the similarities in their work. Both of the tasks involve art and a good amount of creativity. However, what sets storyboard artists from a comic artist is that storyboard artists do not use their ideas but instead the director’s idea.

    How Do Storyboard Artists Work?

    Storyboard artists work from home and send in their final product via mail or other messaging applications. They might work as a permanent employee under a company or as a freelancer.

    Often storyboard artists are supplemented with a script from the scriptwriter. In case they aren’t, the director present’s his ideas both verbally and written. The artist draws up all important panels and fills them with different scenarios, like a comic strip, that will take place throughout the media. Often the artist will include gags or their ideas to present their visions.

    In the past, artists drew their storylines using pencil and markers. Nowadays, they do all the necessary illustration work on a tablet and computer.

    Depending on the production quality, the storyboard mind is later cleaned-up, proofread, and rechecked. It ensures that the drawings are well detailed and easy to follow up with. They may also work with other photographers and writers for follow-up assistance.

    The artist may also fill in background details and use built-in clip or custom clip arts to further elaborate scenes that the producers might find hard to understand.

    The duty of a storyboard artist generally includes:

    • Creating images using paper or computer programs
    • Researching projects
    • Developing a story by working closely with other creative staff and animators
    • Editing, adding, and eliminating scenes as the final product develops
    • Making changes to the storyboards based on feedback
    • Meeting and discussing projects with directors, clients, etc.

    Who Do Storyboard Artists Work with?

    Being a storyboard artist is a beautiful job with lots of opportunities and a convenient location since most artists work remotely. It is a productive career for anyone who seeks to work as an artist, director, or writer. Storyboard artists have different goals in different industries.

    Advertising

    When it comes to advertising, usually freelance storyboard artists are hired for a single project. The agency sends them the data or short visual interpretation, which the artist must compile and transform into a fully-fledged storyboard. Agency storyboards are usually kept to a minimum number of shots covering about one or two key-frames.

    Animation

    In animations, the projects are provided on a series of screenplays or storylines. The artist working on these projects are mainly permanently hired and, in most cases, work with a team of similar storyboard artists. The team does the entire work of creating and polishing the storyboard before submitting it to the animation committee for the final review.

    Live-action Film

    When producing films, the storyboard artist is hired at the beginning of the project and for that project only. The screenwriter or director provides the storyline, and the artist breaks down the script into shots that can be filmed.

    What Must a Storyboard Artist Be Good at?

    The storyboard artist must be good at what he is supposed to create. The necessary skills he must have in him to be good in his craft are:

    • Have excellent drawing skills and produce artwork with various styles.
    • Be creative and think of how he could improve the project
    • Know layout, composition, sequential drawing, and editing, as well as a strong understanding of framing.
    • Have a strong knowledge of narration and storytelling and put the director’s words into an exciting story.
    • Have a passion for the animation industry.
    • Take the initiative to ask questions to the employer/s if the situation arises.
    • Have good management of time.

    Training to Be a Storyboard Artist

    Becoming a storyboard artist is in no way easy. There is no degree or formal studies that teach people how to become storyboard artists. However, with enough talent and artistic skills, storyboard artists could find a successful career in this industry.

    Even if they do not get enough opportunities as a storyboard artist, they could still see work as game design or graphics design artists.

    Nowadays, most people who go into film school pursue a career as a storyboard artist. Such schools help them develop various skills, including:

    • Artistic talent
    • Communication skills
    • Computer skills
    • Drawing
    • Filmmaking, including knowledge of lighting, editing, sound, and basic acting.
    • Public speaking skills

    Also, if anyone intends to find a job as a storyboard artist, building a portfolio is a must. A winning portfolio includes some of the works you might have completed. It is practically a sample of your work style, which the employers will assess you on.

    When you do get the work being easygoing and offering ideas is a plus point. You’ll also need to be respectful under pressure. Most of all, get the work done by the time limit, or you might lose the job.

    Conclusion

    A storyboard artist is a prolific and exciting career. Most of all, it comes with various perks. Instead of sitting on a desk and working from your office, you get to work from home. Relax and make sure to follow the timeline o get your things done right.

    Even if you are under pressure, do not crumple. Try hard, and you might find the right place for yourself.

  • High vs. Low Poly Modeling – What’s the Difference?

    Both high and low poly modeling are incredibly similar and can also process the same images. However, the simple difference in the no. of polygons used in a model separates them at the core.

    Manufacturers and marketing companies use 3D models and mapping to represent their products before going on to the next stage. To produce these 3D models, the developers use a high level of blending, CGI resources, and VR/AR interactions.

    These processes all depend on the no. of polygons you will be using on your project. While some scenes will use a high no. of polygons, others use a smaller no. of them.

    High and low poly modeling, as the name suggests, are processes used during blending to process high and low polygon models in a scenario. Both approaches are essential in CGI blending. This article deals with both pros and cons as well the differences between the two.

    Low Poly Modeling

    As the term suggests, this technique creates models with less complex and lower numbers of polygon meshes. It occurs in real-time applications and is highly used in games that make use of 3D computer graphics.

    Applications of Low-poly Modeling

    Low poly modeling is used in projects that make use of 3D computer graphics. Such applications include:

    • Game Engine
    • Subdivision Modeling
    • Rigging and animations
    • Low-poly topologies

    Pros

    • Lot easier to load, count and edit in a machine with lower specs
    • Lightweight and require less storage space
    • They make use of less complicated polygon meshes

    Cons

    • The finished product cannot have a high level of detail
    • Lower maneuverability since they make use of less complicated geometry
    • The quality of the topography will not be that good since a lot of GPU power will be needed to give more visual rendering

    High Poly Modeling

    High poly modeling is the same as low poly modeling in the base. However, low poly modeling requires a higher number of polygons with more vertices.

    The end product will be far greater than when it is done with low poly modeling, as the models will be smoother and will appear more photorealistic.

    Applications of High Poly Modeling

    The high poly modeling method is excellent for creating all models. While using this method to create simple models is inefficient, more complicated models can be easily created. Some of the scenarios where high poly modeling is applied are:

    • Digital sculpting or arts
    • Simulation programs
    • 3D architecture models
    • High VFX movie creations
    • Mapping

    Pros

    • Far more detailed models with more zoom-ins
    • Increased rendering capabilities
    • Models have a high percentage of realism and higher resolution
    • It can be used to blend process scenarios that include motion

    Cons

    • Require ample memory space to store and a device with a strong GPU
    • It is complicated and hard to use
    • Due to a high number of polygons being processed, crashes might occur, or the program might lag in speed

    Differences between High and Low Poly Modeling

    While Low poly modeling should be used to create models that require more interaction, models that are not generally static and need higher controllability should be made with high poly modeling.

    Every 3D model is made from various 2D polygons. The polygons with more vertices are processed with high poly modeling, while ones with lower vertices count are created with low poly modeling.

    In a 3D model, both types of modeling might be used in a scenario, depending on the places that require them. However, there are differences between them. Using low poly modeling to create more realistic details (like a crease on a shirt) would be time-consuming and irrational. There are many factors that these two methods differ in.

    Complexity of Geometry

    CG artists will require a lot of time to build and check the geometry of a model. A high Poly method is used to process chipping, visible seams, holes in the surface, etc.

    Low Poly models cannot offer much control over Geometry. However, that is what makes them attractive to create the geometry of logos or app design.

    Texture Quality

    It is easy to import the texture from any external sources and even improve it further or make slight changes, like color. The textures can also be created from scratch.

    The matters related to low poly modeling cannot be too complicated. Due to such limitations, CG artists make their textures based on previous data and keep their pixels minimum.

    Processing Time

    High poly models take longer to process due to their nature of dealing with data with more complexity. CG artists often use render farms to accelerate the process. Of course, whether the process is accelerated or not, the end product will still be highly photorealistic.

    They are optimized and created very quickly. So creators use them in VR/AR developments, in which the engines need to process the data instantaneously.

    Static or Motion

    High poly modeling renders produce motion with great details. So these models are featured in animation and zoom effects. The models can also be controlled as wished without any restrictions, as long as they are programmed.

    These models work effectively with rendering. They have fabulous interactive features, making them a great inclusion in games and VR/AR systems. However, they cannot offer much maneuverability and any zoom effect.

    Conclusion

    The type of modeling depends entirely on you and what you are going to create. With high poly modeling, you could get greater freedom to develop models without restriction; only veterans can cope with their usage complexity.

    Even poly models are pretty popular among both professionals and those who are not so professional. So do not look down on them. If you intend to render a simple visual, low poly modeling might be a good choice for you. However, the one you’ll choose should match your preferences and this is what I ask you most to consider.

  • What is a Visual Development Artist?

    The word “visual development” can be is used in many different settings. As a result, most people may be perplexed about what visual development stands for. If we were to put it plainly, visual development is the foundation for all forms of visual art, including graphic design, concept art, animation, illustration, and video gaming.

    A visual development artist’s work allows them to exercise a degree of professional creativity autonomy that is uncommon. It’s because their work is adaptable to a wide range of media types.

    Every item of animated films’ mood, tone, and color palette is created by visual development artists. It may encompass everything from scenery to people to dress to objects. The work is challenging, but it also gives you a lot of leeway in creating an imaginative universe from scratch.

    Who is a Visual Development Artist? 

    A visual development artist is a multimedia artist in charge of building a realistic and cinematic environment for motion pictures, television, and video games, among other kinds of creative entertainment.

    They set the setting’s tone, atmosphere, and color palette, ensuring that these components are consistent with the project’s plot and genre. They bring the director’s ideas to life and elicit an emotional response to the show’s premise and central message.

    Their roles include animator, art director, lighting and color key, costume designing, visual development lead, environment design artist, etc.

    What Does a Visual Development Artist Do?

    Depending on their specific function, visual development artists are responsible for several tasks. For example, when working with animation, they give ideas for how the animated world should appear and feel depending on the plot, action, and characters.

    Even small details can help establish the tone for the story and character development, and storytelling. Many films rely on shifts in backdrop color or lighting to propel the plot forward. When the activity heats up, chilly blues or greens, for example, change to a wild orange or red.

    Certain time-tested retellings of great stories would be very different without their costume, lighting, and set design decisions. For example, visual development artists were widely used to arrange and color each scene in Disney’s modern-day rendition of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. The films were a box office success thanks to their efforts.

    What are the Skills of a Visual Development Artist?

    There are specific skills you need to have to become a visual development artist. However, most visual development artists employ illustration, animation, painting, sketching, and graphic design talents to bring creative ideas to life. In addition, video game and programming experience is also advantageous in this field.

    Remember, you will also have to do a lot of 2D or 3D work, and you will have to master applications like Photoshop and Maya to create drafts and fine-tune designs.

    How to Become a Visual Development Artist 

    Visual development is not quite an easy skill to perceive. You would need to be persistent and patient. However, to perceive the craft, you will also need proper guidance and recognition.

    Get a Degree

    It is critical to have a thorough grasp of graphic design, animation, and illustration for a visual development artist. The proper basics of these concepts will assist you in doing your job more efficiently. Study graphic design, fine art, communication, or animation to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the visual arts. These degrees might help you get a solid foundation in this industry.

    Discover Different Majors

    Like we have already seen, there are many different sectors in the field of visual development. You have to decide what kind of visual development artist you want to be. Consider which of your design abilities you like the best.

    Allow your studies, research, and experiences to guide you in determining which area of visual development most interests you while you seek a degree. As an example, you could choose to specialize in environment design or creative direction.

    Get an Internship Experience

    Next, you need to consider interning for an excellent agency to obtain significant hands-on experience and to further your visual development artist abilities. Internships in animation studios or independent production companies, for example, may be available.

    As you enter the profession of visual development, you’ll be able to add this experience to your resume. An internship might also assist you in networking with other creative professionals in your sector.

    Build a Solid Portfolio

    It is essential to have a portfolio when you enter the market. So, you need to make a portfolio that appropriately demonstrates your technical expertise in this field. Remember, to emphasize yourself as a qualified applicant for the job you are applying to, provide your most spectacular work, including professional projects and internship work.

    Also, include portions that are most relevant to the position you are looking for. Showcase your expertise working in a comparable place if you are seeking a job with an animated TV program.

    Build Your Network

    Finally, you need to look for opportunities to network with professionals in your field. It’s necessary for career advancement in any area. Attending relevant events or panels is a good idea in the field of visual development.

    You may also network online by connecting with other professionals who share your interests in the field. It is important to remember, some of the contacts you make may lead to future work possibilities.

    Final Thoughts

    A career in the field of visual development can be highly competitive. To be a successful visual development artist, you need to have exceptional experience and an impressive portfolio. While you are receiving your academic guidance to perceive the skills, you must gather first-hand experience. These practical experiences will strengthen your knowledge and creativity.

  • Ron Howard Masterclass Review

    Ron Howard Masterclass Review

    What is the Ron Howard Masterclass Program?

    The Ron Howard Masterclass program is a film making program that provides useful information on advanced filmmaking. While the program is available at subscription prices, it is taught and developed by Ron Howard himself. Most of the concepts in the program are based on his immense experience working in the entertainment industry. Besides that, most of the content is also sourced from other leading filmmaking companies that Ron has worked with, in the past. He has customized a unique program that is suitable for both novice and advanced filmmakers. Consisting of as many as 30 parts, this all-inclusive program is the best filmmaking class online.

    Who is Ron Howard?

    Born in March 1954, Ron Howard is among some of the big names in the professional entertainment industry. He is famous for playing various high profile roles in multiple shows and movies. More so, he is also popular for making appearances in various other forms of entertainment and his contribution to the film industry. He first came into the foreground when playing the role of “Opie Taylor” on the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Furthermore, both of his parents were also active names in the entertainment scene. Howard is also notably known for directing the movie Solo: A Star Wars Story, which featured Han Solo. Ron produced his film within a span of 3 weeks, and with a relatively low budget.

    However, he has developed over the years to become one of the best filmmakers in the world. In fact, all of his movies have grossed well over the $2billion mark. In his online classes, the award-winning director provides in depth detail about the techniques he uses to produce movies. The lessons consist of workshops, downloadable material and face to face consultations. These are all developed to provide students with an all-inclusive approach for learning about film making.

    What you get in the Ron Howard Masterclass

    The program is categorized in a specific structure, to help students and filmmakers get the best value. Currently, the program contains an average of 6 hours of video footage. Most of the content involves Ron Howard consulting with various directors, actors, and cameramen. Through this approach, the students get first hand access to the film making techniques that Ron uses. Furthermore, the movie also contains unique content from a host of movies such as Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and more. He does well to provide in depth explanations about the specific techniques he use in the development of these movies.

    Broadly speaking, the entire program contains an average of 32 videos.The videos are then classified into specific, topics which are listed in the primary site. Some of them include:

    • Evaluating a script- over the years, Ron has come up with a specific checklist that can be used to improve a script. According to Ron, the main aspects of the ideal screenplay are similar. The ideal music composer has to be aware of these aspects an incorporate them into their entertainment content.
    • Refining a script- the ideal script must relate to creative and intellectual factors. According to Ron, there are no shortcuts to rewriting music content. He goes further to share information on how he ensures that a script is “camera ready” before the production process.
    • Working with Cinematographers- the point of view of photography can surpass the capabilities of new directors. Ron does well to talk about finding the appropriate partner to work on a project. He also identifies how you can rely on each other, and work together to define the movie`s visual tone.
    • Cinematography- thinking about cinematic choices is important because it helps in the overall plot development. According to Ron, being able to think about a cinematic decision like a character in the movie is essential. In this lesson, students learn about lighting, stylistic preferences and adding visual power to film.
    • Production Design- in this section, Ron works to search for the correct production designers. He has developed a unique technique to help inspire them to establish sets that can tell a story effectively. Ron mentions that the use of mosaic palettes and color is highly crucial in the process.
    • Editing- the editing section is highly essential. According to Ron, the editing process is the point in time when you have to work on the final rewrite of a movie. You will learn how to locate the proper editor, and work on a specific editing approach for your needs. More so, he mentions that early cuts can compromise the quality of a movie. However, he also knows that editing offers an excellent way to uncover the story of the movie.
    • Sound design- this perspective on a subliminal level. In some cases, taking sound away from a movie can be as effective as including it. Therefore, the ideal filmmaker and composer has to learn to incorporate music effectively for the best impact.

    Features

    The Ron Howard Masterclass program contains various important concepts that can take your film making skills to the next level. Categorized into several conclusive structures, students can move from novice to advanced artists within just a few weeks. Among some of the critical concepts taught in the program includes:

    Scripts, story, and deletion

    The program teachers the importance of reviewing the quality of a script before making decisions. Among some of the crucial questions to ask include “who conflicts” and “is it a head turner?” According to the program, being able to ask the appropriate questions is the first step in film making. An important aspect of the answers relates to your intuition and the responses others have to your content. The reaction should relate to emotional factors and also in relation to asking the appropriate questions. More so, Ron also does well to share personal anecdotes that relate to how he selects projects. To promote optimal learning, Ron recommends several books that can suit your learning progress. For instance, “the Art of Dramatic Writing” by Lajos Egri.

    Handling the Pressure of Filmmaking

    Broadly speaking, the editing room is perhaps one of the most critical places for making films. However, Ron suggests that the editing room is only necessary during the editing process. Ron does well to provide in depth information on the integration of various departments in filmmaking. According to Ron, the combination of these departments is crucial in developing high-quality film content. At one point, Ron does well to underscore the tension that can occur between the heads of the film making departments. For instance, the issues that can arise between the Production Designer and Director of Photography. In particular, the Director of Photography might feel the pressure of producing quality scenes. However, the quality of their work on relates to the content provided by the other departments.

    Therefore, realizing the importance of the relationship between these departments is important in the film making process. Similar issues can easily arise in between the sound designers, editors, VFS supervisors and more.

    Either way, having an understanding of the challenges that other departments face is crucial in the film making process. Ron suggests that fellow directors should also take acting classes, to realize the feelings of being on the spot to produce results. In essence, the filmmakers have to realize the challenges that actors face such as stage freight and understand the wave of emotions that can occur at such points.

    Building Sequences not Just Scenes

    According to Ron Howard, building scenes involves classifying the sequences into 10-minute sections. He also goes on to mention that identifying a rhythm within the script is essential. The ideal sequence should have a unique beginning, middle and end section. However, the sequence should also relate to the overall plot of the movie, but on an individual level. Being able to incorporate such scenes with some level of tension, curiosity or a climax is also beneficial. In lesson 20 where he explains a scene from a movie, where he identifies the importance of sequencing. According to him, the director has to sequence scenes in a structured approach. Following this, the editor has to structure these scenes and introduce unique movements and rhythms to the film.

    Pros

    • The Program is developed by a certified and professional filmmaking expert
    • It also contains concepts that are simple to understand
    • The classes are available in categorized structures
    • Students gain access to an open discussion forum
    • The concepts are based on Ron’s firsthand experience

    Cons

    • It takes time and practice to master all the film making concepts
    • The responses on the discussion hub are sometimes late

    Overall

    Becoming a good filmmaker is all about having the appropriate values, and gaining access to useful information. In particular, the Ron Howard Masterclass is an excellent way for students to improve their filmmaking skills. Based on the immense experience of a proven actor and film maker, the program contains useful information. Besides that, the program is also classified into coherent categories that are simple to understand and incisive. Even more, Ron also offers responses to questions posted by students. As such, the Masterclass program offers an excellent learning experience for any budding film maker.