(can’t see the subscribe button? – try this page)
Welcome to the “Postwork” issue of your regular free magazine.
Welcome to the ‘Postwork’ issue. It seems a timely theme, as the nights start to ‘draw in’ and become chilly, and many of our readers eagerly dive back into the rich world of self-learning and online training.
Contents
Vladimir is a long-time Vue expert, and he also works extensively in fine photography and creative compositing.
VUE | DAZ STUDIO | PS
“One problem is that artwork is ‘never done’. As soon I publish it, I find something there that I want change! It is why I try not to publish as soon I am done. ‘Sleep on it’ and look at your picture the next day, and you will probably see something that needs fixing.”
Julia has used her expert Photoshop skills on many commercial ad and illustration projects, and is now expanding her range.
2D | 3D | ADVERTS | PS
“I was doing a complex photo-shoot with eight model-agency models. Then I had to create the [theme-park] ride itself, which the client could only describe in words and rough sketches. I also had to show the park from a birds-eye perspective, but had no photos…”
Joachim talks about his love of the 3D modelling software SketchUp, and how he designs and renders his amazing craft.
SKETCHUP | PS | GAMES
“I was contacted by the American startup aircraft manufacturer Jetoptera. This is, by far, the coolest thing I have ever done. Actual concept work for an actual U.S. aircraft manufacturer. [From this] I have probably something like 50-100 models plus 20-30 sketch books…”
Also…
- EDITORIAL
- SURVEY: SOME FX TOOLS FOR POSTWORK
- BACK ISSUE INDEX
- WHAT USE IS A TOON_ID RENDER?
- GALLERY
- IMAGINARIUM
Connect with other Digital Artists in our STUDIO forum
Interview Excerpt : Vladimir Chopine
We talk with Vladimir Chopine, trainer and expert in the Vue landscape software, as well as a very experienced studio photographer.
DAL: Vladimir, welcome to Digital Art Live magazine and to the ‘Postwork issue’. As a long-time expert on such matters, it’s great to have you here.
VC: Thank you! I am really appreciated for this opportunity to share my knowledge and experience.
DAL: Our pleasure. Now, to begin, how did you first become interested in digital art, and did you have anyone who offered assistance and encouragement in those early years?
VC: I started as a “traditional media” artist working on my own cel-based animated cartoon. That was in an old-school style which involved painting each animation cel by hand. At the same time I was enjoying photography and electronics. Yes, I was a nerd from early age! Later I end up building my own first computer, from parts. It was Z80 [Zilog Z80] processor with 8kb of RAM.
DAL: Wow, kb, not megabytes…
VC: My next step was into programming, and my first computer graphics, probably was around that time. The late 1980’s, when I start converting music — analog to digital input — to the different color pixels on the screen. Over the next few years it was about progression in complexity and the amount of the pixels, which I was also manipulating.
As soon digital cameras become available, I start manipulating with them in Photoshop.
Here is one of my earliest compositions, done way back in Photoshop 3, thanks to introduction of the layers in that version. Sorry for the small size, but at that time a monitor resolution of 640 x 480 pixels was very good!
My best encouragement at that time was the desire to express the world that I saw inside my head.
DAL: What was your progression through the various pieces of software available at that time? Did you, like many, have a ‘Bryce period’?
VC: I think I tried as many items of software that I could get hold on. 2D and 3D, Photoshop, PaintShop Pro and so on. I worked with 3D Studio v2.x, creating animations. I loved Bryce, and made some works that even featured in their official Gallery. DAZ Carrara, DAZ Hexagon, E-on Vue, Terragen, Maya, Cinema4D, World Machine, multiple fractal generators, I think that a full-list would take a very long time to recall! Personally, I do encourage artists to explore both new and old software, whenever they have chance, these applications are just a tool and finding the right one for your creativity is very important.
DAL: Yes, there is plenty of old good software out there, especially little Windows freeware utilities. For instance Poser does not have a ‘3D extrusion’ text tool, but run your typed words through the Elefont and PoseRay utilities from back in the Bryce era, and… you have a nicely 3D extruded text as a mesh. These still work fine today, and don’t need Bryce.
VC: Exactly. It doesn’t matter if that tool is not popular or is being marketed everywhere, as long it is tool that help you express your inner world. Know how to use it is very important, but be careful, focus on for what you are using that tool for, not on the software itself. I still use DAZ Hexagon, GroBoto [for real-time Boolean organic mesh-creation] and another applications, that are sadly not officially supported anymore and can be outdated
Leave a Reply