CG Spectrum Mentor and FuseFX VFX Supervisor Jason Gottlieb (The Morning Show, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Julia) will be attending the 2023 Film and Media Exchange (FMX) conference next week on April 25 to take part in a panel discussing "Breaking Boundaries in VFX Education: Expanding Horizons through Online Learning." This panel is sold out on site, but a recording will be available on demand after the event. Keep reading to learn more about Jason and find out how you can watch the panel online! About Jason Gottlieb Jason is a VFX Supervisor at FuseFX and Mentor of the Nuke Compositing Course at CG S ..read more

The annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) was held last week in San Francisco, boasting 28,000 attendees! Among those conference-goers were members of the CG Spectrum team, including the Community Manager—and proud alum—Penny Gaubatz. Penny was kind enough to share her experience at GDC and why she believes it's such a valuable event for people looking to break into the games industry. GDC is an annual event that brings together programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, and business leaders from around the world. It offers people opportunities to exchange ideas, l ..read more

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more sophisticated and regulations struggle to keep up, global concern has arisen about its place in the creative industries. People have begun questioning the ethics of AI art and what it means for those working or pursuing a creative career, particularly digital painting. How will AI impact artists such as digital illustrators and concept artists? The ever-evolving technological landscape shows no signs of slowing down, so, as an artist, it's vital to build the skills that will allow you to adapt to whatever comes next. We explore what AI art is, the t ..read more

3D visualization artists are helping creators envision and plan projects before they go into production, streamlining workflows and saving businesses time and money. Jobs in 3D visualization are growing in demand across numerous industries, including architecture, film and games, and product design, as a result. And with the advancements in and democratization of relevant software and technology, it's easier than ever before to become a visualization artist! We explore the role of a 3D visualization artist, in particular architecture visualization (archviz), and how to build the skills you nee ..read more

CG Spectrum 3D Modeling Mentor and Senior Environment Artist at Arkane Austin, Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh, will be speaking at the 2023 Game Developers Conference (GDC)! In the session Fall Foliage in 'Redfall': Creating the Essence of Northeast America, Ehsan will explore how to create a good game workflow using the game Redfall and its foliage workflows as an example. To find out more about GDC and see what other sessions are on offer, head to the GDC website. Meanwhile, scroll down to learn more about Ehsan and the awesome GDC session he'll be presenting! About Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh Hailing from Iran ..read more

3D modelers apply many processes to improve the look and usability of their assets when creating the characters, props, and sets that feature in your favorite video games and films. One important technique to master, particularly for video games, is level of detail (LOD). Not only does LOD support faster rendering, it does so in a way that doesn't negatively impact the visual quality of an asset.  We discuss what LOD refers to and why it's so important, explore some other ways to reduce the render times and computational output of your 3D model without losing any required detail, and look ..read more

With advancements in technology and software, 2D animation has become a more affordable and less time-consuming art form than its 3D cousin, making it a popular choice for industries such as mobile gaming, commercials and educational content. And in entertainment, millions of viewers worldwide are tuning in to watch cartoons like Rick and Morty, Family Guy, Bluey, and Arcane. With this continued demand for quality 2D animated content, 2D animators will remain in demand too! Our 2D animation students across the globe are telling stories in diverse and imaginative ways, and breathing l ..read more

3D lighting adds realism and depth to a scene while also enhancing the mood, tone, and ambiance of an unfolding story. This blog dives into the world of 3D lighting and shares some of the skills you need to become a 3D lighting artist.  What is 3D lighting, and what does a 3D lighting artist do? 3D lighting involves simulating the behavior of light in a real-world or fantasy situation, including shadows, reflections, highlights, and color, using specialized lighting software and rendering tools. Combining technical and creative skills, lighting artists place virtual lights into a 3D scene ..read more

KitBash3D’s Mission to Minerva Challenge wrapped up in December, with the winners announced earlier this month. Following the competition closely, CG Spectrum was wowed by the creative stories told through such a high caliber of concept and in-motion work — futuristic settlements sprawling across extraterrestrial landscapes draped in dramatic light and shadow, with fantastical creatures lurking in between! Here are some of Mission to Minerva's impressive stats: 1 Kit containing 60 models, 63 materials, 459 textures, and 648 meshes 52 days 32,000 artists from 174 countries joined in the fun 5 ..read more

Architectural visualization has soared in popularity over the past few years, riding the wave of technological advancements in 3D modeling and rendering. Used much more widely than its name implies, architectural visualization processes are employed across myriad industries — from building and construction to film and video games to product design and VR. In this article, you will learn what architectural visualization is, who uses it, what the benefits are, and how you can join this thriving industry by becoming a 3D visualization artist. What is architectural visualization? Architectural vis ..read more