Means cg. What is CG? Rare job change
A documentary about the unprofitability of CG graphics in cinema as a business. The company that drew Life of PI went bankrupt two weeks before it won an OSCAR. Over the past 10 years, 21 well-known effects studios in Hollywood have closed. Despite the fact that CG is traditionally an industry where people work day and night without days off (as well as video production, by the way) and without guarantees - almost everyone is hired individually for the duration of the project and constantly changes jobs, often leaving their families for months and years . Almost the entire American CG industry is dying due to the fact that Canada has made tax breaks (as well as gamers, by the way - that's why Ubisoft does almost everything there). As a result, artists are constantly swinging from country to country, where there are benefits and the industry is on the rise.
In general, the film is about the time to change the business model - CG artists are the same filmmakers as everyone else and should receive a percentage of the income from the film or hourly pay (like operators, etc.), because, like any creative activity, it is difficult to calculate in advance. Most studios force contractors to work at a fixed price - they say, we pay you 10 million and let's fulfill all our whims. Well, then it started - the director changed his mind, they decided to reshoot the scene, redo it, throw it out and replace it with another one - CG people do this work for free. The loss is borne by the studio and nothing can be done about it.
In 2013, the film's characters did work in two Oscar-nominated films that won Life of Pi. Former employees gathered for a demonstration near the ceremony. When from the stage the employees of the already closed studio tried to tell that the company that made this work had a problem, they were drowned out by the music from Jaws. In addition, Ang Lee, when he thanked everyone from the stage for participating in the film, listed everyone except for the CG artists, who in this case made 70% of the film.
As a result, the entire CG community was just beside themselves. In protest, the artists began to put green screens on their facebook avatars and publish real stills from films without CG. Now the entire VFX industry is trying to develop a common policy for working with Hollywood. 
In principle, all these problems are very, very familiar to us at FXA, although we are not talking about CG. Description of problems with customers and changes in plans - 100%.
On March 3, Hollywood will host a massive showcase of VFX artists against the biggest studios. At the same time, a lobby is being created to change the legislation. In general, the big companies are accused of playing off governments, forcing them to fight among themselves more and more incentives for cinema at the expense of taxpayers, while they themselves profit by setting rental records.
I will say right away that this article is not for beginners.
Despite the fact that now is the best time to make money even in our visual effects industry, many Internet users continue to complain about small salaries.
And it's not even about novice students, but rather strong specialists.
And so, I'll start with the facts: the average salary in the offices of most IT companies in the millionaire cities of the CIS = $1300-$2000. This also applies to our CG industry (post-production, game development, animation).
It can be counted on by hired employees with work experience of at least 2 years with an average workload and responsibility. From 2k to 3.5k$/month can be received by employees with higher responsibility, for example, supervisors, leads, generalists. The highest salary of a CG specialist that I have heard and can confirm is $4,000 (Kyiv).
But the problem is that quite a lot of excellent professionals do not earn as much as they would like. A few reasons why this is so that I have noticed in my 12 year career:
1. Low social activity
Or in other words, the lack of networking. In other words, you should be known. And preferably influential market participants.
It's no secret that the best jobs in good companies come from acquaintances. Note that there is little work on thematic sites where salaries exceed $3,000/month. They just don't advertise. The fact is that in the circles of communication of intelligent specialists there are always 2-3 of the same or even better specialists (such as prof. friendship). Most directors address their employees first. find me the same as you. And often they find.
2. Rare job change
“There is no better company anywhere. Stress. Difficult." These are all typical excuses, because of which we spend half our lives where we accidentally ended up after college.
More than once in the articles we mentioned that in domestic cgi companies there is practically no career growth, no matter what you are told at interviews. Yes, there are a few exceptions, but all the same, the growth of your salary within the same company will rarely exceed 15-20% in dollar terms (usually it does not change in any way for 5-7 years).
The easiest way is to resell yourself as a good specialist (if you are) to other companies for higher salaries and positions. So without much difficulty, you can get an increase in salary from 25 to 50%.
I recommend in the early stages of a career to change jobs once a year and a half. At a more mature stage - once every 2-3 years. Moreover, you yourself will understand this and reach such a schedule, if continuous development is important for you, just as it is for me.
3. No skill in selling yourself
Go ahead. Tell me, how many times in your life have you been interviewed in the last 2-3 years? Well, if more than two times. And this must be done. Post your resume on all job search sites and wait for calls / emails to come to you. Next, answer the calls and tell the new boss what a cool special you are and why you should be paid above the market. And look for jobs. On the Internet, with friends. And go to interviews! Learn, in general, to sell yourself.
5. Stagnation with prof. growth. Lack of ongoing continuing education
Think back to your last job change. How many tutorials did you review the month before and when you moved to a new company? How many questions were asked to new hires? How many new techniques and tricks did you learn? This is what happens 2-3 months before and in the first year of being in a new company. So what is next…
A rare change of job often leads to the fact that a person stops developing. To be more precise, it begins to degrade. After the second or third year of being in the company, the employee slowly begins to be covered with a “film of God”, primarily in his own eyes.
Of course, professional growth and development of you as a person stops. Professional growth is one of your core values. If we discard everything else, you are paid a lot of money just because you are a good professional = you know how to quickly solve the tasks and problems of the company.
4. No need for money
Everything is simple here. Most of us earn just what we need to successfully stay awake in our comfort zone. Everything else is whining and discharge “It would be nice to buy a yacht next week, but a bad boss will not raise my salary.”
What to treat? Just expand your needs, the level of the norm. Fly to the sea to the Dominican Republic, walk around the showrooms of new cars. If you do this regularly, you will need money.
6. It's not yours
For all of the above to work, for you to grow as a CG and VFX pro, make sure you have a heart for it. Now on the Internet you can meet many beginner igrodelov, buzzers. They were inspired by some project and with burning eyes they are supposedly ready to play day and night. But this fuse passes in a week or two. Some in a month or half a year.
Creating visual effects and 3D graphics is actually not a simple, tedious, routine task. Here are not the easiest customers who need to be “understood and forgiven”. Therefore, make sure that the visual effects industry is what you really have a soul for. Only under this condition will it be easier for you to grow and develop, improve your skill level every year, learn new tools and techniques and, as a result, increase your income at least one and a half times every year.
Write your thoughts on this in the comments!
Online Schools of Digital Drawing Smirnov Ivan : the possibility of free training on the course on the basics of CG-drawing!
Amazing Fact: half of the artists in the game development industry do not have a special art education. At the same time, a huge number of people with artistic skills can not get into the industry for years. Do you want to find out what some have, what others lack ... and take the first step towards the profession? Then the Basics of CG Drawing course is for you.
CG - from 0!
The Basics of CG Drawing course will allow you to master the basic techniques and principles of CG drawing and give you more confidence in your own abilities. You will learn how to work with volume, silhouettes, color and textures and develop your artistic perception to effectively solve real professional problems. With the due desire of the student, the course allows you to work out and consolidate the knowledge and skills necessary to start working as a junior 2D artist. You are waiting for detailed lectures, large homework assignments, individual analysis of work with a teacher and a lot of practice.
Who is the course for:
· For beginning artists. You will learn the very basics of CG, master various drawing techniques and techniques, learn how to draw objects and objects, and effectively use the Photoshop graphics editor. We will also discuss with you options for your further development and application of the acquired knowledge.
· For artists who want to brush up on the basics of CG and painting in Photoshop, as well as move from traditional materials to digital painting. The course will help you achieve better results and teach you how to work in Photoshop no less efficiently than on paper.
· For people who are just starting to learn how to draw and want to learn how to use a graphics tablet and Photoshop tools. You will learn a lot, overcome the fear of a "blank slate" and be able to further develop your CG skills.
The work of Nadezhda Polygalova - a student of the course "Fundamentals of CG drawing"
The program of the course "Basics of CG drawing"
Lecture 1: The Basics of the Basics
Learn to work in Photoshop and draw three-dimensional shapes.
Learning the basic steps of working in Photoshop:
· Basic tools of work in Photoshop.
· Consider the main hot keys needed to simplify and speed up the process of drawing in Photoshop.
· Learning to work with layers.
Learn how to set up a basic brush.
Learn about blending modes.
Learning to draw a simple object:
· Mastering the principles of color mixing and drawing gradients (color stretch marks).
Learn to draw a three-dimensional figure in black and white.
We lay out the figure by tone depending on the lighting.
We study the main mistakes when working with lighting.
We paint the figure in your favorite color.
Drawing: pay attention to details.
· Post-processing: learning how to make the perfect final picture.
Lecture 2: Design is everything!
We learn to come up with the design of objects and embody this design in a drawing.
Learning to draw an interesting subject:
· The basis for constructing an object in perspective.
· Learning to invent an object.
· Work with references.
· Learning to create line art (linear drawing) in several stages.
Learn to choose the right angle.
· Learn to work with design, come up with a cool design of the subject.
· Learn to work with the shape of the object.
· Learning to build objects in space.
Life hack: perspective grid.
· Learning to transform objects.
We master the skill of accurate drawing of the line art.
Lecture 3: From 2D to 3D
We learn the principles of working with light, shadow and diffused light and draw a 2D object with a 3D effect.
We study occlusion, light and shadow:
· Learning to draw okljuzhen (shadow from diffused light): theory and principles of work.
· We study the most effective ways of rendering okluzhen.
We study in detail the principles of building light.
· Learn to build your own and falling shadows.
Draw an object with a 3D effect.
Lecture 4: It`s render time!
We learn how to competently compose a color composition, draw and work out various materials in detail, and correctly combine them in design.
Render: Color and Materials:
· Learning to work with color in terms of design.
We create a competent color composition: we learn to choose a good combination of colors and shades.
We continue to work with references.
Learn to render materials - learn how to draw different materials:
Let's analyze the approaches in which any artist can independently learn to draw any material: metal, glass, wood, stone, plastic, and others.
Learn to draw details.
· Learning to create compositions based on a combination of materials (iron and wood, etc.).
Lecture 5: Survivor Bonus!
Let's change the mind! How to do all the same, but much faster?
Render around the head:
· Alternative rendering techniques.
· Efficient cheating and process simplification.
· Life hacks to quickly achieve the desired result.
For classes you need: computer, graphic tablet, internet, graphic editor Photoshop.
Publication date: 04/15/2012How are special effects for films created? What is digital painting? What does CG and CGI mean? We will answer these questions in this two-part article. And besides, here you will find addresses of sites on the topic and videos about creating special effects for films.
The article turned out to be so large that I had to split it into two parts to make it easier to read. The first part is devoted to theory and special effects, and the second is digital painting and graphics.
In general, most of the resources on the Internet related to the creation of special effects and digital painting are of foreign origin. This is due to the fact that in Russia this area is still developing. That is why Russian blockbusters with beautiful special effects have appeared recently. It is worth mentioning Timur Bekmambetov, who gave impetus to modern Russian blockbusters (for which many thanks to him).
concept
"CG" is translated as "computer graphics". However, as a rule, this concept has a slightly different meaning. After all, the concept of "computer graphics" covers almost any field of activity where graphics are created by a computer or with the help of it. However, the word "CG" means exactly the creation of either special effects for video, or digital painting, or the creation of graphics for various interactive presentations and video games.
True, special effects in movies are usually referred to as "CGI" ( computer- generated imagery , literally "computer generated images"). Although, in principle, there are no special differences between CG and CGI.
And now the most interesting...
Special effects in cinema
A long time ago, special effects were very primitive, but innovative at the same time. Usually, the essence of special effects was to skilfully erase tethers and the like from the frame to make everything look exciting and interesting. It was all in the days of silent films.
Later, when there was a need for various movie monsters, there was a need for appropriate special effects. Of course, if you need to create a humanoid or Bigfoot, then the actor simply put on makeup or put on a costume. However, the creation of something more complex caused the directors big problems.
To add bizarrely shaped creatures to the cinema, filmmakers came up with stop-motion animation. Those. a plasticine model of the creature was made, and then photographed many times, while slightly changing its body position. And then, if you quickly scroll through such photos (30 frames per second), it looked like the creature was moving. Although it looked ridiculous, the directors managed to present it quite interestingly.
It was frame-by-frame animation that changed everything (even modern special effects are made according to the same principle). However, even in our time, some cartoons are made using frame-by-frame animation, because such cartoons look original and interesting.
And then came the era of informatization and computerization ...
Then the film industry realized that you can draw special effects using a computer. Moreover, characters and various creatures can also be drawn directly on the computer and transferred to film during editing. Then there were the first films with "embedded" characters.
However, with this came problems. Due to the fact that such characters were superimposed on the tape after the shooting of the material, the actors had to show all their acting skills in order to interact with such an "invisible partner".
When Steve Jobs created Pixar, he wanted to create a cartoon made and rendered only with a computer. Thus, the Toy Story series was born.
Modern cinema is not far from the basics used by the forefathers of special effects. Only plasticine creatures were replaced by creatures completely made in graphic editors. However, there are a couple of techniques and tricks that modern directors actively use...
Chromakey
Pronounced "chroma kei", although the correct pronunciation should be "chroma kee". The essence is simple, the actor is filmed against the background of a green or blue canvas of fabric (rear screen), and then an image is put in place of this canvas. Those. you can shoot almost an entire film in one pavilion, where the main character travels around the planet (by the way, this is how the film Resident Evil 4 was created).
To project the desired image well on the rear screen, you need to use a monotonous soft color, and therefore either green or blue is usually used.
Motioncapture
It means "motion capture". Special sensors are attached to a real actor (white balls or cubes, etc.), and then all his movements are analyzed on a computer. Those. an actor fully dressed in a suit of sensors makes some movement, and then this animation data is transferred to a computer character. So the computer character moves just like a person (smoothly and physically correctly).
And sometimes, motion capture is used locally, for example, to add something computer-generated to a real actor (computer makeup, if you want).
3D graphics editors
Without them, you cannot make a single voluminous monster or creature, or build an entire city. To add, say, King Kong, you must first model it. This is done in three-dimensional graphic editors, and the process is more like creating a sculpture. It is necessary not only to be able to handle such programs, but also to know the basics of anatomy, composition, etc. As a rule, such people are also called artists, since the principle of work is almost the same.
Usually, a primitive model of the character is first made in order to understand how he will behave in the frame, how much space he will occupy, how the actors should interact with him. And then a high-quality model for editing is already made.
The skill of modern special effects creators is amazing. Fully simulated actors are already being created - of course, why pay a real actor when you can make your own, which will neither be capricious nor get sick.
In the following image, you see actor Jeff Bridges from Tron: Legacy. On the left is the real Jeff Bridges, and on the right is his artificial young copy (which is computer generated). Amazing, isn't it...
Filmmakers have many more clever ideas for using computer technology in cinema. Who knows, maybe tomorrow this article will have to be updated - new technologies for the production of special effects will appear. Now special effects and artificial computer characters are indistinguishable from reality, and what will happen next...
In the end, I want to show you some short videos about creating special effects in some films.
Computer (CG) an artist who creates his works exclusively on a computer is a comprehensively developed person, because to create digital images you need to have a lot of technical knowledge. This distinguishes him from ordinary painters who do not need unnecessary tools other than canvas, brushes and paints.
1. It is believed that for any artist it is necessary to have talent. However, all famous graphic artists and painters claim that success consists of only one percent of talent, the remaining 99% are diligence and work. So, taking one percent as the original value, one can understand that it takes a lot of effort for an artist to be able to create, overcoming all the difficulties that arise, laziness and many other distractions.
Only constant training makes it possible to realize your talent.
2. A computer artist, like any other painter, must have the basics of academic drawing and painting. He must have a firm, full hand, a well-developed sense of composition and eye, as well as correct color perception. Only through diligent training does it become possible to achieve professional mastery in drawing.
3. For the competent execution of digital images, in addition to the classical basics of drawing and painting, additional knowledge is also required, such as a foreign language and mastery of special graphic programs. Without these skills, drawing will not bring pleasure, but will only become "heavy load".
4. Naturally, to create computer graphics, especially for three-dimensional and animated images, you need a fairly powerful computer.
5. A perfectly calibrated monitor with excellent color reproduction and high resolution is a prerequisite.
6. To realize your creative potential as a CG artist, you will need additional devices such as a computer mouse, graphics tablets, a scanner and a digital camera.
When working in vector programs, it is enough optical mouse.
For more accurate and complex drawings, you will need tablet, or it is also called . Graphic tablets have the same formats as paper - from A6 to A3. For professional computer graphics, the largest format is used.
To work with a digitizer, a special pen is required, shaped like a regular pen. This cursor is also called a stylus. A graphics tablet allows you to create a drawing as close as possible to the drawn image on plain paper; a masterfully executed work can be impossible to distinguish from a hand-made creation.
The principle of operation using a digitizer is the same as on a plain sheet of paper, however, "" in this case serves as a graphic device, and the created picture appears in the file and is displayed on the monitor.
The digitizer itself is often more valuable to the artist than the computer itself.
Auxiliary input devices are scanner And camera. It is often easier and more appropriate to draw a sketch on paper, then transfer it to an electronic format. To create the necessary pictures from nature (references), an indispensable assistant comes to the rescue - a camera.
There are already more advanced and expensive devices, such as, on which the image is created on the screen, and the pen has ink. For professional digital painting, such a device is much more convenient than a regular tablet.
7. Also, a computer artist in his work sometimes needs Printer. For printing large formats, you will need plotter. These devices have a fairly high cost and large dimensions. Few artists can afford them to work at home.
8. An important condition is an excellent command of graphic programs, which are indispensable in digital painting. There are many graphic editors, each of which has its own characteristics and advantages.
Any program has its purpose.
Adobe Photoshop is the most common editor, allows you to create both raster and vector images. This program allows you to work in the technique of photo art, create animated images.
Photoshop provides a wide range of different effects. In addition, this graphic editor has many convenient ways to save and edit files. The possibilities of the program are so great that there are very few people who have studied all of them.
Corel Painter also refers to no less popular programs among CG artists. This graphics editor has more than four hundred varieties of brushes. Corel is designed primarily for creating vector images, so a huge variety of effects and functions are not required in it.
Adobe Illustrator- similar in purpose and function to Corel Draw vector program.
3D Max, Maya, ZBrush- editors for 3D modeling, which require a powerful, at least 4-core, computer to work with. There are many more graphic editors, each of which has its own purpose.
Licensed programs cost a lot, but for computer artists for professional work, it is still recommended to purchase this version in order to avoid trouble with the verification authorities. Firms that produce these graphic programs are increasingly paying attention to copyright compliance.
There are alternative free programs, the most common of which is GIMP. A CG artist most often prefers one of his favorite editors, but the use of other programs is often necessary.
9. For an artist who specializes in digital painting, having the necessary skills, equipment, tools and knowledge of graphic editors will allow him to fruitfully create. But he, like any creative person, needs the approval of contemplators. Moreover, the more recognition, the better for the development of his creative potential.
10. The result of considerable work and diligence is the demand in the service market.
Compliance with all these conditions is necessary for a computer artist to be completely successful! Any CG artist will agree with this. However, one should not forget the existence most important condition: to fully reveal your creative potential, you need to devote yourself to this activity as much as possible!
