Visual effects and computer graphics have firmly entered our lives. Today, anyone is able to explore the mysterious and magical world of post-production and become an expert in this field. The tips below will help raise your VFX and CGI knowledge.

This is fairly obvious advice, but beginners very often ignore it. The habit of looking and analyzing should become part of the work process or training. After watching a film with cool visual effects, review it again, but not as a spectator, but as a specialist. Try to find mistakes and partners, there are actually a lot of them. Analyze how the shot was created, how it was lit, and why it was done the way it was.

Copy

Try repeating frames from your favorite movies or videos. Of course, a cool team of artists was sitting on the creation of one cool shot. But I am sure that most of the frames can be realistically recreated with a minimal budget. The task is to create something similar with a minimum budget and maximum quality. Remember, you are doing this in the interest of your professional development. As a result, these works will fit perfectly into the portfolio, and they can be published on behance.

Who am I?

When you watch a Hollywood CGI blockbuster, remember that a team of professionals worked on every frame. Each team member did one highly specialized job. One group modeled while the other lighting these models, someone drew the environment, someone animated the characters, and someone composited it all, blurring the line between reality and the CG world. If everyone did everything, the result would be disastrous.

Therefore, it is important to decide what the soul lies to. What are you ready to do for 10-12 hours a day, not regretting a single second spent on work? You can choose several directions for yourself, but it is important to highlight the primary ones, and pull up the rest, if possible.

Learn the Basics

Being a highly specialized expert is important, but you need to understand the whole process of creating a visual work. If your job is to rig characters, then you need to understand and know how those characters were modeled, how best to light them, and how they will fit into the footage. Basic knowledge in each of these areas will give you a huge boost to development.

Chat and meet experts

Go to CG and film related events. Of course, there are very few of them in the CIS, but when they pass, real sharks of visual effects gather there.

It's never too late to learn or how to save a few years

A few years ago, it was believed that only a select few could become a VFX artist. In fact, that's how it was. Only the most diligent and persistent could find the necessary valuable information and spend hours studying programs through trial and error. Now everything is exactly the opposite. There is so much information that you can watch only tutorials all your life. But you won't get that far.

The only right way is to learn from professionals. Only under the control of the master will the student conquer the heights of the CGI industry.

The only question is where to go to study?

There is only one answer - to the best masters of their craft. For example, take studio courses TerminalFX just look at them portfolio to understand how cool teachers work there.
The money spent on training will pay off dozens, if not thousands of times. The field of computer graphics is only gaining momentum and specialists are always needed here.

Do not take the place of the organizer

Duration of training: 2.5 weeks (5 lectures // 4 practical tasks // 4 online reviews of students' work by the course teacher)

Course author Ivan Smirnov - art director, illustrator, concept artist, founder of the digital drawing school SMIRNOV SCHOOL, founder of the educational community for artists DIGITAL PAINTING CLASSES

Ivan's gallery:

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Video tutorials from Ivan:
Youtube channel SMIRNOV SCHOOL:

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The Basics of CG Drawing course will allow you to master the basic techniques and principles of drawing in Photoshop 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. You will find detailed lectures, interesting homework assignments, individual analysis of work with a teacher and a lot of practice.

In addition, we also created a course on the Basics for those artists who want to effectively study on our long-term programs, such as the course "Concept art of characters", "Concept art of the Environment", which will noticeably affect the result: the quality of work and level of digestible material.

The program of the course "Fundamentals of CG drawing":

Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Fundamentals
Learn to work in Photoshop and draw three-dimensional shapes.
Learning the basic steps of working in Photoshop:
Learning to draw a three-dimensional figure.
Post-processing: learning how to make the perfect final picture.

Lecture 2: We learn to come up with the design of objects and embody this design in a drawing.
Learning to draw an interesting subject:
Learning how to come up with a cool design
Learning to work with perspective and form
Learning to make clean line art

Lecture 3: We study the principles of working with light, shadow and diffused light and draw a 2D object with a 3D effect.
Learning to draw occluded (shadow from diffused light), light and shadow:
We study in detail the principles of building light.
Learning to build own and falling shadows.
We draw an object with a 3D effect.

Lecture 4: It`s render time!
Learning to correctly compose a color composition
Learning to render materials - learning how to draw different materials:
We will analyze the approaches in which any artist can independently learn to draw any material: metal, glass, wood, stone, plastic, and others.

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.
Effective cheating and simplification

Duration of training: 2.5 weeks

What is included in the course:
5 detailed video lectures
4 practical tasks
4 online webinars (analysis of students' work by the teacher)

For classes you need:
computer, graphic tablet, internet, graphic editor Photoshop.

Learning scheme:
The course lasts 2.5 weeks. In total 5 lectures, 4 homework assignments and 4 analysis by the teacher of students' homework.

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, you 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 specializing 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!

Creativity and Hobbies

Become a Professional CG Artist

I love the world of CG since childhood, and more recently, drawing has become my life.

I am already 24 years old, I have a higher non-art education and several years of work as an office hamster behind me. At one fine moment, I decided that such a life does not suit me and something needs to be changed. Gathered all her will into a fist and went to college as an animator. Now a year has passed. While the training was going on, I began to study what professions there are in the world of artists. I realized that the profession of an animator does not really attract me, just like the cartoons themselves. I like to draw and look at static pictures more. I prefer sci-fi, military, I like the cartoon style in the drawing.

I want to develop, engage in self-education and gain skills. I would like to come up with concepts and different objects for games.

Termination Criteria

Draw in such a way that you will not be ashamed of the drawings. Receive orders for drawings.

Personal Resources

Two years left, a great desire, a personal computer, video tutorials, books, an initial level of drawing and support from her husband.

Green Goal

I want to make money by drawing, because this is the only thing that really gives me pleasure. In addition, I want to see how the gaming industry is developing in the country, I want to see this process from the inside.

Publication date: 04/15/2012

How 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" stands for "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 skillfully 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.