In this blog, I will be researching over one specific job role that I am interested in.
Job role:
3D Modelling Artist
3D Modelling Artist is an entry level job in the games industry for careers. 3D modellers artists present their art from 3D models and in a visualised way. This job role lies under the art department.
What do they do?
3D modelling artists create the models for all 3D art assets within the game – characters, weapons, vehicles, furniture, trees, rocks and so on. They often start with a brief or 2D drawing from a concept artist and build their 3D models from that. - Screenskills.com
A 3D modelling artist's technique and skill: Use of 3D software and game engines: 3D software: ZBrush, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Substance Painter (This software is texture based for 3D models.)
Game engine: Unity, Unreal Engine
Art: presenting strong, broad artistic techniques with a good understanding of colour, composition, texture and light.
Knowledge of gameplay: Knowing how a character, vehicle or a creature what they will experience whilst the game is being played by other participants or players.
The past -
3D modelling first started in the 1960s with a programming software called Sketchpad from the original creator, Ivan Sutherland. Since then, multiple 3D Model software have been made in the process and we have advanced throughout.
The first 3D game to use 3D models is a game called "Spasim" (Space Simulator)
Which released in 1 March 1974. Where as in Special and VFX started 3D computer graphics in JAN 1, 1985. The company that achieved this was ILM and the film they did it for was "Young Sherlock Holmes." (Timetoast, Evolution of Special and Visual Effects in Film timeline., 2020)
Then starting from around the early 90s, the VFX industries moved into the digital age.
The present -
3D modellers are a key part to VFX and creating video games in 3D, to visually present the 3D models, they need to have good UVs, textures, CGI, realistic shots to fool the viewers eyes or brain
This doesn't only apply to games and VFX but also consists of:
- Accurate planning
Houses, buildings, leisure centres, shopping centres in precise detail. It's like a blueprint.
- 3D Printing
- Real world visualisation
Visualising an architecture of the environments surrounding it and presenting an architecture in a visualised manner
The future -
The future is uncertain for what holds for 3D modellers but if I had to take a guess it would be that 3D modellers would be much more reliant and are required to create realistic robot models and rigging the models themselves to see where fit. Furthermore, I also can see that 3D modellers would be much more focused to 3D print out models on an economic standpoint, the majority of figures (be it action man, star wars, superheroes or power rangers figures) consists of a form of plastic. Whereas a different material could potentially be used to tackle the economy, resulting in replacing the plastic material and still hold the same or similar strength to what plastics have done.