{EAV:d5fc2bea68fcf540}In the early years of CG, the task of designing characters and environments rested solely in the hands of concept artists working with pencil and paper, or in a 2D application like Photoshop or Corel Painter.  Modelers were modelers, nothing more.

However, improvements to digital sculpting applications like ZBrush and Mudbox have revolutionized the industry, especially in the past three or four years.  Sculpting workflows are now fast enough that a talented artist can develop a detailed 3D maquette in a day or two, meaning that modelers can now have a hand in the design process.

In this article, we discuss the idea of concept sculpting, and how it's turning the industry on it's head:

What is Concept Sculpting?

Stylized modeling and animation is hard.  Because stylized renders often have simplified forms and materials, your image has to stand on the merit of concept, design, and execution rather than intricate, technical detail.

In a cartoon image, your character design and concept are of the utmost importance, but here are some tips to help you nail that Pixar/Dreamworks style we've all come to love:

5 Tips for Stylized Renders

Lighting is an incredibly important aspect of the computer graphics pipeline.  It can almost single handedly alter the mood of a scene, or establish a certain mood, focus, or rhythm.

But compared to disciplines like modeling and animation, CG lighting is relatively under-appreciated and overlooked.

One of the best ways to set yourself apart as a beginning 3D artist is to become really good at lighting your characters and environments.  Here's our take on the subject:

Good CG Lighting and Why It's Important

Siggraph is the most important conference in the world for computer graphics professionals, and they've got an incredible volunteer program that grants students access to the full conference in exchange for volunteering on the exhibition floor.

I've volunteered at Siggraph in the past, and between the people you meet and the incredible things you'll get to see, volunteering there is an absolutely awesome experience.

There are still two weeks left to apply for a position as a student volunteer, and the process is very straightforward and painless.  If you're not convinced, here are some reasons you should reconsider:

5 Reasons to Volunteer at Siggraph 2012