Electronics & Gadgets

Updated Articles and Resources

By Justin Slick, About.com Guide

3D Recap April 2012 - The Month's Top CG Artwork and Industry News Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A summary of some of the CG industry's top news stories and visuals from April 2012—in case you missed anything.
Studio Spotlight - Double Negative Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A studio profile for Blur Studio—an effects house based in Venice, CA that focuses on animation, VFX, design, and game cinematics & trailers.
nDo2 First Impressions - Speed Up Your Normal Map Creation With nDo Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Recently had a go with the trial version of NDO2, Quixel's flagship normal mapping utility. Here are my thoughts and first impressions.
Creating Efficient 3D Illustrations - Tips For Effective Scene Management - Part 2 Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
And here's the second part of our in depth discussion on how to efficiently tackle a fully realized CG illustration.
Creating Efficient 3D Illustrations - Tips For Effective Scene Management - Part 1 Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Take your 3D scenes to the next level with this in depth discussion on how to efficiently tackle a fully realized CG illustration.
3D Recap March 2012 - The Month's Top CG Artwork and Industry News Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A summary of some of the CG industry's top news stories and visuals from March 2012—in case you missed anything.
Do I Need To Know How To Draw For 3D Modeling? - Which 2D Skills are Most Beneficial for a 3D Artist Created: Thursday, March 29, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
We explore whether or not it's time effective to focus on your 2D drawing and painting skills when your ultimate goal is a career in 3D computer graphics.
50 Incredible CG Portfolios from the Best 3D Modelers and Concept Artists in the World Created: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Links to 50 incredible galleries and portfolio sites from some of the best artists working in 3D computer graphics, entertainment design, concept art, game development, and animation.
Studio Profile - Blur Studio Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A studio profile for Blur Studio—an effects house based in Venice, CA that focuses on animation, VFX, design, and game cinematics & trailers.
Freelancing 101 - Cultivating Your Web Presence For 3D Computer Graphics Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
We explore the long list of opportunities for a budding artist to establish and solidify a web presence around the sites and online communities supporting the CG industry.
CG Roundup February 2012 - The Month's Top 3D Artwork and Industry News Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A summary of some of the CG industry's top news stories and visuals from February 2012—in case you missed anything.
How to Make Really Bad CG - 8 Tips to Help You Create the Worst 3D Renders of Your Life Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Since it's ever artist's dream to create stunningly bad CG, we go through eight key steps for producing the worst 3D images imaginable. From turning off anti-aliasing, to never using referenceR..
40+ CG Profiles You Should Be Following on Twitter - Stay Up to Date on the CG Industry Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Twitter has become an information fire-hose, and most major brands and high-profile public figures are on board. Here are 40+ industry profiles to help you stay on top of the latest news in the 3D..
5 Essential Strategies for Selling Your 3D Models Online - How to Successfully Sell Your 3D Models - Part 3 Created: Monday, February 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Now that you know which sites you should be selling at, we'll take you through five tips to help get you on the right track in the 3D marketplace. These essential strategies will set you apart fro..
Where to Sell Your 3D Models - Which 3D Marketplace Will Give You The Best Chance For Success? Created: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
An analysis of the ten largest markets for selling 3D models online. We work through the numbers and show you which 3D marketplace will be most worth your time and effort if you want to successful..
6 Quick Tips for Interesting CG Lighting - Easy Ways to Improve the Lighting in Your 3D Images and Animations Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Good lighting can make or break a render. Here are some easy tips to ensure that your 3D images always have great lighting.
The Top 10 Places to Sell Your 3D Models Online - How To Successfully Sell Your 3D Models Created: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of the 10 absolute best places to make money selling your 3D models online. These are the ten markets with the highest traffic, the best royalties, and the strongest reputations. Good luck!
What is Concept Sculpting? - How Concept Sculpting in ZBrush or Mudbox Can Improve Your Design Workflow Created: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Concept sculptors forgo traditional 2D design tools like Photoshop and Painter, and and instead work directly in a digital sculpting application like ZBrush or Mudbox. Here are some reasons to add..
5 Tips For Stylized Renders - How to Create Cartoon Realism Like Pixar Created: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
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 intr..
Good CG Lighting and Why It's Important - The Under-Appreciated Art of Lighting in 3D Created: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A discussion on the under-appreciated art of good CG lighting, and some advice to spruce up your images and set yourself apart.
5 Reasons to Become a Student Volunteer At Siggraph - Siggraph 2012 Resources Created: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Siggraph is the world's largest computer graphics conference, and volunteering at the conference as a student is a fantastic way to build your resume and give you a first-hand look into the world o..
15 Films We'd Love to See Re-released in 3D - A List of Classics that Would Look Great in Stereoscopic 3D Created: Thursday, January 26, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Let's cut loose and have some fun! From Aliens to Akira, here are 15 classic films we'd love to see find their way back into the cinema as 3D re-releases.
6 Demo Reel Tips for 3D Artists - How to Land a Job in the CG Industry Created: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
When you go looking for a job in the CG industry, your demo reel is like a first impression and first round interview all rolled into one. These six tips will show you how to put together a killer..
8 Tips to Increase the Photo-Realism in Your Renders - Easy Techniques to Make Your 3D Renders More Realistic Created: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of eight techniques that will improve your 3D renders and help you achieve a higher level of photo-realism.
Five Reasons You Need to Learn ZBrush (Now!) Created: Saturday, December 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
ZBrush is on the absolute cutting edge of innovation in the computer graphics industry. Here are five reasons why now is a better time than ever before to learn Pixologic's game-changing software.
3D Movies 2012 - Summer Blockbuster Edition Created: Saturday, December 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of all stereoscopic 3D movies scheduled for release during blockbuster season 2012. Covers all 3D films in May, June, July, and August.
Best 3D Training Subscriptions & CG Tutorial Sites - Best Online CG Training Sources Created: Thursday, December 29, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Ten incredible sources for online training in 3D computer graphics. These are the absolute best places to go for self-paced instruction in 3d modeling, animation, visual effects, and game developm..
10 Amazing Books on 3D Computer Animation - Best Books for 3D Animators Created: Monday, December 26, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of 10 incredible books for 3D animators, with a nice mix between traditional animation theory and practical CG knowledge.
Great Gifts For 3D Artists - Tools and Gift Ideas for 3D Modelers & Animators Created: Friday, December 23, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of fantastic gift ideas for a 3D artist. Digital artists might not need paints and canvases, but there are still a ton of things we need to keep our creative process running smoothly. Here..
Best Books for 3D Modelers - 7 Amazing Books on 3D Modeling & Digital Sculpting Created: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list of some of the best books on the market for someone looking to improve their 3D modeling, digital sculpting, or rendering skills. Six
Inspiration for 3D - Tips for Overcoming an Artist's Block - Maintaining Your Productivity Created: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Suggestions for 3D artists on how to maintain productivity during a creative block.
Inspiration for 3D - Tips for Overcoming an Artist's Block - How to Reignite Your Creativity Created: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Suggestions for 3D artists who need to reignite their creativity during an artist's block. Amazing places to find inspiration for 3D modeling & animation.

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