...Unique Creative Styles and Content For Animation
Got Prints?!
Thursday, August 11, 2016
I just picked-up two prints from Fixons, in Fullerton, California… and I’ve got to say that the results were extraordinarily higher than what I expected: these prints are AMAZING! The difference between the Digital files and the prints are non-existent, not only that, but I asked Andy Lim to enlarge these… 330%! Check-out the results:
Here are the two prints. I will start by stating that these pictures do NOT give the prints the credit that they are due! The character on the left is a Professor of Engineering and the character on the right is his alter-ego, “The Wrench!”…
…I’ll start with the Professor. One of the things I noticed about this print is that the enlargement was AMAZING! The resolution and the detail are there, crisp and with very sharp edges…
…again, these pictures do not give the prints their credit, but the transition between the skin’s color and the chest hair came out very nice!…
…the Tattoos came out very nice! Good values…
…its hard to notice, but the prints had captured the transparency of the Professor’s Guayabera…
…and here’s a closeup of the Professor’s briefcase…
…Now, for the Professor’s alter-ego, I created “The Wrench!” These character was a challenge to paint…
…the colors of the skin came out amazing!…
…I took this extreme-closeup to show you how well the resolution looks after blowing this files 330%!…
…what blew-me away was the glow of the shower-head. If you could see the original Digital File in my Portfolio, you will notice that the translation is dead-on!…
…the Tattoos came up very nice, good color and values…
…a medium-closeup of the wrench…
…a closeup of the texture of the wrench. Remember: this was blown-up 330%! The textures came out amazing!…
…a closeup of the hand…
…here’s a closeup of the boots…
…Here’s the diptych together. I think this is how I’m going to hang them…
…you can see the black-border I added. If you don’t, the image will be cropped, and you may run into trouble. Ask them to print your file to whatever size you want and to add a black border for the sides, that way you will get the exact dimensions in the front with no cropping of your Artwork!
Here are the two prints. I will start by stating that these pictures do NOT give the prints the credit that they are due! The character on the left is a Professor of Engineering and the character on the right is his alter-ego, “The Wrench!”…
…I’ll start with the Professor. One of the things I noticed about this print is that the enlargement was AMAZING! The resolution and the detail are there, crisp and with very sharp edges…
…again, these pictures do not give the prints their credit, but the transition between the skin’s color and the chest hair came out very nice!…
…the Tattoos came out very nice! Good values…
…its hard to notice, but the prints had captured the transparency of the Professor’s Guayabera…
…and here’s a closeup of the Professor’s briefcase…
…Now, for the Professor’s alter-ego, I created “The Wrench!” These character was a challenge to paint…
…the colors of the skin came out amazing!…
…I took this extreme-closeup to show you how well the resolution looks after blowing this files 330%!…
…what blew-me away was the glow of the shower-head. If you could see the original Digital File in my Portfolio, you will notice that the translation is dead-on!…
…the Tattoos came up very nice, good color and values…
…a medium-closeup of the wrench…
…a closeup of the texture of the wrench. Remember: this was blown-up 330%! The textures came out amazing!…
…a closeup of the hand…
…here’s a closeup of the boots…
…Here’s the diptych together. I think this is how I’m going to hang them…
…you can see the black-border I added. If you don’t, the image will be cropped, and you may run into trouble. Ask them to print your file to whatever size you want and to add a black border for the sides, that way you will get the exact dimensions in the front with no cropping of your Artwork!
Print Digital Files... On Canvas!
Saturday, July 23, 2016 Filed in: Art
Artist Phil Dimitriadis, a fellow Professor of Digital Arts at Fullerton College, took me to Fixons in Fullerton. Now, if you want to get your Digital Files printed on canvas material or with a super high-class finish, this is the place! Check-out all these amazing examples!
(Click on the image!)
Cheers!
My First Production CGI Project... Back in 2001!
Thursday, May 28, 2015 Filed in: Education
So back in 2001, I worked on a Pilot for Nickelodeon called “Constant Payne.” It was n “experience,” with the most interesting crew I’ve ever worked with.
The Pilot never made it into a series, which was sad because all of us poured our hearts into the production. But the reason why I want to show you this is so that you could have options when it comes to using a 3-D program like Maya as a “tool,” just like Photoshop or a blue-pencil, for any 2-D productions out there!
The Pilot never made it into a series, which was sad because all of us poured our hearts into the production. But the reason why I want to show you this is so that you could have options when it comes to using a 3-D program like Maya as a “tool,” just like Photoshop or a blue-pencil, for any 2-D productions out there!
(Click on image to enlarge!)
Maya has a Toon tab built in and its quite amazing, simple and fast. Give it a try to see what you can get out of it! ITS FREE!
Here’s the final version:
(Click on image to enlarge!)
Some of the distress was hand-drawned to keep with the style of the Pilot.
Cheers
Purple Platapus: FDM Materials And Their Uses Seminar
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
Just finished a seminar over at Purple Platypus called “FDM Material Selection.” The seminar covered all the FDM materials that their Stratasys machines handle. Great information and samples!
(Click on image for link)
Cheers!
Hand-Painted Specular Maps Vs. "Attribute" Generated
Saturday, May 23, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
In a previous post (5/17/15,) I showed what the specularity of the Lil Fee looked like when generated by an “attribute” - having the specularity’s Color attribute control a “general” amount across the texture…
Here’s a comparison between a custom, hand-painted map and the one generated by an attribute. The first image is the hand-painted Specular Map:
Notice how the specular is more intense on certain areas: the nose, cheeks and chin in comparison to the rest of the head, plus, I can make the freckles dull in specularity and I can avoid any “blooming” as in the top of the head…
And the image above is the one where the specular is generated by the Specular’s Color swatch. This creates a “constant” specular across the head, so when you get a good result, say, for the nose, the specular gets “blown” on the top of the head…
Cheers!
Here’s a comparison between a custom, hand-painted map and the one generated by an attribute. The first image is the hand-painted Specular Map:
Notice how the specular is more intense on certain areas: the nose, cheeks and chin in comparison to the rest of the head, plus, I can make the freckles dull in specularity and I can avoid any “blooming” as in the top of the head…
And the image above is the one where the specular is generated by the Specular’s Color swatch. This creates a “constant” specular across the head, so when you get a good result, say, for the nose, the specular gets “blown” on the top of the head…
Cheers!
Specular Tests Using RenderMan
Sunday, May 17, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
Here’s a test I did using the PxrLMSubsurface base material’s Specular Attribute. This was done without a texture-map, to see what the attribute could do in as a default, and I have to say that the out-of-the-box results are AMAZING! Check out the differences I got by just tweaking the Color and the the Refractive Index (image 2,) which I found on the Internet:
Here are the settings I used for the Color and Refractive Index:
Why use the Refraction Index of water? Well, babies are made of 78% water and as we get older we loose that percentage - 60% for a full-grown male!
This has to do with the Specularity of the skin, not the water-content. And because some parts are more “oily” than others, the next step is to create a custom texture map for the specular and input it in the color Attribute.
Hope this helps someone!
Cheer!
Here are the settings I used for the Color and Refractive Index:
Why use the Refraction Index of water? Well, babies are made of 78% water and as we get older we loose that percentage - 60% for a full-grown male!
This has to do with the Specularity of the skin, not the water-content. And because some parts are more “oily” than others, the next step is to create a custom texture map for the specular and input it in the color Attribute.
Hope this helps someone!
Cheer!
Another Round Of RenderMan Testing: PxrDisney Material
Monday, May 11, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
More testing using Pixar’s RenderMan’s PxrDisney Material, PxrFlakes and other fun attributes:
And another mask where I experimented with the PxrDisney Material.
Cheers!
And another mask where I experimented with the PxrDisney Material.
Cheers!
More RenderMan's Testing: Car Paint
Saturday, May 09, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
More testing using Pixar’s RenderMan’s Car Paint and PxrFlakes plugin:
I played with the flake-size and the density to take the car paint to a pleather-level: fake, plastic-leather-like material used in 50s dinner-furniture, wrestling masks and stilettos!
For this one, I reduced all of the attributes of the PxrFlakes to make it different that the previous mask.
Cheers!
I played with the flake-size and the density to take the car paint to a pleather-level: fake, plastic-leather-like material used in 50s dinner-furniture, wrestling masks and stilettos!
For this one, I reduced all of the attributes of the PxrFlakes to make it different that the previous mask.
Cheers!
Testing Skin Texture With Pixar's RenderMan
Friday, May 08, 2015 Filed in: Tools for Artists
Yes, I just jumped on Pixar’s RenderMan’s bandwagon. It is AMAZING! Talk about an Artist’s friendly render-engine!
Here’s a test I did using the PxrLMSubsurface base material. I did the painting in Brush (Polypaint,) and then transferred it as a texture-file and applied it in Maya to a PxrLMDiffuse material. The sclera has a PxrLMGlass material. Check it out:
And here’s some tests using the Car Paint and the Rubber Presets:
I’ll post more tests as I figure-out the fine-tuning!
Cheers!
Here’s a test I did using the PxrLMSubsurface base material. I did the painting in Brush (Polypaint,) and then transferred it as a texture-file and applied it in Maya to a PxrLMDiffuse material. The sclera has a PxrLMGlass material. Check it out:
And here’s some tests using the Car Paint and the Rubber Presets:
I’ll post more tests as I figure-out the fine-tuning!
Cheers!
Video #2: How to Create a File from Scratch
Monday, April 13, 2015 Filed in: Education
Here’s the second video from the Beginners’ Series: How to create a file from scratch, how to save a file’s settings and how to use the three different Screen Modes!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
NEW Photoshop Video Tutorial Series!
Sunday, April 12, 2015 Filed in: Education
I just uploaded to YouTube my first Photoshop video tutorial. This series, called “Photoshop BASIC Beginners Tutorials” is just that, BASIC information for those who are just starting tor want to learn Photoshop…
What I offer in this series is eighteen-years of experience in the Entertainment Industry, concentrating in the usage of Photoshop for Artists, starting with the BASICS - which will be a “refresher” course for many, to how to use Photoshop for Painters, Character and Prop Designers, Background Designers and Painters to Storyboards…
Here is the first (FREE) Video:
Along with these video tutorials, I will offer a series of Brushes, Actions and Tool Presets dedicated to Artists and their needs, like a thick-and-thin Brush to an Action that generates Storyboard-pages with the click of a button!
Stay tuned for the next videos!
What I offer in this series is eighteen-years of experience in the Entertainment Industry, concentrating in the usage of Photoshop for Artists, starting with the BASICS - which will be a “refresher” course for many, to how to use Photoshop for Painters, Character and Prop Designers, Background Designers and Painters to Storyboards…
Here is the first (FREE) Video:
Along with these video tutorials, I will offer a series of Brushes, Actions and Tool Presets dedicated to Artists and their needs, like a thick-and-thin Brush to an Action that generates Storyboard-pages with the click of a button!
Stay tuned for the next videos!
Character Design Class By Luis Manuel Villarreal
Sunday, June 08, 2014 Filed in: Education
Virtual Animators ofrecen un taller de Diseño de Personajes para Animación, con el prestigiado artista y gran animador Luis Manuel Villarreal.
Este taller es através del internet, pero EN VIVO! Podras comunicarte directamente con el instructor através de text message.
En este taller aprenderás todos los pasos a seguir respecto al diseño de personajes, tal y como lo hacen los artistas de Animación profesional en grandes estudios como, Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks etc, etc.
Luis Manuel es un instructor quien tiene el carisma, la paciencia, el conocimiento y el talento para inspirarte y facilitar todo lo que necesitas para despertar tu imaginación y tu talento y llevarte a la cúspide de tus posibilidades como artista
Este curso cubrirá paso a paso, como investigar y analizar personalidad, el uso de formas como volumen y los diferentes estilos de diseño realizados en el pasado en películas clásicas.
El taller dura cuatro semanas (desde Junio 23 hasta Julio 28.) Cada semana recibirás tareas, las cuales serán revisadas personalmente por Luis Manuel durante cada una de las sesiones semanales.
El taller cuesta $550.00 - que creo yo es muy barato para un Artista que quiera llevar su talento a otro nivel!
Cheers!
References: ArtStation
Sunday, April 20, 2014 Filed in: References
So its goodbye CGHub... Now what?
There are many websites that you can go and subscribe, show your portfolio and search for Artist and Artwork that inspires you. I will post as many of these sites under: Resources / References...
So let’s start: here’s a new site launched by the same people who run ArtStation Magazine, called ArtStation.
There are many websites that you can go and subscribe, show your portfolio and search for Artist and Artwork that inspires you. I will post as many of these sites under: Resources / References...
So let’s start: here’s a new site launched by the same people who run ArtStation Magazine, called ArtStation.
(Click on image!)
They describe it as:
“…A new community and portfolio website service for professional artists…. ArtStation Beta 1 provides artists an easy and affordable way to create portfolio websites and be discovered. The best way to describe ArtStation Beta 1 is that it takes the best of all the artist community sites you love, Tumblr and SquareSpace, and puts it in one integrated package specifically for artists…”
Click on the image to read more about it!
Cheers!
Game Changers: Marmoset Toolbag 2.0
Saturday, April 12, 2014 Filed in: Game Changers
(click on image)
I want to review this amazing piece-of-software that I think most of you will end-up trying and hopefully buying. What is Mamoset Toolbag™ 2.0 you may ask? Well, it is described as, “...A full-featured, real-time material editor and renderer bundled in a tidy package... provides 3D artists (with) a powerful and efficient workflow, bringing exemplary rendering quality to every stage of the 3D art pipeline...”
Now here’s my reasoning as to why, I believe, Mamoset Toolbag™ 2.0 could be a game changer for 3D Concept Designers:
You design your character, prop or set using your 3D package of choice... Now what? You could render in your 3D package but we know how long those take.
What you need is a “real-time” renderer and material-editor - Mamoset Toolbag™ 2.0, where you can import your mesh, alter your materials and render high-quality images OR turntables using physically accurate Image Based Lighting - IBLs, and DONE! No long hours waiting in front of the monitor to discover that you forgot to check this attribute or load that texture. In Mamoset Toolbag™ 2.0 you can move the IBLs around, add dynamic lights or cameras, change the DOP, add new textures... whatever you want to change, just hit render, and DONE! Fast high-quality images / turntables without the long and expensive wait!
Check this out!
Pretty cool, right?! Hope this helps someone. Don’t forget to check-out the article, smiles and links here!
Cheers!
Tutorial: Custom Color-Palette from Images
Tuesday, April 08, 2014 Filed in: Tutorials
(Click on the image!)
I was asked by a friend to show him how to create a simple color-Palette based on the colors of a specific image. This technique is used by Photographers, Painters, Filmmakers, Color Stylists, Fashion Designers and other Artists to, “simplify an image’s colors to its basics.” For example, let’s say you see someone’s work and you want to figure-out what color palette they used to make that image? Well, in these two tutorials I will show you how to “breakdown” an image’s colors to their basic, what we call a color-Palette...
(Click on the image!)
As you know, with Photoshop, “there are more ways than one to skin a cat!” (no, I will not be skinning any cats in this tutorial.) What I mean is that, like everything else in Photoshop, there are many ways to do this. In these two tutorial I will show you a couple of simple and fast ways to create a color-Palette and to save them as a Photoshop Swatches. The first example will be based on Vincent van Gogh’s “Self Portrait with Straw Hat” (1887) and the second one on a painting called “Studies of Liza” by contemporary American Painter, Luc Cong.
I hope you find them useful!
Cheers!
References: Best Design Options
Saturday, April 05, 2014 Filed in: References
Fantastic site with tons of tutorials on photography, webdesign, - blogging tips, Packaging and Print Design and last, but not least, Photoshop...
Very easy to access and to find tutorials. Three of the Menus have submenus where you will find more great resources and tutorials!
Hope you find this site very useful!
Cheers!
Tools for Artists: 3DTotal's Master Custom Brushes EBook
Monday, March 31, 2014 Filed in: Tools for Artists
Great Ebook from 3DTotal, “Master Custom Brushes For Characters”:
“A great custom brush will speed up workflow and add personality to your art. Our detailed 6 part guide shows you how!
Using custom brushes can add that special texture and help speed up your workflow. You can use a combination of custom brushes to quickly add cracks, dirt and scratches to textures or images, or use them to paint an underlying texture such as skin, cloth, leather and metal to a section of a painting. This expert guide reveals how to create different brushes to texture characters. Written by industry pros, each artist starts with a basic un-textured character and demonstrates how to create brushes that will add that all-important detail...”
Cheers!
“A great custom brush will speed up workflow and add personality to your art. Our detailed 6 part guide shows you how!
Using custom brushes can add that special texture and help speed up your workflow. You can use a combination of custom brushes to quickly add cracks, dirt and scratches to textures or images, or use them to paint an underlying texture such as skin, cloth, leather and metal to a section of a painting. This expert guide reveals how to create different brushes to texture characters. Written by industry pros, each artist starts with a basic un-textured character and demonstrates how to create brushes that will add that all-important detail...”
Cheers!
References: Pinterest
Thursday, March 27, 2014 Filed in: References
What? You don’t have a Pinterest account? And you call yourself an Artist?! Please, but everything down and get yourself a free account know before your friends find out!...
So what is Pinterest? Well, they have a motto: “Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love!” And collecting and organizing is right. Check out my review and tutorial on Pinterest to see how it works, but for now, check out a small sliver of what I so on todays’ “image feed”:
(click on image)
Crazy, right? And this is just a small screen-grab of what I got. Read the article and you will see why Pinterest is a must for every Artist out there.
Cheers!
References: The Cool Hunter
Sunday, March 23, 2014 Filed in: References
One of my favorite sites in the entire Internet: The Cool Hunter. A website with - no pun intended... “cool” images of places, architecture, food, interior design, vehicles, etc, etc etc...
According to founder Bill Tikos,: “...The Cool Hunter website celebrates creativity in all of its modern manifestations. Since its inception in 2004 The Cool Hunter website has become the world’s most-read culture and design digital space and a leading authority on all things creative. Truly a global hub for what’s cool, thoughtful, innovative and original. The Cool Hunter values international relevance, not trends, channeling what they discover to a worldwide audience...”
The site has all the posts broken-down into the following sections - which I’ve added a sample image so you can see what kind of “cool” stuff they post. Check it out here!

According to founder Bill Tikos,: “...The Cool Hunter website celebrates creativity in all of its modern manifestations. Since its inception in 2004 The Cool Hunter website has become the world’s most-read culture and design digital space and a leading authority on all things creative. Truly a global hub for what’s cool, thoughtful, innovative and original. The Cool Hunter values international relevance, not trends, channeling what they discover to a worldwide audience...”
The site has all the posts broken-down into the following sections - which I’ve added a sample image so you can see what kind of “cool” stuff they post. Check it out here!
• Architecture • Design • Travel • Fashion • Lifestyle • Music
• Art • Amazing Places • Ads • Kids • Stores • Events
• Bars • Food • House • Transportation • Offices
and lastly, Treelife: a project they cal: “…an interactive exhibition of modern eco tree houses designed by the world’s top artists, designers and architects…”
I hope this inspires someone! Make sure you check out the post here, but if you don’t have the time and what to see “cool stuff” more often, join their newsletter!
Cheers!
Game Changers: Octane Render™ and .ORBX
Sunday, March 23, 2014 Filed in: Game Changers
OTOY announces the release of OctaneRender™ 1.5 and a NEW interchange file format called .ORBX
(Click on the image!)
OctaneRender™ 1.5 is the world's first-fully GPU based physically based renderer - where the software uses the video card of the computer to render, rendering images at extreme speeds, up to 50x faster than CPU - where the processor (CPU) of the computer is used to calculate the rendering. It has a real-time 3D scene editing capability, allowing you to change camera viewpoints, lights, materials and object positions in real-time seeing the changes immediately update in the viewport...
(Click on the image!)
With the release of OctaneRender™ 1.5, OTOY also introduces a NEW interchange file format called .ORBX: the .ORBX file format, which houses a comprehensive array of computer-generated scene data, enabling the most precise renderings possible across 15 of the top 3D modeling applications.
Click on the banner to read the rest of the game-changing review.
Cheers!
References: "Draw The Looney Toons"
Friday, March 21, 2014 Filed in: References
Check out this post by Bob Guthrie from PixelToonsInk.com...
In his blog, Bob talks about the two versions of one of the few artists’ books Warner Bros. put out to the public (“Draw the Looney Toons” Chronicle Books, 2005) and how it compares to the version of the same book, which was given to the artist - like him, who worked at Warner Bros Consumer Products...
“…The credits list art by San Wei Chan... Mark Christiansen, Jerome Moore and Robert Guthrie. Text is by Frank Espinoza, co-written by Marie Taylor….”
Here’s an example of Bob’s artwork in the book:
The difference between the two book is sizable. The one the artist from WBCP got had 302 pages, whereas the one sold to the public had 208 pages... 94 pages! Bob also talks about other differences between the two books, like the titles. Very interesting article!
Cheers!
In his blog, Bob talks about the two versions of one of the few artists’ books Warner Bros. put out to the public (“Draw the Looney Toons” Chronicle Books, 2005) and how it compares to the version of the same book, which was given to the artist - like him, who worked at Warner Bros Consumer Products...
“…The credits list art by San Wei Chan... Mark Christiansen, Jerome Moore and Robert Guthrie. Text is by Frank Espinoza, co-written by Marie Taylor….”
Here’s an example of Bob’s artwork in the book:
The difference between the two book is sizable. The one the artist from WBCP got had 302 pages, whereas the one sold to the public had 208 pages... 94 pages! Bob also talks about other differences between the two books, like the titles. Very interesting article!
Cheers!
How to Ditch Your Day job and Become a Full Time (Insert Job Here!)
Thursday, March 20, 2014 Filed in: Marketing for Artists
This article written by Anna Wray, “How to ditch your day job and become a full time illustrator,” came via Creative BloQ, and it's a “must” read for anyone who is thinking about becoming a successful independent (freelancer) Artist. Just substitute the word “Illustrator” for whatever is that you love to do!
Still for an animation for “A Cruel Bird came to the Nest and Looked in' Magnus Mills” for Bloomsbury Publishing
In the article they cover the following:
• Choose your specialty...
• Setting aside a specific time to work...
• Offer “friend’s rates”...
• Send something lovely in the mail...
• Sell stock illustrations...
• Start a part-time course...
• Contact agents...
• Embrace social media..
• Keep going...
Again, a must read for any Artist who is considering the “big jump!”
Cheers!
Still for an animation for “A Cruel Bird came to the Nest and Looked in' Magnus Mills” for Bloomsbury Publishing
In the article they cover the following:
• Choose your specialty...
• Setting aside a specific time to work...
• Offer “friend’s rates”...
• Send something lovely in the mail...
• Sell stock illustrations...
• Start a part-time course...
• Contact agents...
• Embrace social media..
• Keep going...
Again, a must read for any Artist who is considering the “big jump!”
Cheers!
Game Changers: Patreon - Crowd Funding for Creators & Patrons
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Filed in: Game Changers
Here’s a crowd-funding site specifically dedicated to the Artist & Creator in you, Patreon!
“...Founded in May 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, Patreon was created to enable fans to support and engage with the artists and creators they love. Empowering a new generation of creators, Patreon is bringing patronage back to the 21st century...”
Patreon works for all types of creators:
■ Musicians ■ YouTubers ■ Web Comics ■ Writers & Bloggers ■ Indie Gamers ■ Video Producers ■ Authors ■ Podcasters ■ Animators ■ Artists ■ Photographers, etc, etc, etc...
Any creator who wants to share their work! Here’s and example of Elisa Kwon’s “Daily Dog”:
“...Founded in May 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, Patreon was created to enable fans to support and engage with the artists and creators they love. Empowering a new generation of creators, Patreon is bringing patronage back to the 21st century...”
Patreon works for all types of creators:
■ Musicians ■ YouTubers ■ Web Comics ■ Writers & Bloggers ■ Indie Gamers ■ Video Producers ■ Authors ■ Podcasters ■ Animators ■ Artists ■ Photographers, etc, etc, etc...
Any creator who wants to share their work! Here’s and example of Elisa Kwon’s “Daily Dog”:
(Click on the image!)
Hope this helps someone or even gives them and idea... better yet, hopefully this will get your a@# in gear to promote your project!
Cheers!
Autodesk Announces 2015 Lineup of 3D Animation Tools
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Filed in: CGI News
One word:
“...WOW!...”
This via The Area & CGRecord (check out the videos!) and it looks AMAZING! Watch the videos and you will see why, this... is one “update” to be exited about!...
O.k.; even if its just for the new UV Editor in Maya:
• Create UV shells: The new Create UV Shell command lets you create a UV shell from a selection of components...
• Display connected edges on UV shells: The new Toggle Shell Borders command highlights sets of connected edges in different colors, making it easy to identify edges that are shared...
• Tweak UV Tool: Reposition components without switching to the Move Tool...
• Easy component selection: The UV Texture Editor no longer isolates the current selection. After making a selection, unselected components remain visible...
• Select UV shells: Double-click a face or select the new Shell option from the UV Texture Editor marking menu to select a UV shell...
• Transform components using the Tool Box: You can now use the Move, Scale, or Rotate tools to transform components...
• Color feedback: allows you to see compressed or stretched UVs...
• Hard edge display mode: When hard edges are displayed (Display > Polygons > Hard Edges), all components are displayed in the UV Texture Editor, and you can select any component type...
• Nudge shells and components: Quickly nudge your selection using the new nudge controls in the UV Texture Editor toolbar...
• Normalize UVs: The new Center on closest tile option lets you scale UV shells within the closest UV tile...
Cheers!
For a Great Cause: Primate Anatomy ZBrush Tutorial
Friday, March 14, 2014 Filed in: ZBrush Training
An “fantastic” series of ZBrush tutorials by Ben Mauro via BadKing.com... because what makes this great series “fantastic,” is that 15% of the sale goes to a great cause: Save the Chimps (http://www.chimphaven.org/)
Here are the descriptions of the two series:
Primate Anatomy Part 1
In this six part tutorial, internationally renowned Artist and Instructor Ben Mauro shows us the tools and techniques necessary to build a high-resolution primate skull. Working within ZBrush 4R6, Ben utilizes a set of ZBrush tools and reference material to shows us his techniques to turn a simple three-dimensional sphere into a complex and highly detailed Chimpanzee Skull.
Primate Anatomy Part 2
In this twelve part tutorial, Ben Mauro continues to work within ZBrush 4R6 taking us through his process of creating a highly realistic Chimpanzee Bust from a simple three-dimensional sphere. He builds upon his primate skull created in his previous tutorial and demonstrates how to best utilize reference material to create desired results. Ben discusses how he renders, exports and brings sculpts into Photoshop before using a number of photobashing tips for added realism.
15% of Sales from Ben Mauro’s tutorial will go towards the Save the Chimps Foundation, rescuing chimpanzees from cruel conditions and experimentation performed within biomedical research laboratories.
Here are the descriptions of the two series:
Primate Anatomy Part 1
In this six part tutorial, internationally renowned Artist and Instructor Ben Mauro shows us the tools and techniques necessary to build a high-resolution primate skull. Working within ZBrush 4R6, Ben utilizes a set of ZBrush tools and reference material to shows us his techniques to turn a simple three-dimensional sphere into a complex and highly detailed Chimpanzee Skull.
Primate Anatomy Part 2
In this twelve part tutorial, Ben Mauro continues to work within ZBrush 4R6 taking us through his process of creating a highly realistic Chimpanzee Bust from a simple three-dimensional sphere. He builds upon his primate skull created in his previous tutorial and demonstrates how to best utilize reference material to create desired results. Ben discusses how he renders, exports and brings sculpts into Photoshop before using a number of photobashing tips for added realism.
15% of Sales from Ben Mauro’s tutorial will go towards the Save the Chimps Foundation, rescuing chimpanzees from cruel conditions and experimentation performed within biomedical research laboratories.
“No one has ever become poor by giving...”
Anne Frank
Cheers!
New "Investment": Henman Miller Mirra
Thursday, March 13, 2014 Filed in: Tools for Artists
I’ve been having some problems with the temp chair I was using at my studio. Its hard to spend money on a chair, you would say... as I did - yes, I confess to this thought, but recently, after my forearms started to go numb towards the end of a long day, it came time to “invest” on a good chair...
So my friend Sandro and I decided to look around for a good chair. He brought up the Herman Miller Mirra series that they use at his studio, Sony ImageWorks, but also mentioned their steep prices... Just in case, we decided to look in the Internet and wouldn’t you know! We found a place in Illinois where they were selling them for... ready? HAF PRICE!
I don’t know where they got them and I don’t care... but they are AMAZING CHAIRS!
So my friend Sandro and I decided to look around for a good chair. He brought up the Herman Miller Mirra series that they use at his studio, Sony ImageWorks, but also mentioned their steep prices... Just in case, we decided to look in the Internet and wouldn’t you know! We found a place in Illinois where they were selling them for... ready? HAF PRICE!
I don’t know where they got them and I don’t care... but they are AMAZING CHAIRS!
“Invest in yourself. Your career is the engine of your wealth.”
Paul Clitheroe
Cheers!
References: 6 Filmmaking Tips from Hayao Miyazaki
Thursday, March 13, 2014 Filed in: References
This came via FSR (FilmSchoolRejects.com,) and it's a great article by Landon Palmer about the 73-year-old Japanese Director, Hayao Miyazaki - Click on image to read article:
The article also showcases two video-segments from an interview by Jonathan Ross for the BBC, “Japanorama,” first aired in 2002...
Landon Palmer’s article covers the following topics:
• Work for a Richer Culture, Not a Distracted One
• Let the Images Guide the Pacing
• Let the Politics of Your Business Match the Politics of Your Films
• Know Your Limits and Embrace Teamwork
• Know How to Balance Old and New Media
• Don’t Underestimate Children; Don’t Overestimate Adults
And here’s my favorite quote of the article:
“...While Miyazaki makes films that are accessible to children, he refuses to make films that are by any stretch of the imagination childish. Instead, they push past the limitations and conventions of a present-tense rational adult world, exploring the array of possibilities that lie beyond the blinding assumptions of what animated movies can, or should, be. We should all be so lucky as to have a benchmark for cinema’s wondrous possibilities like Miyazaki...”
The article also showcases two video-segments from an interview by Jonathan Ross for the BBC, “Japanorama,” first aired in 2002...
Landon Palmer’s article covers the following topics:
• Work for a Richer Culture, Not a Distracted One
• Let the Images Guide the Pacing
• Let the Politics of Your Business Match the Politics of Your Films
• Know Your Limits and Embrace Teamwork
• Know How to Balance Old and New Media
• Don’t Underestimate Children; Don’t Overestimate Adults
And here’s my favorite quote of the article:
“...While Miyazaki makes films that are accessible to children, he refuses to make films that are by any stretch of the imagination childish. Instead, they push past the limitations and conventions of a present-tense rational adult world, exploring the array of possibilities that lie beyond the blinding assumptions of what animated movies can, or should, be. We should all be so lucky as to have a benchmark for cinema’s wondrous possibilities like Miyazaki...”
“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere!”
Albert Einstein
Cheers!
DreamWroks' "Almost Home!" Trailer
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Filed in: Trailer
This looks fun! I love Steve Martin as the voice of the Captain...
Can’t wait for the movie!
Can’t wait for the movie!
“A day without sunshine is like, you know... night”
Steve Martin
Cheers!
Tutorial: iPad Mini + Jot Touch 4 + Procreate Painting Tutorial #2
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 Filed in: Tutorials
(Click on the image!)
So here’s another short Tutorial of using the iPad Mini + Jot Touch 4 + Procreate to quickly create paintings “on the go!”
The objective of these tutorials is to show Artist how to use a simple program like Procreate, an amazing Stylus like the Jot Pro Touch 4 and a tablet (I use an iPad Mini because of its size,) and to quickly sketch something that you can then “finish-up” in either Photoshop - or your poison of preference!...
(Click on the image!)
In this tutorial I go over how to sample colors from photographs. I use an amazing photograph by Artist Angelica Dass’ humanæ project, where she took portraits of people and assigned the corresponding PANTONE® color scheme…” Very impressive project and work.
Stay tuned for more tutorials on this series!
Cheers!
Artists' Tools: SmudgeGuard "Two-Finger Glove"
Monday, February 17, 2014 Filed in: Tools for Artists
No, is not a joke or a play on words, but a great tool for those who want to draw on a tablet and run into a very common problem: you are drawing on your tablet with a Stylus, and all of the sudden, you place the pummel on the screen - or another part of the hand,... and the tablet thinks that the hand AND the Stylus are one and it either rotes the image or it moves it!...
(Click on the image!)
Its called SmudGuard: its a simple glove made out of a magical material (87% Nylon and 13% Spandex,) wick prevents hand friction and on tablets, it prevents what’s called “Palm Recognition,” allowing you to rest your hand on the tablet as you draw!... Oh! And its also washable!
They have a single (SG1) and a double-finger glove (SG2)!
Cheers!
Creative Handbook: Great "Listing" for Artists
Sunday, February 16, 2014 Filed in: Marketing for Artists
Creative Handbook: a great “showcase” for people in the Entertainment Industry who are looking to list themselves:
(Click on the image!)
You can list yourself so that those who are in search to hiring - Recruiters, Studios’ Art Directors and producers, Commercial Producers, Television Networks, Feature Filmmakers, TV Shows, Event Producers and Themed Entertainment Companies, can find you...
You may be asking yourself: “...I’m a Traditional Artist, I draw... Why should I list myself in here?!...” Well, who makes the Storyboards for all those movies? What about Concept Designs for a Commercial; who draws those designs, the Producers? This handbook is for ALL those with jobs or skills that are used in these Industries... not only Gaffers or Food Services!...
Cheers!
Tutorial: iPad Mini + Jot Touch 4 + Procreate Painting Tutorial #1
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Filed in: Tutorials
(Click on the image!)
So here’s a short Tutorial of using the iPad Mini + Jot Touch 4 + Procreate to quickly create paintings “on the go,” with a great Caramel Flan Latte seating at your local Starbucks...
(Click on the image!)
B&W sketching to final color sketch, I spent no more than one hour - I had to learn the program using their manual - that you can download for FREE onto your iPad!... I also had a Decaf Caramel Flan Latte and THREE madeleines while doing this color sketch!... Talk about “multi-tasking,” eh?...
Cheers
Artists' Tools: iPad Mini + Jot Touch 4 + Procreate = FUN!
Saturday, February 01, 2014 Filed in: Tools for Artists
(Click on the image!)
So I broke down and bought an iPad Mini: why? Because I wanted a device to “showcase” my work to my clients... instead of my usual routine of: “...Wait, let me show you my work... give five minutes to launch my laptop... I’ll show!... almost there... nice weather lately? it feels like summer!... yeah...” My second reason was to be able to sketch ideas on the “go.” It wasn’t until my brother Bob - of PixelToonsInk.com, showed me his Jot Touch 4, a “pressure-sensitive” pen for iPads and other mobile devices...
I also write about this great painting program I used called Procreate (which you can buy through the App Store...)
Check out my review by clicking here or on the image!
Cheers!
PixelToonsInk! The Site of Robert M. Guthrie
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Filed in: Artists To Know
So if you can put two and two together, you will realize that Robert M. Guthrie is my brother... There! So I’m giving him a plug on his newly created website, www.PixelToonsInk.com:
Check out his work and find out what our Mother called me “second Best!”... Obviously I’m kidding... My real nickname was “The Mistake”... I never understood what she meant by that?... I’M KIDDING! Jeeesh! You guys are a tough-crowd tonight!...
Check out a few samples of his work:
For the last few years he started his own concept design company - PixelToonsInk, where he designs characters and products primarily for the Toy Companies, but he has designed for all types, shapes and offshoots of the Entertainment Industry: from Warner Bros Consumer Products, Sony down to J.M.P. Creative. Here is a Toy Tank he design for Dairy Queen:
Cheers!
Check out his work and find out what our Mother called me “second Best!”... Obviously I’m kidding... My real nickname was “The Mistake”... I never understood what she meant by that?... I’M KIDDING! Jeeesh! You guys are a tough-crowd tonight!...
Check out a few samples of his work:
For the last few years he started his own concept design company - PixelToonsInk, where he designs characters and products primarily for the Toy Companies, but he has designed for all types, shapes and offshoots of the Entertainment Industry: from Warner Bros Consumer Products, Sony down to J.M.P. Creative. Here is a Toy Tank he design for Dairy Queen:
Cheers!
Rigging At Puppeteer Lounge!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Filed in: Education
It has been a while since my last post, but I’ve been extremely busy with freelance AND... learning how to rig a face correctly...
My knowledge of rigging has always been at an intermediate level. I learned how to rig about ten years ago, and never went outside those limitations...
SoI decided to learn how to rig a face the “correct” way, and by that I mean, how to “setup a production ready hybrid facial rig based on joints and corrective facial shapes for better deformation for games and films...” That’s the description of the class I’m taking at Puppeteer Lounge (www.puppeteerlounge.com)...
"ODDJOBS" Rapid Prototype Toy Development
Friday, November 22, 2013 Filed in: 3D Printing
(Click on the banner!)
In the coming weeks I’m going to write a quick diary of the process and techniques I used to bring to live a toy design for a good friend of mine, Jon Kinyon (www.jonkinyon.com.)His Project, “OddJobs” (www.jonkco.com) is a T.V. series he is developing based on a line of toys he is making - synergy people, SYNERGY!...
What I did for Jon was to take some concept designs he had of the character and I sculpted a 3D model in ZBrush. I then converted the ZTool (model) into a Stereolithography file (.STL) and off it went to be printed at Purple Porcupine in Irvine California. The results are amazing, so stay tuned for designs, turntables and pictures of the whole process!...
Cheers!
New Lighting Test Using V-Ray for Maya
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 Filed in: V-Ray
I’m really liking V-Ray for Maya... I wonder if V-Ray is seeing anyone at the moment...
Here are two lighting tests I did using the Infinity Realities (http://ir-ltd.net) head-scan, the Diffuse and the Displacement maps. I had to create the Specular and the Overall color maps in Photoshop, but the results are very cool! This one has a three-point light setup...
And the one bellow is a straight up HDRI lit shot...
Cheers!
Here are two lighting tests I did using the Infinity Realities (http://ir-ltd.net) head-scan, the Diffuse and the Displacement maps. I had to create the Specular and the Overall color maps in Photoshop, but the results are very cool! This one has a three-point light setup...
And the one bellow is a straight up HDRI lit shot...
Cheers!
Look Development Tests
Thursday, August 01, 2013 Filed in: Mental Ray Tutorials
Another Look Development Test using the mia_material_X Shader:
(Click on the image!)
1) Car Paint…
2) Bronze + Aluminum + UV-Pattern texture (to setup gamma correction nodes for future texture)…
3) Stainless Steel…
4) Combination of Frosted Glass + Bronze + Aluminum...
Cheers!
Progressive "Coverage Checker Goggles" Commercial
Saturday, July 27, 2013 Filed in: Commercials
No, I didn’t make this commercial, but I modeled the goggles!
(Click on the image!)
Click on the banner bellow to see a step-by-step diary on how I model the goggles!
(Click on the image!)
Cheers!
"The Character and Shape of Illuminated Things"
Friday, July 05, 2013 Filed in: Inspirational
Los Angeles–based artist Amanda Ross-Ho premieres her first outdoor public art project, “The Character and Shape of Illuminated Things,” in which she explores how photography is a direct analogue to the act of seeing…
Our next-door neighbor, Rocky Gonzalez, built the sculptures out of his CNC shop, 3D MASS Designs & Engineering - and in our parking spaces! I swear…
Check out the video of the assembly:
(Click on the image!)
Cheers!
Cartoon Network's Making Of "Next Generation of Animation"
Monday, April 15, 2013 Filed in: Inspirational
Love this intro that Cartoon Network has created to showcase their creators. Well designed, well shot… Well done!…
(Click on the image!)
Cheers!
Mental Ray's user_ibl_env Light… WOW!
Sunday, March 31, 2013 Filed in: Mental Ray Tutorials
(Click on the image!)
I just learned how to use this bad oscar, and what an AMAZING LIGHT it is!
I will write a tutorial a.s.ap. to share what I’ve learned and how not to make the same mistakes I made. You can see the render by clicking on the image!...
Cheers!
New ZBrush Sculpt: "The Boxer"
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Filed in: Tutorials
Tutorial: A MONSTER Journal Of A Digital Sculpt
Tips & Tricks On How To Turn Your 3D Models Into Sculptures!...
I started a digital sculpt of a boxer for my portfolio. I will create a page (click on banner,) so you can see the steps I take for my digital sculpts.
Cheers!
Growing and Shriking Selections in ZBrush
Sunday, December 02, 2012 Filed in: ZBrush Training
Tutorial: Growing & Shrinking Selections In ZBrush
A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Retopologize A Rough Sketch For Better Efficiency
This is one of the coolest tricks I’ve learned recently. I use it to GroupVisible PolyFaces based on the edge flow by growing / shrinking selected PolyFaces (from a hidden mesh)…
Cheers!
ZBrush/TopoGun Retopology Tutorial
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Filed in: ZBrush Training
Tutorial: ZBrush/TopoGun Mesh Retopology
A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Retopologize A Rough Sketch For Better Efficiency
I’m writing a quick tutorial on how to quickly sketch a character in ZBrush, re-topologyze in TopoGun, and re-project the detail - from the original quick sketch, back in ZBrush into the new Animation-friendly mesh.
This, I believe, saves time and improves performance due to the efficiency of the re-topologyzed mesh, and its also a Rigging and Animation-ready, which makes for happier artist and Producers!
Cheers!
Rapid Prototyping Tutorial: Chapter Three
Tuesday, March 06, 2012 Filed in: 3D Printing
The third chapter of my Rapid Prototyping from Maya is up & running!
Tutorial: Rapid Prototyping… From Maya!
A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Turn Your 3D Models Into Sculptures!...
Chapter 3: Exporting from Maya
Cheers!
Rapid Prototyping Tutorial: Chapter Two
Sunday, February 12, 2012 Filed in: 3D Printing
The second chapter of my Rapid Prototyping from Maya is up & running!
Tutorial: Rapid Prototyping… From Maya!
A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Turn Your 3D Models Into Sculptures!...
Chapter 2: Installing The Plugin
Cheers!
Rapid Prototyping Tutorial: Chapter One
Monday, January 02, 2012 Filed in: 3D Printing
I’m starting a new tutorial on Rapid Prototyping from Maya, yes! Maya...
What I will show you in this tutorial is 1) how to prepare the model - understanding the difference and issues with open objects, holes, thickness, pieces, etc, then 2) exporting the model as a .STL file… and finally 3) what to expect from the sculpture at the end!…
I hope to have the entire tutorial done soon...
What I will show you in this tutorial is 1) how to prepare the model - understanding the difference and issues with open objects, holes, thickness, pieces, etc, then 2) exporting the model as a .STL file… and finally 3) what to expect from the sculpture at the end!…
I hope to have the entire tutorial done soon...
Tutorial: Rapid Prototyping… From Maya!
A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Turn Your 3D Models Into Sculptures!...
Check Chapter 1: Terminology!
Cheers!
References: Muddy Colors
Saturday, August 27, 2011 Filed in: References
Jon Foster Seminar at the Concept Design Academy
Saturday, April 16, 2011 Filed in: Tutorials
So I took this seminar with Jon Foster (www.jonfoster.com) at C.D.A. (www.conceptdesignacad.com,) and let me tell you: AMAZING! John is not only an incredible artist, but the nicest person I’ve met in years!...
1. Jon about to start the seminar with Kevin Chen to the right. 2. Jon painting. 3. Close up of the oil painting.
Jon tends to start his paintings with oils - yes, actual oil paint! He then waits for the paint to dry, and then photographs the painting, brings it into Photoshop, where - along with Corel’s Painter, he finishes the painting digitally...
1. Jon about to start the seminar with Kevin Chen to the right. 2. Jon painting. 3. Close up of the oil painting.
Jon tends to start his paintings with oils - yes, actual oil paint! He then waits for the paint to dry, and then photographs the painting, brings it into Photoshop, where - along with Corel’s Painter, he finishes the painting digitally...
(Click on the image!)
One of the great things about Jon, is that he is very approachable! He wanted us to see how he worked, how he applied the paint, and what he used. He also talked about things that most artists can relate to, like when do you know you are done with a painting, and when to go digital - Photoshop Vs. Corel’s Painter, etc...
1. Me making Jon nervous. 2. Jon and I - I’m creeping up to Jon, and Amy using my head as a podium to post on Facebook.
Fantastic workshop!...
Cheers!
Welcome to 710Films!
Friday, April 01, 2011 Filed in: Artists To Know
Welcome to our website!
710Films is an independent Design and Animation Studio offering creative, innovative and quality Visual Design solutions for the Entertainment Industry. We specializing in the development of unique styles and CGI asset creation.
To communicate our passion for the Arts and the Entertainment Industry we created this website, for you. Here you will find lots of references, articles, reviews and step-by-step tutorials on our own projects, and when permitted, a showcase of the work we do for our clients.
So welcome and enjoy!
Cheers!
710Films is an independent Design and Animation Studio offering creative, innovative and quality Visual Design solutions for the Entertainment Industry. We specializing in the development of unique styles and CGI asset creation.
To communicate our passion for the Arts and the Entertainment Industry we created this website, for you. Here you will find lots of references, articles, reviews and step-by-step tutorials on our own projects, and when permitted, a showcase of the work we do for our clients.
So welcome and enjoy!
Cheers!