Embracing Collaboration in 3D
3D Folk is Good Folk
Siggraph 2024 in Denver was an incredible week of innovation and inspiration for everyone in the 3D community. The annual event is known for its mind-blowing technical talks, engaging Birds of a Feather sessions, exciting software releases, and sneak peeks behind the curtain of the best companies showcasing their inspiring workflows. And let's not forget the numerous open bar parties that provide the perfect opportunity to nerd out with other…well…nerds :)
While the scheduled events at Siggraph are always a draw, the true magic often lies in the spontaneous conversations that happen outside the formal program. These impromptu exchanges with new acquaintances, old friends, and everyone in between offer unparalleled insights and inspiration. This year, one such conversation truly resonated with me.
It happened over lunch with Andre.
Andre, a member of my online 3D Artist Community, recently transitioned from fashion photography to 3D lighting and is now working in product visualization. A longtime friend from the industry joined us for a quick but memorable lunch.
As we casually chatted, our group delved into the differences between photography and 3D. For Andre, the most striking contrast was the openness and collaborative spirit within the 3D community. In photography, when Andre sought advice from other photographers on technical challenges, the responses were often vague and unhelpful.
“Oh yeah…that’s a tough one. Took me years to master that.”
“We’ve all been there. You’ll figure it out!”
Conversely, the 3D community is eager to share knowledge and assist others. For example, when Andre encountered a technical problem and posted it on the RenderMan user group forum, an industry pro offered help, went into his file, and even helped suss out other issues he didn’t know he was doing wrong. Who does that?!?!?!?!
The Unique Collaborative Spirit of 3D
We chatted about it for a bit and ultimately identified a few reasons for this collaborative spirit in 3D:
Inherent In The Workflow: 3D projects often involve large teams working on different aspects of a single shot, fostering a natural inclination towards teamwork and knowledge sharing. No one ever creates a shot for a film on their own and so we are used to not thinking of the work we do as ours alone.
New Industry: 3D is a relatively new field without entrenched gatekeepers. This openness, combined with the rise of platforms like YouTube, has encouraged a culture of sharing workflows and techniques.
Technical Complexity: The technical challenges in 3D are significant. Knowing how to do something and being able to do it well are two very different things, so sharing your workflow with someone else is not going to make your work less valuable or obsolete.
Practical Implications
This spirit of collaboration has practical implications for all of us in the industry. I’ll give you one example.
When Jasmine Katatikarn and I were working on our "Lighting for Animation" book, we had a fantastic publisher. They allowed us to add 200 images to our book and gave us a $10,000 budget to pay for rights. We knew we wanted to create some of our images for the book, but if we were talking about being an artist in animated films, it would be essential to include shots from animated films.
So we reached out to the big companies and quickly hit a wall. Some studios wanted $2000+ for one single film still to be used in the book. Now, you don’t have to be a math wiz to know that won’t work with our budget.
So we went to Plan B.
We reached out to creators of visually inspiring animated shorts. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many allowing us to use their images for free. This generosity enriched our book and exemplified the collaborative nature of the 3D community.
A Call to Action
For those who have read this far, congratulations! You now have a call to action.
Reach out to someone new in our industry.
Whether seeking feedback, technical help, or just looking to connect, it doesn’t matter; try it. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are great places to start. While it may not always work, chances are, you'll find someone willing to connect and share.
The 3D industry thrives on collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. By engaging with others, you can enhance your skills, gain new insights, and contribute to the growth of this dynamic field. So, take the initiative to reach out, make new connections, and take full advantage of the collaborative spirit that defines the 3D art community.
The 3D Artist Community Updates!
Last week, we hosted a live Zoom AMA with David Filar, Footwear Designer and the Director of Product Creation and design at Endstate. He is a highly accomplished designer and one of the nicest people you’ll meet in the footwear industry.
And that's not my opinion...he literally has an article written about him called "the nicest footwear designer you'll ever meet."
Here’s a snippet from our talk. You can find the entire AMA session on our community page:
3D News of the Week
Shapelab 2024 is now free to students worldwide - CG Channel
The Order 1886 Developer Ready At Dawn Has Been Shut Down By Meta - The Gamer
How to take a 3D asset from Cinema 4D to After Effects - Creative Bloq
Learn the workflow for KeyShot Web Viewer - Creative Bloq
3D Merch is here!
3D Tutorials
3D Job Spreadsheet
Link to Google Doc With A TON of Jobs in Animation (not operated by me)
Hello! Michael Tanzillo here. I am the Head of Technical Artists with the Substance 3D Growth team at Adobe. Previously, I was a Senior Artist on animated films at Blue Sky Studios/Disney with credits including three Ice Age movies, two Rios, Peanuts, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and Epic.
In addition to his work as an artist, I am the Co-Author of the book Lighting for Animation: The Visual Art of Storytelling and the Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art, an online school that has helped hundreds of artists around the world begin careers in Animation, Visual Effects, and Digital Imaging. I also created The 3D Artist Community on Skool and this newsletter.
www.michaeltanzillo.com
Free 3D Tutorials on the Michael Tanzillo YouTube Channel
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