The Key to Future Success in 3D Art: Learning to Adapt
Mastering Adaptability to Thrive in the Changing 3D World
I was recently asked to identify the most important attribute for future success as a 3D Artist. Surprisingly, despite struggling to say the right thing in the moment, I immediately responded with "Adaptability." This answer felt particularly apt, and upon further reflection, I've decided to elaborate on its significance.
No need for my normal George Costanza moment of relitigating old conversations:
The Evolution of 3D Software
In the early stages of 3D technology, programs like 3DSMax, LightWave, Maya, and Cinema 4D aimed to be comprehensive solutions for 3D creation, covering every step from modeling to rendering. However, as the industry and its demands evolved, these platforms expanded their features, incorporating specialized tools for FX, fur, and external rendering engines, becoming increasingly complex.
Eventually, studios began to recognize that as these expansions were taking place, they didn’t happen uniformly. One software would create an amazing workflow for one aspect of 3D production while falling short of something else. The gap became so large that pipelines suffered trying to stay in one tool and missing out on key features of another application.
Therefore, studios adopted a more fragmented approach that leveraged the best tool for each job. This shift inspired the development of specialized tools like Mari, Substance Painter/Designer, and Speedtree, designed to excel in specific areas rather than serve as a jack-of-all-trades.
The Role of USD
A significant challenge in this diversified landscape was the seamless data transfer between different software. Proprietary file formats and competitive dynamics made this difficult. Enter the Universal Scene Description (USD) by Pixar. USD is a versatile framework that facilitates the exchange of 3D scenes and animations across various applications, supporting a wide array of features to enhance collaboration and efficiency in 3D workflows. While still evolving, USD's adoption is steadily growing, signaling a future where interoperability is the norm.
Implications for the Future
With even more flexibility with the USD file type, artists and companies will be continuously encouraged to find the right tool for each job. So, the ability to work with a wide variety of software will be critical moving forward.
Does this mean you must prepare yourself by learning every piece of software you can? No way.
The more thoughtful way to do it is to focus on your core artistic skills. Learn composition, balance, color theory, and other artistic principles so you can feel confident in taking any piece of software and making something beautiful.
But how would that help if I don’t know how to use the software?
Fair point, But the main counterargument is that without regular use, it's difficult to remember the specifics of software. You could invest a week studying a new software through tutorials, but without continual use, that knowledge fades, wasting a week that could have been spent creating something impressive.
On the other hand, artistic principles and foundational concepts are more enduring and impactful. While I don't have scientific evidence to back this up, it's clear that learning the core principles of art is more beneficial and memorable than the details of any specific software.
Therefore, the strategy should focus on acquiring a deep understanding of artistic fundamentals, which remain with you, and then create a systematic approach to learning new software as needed.
Learning New Software: A Systematic Approach
When faced with the need to learn new software, consider a strategic approach:
Step 1. Pick your moment
Learning software when you don't immediately need it for a specific task is often not beneficial. Having a clear goal or project that requires the use of the software can serve as a strong motivation, preventing the knowledge from being forgotten easily.
Step 2. Overcome Resistance
When tackling something new, be aware that your brain may resist the effort, tempting you to avoid learning or making the task seem insurmountable. Recognizing this tendency is crucial. Simply pushing through this resistance and learning not to obstruct your own progress can significantly advance your journey, accounting for half of your success.
Step 3. Minimize Tutorials
I wrote a whole article emphasizing caution against excessive reliance on tutorials. While tutorials serve as a good starting point and can help familiarize you with a software's user interface and layout, they can also create a misleading feeling of mastery. Simply watching tutorials does not equate to understanding the software. It's beneficial to watch a few to get acquainted with the basics, but true knowledge comes from hands-on experience.
Step 4. Dive In!
Dive into creating your project when you don’t quite feel prepared to do it. Expect to encounter numerous mistakes and possibly even fail completely on your first try, necessitating a fresh start. This process of trial and error is not only normal but essential for learning and improvement. Embrace these early failures as valuable lessons that foster your growth and development.
Step 5. Persist Until Completion
Be aware that your mind will invent reasons to give up before you finish your project. You might doubt the necessity of your approach, question your ability to master the software or feel overwhelmed by the prospect of further revisions after multiple failures. These thoughts are simply our jerk of a brain's attempt to derail your efforts. The key is to recognize this self-sabotage and persist in your work until you complete your project. Keep moving forward, regardless of the obstacles, until you achieve your goal.
Conclusion
As the 3D industry advances rapidly, it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the available tools. Remember, the key to thriving in the future lies in strong foundational skills and adapting to new technologies. With a solid grasp of artistic fundamentals and a flexible approach to learning, you'll be well-equipped to succeed in the evolving landscape of 3D art.
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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 The3DArtist.Community and this newsletter.
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