[Emma Barratt]

Hey everyone!

It's been ages (and I mean ages) since I last posted a thread. I hope somebody remembers me!

The reason I've not written is I've been studying hard with Lightwave and now I finally have got to grips with it. However I was recently told that Lightwave isn't used in the industry and that I need to be learning Maya!(but I love Lightwave!) (I want to be a modeler) Have I wasted the last six months? I was also going to start learning Softimage XSI but now I'm totally lost at what I should be doing!

Can anyone offer me any advice?

P.S It was suggested to me that I have the talents of a digital artist, but what acually is their role in the industry? Sorry for all the questions but there is so much to learn!!!

Thanks Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Johnny9ball]

Every package is used in every part of the industry. Some packages are used more in certian industrys, such as LW=TV Maya=Movies Max=Games. Now that dosent apply to each package as a total rule of thumb. For instance LW has been used in many many many movies just not as much as maya. LW has also been used to design games but probbly not as much as max.

Check out this LW list---> http://adh.best.vwh.net/lwproj.html

If you are shooting for movies as your 3D medium where you want to do lots of work then you will probbly have to learn Maya at some point.

LightWave is becomeing more popular for movies now (Than it has been in the past) because industry 3D artists and producers are realizing its power and it offers a great cost advantage over maya.

If your going for a 3D job as a modeler then LightWave is widely recognized as the most robust 3D modeler out there. Some projects like Final Fantasy (movie) use Lightwave to model in and Maya to animate.

The 3D concepts you learn in lightwave can easly be applyed to other packages like Maya.

No you havent wasted the last six months. LW is used in many many many modeling projects and movies. I would stick with LW learn about 3D and dabble in the other packages.

[Emma Barratt]

Thank you for the advice Johnny9ball!

I think I'll be sticking with Lightwave as I'm set on being a modeller, it's also a real user friendly program! I'm beginning to think my advice was very biased as it came from a Maya user!!!!

Can you offer any advice on the role of a digital artsit? I don't understand how I supposedly have the skills when I'm not sure exactly what their role is, or what skills they need to get their jobs??

Thanks again for your advice, it's much appreciated!

[Johnny9ball]

Ok the role of a digital artist. This is a fairly broad question so I will try and cover some areas of what a modeler does in different jobs, since you are intrested in modeling.

Many studios that hire digital artists have whats called a production pipeline. In a production pileline Digital artists work together and fill very specific roles. When a project is comissioned then it works its way through the production pipeline till its completed. You will have many different artists working together that make up the production pipeline modelers, animators, surface and texture artists, lighting artists, riging artists and many many other positions. Usually the project is first sent to the modelers for the inital models while this is happening every different person is doing there part such for example someone may be makeing the backdrops for an animation ect... and so on. Some people in the pipeline have to wait for example the animators can not animate till the modelers give them something. After modeling then surfaceing and then animation. Usually any voice acting is done before the animation so the animators can synch up the digital actors to the voices. It works very much like movie makeing, every person fills there part. To get jobs in production pipelines many people will specilize in an area of 3D in your instance you would want to concentrate on your modeling skills till they are razor sharp. When applying for a job to be a modeler you would make demo-reel will lots of very detailed models on turn tables. If someone was applying for surfaceing they would make some wicked cool surfaces to show on there demo-reel.

Now this does not apply to all situations. In some jobs the production pipeline is small and requires a digital artist with mutiple talents. In smaller studios such as some tv productions or shows as Entertainment Tonight (Which uses all LW by the way) the digital artist may be called on to do more than one roll in the digital production.

In freelance jobs you need well rounded skills to get the projects done because many times it will only be you doing the job.