The World of Computer Graphics

The World of Computer Graphics
Posted :: Jul 19, 2005 by kompakt

Introduction
Have you ever looked at an advertisement and wondered, “How did the artist do that?” Or have you watched the latest Pixar movie and left the theater in awe and thought to yourself, “How can such a movie be created?” Or Perhaps you were just surfing the Internet and came across a well designed template and spent the rest of your day scratching your head about how it was constructed. All of these situations involve a similar world: Computer Graphics, or sometimes referred to as GFX. The use and popularity of computer graphics (CG) has grown a lot over the past ten years, and it is being used all over the place in magazines, TV, Internet, billboards, and even in family photos.

Software and Tools
There are many different computer graphics software applications available. Each application is designed for specific purposes. Some programs are used purely for animation, some for modeling, some for photo manipulation, some for creating landscapes, and many other purposes as well. There are even programs designed to handle a wider variety of purposes, such as MAYA by Alias software, or Newtek’s Lightwave.

Some popular computer graphics software programs are MAYA, Lightwave, Adobe Photoshop, the Poser series, 3DSMax, and Adobe Illustrator. All of the listed programs are quite costly ranging from $600 to $7000. Due to the heavy monetary investment in such programs, it is important to start the journey with some in-depth research. Before shelling out hard earned cash, evaluate your needs, wants, and then match them up with the program(s) that are right for the job. Keep in mind that flashy, expensive software won’t make anyone a great computer graphics artist. Just like painting or drawing, CG takes skill, patience, creativity, and devotion.

For animation or modeling, MAYA and Lightwave are a couple options. If photo manipulation and digital illustration are the case, Adobe Photoshop is a popular favorite. For landscapes there is WorldBuilder and Terragen, while Poser is a popular choice for human modelers. There are other tools for CG artists besides software. One of these tools is a tablet, which allows the artist to draw with a stylus pen, and have the work instantly digitized. For the photographer, a higher quality camera may be a necessity at some point to enhance the outcome.

Communities
There are tons of communities that are dedicated to computer graphics, some of the most popular being Deviantart (www.Deviantart.com), GFXartist (www.GFXartist.com), Cgtalk (www.CGtalk.com) and Photoshop User (www.photoshopuser.com). Many of these communities provide tutorials, resources, such as stock photos and renders, and assistance. Each community is full of artists that are constantly working to make the community a better place by offering tips, feedback, support, and links to personal galleries. The aforementioned communities are quite large and can help provide inspiration for nearly every artist.

In The Media
Graphics in the media has become such an integral part of everyday life that you can’t walk anywhere without being immersed in it. Computer graphics are present in just about every movie, whether it is photo manipulation or animation. In stores the signs are often created with digital art even if they appear very simplistic. Video games, books, CD covers, magazines, you name it, have probably been influenced by digital art in some form or another.

Despite the prevalence of computer graphics, due to its digital nature it is less common that it will be for sale in the form of a book or printed media. Thankfully, the CGtalk staff has solved the problem with a division called Ballistic Publishing (www.ballisticpublishing.com). Ballistic Publishing has many digital art books for sale, one of them being the award winning EXPOSE series which, according to Ballistic, features “the finest digital art in the known universe”. CGtalk isn’t the only community that sells printed digital art and related articles to the general public; Photoshop User has a self-titled magazine which contains artwork, tutorials, articles, and reviews. These books are not a necessity by any means, but can be a great resource when a computer isn’t readily accessible. While the Ballistic Publishing books can’t be found in a retail store, and Photoshop User can be found at a few bookstores. EXPOSE and Photoshop User are not the only CG books available. There are many other books out there that feature computer graphics, and many of them are likely equally as stunning and informative.

For The Beginner
Don’t be intimidated by seemingly complex layouts or designs. They may look pretty scary and overwhelming at first, but through perseverance and the desire to learn and experiment. Stick with it! For additional help, there are many tutorial-style books available for all of the major CG programs, not to mention tons of Internet resources. Just stop by at a local bookstore or do a quick Internet search to find the many, many resources at your disposal.

Always remember that even with expensive tools, no great artist started off being a master!

--Kompakt