Hey guys!

Another CG Talks podcast episode is online. Hope you'll enjoy listening.

S03 E13 | From MMORPG games player to AAA visual storyteller - interview with digital artist Mathias Zamecki

In this episode of our CG Talks Podcast, we are honored to interview Mathias Zamęcki, a high-end visuals creator for the gaming and animation industry.

Mathias has worked for numerous well-established brands including Blizzard, Digital Domain, Riot Games, Blur Studio, CD Project Red, and many more.

Despite his young age (Mathias has just entered his thirties), he has gathered massive experience in the CGI industry. Being a self-taught artist required a lot of drive, passion, and perseverance.

Mathias is very active on a lot of social media platforms so make sure you follow him to see what he’s up to (there’s always something inspiring going on) and to get valuable resources and tips that can help you on your digital artist’s journey:

Mathias Zamecki | Twitter, Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

Storyteller / Art Director / Illustrator

Linktree (linktr.ee)

Hi guys!

Andrew here from GarageFarm.NET Academy.

I would like to share with you the new CG Talks podcast episode.

How to get rich and famous making animation, or die trying - VIVIX Studio | S03E12

How can you build a company, find financing and make your big dream animated series project a reality?

Easy, peasy...

First take a part in a worldwide animated project like “Love, death + robots” that made a smashing success on Netflix. The next thing you do is find the perfect business match and team up with the best 3d artists you can find to establish a high-quality animation studio.

Sounds too cocky?

Our special guests in this episode have a lot to tell you on how it can be done (and actually is). Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Ilya Kuzyuk (CEO) and Ilya Mozzhukhin (Animation Director) from VIVIX studio.

They met together as a very unusual combination of artistic and business talents to break straight to the first class of ambitious animation projects. Their dream was clear - to create high-end animation for adults (a whole new generation raised on animation and video games which they are a part of as well)

But why make something great, just for a few people to watch. Their plan was to hit big time from the get-go.

Long animation projects are no peanuts and require a lot of money to make. Ilya Kuzyuk as the business brains of the team based on his rich entrepreneurial experience knew exactly how crucial it is to secure proper financing.

First, they did some contract gigs to raise some money. Achieving some success in that field they quickly realized that doing client jobs takes away their focus and effort from the big goal - which was their own original animation project called Artificial Detective. They decided to search for an investor willing to bet on the project. They knew no one would buy the idea without any substantial pre-production work that could pitch the project.

With the funding they had, they’ve prepared a lot of high-quality concept work (which they agreed to show on-screen to our beloved podcast audience)

In the podcast episode, we also discuss the pros and cons of using Unreal Engine in animation productions and the future of offline rendering. Digressing to topics like remote work and the pandemic, the crucial importance of storytelling or unusual merchandising ideas.

If you are interested in 3d animation, making business with art projects, or just a fan of sci-fi series on Netflix, Disney+, HBO, or other streaming platforms of your choice, you will find this episode insightful and interesting.

Enjoy!

Hey!

Check another CG Talks interview. This time we invited Michael Bridges from Canopy Games.

What is the best way to learn Blender and 3d graphics? Let's discover it in our latest CG Talks podcast episode, where we've hosted a special guest Michael Bridges - a Blender 3D tutor, indie game developer, founder of Canopy Games, and a co-host of the Blender Nest podcast.

This time we've discussed the experience of getting into 3d for the first time and various learning approaches. How to advance quickly and in a thorough manner? Is there a real value in taking structured paid courses? Is university any good for a 3d apprentice?

If you’re interested in 3d graphics, learning Blender whether for game development or any other use case, listen to this episode to discover the tutor's point of view and get some inspiration to choose your learning course - You'll find the conversation interesting with a big dose of positive energy and humor!

Have a listen and enjoy!

Hi guys

Andrew here from GarageFarm.NET Academy.

We have just released a new episode of our CG Talks podcast.

CG talks S03E09: Substance of texturing - interview with Amiel Goco

In this episode of CG Talks DJ and Andrew interview Amiel, our GarageFarm.NET team Substance specialist, and content creator.

We learn about the simplicity and also the huge power of Substance, and get valuable tips on how to get started and create CG materials like a pro.

On top of that, we learn why you shouldn't keep your works on your
HDD even if you think they are not good enough and why Amiel considers himself rather a technical guy than an artist.

Stay tuned for the next episode, we will have an interesting discussion with motion capture software developers.

Hey guys.

A new episode of CG Talks has just been released.

CG talks S03E08: Epic acquires Artstation

In this episode Marco, Amiel and DJ are discussing the ins and outs of latest Epic Games' acquisition of Artstation.

Is Epic the upcoming Big Brother of 3D Industry? What is their strategy? What's in it for a simple 3d artist? Should we rejoice or fear?
What happened to Star Wars when Disney bought the franchise. Is freebie giveaway enough to change people's habits?

These questions along with numerous digressions about a healthy lifestyle in a digital world, monopolies, imperial and metric systems, and many others fill this entertaining episode.

If you have suggestions about a topic you would like to hear about, or particular guests you find interesting, let us know in the comments. We will try to put together episodes based on your requests.
Have fun listening!

Andrew

• The next episode will be all about Substance software so stay tuned!

Hey guys!

Robby here from GarageFarm.NET Academy

CG talks S03E03: Fringes of CG

I’m sharing a handful of new episodes of our GarageFarm.NET Academy podcast – CG Talks.

In the far reaches of the CG animation world, beyond the reach of mainstream pop culture, dwells some pretty incredible and sometimes batshit crazy content. Join us as we descend into the surreal landscapes of out-of-the-box creators, and reexamine our perception of Art and Creativity!

Before listening I encourage you to check the resource links – there is a lot of weird stuff to watch.

CG talks S03E04: Spiders heavier than paint - interview with Vaughan Ling | Heavypoly

In this episode of CG Talks - the podcast where CG guys talk about CG, we are privileged to chat with Vaughan Ling - 3d artist, the teacher also known as Heavypoly. Vaughan, DJ, Marco, and Andrew discuss Vaughan’s recent app development endeavor with Heavypaint. An Interview with Vaughan could not go without mentioning his impressive input to Oscar-winning feature film animation “Into the Spiderverse” and other successful projects.

What open source tools like Godot Engine and Blender mean for his workflow? Can one take an unorthodox path in UI design and succeed? Is there life for an artist without undo? Answers to these questions might just be found in this exciting but also laid-back podcast episode!

CG talks S03E05: Your favourite part of the 3D workflow is...?

In this episode of CG Talks DJ and Marco discuss the stuff they enjoy most in the whole 3d workflow. While everyone seems to hate UV unwrapping, it is not that obvious what actually is the most fun and satisfying thing to do in the vast 3d graphics world.

Modeling, sculpting, scene layout or lighting, or just obsessively tweaking the render settings parameters - it is all up to one's tastes and preferences.

CG talks S03E06: Old and new generations in the 3d industry

In this special episode, DJ introduces Amiel - our young and talented content creator, who does Substance Suite-related tutorials for Garagefarm.NET Academy. With Marco and Andrew taking a short break (no worries they’ll be back soon) we dive into the personal experiences of older and younger generations in the CG industry.

How was it back then when books were still a viable option for learning 3d?
Are the times easier for young artists nowadays? Can plenty be a curse? Was PBR shading always a standard, and how to adopt the new when you are used to old ways of working? Are technical constraints good for creatives or is it better when things happen at a click of a mouse?

CG talks S03E07: Unreal Engine 5 Early Access | GarageFarm

In this episode, DJ, Andrew, and Amiel talk about Unreal Engine 5, what it means for the industry, and answer one of the biggest questions for 3D artists: Is Unreal Engine 5's real-time ray tracing going to replace traditional renderers?

If you have suggestions about a topic you would like to hear about, or particular guests you find interesting, let us know in the comments. We will try to put together episodes based on your requests.

Have fun listening!

Andrew

​
Hey guys.

In this tutorial, Andrew will show you how to compose cutout people to your Archviz renders. There are many tutorials out there about this topic but he does it a little different way. So if you are doing it for the first time you can learn how to do it quickly and correct and if you already mastered this skill you can borrow some techniques and tricks from him!

In the first part, you will see how to use placeholders and create correct shadows for people you insert into the render.

Contents:

00:00 - Introduction
00:38 - Inserting people the hard way
01:08 - Inserting people using a horizon line
02:24 - Inserting people using a horizon line - common problems
03:18 - The easy method - rendering placeholders
03:37 - Rendering the layer with placeholders
04:19 - Adding shadows layer to composition in Photoshop
04:30 - Inserting people into the render
04:51 - Adding shadows
04:13 - Matching the color of the shadows
07:20 - Modifications of shadows shapes and color

I hope you will find it useful.

​

Hey guys!

We have just finished the second season of our podcast. The third season is coming – we will do more interviews with CG artists and plan to talk with software developers as well.

I encourage you to check the episodes from last year, especially the ones with our guests - Sayan Mondal and Erin Woodford.

CG talks S02E06: Why and how to optimize your scenes?

In this episode, Andrew, DJ, and Marco talk about how optimizing your 3d scene can save your sanity, what aspects of your project could be adding unnecessary render time what you can do to render your scenes faster on a render farm even without much technical rendering knowledge!

CG talks S02E07: A living with Blender - interview with Sayan Mondal

In this episode we introduce an exclusive interview with Sayan Mondal - founder of blueinversion.com
The interview includes Sayan's origin story and how he decided to pursue his own path as an artist and entrepreneur instead of continuing a regular education curriculum. What led him to dive deep into procedural shaders in Blender. We talk about constant learning and improvement as well as art and important inspirations and role models. The conversation develops into sharing thoughts about the modern CG industry, young and older CG artists, and their pros and cons. Along the way, we touch upon topics like A.I. Crypto Art, Inktober, November, and NPR rendering.

CG talks S02E09: Nodevember procedural magic with Erindale.xyz

In this episode of CG Talks, Marco, DJ and Michal sit down with Erin Woodford of Erindale fame. Erin is an artist, designer and entrepreneur specializing in creating procedural objects and surfaces in Blender. We learn about his discovery of procedural design and the experience he's had on the journey so far.

Erin also demystifies proceduralism and explains how despite the nuances in this workflow calling for a less intuitive or conventionally artistic mindset, it isn't something reserved for people with coding experience or mathematical thinkers.

If you've been curious but apprehensive about learning proceduralism, this episode is for you. Procedural workflows are certainly key for the future of CG so if you want to jump on the bandwagon, it's about time (and lots of fun anyway)! This might just be the thing that motivates you into participating in next year's Nodevember!

CG talks S02E11: What is shading and how to nail it?

In this episode, DJ, Andrew and Marco talk about shading - what it means for 3d artists, and a few key considerations to take when working!

I hope you will find them interesting.

​Hey guys.

Andrew here from GarageFarm.NET's Academy.

Some time ago I recorded a tutorial about optimizing buckets settings and dealing with 'frozen bucket' issue. It is quite a common issue and I've seen it many many times working as a cloud render farm support team member.

The tutorials are based on the V-Ray documentation, my tests and everything I could find on forums. I wish I had the knowledge of V-Ray developers but I did what I could to gather all the info that's out there. I work in 3ds Max but V-Ray options are similar in all DCCs so I think you can apply it to Sketchup as well.

How to optimize buckets in V-Ray part 1 - Option analysis

In this tutorial, you will learn how to optimize bucket settings in V-Ray. The tutorial tackles the basics of technical reasons behind the performance of various bucket settings and gives tips on how to set your scene for cloud rendering - so you can save your time and money.

We tested various types of scenes with different bucket settings like sizes, and ratios to check which ones are most RAM and rendering speed efficient. We also checked rendering sequences for their performance and perks.

How to optimize buckets in V-Ray part 2 - Troubleshooting hanging buckets

In this tutorial, we talk about the issue of 'hanging buckets' which sometimes happen in V-Ray and other engines using bucket image sampler. This problem can cause long render times which can cost you missed deadlines or high cost of rendering on cloud farms.

You will see what are typical reasons for such a situation and how to easily troubleshoot and optimize scenes with problems of stubborn buckets rendering too long.

I hope you will find them useful.

Hi guys!

Rob here from GarageFarm.NET

Sometimes it happens that you render your animation and the frames naming doesn't match your postproduction pipeline, or you need to send your files to somebody and there are some requirements when it comes to naming.

In this case, you need to rename your frames, but of course, you are not going to do it frame after frame. In simplest situations, Total Commander renaming tool is enough but it doesn't cover all possible situations.

So I decided to make two tutorials, one for Mac with vRenamer and second for Windows with Rename Master which show how batch to rename frames AND meet the following requirements:

• It's possible to batch-rename all frames names and keep the render passes names\suffixes intact

• It can batch-renumber frames accordingly for every render pass

• Works on subfolders (often used by Maya and Modo users for render passes)

• It's free

How to batch rename frames in Mac with vRenamer

How to batch rename frames in Windows with Rename Master

I hope you will find this tutorial useful

Hi guys!

We've had already released the first episodes of the second season of CG Talks - a podcast where three CG guys talk about CG.

We took care of overall better technical quality and found new interesting topics to talk about.

You can also find us on these platforms - https://garagefarm.net/podcast

Here are the episodes:
links to episodes on Youtube

CG talks S02E01: DOES SIZE REALLY MATTER? Maps, and frames- when and when not to go big

There's a lot of buzz about 4k frames or higher as a future standard for film. How might that affect the 3d animation industry, and in what other ways do hi-res images play a part in the CG workflow? In this episode, DJ Andrew and Marco look into it!

https://youtu.be/UAvtzKjIA7E?list=PLILWDkTQTM88prMwtxQvdFL4GGu7LW88 B

CG talks S02E02: Epic Games battle is epic

In this podcast, Dj and Andrew discuss their thoughts and feelings on the current legal struggle between Epic Games and Apple, and how that impacts the CG industries, tools, and creators!

https://youtu.be/uQZc7jleyPQ?list=PLILWDkTQTM88prMwtxQvdFL4GGu7LW88 B

CG talks S02E03: Are there really rules in Art?

In this episode, Andrew, Marco, and DJ go over the timeless practices in art, the outlook on these practices today, and how our digital world has affected our perspectives on what Art is in the first place!

CG talks S02E04: What is the best approach to modeling?

In this episode, Andrew, DJ, and Marco touch on the different aspects of modeling, what to look out for, when some rules can be broken and what lies on the horizon for 3d modeling in general.

Stay tuned for more!

Hi guys!
We've just finished the first season ofCG Talks - a podcast where three CG guys talk about CG. Here are the episodes. I hope you will find topics which are interesting to you.

Season 2 is in progress and the technical quality is going to be better - we learn on the way.

Stay tuned for more!
If you prefer to listen to us on podcast platforms - https://garagefarm.net/podcast

Here are links to the episodes :

CG talks - ep. 5: Working with Corona, and we don’t mean the renderer

In this very casual Podcast, Tom, DJ and Marco sit down and reflect on what’s in the air these days, how it affects the 3d industry, our personal lives and the world at large.

CG talks - ep. 6: Assing around about assets and other things

The future that awaits us after the pandemic, how assets are essential to an efficient 3d workflow. random musings and overall chill convos with DJ, Andrew and Marco.

CG talks - ep.7: Kitbashing your real and unreal 3d future

In this episode DJ Andrew and Marco talk about kitbashing and how it translates to 3d, the amazing developments of the unreal engine and a myriad of other things!

CG talks - ep.8: Digging deeper into deep fakes and below

The rising power of ai in CG and a healthy dose of digression make up this episode. Listen in for Dj, Andrew and Marco’s thoughts on the implications of artificial intelligence in the entertainment and design industries, as well as in politics and the world at large!

CG talks - ep.9: GPU vs CPU final Lord Of The Ring style battle

CPU or GPU? Traditional Rendering or realtime? Does one or the other act as the only choice stepping forward into the future? Find out as DJ, Andrew and Marco go over both processors, how they help us in our projects, and why the answer isn’t as black or white as some may think!

CG talks - ep.10: Smart technology, the future, and you

From being schooled in a game of GO to busting out 15th-century portraiture, it seems the machines are besting us at every turn or is it simply a matter of perspective? Join Marco Andrew and DJ as they discuss the rise of computer intelligence and the stakes therein!

https://youtu.be/XlOt2YVyJuA?list=PLILWDkTQTM88prMwtxQvdFL4GGu7LW88 B

CG talks - ep.11: Photorealism and beyond
In this episode, DJ, Andrew and Marco revisit the idea of Photorealism in CG - tracing the origin of the practice, distinguishing it from realism, discussing it’s value in the industry and its place in the practice of art!

https://youtu.be/fTsdt8QTnlY?list=PLILWDkTQTM88prMwtxQvdFL4GGu7LW88 B

CG talks - ep.12: Photorealism and beyond part 2

In this second part of the discussion on Photorealism, DJ Marco and Andrew go over some of the more grounded aspects of achieving photorealism in 3d rendering. What are the key elements to achieve photorealism in CGI ? Is there a secret recipe for good looking images? Guys discuss their experiences and give tips on how to use photography and cinematography based concepts in your daily 3d artist’s life.

]https://youtu.be/QCPxWguwP7w?list=PLILWDkTQTM88prMwtxQvdFL4GGu7LW88 B

I hope you will enjoy.

Hi guys!

Rob from GarageFarm.NET here

I would like to invite you to an upcoming event.

Everything you want to know about cloud farms (but you are afraid to ask) - A free webinar by GarageFarm.NET

• Do you struggle with long render times, but are worried about using online render farms?
• Do your deadlines bite at your heels like unrelenting feral dogs from the very bowels of the abyss?
• Are you afraid of the learning curve, cost, or unpredictability of sending off projects to a render farm service?

If the answer is yes to any one of these questions, breathe easy!

During the 1 hour presentation:

• We will share with you our knowledge and tips on how to use rendering farms.
• Professional render wranglers will answer all your questions live.
• We will briefly present the solutions offered by GarageFarm.NET.

You will learn:

• What is an online render farm?
• What are the different models of online rendering farms? What are their pros and cons?
• What are the steps of the rendering process on the farm?
• What are the common problems in using a third-party render farm and how to avoid them?

Sign up for the webinar and learn everything you wanted to know about cloud render farms! - Sign up here

The livestream is going to be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 4PM (UTC+0)

See you there guys!

Hi guys.

**There is a new podcast – CG Talks.**It tackles various topics related to CG but in a light manner, so you can listen in leisure time or as a background for your daily tasks.

If you prefer to listen to it on podcast platforms, it’s here:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fQDKZvGR9NQz9QTFQlE6S
• iTunes:https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/cg-talks/id1494148854
• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/cg-talks
• Radiopublic: https://radiopublic.com/cg-talks-GMr9qQ
• Google podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hcGkucG9kY2FjaGUubmV0L3Nob3dzLzMwYjY1OTQwLTg0NmUtNDgyNC1iMDc0LTVjMDU0NWYyNzA1OC9mZWVk
• Pocket Casts https://pca.st/824yql5p

Here are links to the episodes recorded so far:

CG talks - ep.1: Making it in archviz for the uninitiated

In the very first of our podcasts, we discuss the ever-growing Archviz industry, what our guests have experienced being part of that industry, where it's going and what new-bloods can do to stand out in the massive sea of capable designers offering their services online.

CG talks - ep. 2: Putting Your Best Foot Forward

In this episode, we tackle common pitfalls in creating an online portfolio, and effective strategies in making your body of work leave a strong impression for your ideal clientele.

CG talks - ep.3: The Enigma of Style - What is it, and how can I get one?

Style is the elusive x-factor that every artist hopes to acquire. It trumps technical skill (to an extent) and can skyrocket one into a celebrity! But developing a style isn't straightforward, and can be as elusive as that dream freelance gig you've been hoping for. In this episode, we try to break down what style is and how to attain it naturally.

CG talks - ep. 4: Dealing with the 3d Learning Curve

While 3d promises an almost boundless ability to create absolutely anything, we often overlook how time-consuming and difficult it can be to create even simpler things sometimes. Marco DJ and Andrew discuss their experiences learning 3d, what learning 3d is like today and what to keep in mind as you continue on your journey to mastering this amazing and complex medium.

The fifth episode is cooking and we talk there about how to take advantage of the tough times we have now, how to rediscover your passion which originally drove you to CG, and is there a conspiracy of left-handed people?

Great work.

A quick fix would be to convert the texture to JPG. It doesn't have an Alpha channel.

I would rather play with IOR of the glass material. In theory for glass, it should be 1.33, but it doesn't always work the way it should so playing with the setting until it looks fine is necessary.

Also, I have the impression that those bulbs are just solid glass balls, not models with thin double\sided walls and "air" inside. I'm not sure if this is the cause or the effect though

The trees rendered very nicely. The lighting works perfectly. I'm not sure about grass, I wasn't able to look closer at it because of the image resolution.

Hi guys!

I'm with a team building an asset library app. I know there are many asset providers out there already but I think there's room for a better product. For instance, many of them don't have an app/plugin that does the tedious work of downloading and creating materials. Not to mention, assets quality isn't always what it should be.

We're in the early stages of our service. We are looking to learn more about how we can help architectural visualizers beat those crazy deadlines, and more specifically, we'd like to learn about assets. As an architectural visualizer freelancing or working at a studio, you probably purchase assets to populate scenes.

What sort of assets do you guys often find yourselves in need of?

What sort of assets do you most often purchase?

Some examples: very specific harder to find and unique assets, designer items, scene fillers, assets that are harder to model, scanned organic assets, materials etc.

I'm very curious about your opinions.

I understand that you don't want to get sharp shadows from the objects which are casting them.

Basically, you need to simulate the real lighting situation with the lighting tools you have.

If you want an atmosphere of a hazy overcast day, don't use sharp directional Sunlight, or just make sure that it is a little percent of the overall lighting. For light falling to the room from outside, use Dome instead, preferably with some HDRI sky map.

You can try to put a square light outside the window as well, but then make it bigger and place it in some distance. But dome light is the best shot. You can also use color in environment settings of older versions of V-Ray ( I don't know if they are still present in render settings ), but they will give you lower quality shadows because they use GI to be calculated.

This way you will get a soft key light\shadows and you can add some artificial lighting inside, with lower temperature and less intensity.