Print Portfolio Dos and Don'ts
polycounter lvl 9
UPDATE!
After having actually gone to GDC. I can near fact-fully insist that a print portfolio is not only a great idea, It's damn near expected.
I heard a complaint to almost every person (though there were few) who tried showing thier work on the small screen of a phone or even psp.
However, phones/psps worked excellent at parties and social events.
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(if there is a more appropriate place for this thread, please move)
With GDC just around the corner, I thought it would be good to have a public suggestion thread for what to, and what not to put in a *print* portfolio.
I'll start with a few questions and we'll see where feedback goes from there:
If showing wireframes, is it still necessary/a good idea to post tri-counts? ( seems to me that topology should speak for itself in its necessity or lack-there-of... ?
If following a good amount of fully finished work, is it appropriate or acceptable to have a page showing a solid work in progress (ie: a finished high poly model that is lit, but not textured) for the sake of showing work-process?
As an environment artist, how important is it to show texture sheets? Should they be reserved for a select few items to demonstrate texturing skill, or do they really need to be attached to every asset breakdown?
After having actually gone to GDC. I can near fact-fully insist that a print portfolio is not only a great idea, It's damn near expected.
I heard a complaint to almost every person (though there were few) who tried showing thier work on the small screen of a phone or even psp.
However, phones/psps worked excellent at parties and social events.
--
(if there is a more appropriate place for this thread, please move)
With GDC just around the corner, I thought it would be good to have a public suggestion thread for what to, and what not to put in a *print* portfolio.
I'll start with a few questions and we'll see where feedback goes from there:
If showing wireframes, is it still necessary/a good idea to post tri-counts? ( seems to me that topology should speak for itself in its necessity or lack-there-of... ?
If following a good amount of fully finished work, is it appropriate or acceptable to have a page showing a solid work in progress (ie: a finished high poly model that is lit, but not textured) for the sake of showing work-process?
As an environment artist, how important is it to show texture sheets? Should they be reserved for a select few items to demonstrate texturing skill, or do they really need to be attached to every asset breakdown?
Replies
However it can be nice to see untextured models to be better able to judge your sense for forms and volumes - especially if your final shot doesn't fully show this due to lighting / textures / camera angle / etc
You can overlay this with a wire so people get an idea about your ability to efficiently use geo and how neat you're able to model.
personally I wouldn't attach a texture sheet to EVERY asset, because environments tend to end up with lots of textures - especially if you use tiling. Just add about 2 of the very very best texture pages you got to a select object.
Or just look around at polycount for inspiration. There's many talented enviro artists here with great online folios.
In addition to the printed stuff you may hand out, have exactly the same version available for online viewing - either as website or as PDF booklet.
Avoid loose pages. Don't spend too much on printing / binding if you plan to hand out print folios - you want to make a good impression but you don't wanna hurt yourself by spending too much in the process.
With that in mind, it's usually best to follow web portfolio standards.
With GDC just around the corner, I think we should keep this thread going for up-and-commers to reference.
So texture sheets will be reserved for select work.
What about tri-counts? Should they be listed for all assets, or just a select few, or not at all? Do employers care more about seeing good use of polys via wireframe then numbers?
If you want my advice though, GET IT MADE NOW! If you go to kinkos or anywhere for that matter be prepared to fight a battle to get your prints to look like they do on screen. I speant 6 hours fighting with kinkos printer and tweaking my images so that they'd print off 90% accurately.
If you go the day of, or even the day before hand you might screw yourself over with some bad prints, and then there is no point in even showing it off.
Do = Bring a laptop/iphone/buisness card with portfolio website.
I plan to have business cards with a website available, but I've been told by several people that its far more irritating for employers when you're fiddling around with a laptop, or sticking the minuscule screen of an iPhone (...iPhone...lol) in their nose.
Ironically enough, your Stefan is going to be reviewing the portfolios (print) of a few people I know, possibly including myself.
Having read your reply, I'm now a tad uneasy.
Why exactly do you not recommend a print portfolio?
If you hand them a demo reel DvD they can't play it there, so either a laptop with your images or print portfolio will suffice. I doubt the will be picky as long as the work is good you're good.
I think pior mentioned he did this before? Gives people in the room stuff to look at, takes your eyes off of you and puts it more on your work for the on-site interviews.
I have one on-site interview coming up for sure...and maybe a second as well if things go well. Any more advice would be cool.
I heard a complaint to almost every person (though there were few) who tried showing thier work on the small screen of a phone or even psp.
However, phones/psps worked excellent at parties and social events.
Actually, I brought it to my last job interview, even though it is available online.
Coincidentally, their internet sucked (still does
And at GDC, you would have to be crazy not to. Even though dumping tons of money into getting nice prints/covers/etc for your portfolio gets expensive..its worth it.