Using stuff from tutorials in your portfolio
polycounter lvl 11
Hi polycounters!
Whats the general view on using stuff from tutorials in your portfolio?
E.g following a tutorial for a higpoly model then making your own lowpoly and textures.
Of course stating that the hp is from a tutorial and which one etc.
I know its always better to come up with everything by yourself but do you guys think this is ok?
Whats the general view on using stuff from tutorials in your portfolio?
E.g following a tutorial for a higpoly model then making your own lowpoly and textures.
Of course stating that the hp is from a tutorial and which one etc.
I know its always better to come up with everything by yourself but do you guys think this is ok?
Replies
It isnt a true representation of your skill. Put it this way, if you rock up and cant actually do the job without a tutorial, well you are boned then arent you.
Canadian Ink pretty much nailed it. Everyone has seen the major tutorials and hundreds models based off them, I've seen this modeled over a dozen times.
http://www.alex-legg.co.uk/environments/
http://www.game-artist.net/forums/work-progress/6771-old-pillar-prop.html
http://scribble-di-gook.com/images/sculpt.html
http://www.isaacjohnson3d.com/oldpillar.html
http://michaelmillanart.com/Eat3DPillarTutorial.html
Do a tutorials, and then do something original but similar after that. You'll learn better that way.
If you are happy with the model just put it up on the folio...
Now that you've done it however, see if you can make other props, scenes, characters, etc using the knowledge you've learned. Just make sure it's something different and not something that fits into the same category, say, another damn pillar.
^^^THIS^^^
In the end, it doesn't matter whether or not you really like, it's sending a negative message of novice-ness to the person viewing your portfolio. Also, if you did the tutorial very well, I'm sure you can easily apply the theories you've learned (which is the point of the tut) into other works!
Its probably the first time you've done that particular thing and the first time people do anything it normally comes out looking like ass. Even if it doesn't you will do it faster and better the next time. So why not do it again but this time do something different and original?
It wouldn't be "practice" if you only did it once...
You messed up here. It should be.
If you were a hireing manager would YOU want someone whos only work is copied from a tutorial?
As someone who is doing the hiring for a company you would hope they were smart enough to know that you, nor anyone can know everything and using tutorials to constantly learn and improve is an invaluable asset in an employee compared to someone who gets the job and dosnt improve on there own at all.
This dosnt mean showing the tutorial work you did in your folio, but following them, learning the information from different peoples work flows/techniques is a great thing.
Exactly. Plus how often is your first attempt at something any good? A tutorial is for showing you how the process works. It needs to be repeated 10 more times before you're going to be starting to come into your own, skill-wise.
I think as a blanket rule, no portfolio should have school assignments or tutorials in it. Everything should be 100% original and created on your own, preferably as the 5th or more asset of that type you've made in your 3d life.
Plus, it speaks to laziness. If you can't go and make a 2nd version of something you tried a tutorial of, how are you going to work on a 3 year title where you have to do hundreds of similar items.
I just want to see how they do it, isnt that the idea behind these dvd´s?
damn... there's way too many wasted triangles in ALL of those pillars.
Nothing that is a first try with a new technique should be in your portfolio, regardless of any other issues to do with using tutorial work.
I originally wrote a longer post explaining that, but I didn't think it made the point as well. I don't think the concern is about not learning, but in showing that your portfolio has moved past what you've just learned. Does that make sense?
Basically, if a guy is showing me great work that's taken directly from a bunch of tutorials, the only thing I know for sure is that he's great at following those tutorials. I'd want to see those skills he's learned using original work, so I know he's capable of doing great work without help.
Using Riki's Old Damaged Pillar as an example, it's basic content produced at a high level. I'd expect every environment artist worth his salt can produce that kind of content without having to refer to an instructional DVD. But including that work in your portfolio doesn't tell me you've learned how to apply those skills on your own.
There isn't always a set design or chunk of concept art for every little prop. Just following a tutorial tells me nothing about your ability to be creative and come up with interesting props that fit whatever environment.
Portfolio fatigue. "Oh come on, another damaged pillar? At least this one doesn't look like a meat log"
Could be smoking something here, but just try to make it look as if it's not a tutorial. Or change it up and make it a jersey barrier seen tons of those too..
consider ur website a gallery showing stuff u do. fuck portfolios. if ur work is good enuf ull get hired for it. if not - u wont. there's no point in hiding ur true ability.
I'm pretty sure a gallery of images to show in the hopes of getting work, is exactly what a portfolio is. Perhaps my details are sketchy.
I can't tell you how many people I've seen post images from the eat3D tutorials or the Joan of Arc for character modeling. Every time I see one of these creep into the forums I cringe unless it is literally someone just starting out. And that being said, even if you are just starting, don't throw one of these into your website.
We've all seen these which makes me think that the people in charge of hiring have seen even more. Take these tutorials and make awesome art that it original and sets you apart from the hundreds of other people vying for the same job.
You tune yourself to do two things :
To catch that one single standout
And - and this is the relevant one here - to pretty much automatically throw out dozens. You develop a mental list of criteria for the bin, and it can take mere seconds for it to kick in.
I don't think the topic under discussion is a major-major feature of this list - there are much worse, oh dear god there are worse - but its on it.
No, the 'statement' you make is most definitely NOT bullshit. Pull out the 'your portfolio repels jobs' thread. Not bullshit.
if all u have to offer is tutorial stuff, then u know u'r in tutorial learning phase, what's the point of hiding it? u shouldnt even consider having a portfolio, that's just pretence. when u'r work is good enuf and ppl want to pay u for it, then the "amateur" gallery naturally turns into a "portfolio". u dont make a statement "im a pro" and act like one. u become one.
I agree with what all of you guys say, putting something on your site thats basically is just a 3dmodel made by following a step by step vid isnt really showing your skills.
But I think it might be ok sometimes, if you folow a tutorial to create just a 3d model and then make your own lowpoly and textures it shows that you can optimize meshes for use in-game and create textures.
I´ve seen people using the the sdk goblin head to show of their textures, isnt this pretty much the same?
@Jeremy I actually made a jersey barrier after watching Rikis pillar dvd
For me personally, I have a setup on my site specifically for WIP images for the forums. There's a ton of stuff I've made in the past that you would never see "featured." As a general rule I don't put something on my main site unless it is completed. I guess it just comes down to what you're comfortable with and what you want your site to focus on telling about you.
I ask myself the same question every time I see those pillars or a thread talking about them. It makes no sense to me. There's nothing gained from making it exactly the same as opposed to somewhat unique. It's puzzling.
Anyone who has done it want to weigh in on why you did the exact pillar from the video or other tutorial model?
Yeah, I don't know why people do this. Comes across as a lack of imagination. If I see one more Ak reproduced from racers tut...:poly122:
I think its kinda iffy to show stuff completed from a tutorial when you are a modeller/rigger, but I think it's OK for animation. Chances are you picked up some invaluable advice from an animation vet in the process, so I think its ok in that instance.
I think you can apply the same kind of mentality with making 3d as well, the process of completing the tutorial "correctly" can give a sense of achievement.
Sure, making something original gives a greater sense of achievement but that's not the point
Anyone posting tutorial made stuff in their portfolio is showing that they DO NOT ENJOY the 3d process, because if they did, they would have made at least 10 more better objects since the tutorial that would then be online.
Having a tutorial object points to one or more of the following:
1. doing the least you have to do (why didn't you do the process again after with something new and "yours)
2. lack of creativity (couldn't you follow the tutorial but make your own asset?)
3. no deeper thinking skills. (not thinking about how many times someone at a company has seen the same object, what it says about you, etc)
There are literally zero pros to having tutorial objects in your portfolio, none. If you are asking how many objects or characters you should have, etc, these are just the wrong questions, because it shows you think there is some kind of formula that can be followed that will result in a job. Like shotgun said, if this is your actual passion, you'll be making so much stuff you'll need to chop OUT stuff from your portfolio, and first time objects made following a tutorial will be the first you throw away. I know the few times I followed a tutorial when I first was learning 3d programs, I would have never dreamed of showing anyone, because I knew they were throw away exercises, and that by having every step laid out for me, there really wasn't anything of my own to even show someone else, anything they liked was more because of the tutorial writer than myself.
Like for instance the Eat 3d Unreal kit one where the dude shows you how to set up that church or whatever I didn't even open the scene files I just watched what he did. I made a few notes and wrote down some of the hints and tips and tried it on something that I made.
Or with the Racer445 tut I didn't make the AK alongside him I just watched what he did, reflected on the methods he used and then assimilated as much as I wanted to into my own arsenal.
I've got quite a few notebooks with different tips and tricks for different programs I messed with it's just a pity the quality of my art hasn't followed suit hehehhe but that's just me I think the method is sound though.
Hmm that's a great tip. Do this people. And I agree with you Amotaf, dunno if I've ever opened source files on any of the DVD's I've got...
After reading the entire thread and based on my personal opinion.
You shouldnt use the tutorials that you have done for your portfolio.
Reason being; by doing that you are simply calling someone elses work as yours and attempting to earn a credit for it. Tutorials are just walk-throughs that helps you firmly understand the concept of the subject.
What you can do is practice and learn how to use the contents the tutorial teach, and form your own NOT SO RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT OF THE TUTORIAL. By doing that you can do a comparison to find your mistakes and be off track from the tutorials and start your own thing to create your portfolio.
Also, take notes while you learn from the tutorials or follow up on the book tutorials, helps you remember some what how it was done, so that when you are following up with the tutorial it wouldnt be hard for you to do so, instead it would give you a firm understanding of it.
EDIT: Assuming that you are a newbie to this realm, I strongly suggest you should start with the essentials of the 3d program that you wish to work with.
Learn to take notes,
Practice,
Practice,
learn some moar,
practice.
Once you are comfy with your doings, start sketching roughly and modeling them.
EDIT2: If you wish to ask such questions pm someone with alot experience and know enough to answer you correctly.
EDIT3: Those who think that the tutorial contents are legit for the portfolio, please kindly fuck off. They wouldnt accept that unless they are in the uber dier need for a 3d artist.
kthxbie:)