Anyone use 3D programs to help draw?

JordanN · Mar 2013

So I find myself opening Wings3d from time to time to create mock concept environments I drew on paper. For example, say I'm drawing a room but I don't know how far I should put a chair next to a table. I would prop up some polygons and position them till I get a functioning idea of how I want my drawing to look like.

Also, would there be anything wrong with using this method in an actual work environment or do employers expect all artists to do all drawing without the help of a computer?

Irreal · Mar 2013

I know a lot of professinal 2d artists who use google sketchup to quickly block stuff in . No employer would have a problem with that.

elementrix · Mar 2013

Everything that matters is the end product, every means of getting there faster but achieving the same or better quality is always good.

However, you should still know how to do it right without the "help" just so you know what you are actually doing and know when to break the rules.

fearian · Mar 2013

As sketchup has made blocking out perspectives and shapes simple, more and more 2d artists are utilizing 3d tools. In the concept art world it's largely a big plus to have some 3d skills to help your 2d work. I've heard Feng Zhu say in his videos that he knows alot of creature artists who use zbrush intensively in their workflow.

So noone should ever have a problem with it, it's a great skill. The only drawback I can think of is if you go into a company that doesn't do 3d, they might not have software licences for high end packages.

Torch · Mar 2013

Yeah doesn't Ryan Hawkins use Max for helping out with concepting at points? Think I saw a tut involving that a while ago.

skylebones · Mar 2013

I use it all the time to get my perspective and camera angle setup just right.

Isaiah Sherman · Mar 2013

Use whatever you need to do to get the job done. A lot of pro concept artists are 50/50 2d and 3d.

CyberGameArts · Mar 2013

Actually the Senor Concept Artist at Epic Games, James Hawkins(i am not sure if he still is), uses 3d in order to make the final concept for production purposes. There is like a whole DVD on it.

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/534/gears-of-War-Creature-Design

Ryan Hawkins · Mar 2013

In VERTEX 2 Fightpunch has an article on using google sketch up to create his concepts. You are thinking of James Hawkins *Hawkprey* not me sorry.

tacit math · Mar 2013

MASTER > http://karanak.livejournal.com/

Ged · Mar 2013

my workmate uses sketchup to do our concepts as base models and then when he gets sign off on the silhouette he goes into more detail with a proper concept paintover in photoshop with layers of phototextures etc. its a really nice workflow and does still involve some traditional painting which is always good fun. Great workflow for hardsurface stuff and prototypeing shapes etc. probably not so useful for organics and characters.

Weirdboy · Mar 2013

^^^ Oh good, I thought I was the only one who did this.

Anyone use 3D programs to help draw?

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