3D And The Computer as a Fantasy Artist's Tool
By Ken Young
The chapters within will focus on using 3D computer programs, paint and photo programs, and specific computer applications to create art, namely in a fantasy style. The computer often isn't considered a true artist's tool, and 3D is even further away from this notion, particularly in the realm of fantasy art. Hopefully these barriers will soon enough be broken down and computer designed art viewed upon with as much awe and appreciation as 'traditional' works. With computer artists being recognised for their equal talents to artists of other mediums.
To effectively use the computer to produce art is a defined skill as with any other technique or medium. Artistic flare is still necessary, perhaps more so than technical knowledge of the programs you use, and composing the image need not rest with simply the computer. Your traditional artistic skills can be called upon in many areas to enhance your computer work.
I will discuss how to make the most of what you have, what can be done with a single program, how to achieve results mixing programs and incorporating hand drawn designs and images, as well as photos and imported objects found on the internet, or other sources.
Let it be known though that I am no authority on these programs, nor a great talent with them. My aim is to express to many the uses of these mediums within fantasy art, and help guide you through the basic processes to develop your own style. I thoroughly endorse originality in this field; it is very easy to search the internet for objects that can become centre-pieces of an image. By all means, use these objects, that's what they were made for, but for the best images you will have as the main focus a totally original design or object, this is how to advance in this area and set your work apart from the rest. Most free objects are easily recognisable by the 3D user community.
A general tip for design is to disguise your work as Bryce rendered or 3D Studio rendered or Photoshop drawn. Professionals avoid easily recognised filters, styles or programs for the reason of originality. If the viewer says 'how did you do that?' and is Bryce/Photoshop (etc) literate, then you are doing very well!
Congratulations! By viewing this topic, you've proven you have the first and most important tool needed for computer designed art; the computer.
The more powerful the computer you have, the better off you will be.
'But, I don't have any drawing programs on my computer!'. If this is the case, it is easily remedied. From the internet many freeware or shareware paint and raytracing programs can be found. One of these that will be discussed in following chapters will be Paint Shop Pro.
Tools discussed and expanded on by myself will be.
Metacreation's Bryce (4 will be used, but for earlier version most techniques will apply)
Metacreation's Poser (Again version 4 will be used)
Adobe Photoshop 4
Paint Shop Pro 5
Chapters will be set out explaining the use of programs as a stand alone tool, and what can be achieved within them, then will expand on to how these programs can be integrated. Now, let's get to work!
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