Computer generated is something that you might not hear a lot in the modern gaming and entertainment industries. But CG and CG artists are absolutely integral to the entertainment we enjoy today whether in gaming or film or TV. We sat down with Andrei Pogreban, one of our terrific CG artists to dive into his world and the day-to-day of CG art creation in gaming.

What does a CG Artist do?

All the 3D models you see in gaming including characters, weapons, vehicles, are all created by people like Andrei. From start to finish, CG artists develop pieces and deliver them to the game development teams for use. If you’ve ever admired a character model or environment, they were modeled, textured, and positioned by CG artists.

Daily Responsibilities and Tasks

The responsibilities of the day depend on the tasks that the artists have to tackle. If we’re starting off with a 3D object for example, the artists will begin developing the object from low-poly to high-poly and then texturing. This process changes and adapts based on feedback from the art lead and any other team members involved. Just like all quality in gaming, iteration and constructive feedback are the key to high-quality delivery of 3D art and assets. 

Andrei is keen to impress the importance of adaptability and flexibility in the role. Game development is a huge, fluid, and constantly moving process where priorities can change. Timelines and workflows need to remain flexible to ensure that the project’s needs are met rather than staying to a strict and incorrect approach.

The Little Things as a CG Artist

When it comes to creating assets, they might appear similar in the skills and knowledge required. But Andrei assures that this is only at first glance. When it comes to developing CG art and assets, basic principles only take you so far. For characters, anatomy is an integral piece of knowledge. It might be easy to assume that we understand how our arms connect and move. 

The moment you begin creating a character and piecing it together, moving its limbs, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not so simple. The same goes for vehicles and weapons. While you don’t need to be an engineer or weaponsmith to create a 3D model of a vehicle or weapon, there are core elements that simply must exist and be visible for it to feel real. The placement of a weapon’s magazine for its ammo cycling is just as important as the way our socket joints move when we run. These are the little things that our CG artists learn and constantly grow their knowledge of. A working understanding of a processes core functions and principles can mean the difference between a 3D model feeling alive and real or fake and inauthentic.

The Tools of the Trade

CG and 3D artists must develop a proficiency with multiple tools and software. High-quality models and textures can be created using a plethora of incredible and diverse tools. Andrei has a few preferences, though he expects to learn and grow with new tools as they appear and grow more powerful.

Maya is his go to for modeling and rigging. He considers Maya a powerful and versatile tool, it’s utilized by many of our artists and 3D creators. ZBrush is definitely a current staple of the Magic Media art team as a sculpting tool. It allows Andrei and his peers to create detailed and realistic 3D models. Lastly, Substance Painter is used for texturing. Particularly, this tool can help deliver textures with high realism and detail.

Tips for CG Artists

When asked about tips for any CG artists or aspiring 3D artists and creators, Andrei mentioned one of the most important qualities is handling technical and creative problems. Particularly in viewing them as opportunities, not obstacles. When viewed as potential for growth and development as an artist, he believes it not only overcomes the challenge but also results in outstanding work. 

Whenever he’s stuck or struggling, Andrei likes to take a step back from the problem and just take a moment. Coming back with an adjusted perspective means he can tackle it and grow, rather than figure it out and leave it behind as a frustrated memory.

At Magic Media we are veterans of the film, tv, gaming and entertainment industries, offering comprehensive VFX services for in-game, cinematics, and more, as well as level design, game design, animation and full art services! Our main goal is to provide a one-stop solution for any project. We love nothing more than collaborating with creative minds, so drop us a line and let’s create magic!