Jobs: Paint/Composite Artist at Stereo D

StereoDPosition: Paint/Composite Artist

About this position:

As part of our Finaling Department, the Paint/Composite Artist is responsible for delivering the final shots after stereo conversion. Along with the essential Clean Plate and Paint skills, an eye for detail is a must. Quality Control is the name of the game!

Working with a team, including a lead artist and supervisors, the Paint/Compositing Artist must creatively interpret and apply artistic concepts. We’re looking for individuals with a good “stereo eye,” a strong understanding of 3-dimensional space (be it from previous stereo experience or from an artistic background), a working knowledge of Nuke/ After Effects & Photoshop, and a healthy dose of team spirit. Taking direction/critiques, interpreting notes and learning/applying new skills are key parts of everyday life in our studio..

Requirements & Preferences:

  • Knowledge and Experience with software packages such as Nuke, After Effects & Photoshop – Required
  • Proficiency in Compositing & Clean Plate Preparation – Required
  • Knowledge and Experience with Widows (PC) Production Environment – Required
  • Knowledge of Practical Filmmaking Techniques – Required
  • Excellent Artistic Ability/Aptitude – Required
  • Knowledge of Stereo-related Terminology – Preferred (but we’ll teach you OUR lingo!)
  • Previous Professional Experience in Stereoscopy – Preferred
  • Accredited Post-Secondary Degree or Related Coursework – Preferred

We’re looking for the best in the business. If this sounds like you, please apply!

About Stereo D

Stereo D is the recognized leader in high-quality conversions of 2D theatrical content into stereoscopic 3D imagery. Formed in 2009 and acquired by Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. in 2011, the company works with major motion picture studios, directors, cinematographers, and VFX supervisors to bring their vision of 3D storytelling to the screen. Stereo D has completed work for such films as GODZILLA, CAPTAIN AMERICA, NEED FOR SPEED, PACIFIC RIM, THE AVENGERS, JURASSIC PARK and TITANIC in 3D to name a few

 

Stereo D is a business run by filmmakers, valuing artistic excellence and speaking the language of film. Our production teams and artists are among the best in the business, driven by an innate passion for all things film. Our unique artist-centric environment enables our people the creative freedom to conceptually support the creative visions of directors, delivering the finest, most dynamic 3D imagery in entertainment.

Deluxe Entertainment Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply via: http://stereod.catsone.com/careers/index.php?m=portal&a=details&jobOrderID=4466231

Jobs: Depth Artist at Stereo D

StereoD

Position: Depth Artist

About this position:

As a company focused on stereoscopic conversion, the 3D Depth Artist is at the center of it all. Working with a team, including a lead artist and supervisors, the Depth Artist must creatively interpret and apply stereo concepts. We’re looking for individuals with a good “stereo eye,” a strong understanding of 3-dimensional space (be it from previous stereo experience or from an artistic background), a working knowledge of Nuke, and a healthy dose of team spirit. Taking direction/critiques, interpreting notes and learning/applying new skills are key parts of everyday life in our studio.

Requirements & Preferences:

  • Knowledge and Experience with Nuke – Required
  • Knowledge and Experience with Windows (PC) Production Environment – Required
  • Knowledge of Practical Filmmaking Techniques – Required
  • Excellent Artistic Ability/Aptitude – Required
  • Knowledge of Stereo-related Terminology – Preferred (but we’ll teach you OUR lingo!)
  • Previous Professional Experience in Stereoscopy or VFX – Preferred
  • Accredited Post-Secondary Degree or Related Coursework – Preferred

We’re looking for the best in the business. If this sounds like you, please apply!

About Stereo D

Stereo D is the recognized leader in high-quality conversions of 2D theatrical content into stereoscopic 3D imagery. Formed in 2009 and acquired by Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. in 2011, the company works with major motion picture studios, directors, cinematographers, and VFX supervisors to bring their vision of 3D storytelling to the screen. Stereo D has completed work for such films as GODZILLA, CAPTAIN AMERICA, NEED FOR SPEED, PACIFIC RIM, THE AVENGERS, JURASSIC PARK and TITANIC in 3D to name a few.  The company also provides end-to-end 3D production services on feature films, television productions and commercials.

Stereo D is a business run by filmmakers, valuing artistic excellence and speaking the language of film. Our production teams and artists are among the best in the business, driven by an innate passion for all things film. Our unique artist-centric environment enables our people the creative freedom to conceptually support the creative visions of directors, delivering the finest, most dynamic 3D imagery in entertainment.

Deluxe Entertainment Services Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply via: http://stereod.catsone.com/careers/index.php?m=portal&a=details&jobOrderID=4466234

 

Andrew Pickin

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Andrew Pickin. Co-owner of TTA studios. Animator and Artist.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Head of engineering and Mechanics at Tenpin Bowling (not quite crazy but a far stretch from animating).

What are some of your favourite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’m from a fine art background, so some of my favourite work is actually children’s illustration, although one of my favourite projects so far was working on a music video for the band OBEY: it was just complete artistic license. The more creative the project the better; it doesn’t have to be big, just interesting.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m originally from Staffordshire (the creative county) in the UK, though I now Continue reading

News: Cintiq Alternative: Ugee 19 Inches Graphics Drawing Pen Tablet

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A friend of mine Jason Kruse alerted me to a new pen tablet on the market called the Ugee 19 Inches Graphics Drawing Pen Tablet and for the most part it appears as though it’s worth it. Since I don’t have one or any details to go on other than the reviews I’ll just post the review on Amazon from a woman named Katie Wesch and let it speak for itself. You can purchase one on Amazon here.

Incidentally we interviewed Jason a while back.

DESCRIPTION:
This is a very large screen (19in), larger than a sheet of printer paper and closer to a large bristol board. But the size is why it is great…when you’re in an art program, you have your tools to one side and your drawing in the middle, making the extra room very important. Don’t even think about trying to draw in your lap with this. You’re going to struggle if you try. (Just…trust me.)

This tablet is for setting on a table, in front of your computer. The stand is built in, and you can easily adjust the stand to whatever height you’d like….EXCEPT for completely flat (or, at least, it is very difficult to make it flat) which is why it isn’t for drawing in your lap. Not to mention the four different cables hooked up to the inside.

The tablet comes with all the cords you need. (In my case, at least.) An adapter, a USB plug-in and a wall plug-in (it has to be plugged in to the wall AND your computer, with both the USB and adapter to work, which didn’t bother me that much). It comes with a pen that is medium in size, thicker than a pencil but not crazy thick like a marker. The pen has a button that can be triggered to right click. I’ll talk about that later. The pen is wireless, electromagnetic (with backup battery), and has a nib holder (!). I’ll also talk about that later.

It also comes with gloves (to prevent you from smudging your screen while drawing and/or to clean the screen) and a cleaning cloth.

It comes with clear instructions that, if you follow them, make installing a breeze. After installing, you calibrate the tablet to your computer until it matches up. It even gives you a chance to test pen pressure and colors to make sure they work well. In my experience, the tablet’s resolution was a bit lower than my computer’s but perhaps that can be fixed. Also, if your computer screen is larger than the tablet screen (yes, my laptop’s screen is huge), expect another change in resolution, proportion wise. Didn’t bother me that much or distract me while drawing so *shrug*.

PROS AND CONS:

PROS
+ So easy to use. Really. It’s a dream come true since I draw best when, you know, actually looking at what I’m drawing while drawing and I struggled with hand-eye-coordination with screenless tablets.
+ The pen pressure works wonderfully, dare I say better than my Bamboo’s pressure levels. The pen knows when I’m just tapping. It knows when I make a quick, light line. It knows when I’m pressing down hard, and if I press down hard enough, it will start pooling. It works very much like a real ink pen.
+ The screen, while not exactly hyper HD resolution, gives a clear detailed picture.
+ The pen matches up with cursor well enough that I do not have to worry about mismatched lines. It follows the pen without lagging behind.
+ While I’m sure that a lot of it is the speed of my laptop itself, it works fast with no lag in general. Unless I leave it for ten minutes or something, I don’t really worry about the lag while the screen “wakes up.”
+ Coloring is equally fluid, and responsive. In other words, the pen has the same good pressure and recognition whether working with paint, pencil or ink, and the same goes for making lines or tapping dots.
+ I tested it on the following programs and it works on all of them well:
* Clip Studio Paint Pro (Seriously amazing results here, and props have to be given to the program itself as well as the tablet. Painting and inking was so fluid it was just like doing it on paper. All that is needed is to be careful and know what you’re doing.)
* Photoshop (it should be noted that the program is Elements 8, however the brushes are quite dynamic to the point I’m sure you’ll be fine in Photoshop CS, since I have a little experience trying it in CS as well.)
* GIMP
* Paint Tool Sai
* and of course the desktop itself XD

UPDATE + Another thing I felt was nice was how kind the seller was. The seller frequently checked in during the shipping process, to ask if the tablet had arrived, and also asked if the tablet was working well for me. I’ve never had any seller actually check in on me, so the friendliness of these guys was pretty cool.

CONS
+ The screen is not…textured. It’s glossy and glassy, slick. That doesn’t bother me when drawing, in fact I like it, but it does make glare an issue if you put it at the wrong angle, to the point you have to move your body to overcome the glare. But if you turn it right and are in sitting in the correct lighting in the first place this won’t be a problem.
+ Like I mentioned, I wish it was possible to improve the resolution. Not a dealbreaker or star reducer…I just wish.
+ Since the screen is basically glass, it may smudge on you easily. But that’s why you should wear the gloves and why you have a glass wipe.
+ It is very bulky, only for drawing on tables with lots of room. UPDATE – The cords themselves are what require the most room.
+ UPDATE – Sometimes I feel like the pen acts a little bit *too* realistically, occasionally requiring me to tilt the pen like I would a real ink well pen in order to get any flow. This is a problem I noticed only in Clip Paint Studio though, so it may be a problem specific to this program’s already realistic ink pen.
+ UPDATE – If you try to run multiple programs, especially high memory ones, expect lag. This does NOT happen when running multiple low MB art programs, however, I tried to make a speedpaint of this tablet, running a video capture that made a video full of GB, and I noticed lag. But I think that would happen with every tablet ever, trying to run a high GB program alongside drawing. XD

BOTTOM LINE: It works. It just works. If you can do better, then go ahead, but if you’re in the market for an affordable tablet…here you go. Give it a shot. I love mine.

Detail specs:

Specification:
Active Area: 402mm X 255mm
Pressure Sensitivity: 2048 levels
Accuracy: 0.25mm
Display Area: 402mmx255mm
Resolution: 1440 X 900
Response Time: 5ms
Pixel Pitch : 0.294mm(per one triadH) x 0.294mm(V)
Electrical Interface: Dual channel LVDS
Support Color: 16.7M(RGB 6-bit data + HiFRC data)
Contrast Ratio: 800:01:00
Backlight Unit: 4 replaceable CCFL edge-light(top/bottom)
Brightness: 300(cd/m2)@7.5mA
Power Consumption: Working: 24.71 Watt;Standby:1 Watt
Power Source: AC100-240V Universal

System Requirements:
1. Operation system(Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7/8 Mac OS 10.2.6 above)
2. Pentium 233MHz processor or above
3. 64MB of Ram(128MB recommended)
4. 128MB setup Hard disk space
5. 4x Speed CD ROM or above
6. An available USB port

Package contents:
1x D-Sub Signal Cord
1x Power Adapter
1x USB Cable
1x P50S Pen
1x Nib Barrel
1x Installation CD
8x Replacement Nibs
1x Nib Removement Tool
1x User Manual
1x Pergear clean Kit

 

James Woods

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is James Woods, and I’m currently a student in the UK, walking those final steps towards graduation! Super excited for the next few years of canned food and dry cereal:)!

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Well, my employment history wouldn’t have been crazy to the average Joe, but I was a lanky (still am, ha), clumsy teenager who found drama in pretty regular jobs. I was a paperboy that cats peed on and swarms of bees chased (yellow t-shirts are insect fodder). I also worked on a food service counter at a supermarket where I cut the tip of my thumb off on a ham slicer (no worries, stitched and glued back in place), and disappointed old ladies with my inexperienced cheese cutting skills. But all of that’s ok, because it spiced things up a little! Cutting off an appendage is character building! I also got to fulfil my British destiny and was an extra in some of the Harry Potter films… My poorly placed foot tripped up Daniel Radcliffe mid scene… No sabotage intended.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I’m very new to the industry so I have a very small experience bank to draw from. The best time I’ve had was interning for industry veteran Uli Meyer at his London studio over the winter 2011 period. I had a very small hand in helping out on a project at the studio, but the experience of being guided by such talented guys and hearing about the days they used to hang out with animation legends was mind blowing.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from a little town on the outskirts of London. I guess, like so many other artists in this industry, I drew constantly from a very young age, copying dogs and dinosaurs from Dorling Kingsley books or doodling out the covers from my favourite VHS films. A lot of my drawings were Continue reading

Richard Bazley

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What is your name and your current occupation?
For the past few years I have been Directing. I have Directed many commercials and am represented by Prime Focus in London.   Earlier last year I Directed two Episodes of a new animated series for the UK’s Channel 4 called “Full English” which ironically I Directed in LA at Rough Draft who are most well known for Futurama. I am now Directing a wonderful TV pilot called Lost Treasure Hunt which will be on PBS later this year for Argosy Film.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Nothing too crazy! I did work as an Art Director a couple years before getting into the Film Industry. We had a brief for a spoof “sick” ad to run in Tatler Magazine and I came up with a concept for an ad for Euthanasia in which we photographed a coffin and put a cut out coupon in the coffin where you had to fill in your details, The headline was “FILL THIS SPACE!”.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Without doubt the first project that comes to mind was being a Lead Animator on Brad Bird’s “The iron Giant”. The film has such a heart and despite failing at the box office due to poor promotion has stood the test of time and found it’s audience on DVD. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was also a great experience as it was my first job in the film industry and stands as a classic.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was raised in the English countryside in the beautiful county of Devon near Exeter, My upbringing actually helped shaped me and what route I wanted to follow. This was before Continue reading