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Author: Lauren Brady

How CGI can save you time in the long run

CGI vs photography is still a fierce debate. One side argues that nothing can replace the way real-life photography captures tangible objects. The other claims that CG looks better than the real thing and photography can’t match its perfection.

Both sides have their merits. There was a time when the debate was digital photography vs traditional photography – similarly, they both had a point, but it was digital that stood out as the best solution. It’s history repeating itself, and, like digital photography, CGI can’t be matched. It can save you a lot of time.

 

Lights, camera, action

We’re not suggesting photography goes the way of the dinosaur, nor are we saying that rendering CGI happens in the blink of an eye. But, in the long-term, CG will save you time and money. Take the simplest scenario: photographing a car. Just the car, a white background, and a DSLR. Hours are spent getting the perfect lighting, multiple shots, different angles. And, at the end of the day, you have your shots. Job done. For CG, modelling alone would take longer.

But, say you get back to your desk, you look over the photos from the shoot. You can’t find the right angle or the trim level of spec of the car needs to be different. You need the car – which you have poured your passion into – to look perfect. Yet now you face the laborious process of rescheduling the shoot and setting everything up again, and, at the end of that, you’re still not guaranteed to be satisfied with the end product. Roads need reclosing, the weather might be awful, you might not be able to get your hands on the car; the list of potential roadblocks is extensive.

With CG, if you want to see it from a specific angle, you just move the car or the virtual camera.

 

The quick approach

Now imagine that scenario, but multiple times over. If the car comes in many colours, trim, and spec levels for example. That’s where else CGI saves you time. you won’t have the time to photograph every possible combination – in fact, it’s impossible. With CGI, these changes can be made instantly. So while the initial creation might take time, it will save you time in the long run.

The same problem presents itself when shooting on location, but includes the added hassle of making sure the product and appropriate people are in the right place. But combine the two scenarios and you have your solution.

Film on location to create your backgrounds and insert the key visuals later on. It allows you to keep a flexible schedule. If the car’s design isn’t ready in time for the shoot, it can be sculpted digitally and change as the real-life car does. The time between conversations is shorter as CGI can react much faster to alterations.

Photography will always have its place in the world. But much like in film and TV, there are times where CGI makes more sense, and the automotive industry is no different. So if you’re worried about time not being on your side, put your mind at ease. Choose the computer.

 

At REALTIME, we have the experience you need to make your next project run fluidly. Take our work with Infiniti, which is an example of what we talked about above. It’s just one of the many projects we’ve brought to life using CGI. If you’re interested in potentially working together, get in touch with me at [email protected].

 

Geneva 2019

A few words from me on Geneva 2019.

Twenty years ago, amid massive consolidation in the industry (think Premier Automotive Group, the Renault Nissan Alliance and Daimler-Chrysler to name but a few), the general consensus was that there would, before too long, be just five automotive concerns the world over. An American one, a couple of Europeans, a Japanese and then perhaps a Korean one. Its seems at the time journalists had not picked up China on the radar screen back then.

Fast forward to now and this year’s Geneva Show, the underlying trend of electrification was ably supported by a number of new start ups. The barriers to market entry for these new concerns twenty years ago (a major one being the lost-count-of-the-zeros level of investment required to develop a unique powertrain) are simply gone. If you combine that with the latest generation of car buyers being less and less attracted to the traditional brands then you have a perfect revolution taking place before our very eyes:

Twenty years ago, Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Automobili was still in short trousers but now, his EV Hypercar C_TWO, all 1,914hp and $2m of it and oh-so-close to production was a clear star of the show. Twin brother under the skin and with equal top billing was the Pininfarina Battista; the long-established design house launching its first full car as an EV.

 

Further down the price range but with a still-impressive 396hp was the Polestar 2, follow up to, you guessed it, the Polestar 1. This Tesla Model 3 rival is dripping with crisp Scandinavian Design and, as always with Polestar, housed at the show in a particularly airy whitespace-type lounge.

Not to be outdone by the upstart start-ups, Audi was out in force with the beautifully-resolved E-Tron Sportback.

Even further down the price range was Citroen, resurrecting the ‘Ami’ name for a two-seater EV study for future mobility

So, we’re five cars into the review without even mention of an internal combustion engine. Must be the trend of the show then…

Reassuringly perhaps was Bentley, with the Continental Number 9 Edition by Mulliner, housing the Crewe-built W12 petrol engine. Celebrating Bentley Boy Sir Tim Birkin’s Blower Bentley and including 18 carat gold organ stops, this is perhaps one of the last great internal-combustion-driven Grand Tourers from Crewe, for whom electric power is also just around the corner. I suppose that the CO2 impact of just 100 cars is minimal…

Roughly, roughly (but who’s counting??) at the same point in the pricing chart is Ferrari, showcasing the new and very pretty F8 Tributo. Not to be outdone by its British rival, Its 720PS is now an exact match for the McLaren 720S. Who’d have thought it?

Over on the Aston Martin stand it was difficult not to be impressed by the continuing onslaught of new, beautiful and highly desirable new metal in the forms of the son-of-Valkyrie AM-RB 003 Hypercar (pictured), due on sale in 2021 and the Vanquish Vision Concept; a 2022-ready mid-engined Supercar rival to McLaren, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Towards the entry-level of the market were two launches of new models with stalwart nameplates; the new Peugeot 208 and the new Renault Clio. The 208’s fairly chunky styling lending the car perhaps more road presence than its predecessor, whereas over at Renault the new Clio’s revolution was apparently on the inside, though, to my eyes, that wasn’t a problem at all. Renault clearly didn’t need to fix what wasn’t broken here.

So, a great show, packed full of significant debuts. Geneva remains resolutely the place to be for the industry, with no sign of that trend abating. I’m sure that there will be a time in the not-too-distant-future when electrification ceases to be a ‘thing’ too and we all stop talking about it. I think that point in time will be sooner than we think…

 

Can you produce a high-quality game trailer against the clock?

We’ve talked before about the importance of a game trailer. For the audience, they are an exciting preview of what’s to come that both entertain and intrigue. For the developer and publisher, they’re a way to measure audience reaction and drum up hype.

CG can be used to present the game as a highly polished experience – an effective tool that allows for endless amounts of creative storytelling with which to visually communicate your key messaging. In addition to the production itself, a great deal of time often needs to be invested to ensure that a CG trailer successfully hits the sweet spot. But when time is against you, and you still need that major marketing asset to help with the promotion of your game, what are your options?

 

A little tease

As is often the case, a developer might require for a trailer at very short notice. The level of success that a game can suddenly enjoy can come thick and fast, with few able to predict the levels of success that games like ‘Candy Crush’, ‘SMITE’ and ‘Fortnite’ would go on to enjoy so soon after their initial release.

Having a great marketing asset that will help build your brand at this important stage will ensure that your game isn’t seen as a flash-in-the-pan and sink faster than ‘Flappy Bird’. In the case of SMITE, the game’s developer Hi-Rez Studios were smart enough to mine the opportunity that their hit game presented them with. They commissioned a high-profile CG trailer that helped reinforce the game’s excitement and quality.

However, such was the demand to get a trailer out as quickly as possible, a ‘teaser’ needed to be developed ahead of the release of the initial ‘Battleground of the Gods’ trailer. Doing so allowed the production of the final piece to continue. In doing so, the ‘teaser’ helped build further momentum for the game and proved to be another ‘marketing beat’ that would further secure the game’s fast-growing success. All of this was achieved without making any compromises to the quality of the final production.   

 

In-engine
Creating a ‘teaser’ for a trailer can be an effective way of dramatically reducing the production time needed to produce a major marketing trailer – particularly useful if you need it for a particular event or opportunity that can’t be moved. But is this the only way?

Fortunately, the answer to this question is ‘no’ – depending on the style and nature of your game, it may be that an alternative execution for the trailer may be suitable.

Once Fortnite decided to introduce their ‘Battle Royale’ mode, the game became so successful that it transcended gaming culture and entered the mainstream media. Creating their launch trailer in the game’s own engine helped save production time and take full advantage of the many assets that they had at their disposal. It’s a route that has only relatively recently become a viable option thanks to the improving quality of game engines which can be used successfully to create high-quality trailers with a quick turnaround.

A perfect example of this is the multiple ‘Sea of Thieves’ trailers for Rare’s swashbuckling multiplayer adventure. Using a game engine ensures a fast turnaround without any compromise to quality. In this case, these trailers were produced in UE4, but flexibility is key when choosing who to work with. Are they capable of acquiring various styles in one engine, like the more ‘lifelike’ visuals achieved in ‘Dakar ‘18’, also made using UE4? Or can they work with another engine entirely, like a proprietary one or Amazon’s Lumberyard?

 

Art attack
But the shortcuts needn’t end there. If you don’t feel that a teaser trailer or in-engine trailer are suitable for your game, then you could consider the option to produce an effective but time-saving 2.5D piece. Foregoing the complexities of full 3D, going with a 2.5D production helps remove the need to build, rig and light complex character assets, let alone the world they inhabit. ‘Runescape: Adventure Calls’ is a great example of a production that can be swiftly executed in a shorter time frame, while providing a stylish and compelling way of conveying to the audience everything you want to convey about your game.

Regardless of how you might want to produce your trailer when up against the clock, whether as a teaser, in-engine, or 2.5D, development of the initial creative will be key. The development of the creative means finding a practical solution that neatly conveys everything you want to communicate, and is best done by a production team that has a deep understanding as to the type of media that you choose for your production.

Fortunately, RealtimeUK’s creative team is on hand to help with this and can probably identify a number of ways in which your trailer can be delivered a soon as possible with no compromise to quality.

At RealtimeUK, we are very experienced in working to a tight schedule. We work with you on a short timescale to produce something that will capture and engage an audience. To discuss further, get in touch with me at [email protected].

Meet Yujia

Have you met the latest addition to our automotive team, Yujia?

Tell me a little bit about yourself?

I’m Yujia, from Shanghai, China. This is the first time I’ve worked abroad, I’m so excited because everything is brand new, like the farm and cows opposite the studio, I’ve never seen such a magnificent scene living in the city. I’m also really happy to be joining the RT team, it’s an honour to work with such talented artists from all over the world. As a CG artist, I have a huge passion for design and rendering, I’ve been in the CG industry for over a decade and since my last job started to focus in on automotive.

 

What’s your role at REALTIME?

I am a Senior Lighting Artist in the automotive department, so my main goal is to make the cars look as beautiful and real as physically possible!

 

What first sparked your interest in cars?

When I was a kid, I watched a Japanese cartoon <MINI 4WD>, which had a great influence on me. I’ve had a lot of mini 4wd models, it’s a kind of toy, but I regard them as my treasures, modify them and make them into something completely unique. When I grew up, my taste changed to cars with an elegant design, like Agera, Vanquish, etc.

 

So, what does an average day consist of for you?

I make cars look great. So, after receiving the task from Graham, I analyse what effect I’m aiming for, and then try to use the most appropriate lighting to achieve it. Then render the images and adjust them until they reach the desired state, and everyone is happy. It’s all about iteration!

 

What’s been your favourite project to work on and that you’re most proud of?

This is hard to say because every time I finish a project, I always feel that it is the best. But after some time, I don’t see it being as good, with growing as an artist, the standard is constantly improving. I believe the best project will always be the next one.

 

What’s the best thing about working here?

I’m sure there’s nothing cooler than working with artists from all over the world, and everyone has their own experience, and a unique way of thinking. I am looking forward to communicating and sharing knowledge with everyone here and seeing things progress.

 

Are there any upcoming things in the industry that you think people need to keep an eye out for?

By observing the software trends and updates. I think in the process of CG production, the boundaries of the early and late stages of the image will become blurred, and the early operation will be more convenient and simplified. For example, take the latest V-Ray Next, already can display in real time in viewport, and can render a beautiful lens halo effect. All in all, the use of software will become more and more simple, artists should always focus on how to improve the aesthetic.

 

Do you have any tips for new artists wanting to do what you do?

I think no matter what it is you do, interest is the most critical, if you are interested, you will unknowingly put more into it. With the accumulation of time, you will naturally find out how to do it faster and better. So, if you want me to give advice, it’s to find out what you really love it, and keep doing that.

 

Tell me a fun fact about yourself?

I just started trying to grow my hair.

International Women’s Day 2019

Friday the 8th of March is a day to mark in your calendars. It’s International Women’s Day (IWD), and in the age of #MeToo, it has never been more important. Despite an ever-progressing society, there are still ways we can improve. It’s why IWD’s theme for 2019 is ‘#BalanceforBetter’.

The rabbit hole of statistics goes deep, and we could spend all our time digging through these facts. Facts like unlocking the full potential of women in the workplace could be worth £23 billion to our economy. Or the fact that almost half of the workforce (46%) is female, yet women hold only a quarter of senior roles.

But you can see the tide shifting; the figures are looking better here in the UK as time goes on. So, to mark the occasion, we decided to interview our female staff.

Marketing manager. Concept artist. Office manager. Production manager. Head of Production. These are just some of the roles covered by the women here at RealtimeUK. They are Zoe, Flora, Heather, Bhavini, and Jane, respectively. For them, it’s been a crazy 2019 already, and that isn’t about to stop anytime soon.

 

Zoe – food for thought

“My day to day can change massively depending on what’s going on in production and what awesome projects we’re working on,” says Zoe, Marketing manager. Her role is organising the chaotic whirlwind that is the busy schedule of RealtimeUK. Sometimes literally – it wasn’t long ago she was organising their trip to Total Chaos in May!

She continued: “I create, implement, and analyse all on/offline marketing campaigns we run ensuring they all contribute to the overall marketing strategy, as well as heading up all of the social media channels. Basically, if it’s anything brand/marketing related, I’m normally leading the way.”

Zoe knew what she wanted to do from a relatively young age, other than cooking and eating that is.

“I decided I wanted to do marketing while working at MFI at the tender age of 16. I actually combed the yellow pages – yes, the yellow pages – for marketing agencies/consultancies in my local area.”

She went on to study for a degree in advertising, brand, and marketing management at Manchester Metropolitan University and was eventually headhunted by RealtimeUK. Now she spends her time with partner Debbie, step-son Cai, and dog Buddy, doing what she does best: cooking, eating, and hosting dinner parties.

 

Flora – art at work

“I am a concept artist and matte painter,” says Flora. Artistic talent seems to flow through Flora, who paints on the job and off the job: “as a concept artist, my work is used to give a visual direction to the CG artists who will create the final image, or to communicate with the client when the company is pitching ideas.”

Flora is originally from France, where she studied architecture before moving onto special effects. In 2017, after graduation, she found herself at the RealtimeUK Academy, which ended with the company offering her a job!

“At weekends I actually do quite the same thing as I do during the week at work: I paint! But this time I work on personal projects,” she continues. “I am very passionate about it. What I learn at work I use in my personal stuff, and vice versa.”

“I also watch movies and play video games with friends – I guess I’m kind of a nerd!” Who isn’t, Flora? Who isn’t?

 

Heather – the glue that holds us together

“As Office manager, my role is really varied. From doing account management, billing our clients, sorting out pensions, and staff appraisals, to arranging travel and accommodation for events.”

That’s Heather’s role in the company. Juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s a job where no two days are the same. And in Zoe’s words: “Heather is basically the glue; she sticks us all together!”

Heather has been with the company for over 15 years! In her previous job, she worked for Hilton Hotels as an events manager.

For Heather, a simple life is the best life: “I don’t really have time for hobbies; I’ve got 15-year-old twin daughters who take up most of my spare time!”

“We do try and get out on a Sunday afternoon to the park with our two dogs, just spending family time together on weekends is the best.”

 

Bhavini – production mastermind

For production manager Bhavini, her job is making sure everyone else knows their job. But she has her daily schedule locked down.

“My work day usually starts with catching up with my emails and Skype messages. I have the habit of flagging my emails so I know what needs action on that particular day. Next, I update the tracker of every project I am working on. There are meetings and calls scheduled in between these. I mostly end the day by entering my hours on the Intranet for the day and logging out.

“And, there are always unanticipated elements that need immediate attention and solving.”

Bhavini has an artistic flair, like many RealtimeUK staff members. She has an MSc in new media informatics, with a specialisation in 3D. But while she started off working as an artist, she knew it wasn’t her passion. Something that was though was production.

“I am an Indian by birth but was born and raised in the UAE,” Bhavini is well-travelled, having lived and worked in not only India and the UAE, but also the US (where she completed her degree) and, obviously, the UK. It makes sense – after all, she did say she loves to travel!

 

Jane – the industry expert

“My role at RealtimeUK is as Head of Production; I manage the games and broadcast teams over both the Manchester and Westby Studios.”

Jane is a pro in the industry, with 15 years under her belt. She’s spent this time in the VFX industry and has worked her way up through the ranks to become Head of Production in the company. It’s a job she’s held since 2012.

It’s a role with a lot of responsibility, so how does Jane unwind? “Weekdays are generally pretty full-on, so I like to make the most of the weekends, socialising with friends in Manchester and watching films.”

“I also like blowing off the cobwebs on a long walk in the countryside which is just on our doorstep – as long as there’s a pub at the end!”

Jane also has a knack for artistry and likes to dabble in photography when she gets the chance.

 

What does the future hold?

It’s hard to believe it’s March already. Then again, it already feels like so much time has passed. But there’s still plenty of 2019 left.

“I hope to be flying across the globe with RealtimeUK and Stu [Bayley, art director] speaking at lots of industry events, sharing some amazing insights into how we do what we do,” says Zoe. “I’d also like to somehow fit in a baby and have the extension finished on the new house.”

For Flora, it’s about continual improvement: “I will do my best to keep learning and practising, in order to enhance my artistic skills. I am really curious about the newest software and methods we can use to create art; there are many things to discover in this area and it changes very fast.”

Jane echoes this sentiment: “I’d like to continue my own personal and professional development. Hopefully, this will have a positive effect on the people around me and end in a successful, fun year.”

“2019 is a big year for our family as the girls leave school and start at sixth form college,” Heather says. She has a lot on her plate personally it seems, and as far as she’s concerned, she just wants to be happy and healthy. “I also want to be able to encourage and support my daughters in this big transitional year.”

For Bhavini, being happy and healthy is on the agenda. Having recently purchased a house here in the UK, she’s starting to make it her home. In the future, she hopes to tackle any health issues, leaving her fit and fine once again.

 

What matters most…

For International Women’s Day, it’s important to remember and value the women who inspire us and continue to shape us. For many of the RealtimeUK staff, that person is their mum.

“There is no one else that inspires me more than my mum,” says Zoe. “Single parent of three, I mean, I could barely look after myself at 23, let alone three young kids. She’s been successful in so many jobs but her passion lies in fitness, so she bit the bullet and retrained as a PT.”

Jane felt similarly, saying, “My mum has always been the biggest inspiration – she gives great 1:1 motivational speeches exactly when you need them! She’s one of the most positive people you could meet and always puts other people first – it would be good to live up to her reputation at some point.”

Heather had a different approach: “All working mums inspire me. It’s a hard job to juggle a career and a family, and I often think women are penalised for this instead of being celebrated.”

Flora finds inspiration in her artistic peers. “This one comes from the same school as me, and it makes me very happy to see where she is now and how great her pictures are.”

Bhavini has a long list of inspirational women: “Kiran Bedi, Sushma Swaraj, and Nirmala Sitharaman to name a few.”

She also points out that it isn’t just women that can leave an impact on you: “To be honest, I do not only have women in my list of who inspires me. There are many men who also inspire me. Narendra Modi, Ratan Tata, and Ajit Doval are just some of them.”

Jane rounded it off by saying, “I have great admiration for all women who are successful in business in any industry – there aren’t many of us in the VFX industry especially and it’s a tough place to be at the best of times. I’m hoping there will be more women who join us in the next few years.”

 

The years ahead

International Women’s Day may be on March 8th, but its message is intended to carry on through the year – and for years to come. The landscape is shifting, and it’s a sentiment held close by the women of RealtimeUK.

“[International Women’s Day is] a chance to celebrate the incredible women in the world,” says Heather. “But we shouldn’t need an International Women’s Day to do this; it should just happen naturally but unfortunately it doesn’t, so that’s the change I’d like to see happen.”

Flora couldn’t agree more: “I wish that it was widely acknowledged that gender does not define who we are and what we are capable of. I think that achieving gender equality in all matters is one of the most important issues we have to deal with now. International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness about it.”

For Jane, this day is a chance to reflect on all the amazing, strong women who strive every day to make their lives better – juggling home life and careers. “I’d like to see continued equality in the workplace, but also appreciate the differences between men and woman. Surely we just need to bring out the best in each other?”

Bhavini admits that International Women’s Day isn’t something she’s ever acknowledged, but you don’t need a specific day to do that. “Women in all their avatars should be respected on a daily basis: as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, cousin, aunt, grandmother, colleague, whoever they are.

“There is a list of changes I would like to see in the world and in myself, and I hope they are for good. Change, after all, is the only constant in the universe.”

“For me, the meaning of International Women’s Day has changed a lot in the wake of the #MeToo movement,” says Zoe. “What became so clear with #MeToo is how far away we still are from gender equality; from sexual harassment and abuse of power.

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to honour the women who have been at the forefront of fighting against gender inequality.

“It is a day to reflect on the work that still remains. It is a day to remind us to look beyond our borders, our bodies and race, and to think about how we can make future progress daily.”

 

RealtimeUK supports this progress and is proud of the work done by Zoe, Flora, Heather, Jane, and all of our female staff. If you would like to discuss working with us in the future, please contact Zoe on [email protected].