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Category: Automotive

Free Resources For Artists

If you are not working at the moment, perhaps now is a great time to learn new skills or brush up on old ones. Maybe it’s more about how you market yourself or manage your freelance business. Or managing fellow artistic brethren. Or anything related to your career – no limits!

So I’ve been chatting to our artists and some of the awesome partners we collaborate with and have pulled together a little list of free resources – here’s some cool content that we think could help you level up (whatever level you are now!), ready for that next challenge when things pick up!

  • The Foundry’s Nuke – we love it! It was a dream on our Game of Thrones trailer. 

You have to check out the workflow Wednesday playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi2GhhsPL-RrqMRhbMNX6D2SN8ilI2601

There’s some really cool live events that are short bursts of info covering lots of techy topics https://www.foundry.com/events/virtual-events

And you can trial Mari the brilliant texturing tool and nuke for free here – MARI / Nuke

We’re a max studio so it would be crazy not to share with you what the wonderful people at Autodesk have been putting together!

Win, manage and keep clients as a freelance 3D artist https://area.autodesk.com/life-in-3d/win-manage-and-keep-clients-as-a-freelance-3D-artist/ 

3ds Max tutorials https://area.autodesk.com/all/tutorials/3ds-max/

Download assets https://area.autodesk.com/downloads/ 

There are lots of resources here from managing teams for the first time, know-hows on running a business, to portfolio/asset creation advice. Not all are free – but many are.

We use V-Ray so it only makes sense we encourage you to as well. It also discusses working with V-Ray in MAX and Unreal (which we also use – brilliant!).

And – for those of you wanting to use Maya there’s a free edition of V-Ray PLE so you can learn how it works,

THE resource for getting to grips with UE4 if you are relatively new to it.

Great resource for tips, tricks and how-to’s when it comes to MAX modelling and ZBrush sculpting.

Talented concept, key frame and illustration artist sharing his workflows and process for digital painting and more. Recommended by our Art Director, Stu

Immense resource for training and learning on all things art – they cover a very wide range of topics, programs and technical aspects – including essential art fundamentals. Recommended by one of our Senior CG Generalists, Chris.

Tutorials made by, or hosted by, SideFX. Terrific resource for this powerful program.

  •         Materials and Shaders in UE4

Thomas Harle and  Ben Cloward are highly experienced tech artists from the games industry and in their channels they do a great job of breaking down how to handle some intermediate material and shader examples in UE4.

  •         ActionVFX

Great website for junior and seasoned VFX Artist alike so you should check them out. They have a wide number of tutorials and educational content you can learn from. Not to mention a raft of free assets to leverage what you have learnt!

Allan is legendary in the world of VFX and has done much to help people develop their careers, skills or personal brand in FX – he has a ton of resources you can grab at his site (many are free) but here are a select few of his recommendations specifically around marketing yourself and being productive while remote. All very useful in the current climate:

o The Ultimate Demo Reel Guide (also includes some videos)

o Mastering Your Freelance Career

o Extreme Workflow and Productivity Hacks

o Killer Tools to Help You Get s!#% DONE!

o Working from Home

 

There’s more we could share, and MUCH more out there, we just want to give you a head start on some resources we would recommend. This selection of resources is a great starting point if you are in between projects and looking for inspiration to become the artist you aspire to be.

Got any suggestions not on this list? Let us know and we can get this shared!

Thanks for being awesome and stay safe. Much love.

 

CGI trends in the automotive industry

Whether you realise it or not, CGI is an integral part of the automotive industry. It’s always there – unseen – blending into reality seamlessly. Ironically, CGI is at its best when you can’t notice it. But that is also the beauty of it, and why it continues to be a popular choice for a multitude of reasons.

And with advancements in technology, what can be achieved today is outstanding. Bleeding-edge tech makes for some of the most detailed and realistic work you’ll ever see. And these advancements are leading to some new trends that I believe will become the de facto experience in the industry.

 

Streaming

If there is a downside to rapidly advancing technology, it’s the requirement for meaty processing power. The more details you include, the more strain you put on the computer. If your computer isn’t state-of-the-art, it can end up chugging along, making for a lacklustre, jagged experience. This would hurt your configurator as very few could run it in their own home – nor could any dealerships – and don’t even think about running it on a tablet or phone.

But streaming can solve this problem with ease. Many other industries have jumped on the streaming train, with it pervading music, TV, film, and video games. Now the automotive industry can benefit too. What this means is all the processing is done by the manufacturer – either on their own system or through the cloud. With a good internet connection, you can stream to any device for a clean, smooth experience.

In fact, it can adjust based on the signal strength. It will provide the optimum choice depending on the signal, reducing the chances of having a bad experience. It’s a particular boon for dealerships who need to find ways to adapt to new consumer trends. Having a configurator running in-house is one such way to do this. With some more investment, they could make it even better…

 

3D and VR

What makes these solutions so jaw-dropping is their use of 3D visuals over 2D. What this means is more cutting-edge configurators will use a 3D engine – such as Unreal Engine 4 – to render the car in 3D in real-time. This means each change made to the car is being reflected in real-time, as opposed to simply loading a different asset. It makes for a more realistic, immersive experience, allowing the user to explore the tiniest detail of a car in close up, such as the embroidery on a seat, for example.

And when you combine this with virtual reality, you can create something special. Users can get inside the car and see it with their own eyes – they would almost believe they could touch it. This is something car dealerships need to look into. Not everyone at home can invest in a VR setup, so adding it to the dealership makes it an experience worth travelling to. Something they need in this internet-driven market.

 

Ray-tracing

Ray-tracing is a particular advancement that is very exciting to behold. The technology allows light to react correctly as it does in real life, allowing for amazing effects, shadows, and reflections. In the automotive industry, this simply means cars have never been able to look better in real-time, with lighting and reflections genuinely representing elements such as paint, base coat, flake, and lacquer. It feels as if it truly reflects the world around it.

It’s just another dimension to add to car configurators and goes back to what I said at the start – the best CGI is the one you don’t notice. A common complaint from buyers after using a car configurator is how it doesn’t look the same in real life. This is because configurators don’t tend to offer different environmental backgrounds. Not anymore. With 3D rendering and ray-tracing, you can create stunning and accurate portrayals of how the car will look.

CGI is an art. And what it is doing for the automotive industry is nothing short of outstanding. With big-name brands pushing technology to its limits in the name of realism, the pursuit of flawless CGI will be a race we will always love to see.

At REALTIME, we are on the cutting-edge of what can be achieved – just look at our work with Lotus. Our experts are always pushing the limits and we would love to join you for the ride. If you are interested in discussing your next project, get in touch at [email protected].

The age of the car ‘startup’ – the exciting road ahead

We recently talked about new, up-and-coming car manufacturers like Rivian, NIO, and Rimac. It’s such a huge topic that I wanted to talk about it again. It’s an exciting time for the automotive industry and these new names are set to shake up the market.

It’s easy to be sceptical – after all, how can they take on the goliaths? We’re at a turning point and I believe the strong competition from the startups can turn the tide.

 

Let’s define “startup”

“Startup” is a bit of a dirty word in this context. It conjures an image of a handful of people working in a garage. Most of the newcomers are well beyond that point in their journey. Rivian has over 750 employees. NIO has already seen strong sales. Everyone has been recruiting industry veterans.

Startup is meant in the literal sense – that they are just getting started. Most of them only have one model in the market if that – plenty aren’t launching for another couple of years. That’s what makes the whole scenario so exciting. These are fresh ideas coming from people who know and love cars. They aren’t beholden to corporate oversight or a money-hungry board of investors. The passion runs through the entire team, not just a select few.

They could define the future of the industry, joining in on the success of Tesla. And, in some ways, I think what they deliver could be even better.

 

A bit of competition

Competition is always good for the consumer. Companies challenge each other to be better. Would we be seeing this mass adoption of electric vehicles by manufacturers if it weren’t for the ones who dipped their toes in first?

These startups are bringing a new dimension to the competition. People aren’t as brand loyal these days. There’s more of a focus on the new “it” car if anything. These new cars are appealing to the mid-range market in a number of ways; they’re better for the environment while also being a fashion statement.

Look at the fervour over Tesla. This puts pressure on the big-name manufacturers to try to appeal to that same market. Whether they do this in their environmental-friendliness, looks, or technology – probably a mix of all three.

 

The drive toward EVs

These cars are also pushing us further down the path of electric vehicles. I’ve talked before about where I think the market will go, and I see a greater push towards EVs while combustion engines take a back seat. It won’t happen tomorrow, but it’s coming, and the startups are leading the charge.

We can already see the effect; every manufacturer has laid out its EV strategy. Plenty have released a car already. It’s a necessary change as we see the public look favourably on the tech. For younger generations, EVs will be the norm. And if they keep it up, the startups will be too.

 

New (and old) blood

Another great thing about the startups is the voice it gives to a new generation of designers. They don’t necessarily have to be young; they could be industry veterans who finally have the means to make themselves heard. Rivian’s intro video to who they are sums it up – they’re making cars that they would want to see.

Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO at Lucid, is an industry veteran who has already done his part for the car startup. He was the chief engineer of the Tesla Model S and has now set out on a new venture with the luxurious looking Lucid Air.

It’s an environment that promotes new ideas and that can never be a bad thing. It can only lead to greater innovation in this industry. That’s what makes it such an exciting one – it is ever-evolving. I personally cannot wait to see where these companies go. When they have more financial backing and have their first project out of the way, where will they go? That question is what puts me on the edge of my seat. And I can’t wait to see what happens.

Paul’s passion for all things cars isn’t unique at REALTIME. Our automotive team loves cars – see for yourself. If you have a project then we want to hear about it. Get in touch at [email protected].

COVID-19 Update

We understand that communication is key at a time like this and we wanted to reach out and let you all know what measures REALTIME are taking and how COVID-19 is affecting our day to day operations.

Over the past few weeks, we have been monitoring the situation and gradually rolling out preventative measures across the entire organization. We have also been upgrading equipment and infrastructure, working towards enabling our employees to work remotely from the safety of their homes.

As it stands REALTIME have asked approximately 80% of staff to work from home, with a 20% skeleton staff working across our two sites to cover key tasks (eg IT / Network / Render farm etc). We’re very fortunate that we have two studios quite some distance apart so are able to keep social distance and ensure staff safety.

Because working remotely across the two studios is standard practice for us everything seems to be running smoothly and production is continuing as scheduled. It’s really important that we’re able to keep a ‘business as usual’ mentality as much as possible for our employees and our clients.

We will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses and will be taking the advice from the UK Government, public health and the WHO.

This is a really challenging time but if we all work together and support each other we will be stronger, and we have already seen such an inspirational and positive spirit from our team and clients.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you need anything, remember we’re in this together!

Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
From everyone at REALTIME

Getting a job in the industry!

Getting a job in the animation/VFX industry from REALTIME’s Pete Leonard

So, you’ve found a job on our website that you think you’d be perfect for, or maybe you’ve been following us long enough to know we are the right company for you. Great stuff!

Thing is, just how do you (best) go about getting a gig here?

I think I can help!

There’s an inexhaustible number of tips, advice and information out there on what you can do, so I’m going to break this down into chunks so it’s a bit more digestible and useful.

 

MAKE THE APPLICATION

Well that figures of course – until we become clairvoyants, but that’s some way off.

In the meantime, there are a number of core elements that we’d advise here at REALTIME to grab the interest of the hiring managers and get yourself considered.

  • Be clear on your specialism – It’s a good place to start and feeds well into your next career objective. The team is broken into different departments and simply seeing that someone is (for example) a professional CG Lighter will stand out more than someone who is less clear about their primary area of expertise.
  • Show your Enthusiasm and Attitude – In the content of your email, don’t forget show yourself off! We pride ourselves on creating a fun, hardworking culture. Are you the type of person who comes to work with a smile and stays the extra half hour if needed? Give us an example…
  • Link your (best) work/showreel – this will be the biggest thing we go off in terms of your suitability. Regardless of education, experience or anything else, THIS supersedes everything. So, make it great ?
  • Tell us about yourself… no really! – We’re interested! We will be spending a lot of time with each other so it’d be grand if we know something about why you work in CG, what your interests are, and more. This can be at the top of your CV, a cover letter or some other cool little way of presenting yourself (hint hint), but naturally it’s important for both of us so we can fit.
  • Attention grabbing CV – it doesn’t have to look like that cool flyer you saw last week (although that would be nice), but be sure to quickly and concisely present your objective (what you’re looking for) and your core skills (packages and CG focus) – it doesn’t have to be long either (2 pages is more than enough). Run it by others to get a second opinion, but this is your elevator pitch, so be sure it’s impactful.
  • Why us? – Sounds obvious but if you want to work here, we want to know why. It helps us understand what interests you about our company and why you’d be a good fit.

 

OK, BUT WHAT KIND OF SHOWREEL GRABS YOUR ATTENTION?

Good question – here’s some tips on that:

  • Relevant examples – like many studios we have carved out a niche in game cinematics (pre-rendered, and real-time) and Automotive. So, we do need to see some images or trailers of work that is commensurate with our projects. The world of CG is vast, and we need people who have some understanding of that niche we operate in. The reel is your best way to exhibit this.
  • Quality! – Over quantity. Every time. We spend quite a lot of time on our shots providing them with a final look, feel and finesse. Which requires dedication, a good eye for detail and composition, and perseverance. We need to see at least a couple of examples that show the same commitment and approach. Don’t be afraid to cut content – if it doesn’t show you at your best, then less is definitely more. Remember older work can flesh out your reel, but it can also make one of us ask how good your eye is, and why you’ve kept it in there…
  • Breakdowns – These are so useful! Whether it’s wireframes, layers & comp passes, texture maps/wraps, it all helps, as well as just having the finished article. If you’ve perused our site long enough, you will see we have breakdowns of projects like SMITE and Dropzone in areas such as VFX and Animation. It allows people to see how we delivered the end product. If we can see how you got to yours, it tells us a great deal about your process and approach. A picture paints a thousand words, n’all that.
  • State your contributions – For large scale projects and professional shots, there are many pairs of hands that come together to create the end result. So, a simple statement about what you did in each shot allows us to focus on the right areas and judge your work more fairly. It does you justice and saves us time. We like that (so thank you?).

 

GREAT, I GOT AN INTERVIEW!

Top banana! We are particular about the kind of things we look for in applications and reels, so you’ve shown real promise – let’s not fall at this hurdle.

  • Set goals and prepare – It doesn’t have to be a bucket list but think logically about what you want to express to us. What is your greatest asset as an artist, or producer, or whatever? What strengths will you bring to REALTIME that we could use? Think about what you want to get across so that you will be well prepared.
  • Practice – If you’re super comfortable at interview then very well done – 95% of the population is very jealous?. For the rest of us, we have to have a plan of how we are going to present ourselves. But you’ve set goals so you can practice how to communicate your abilities. You HAVE set goals right?
  • Be yourself – Easier said than done for most (including me). We all have strengths, development areas and our own quirks. So, feel comfortable in being open on these – we’ll appreciate the openness and honesty, we’ll be able to connect with you a bit more, but most importantly: YOU’LL feel more confident and at ease. Anyway, we are a bit eclectic ourselves, so you’ll be in good company.
  • Be Passionate – Speaks for itself. People do this job for the love of it! So, we need you to show us what makes you love what you do.
  • Bring any extras you like – That can be a laptop or flash pen with WIP shots you wish to talk us through, a simulation in Houdini you are experimenting with, or weekend classes engaged in landscape or life drawing – it all helps and will provide some further insight into your passions, and how you communicate – we do a LOT of that in the boardroom anyway so best to get used to it.
  • Questions – It’s a 2-way street and you are choosing us as much as we are choosing you. So, questions are not only welcomed, but we consider them essential and we won’t be able to take you as seriously if you don’t have any for us, about our company, work or future direction.

 

THANKS… ANY LAST WORDS?

Just a few:

  • Get organised – you’d be surprised how many people can fail to plan their trip or arrive in a timely fashion. This is your first impression so best to plan your trip and account for potential obstacles (within reason of course).
  • Research – Find out as much as you can about us beyond what you already know. Our Marketing Manager gets a ton of stuff out there on our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter as well as our website so be sure to use them to glean as much about us and our activities as you can. It really helps at interview and avoids those awkward silences. Result!
  • Booted and Suited? – You can come in a suit if you want, but it’s not required, and the dress code is casual in our studio. I’d say strike a balance. Casual is fine but pick out some of your smarter options.

Pete always makes time to give proper feedback to applicants, so why not have a look at our careers and drop him your showreel on [email protected]