How to start a career as a 3D Artist to become a sought-after specialist? This is a relevant question, because working in CGI attracts many people with its prospects, creativity, and good earnings. But not always those who have chosen this field know where to start their journey into the 3D world.
Step 1. Immerse yourself in the world of 3D graphics
In order to start building a career as a 3D artist, you first need to get to know the world of CGI and understand its specifics. We recommend starting with surfing thematic websites and online communities. Among the resources you can find Artstation, CGarchitect, Behance, and render.ru among the domestic ones. There you can see the works of the best 3D artists, read discussions and comments. It is also useful to watch thematic channels that cover 3D graphics news, plugin reviews, etc. Understanding what the CG world is all about will help you move on to the next steps.
Step 2. Choosing a direction
Among the many areas of application of 3D graphics, a beginner should choose the one that is most to his liking. This way, you can start building a career as a 3D artist in a specific field.
3D visualization is also in demand in medicine, science, industrial production, and other areas where innovative developments need to be demonstrated.
Step 3. Choosing a specialization
After choosing a direction, the conversation about how to start a career as a 3D artist becomes more substantive: you need to decide on a specialization. The main areas are 3D modeling and 3D visualization.
3D modelers create three-dimensional models of real or fictional objects, from jewelry to cartoon characters to spaceships.
3D visualizers create beautiful three-dimensional images using ready-made models. These specialists are especially in demand in architectural design to visualize interior and exterior projects. With the proper level of skill of a 3D artist, it is almost impossible to distinguish a rendering from a photo.
Over time, you can master both specializations and become a 3D generalist – a generalist with skills in various areas of three-dimensional graphics. Or you can go into a narrow niche and become a master in a specific area: animation, texturing, environment creation, etc.
Step 4. Choosing the software
In order to start a career in CGI, you need to decide on the software to work with. Beginners usually choose Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, or ZBrush.
Autodesk 3ds Max is usually used for 3D modeling and visualization of architectural objects and game characters. This software is also used for animation and visual effects. The program has powerful tools that allow you to cope with almost any task of a 3D artist. That is why beginners often choose 3ds Max to start their career.
ZBrush is the absolute leader in 3D sculpting. The program is designed to create detailed models of people, animals, plants, and other organisms.
Step 5. Choosing a training format
So, we have almost completely figured out how to start a career as a 3D artist. But there is one more important step left: choosing a training format. There are three options:
- self-study:
- studying at offline or online courses several times a week;
- intensive courses with full immersion.
Self-study can take from several months to 2-3 years. In this case, there is a risk of getting confused and not starting a career as a 3D artist at all.