AKAH's design mind

PhOtOgRaPhY

2011-08-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, long time. There have been lots of things I found interesting on the net, but this photographer was eyecatching for me! The work is incredible and with so much detail, simple but amazing! Take a look.

http://www.milesaldridge.com/

pHoTo ManIpULaTiOn

2011-08-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

Just found this amazing site, nice work and composition, so contemporary! Love it.

http://www.erwinolaf.com

gREat PhOtOgRapHer!

2011-07-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I found this amazing photographer. She studied here in Mexico City, in San Carlos, an amazing art school. Check out some of her work, really inspiring.

DANIELA EDBURG
http://www.danielaedburg.com/

NiCe illuSTraTiOns!

2011-07-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I just found this illustrator from Barcelona. I loved his little monsters, since I am fan of those cute little creatures (from my imagination of course not the real ones if the exist). Here is the link to his website, take a look.

Cesc Grané

http://cesc.blogspot.com/search/label/Illustration

MAYA PROBLEM

2011-07-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

AnImaTion Salaries

2011-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I found this interesting note about salaries, check it out:

Animation Salaries By: Jennifer Austin
How much can a CG professional expect to earn? Studios are understandably reluctant to divulge salaries, and of course, the ranges vary greatly, but a ballpark idea can be gained from several sources, particularly as many studios are union shops for which the pay scale is a matter of public record. Disney Animation’s Animation Guild contract, for example, specifies a current minimum payment for experienced or journeyman-level artists, from animators to lighting specialists, of $39.133 per hour, or $1565.32 per week for a 40-hour workweek. For positions like assistant animator, assistant lighter, or assistant technical director, the minimum pay is $33.49 per hour, or $1339.60 per week. A list of studios covered by the Animation Guild can be found at www.animationguild.org. According to figures from the International Game Developers Association, salaries for CG artists in the gaming industry range from $57,000 a year for an artist with one to two years’ experience, to $68,000 for a lead artist or art director with six or more years of experience. Of course, salaries can be much lower for entry-level positions at studios, and go well into six figures for top producers. According to job-seeker search engine Indeed.com, the average salary for a senior character animator in the US is $62,000. And the US Bureau of Statistics reports that the average salary for a multimedia artist and animator in 2008 was $62,380, with jobs in the motion-picture and video industries averaging $71,910, and those in advertising and public relations in the range of $57,740. It should be noted that many CG professionals are paid hourly rather than annually. Of course, salaries vary depending on country and region. Artists generally earn more in Los Angeles than in, say, the Midwest. On the other hand, it costs more to live in Los Angeles. As always, flexibility is key. “I don't see the crazy bidding wars we used to have,” says Fringe Talent’s Debra Blanchard, who advises job applicants to be willing to compromise on the issue of salary, “especially if it’s a job you really want.” SOURCE: http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2010/September-1-2010 /ANIMATION-SALARIES.aspx

Animation Salaries
By: Jennifer Austin

How much can a CG professional expect to earn? Studios are understandably

reluctant to divulge salaries, and of course, the ranges vary greatly, but a

ballpark idea can be gained from several sources, particularly as many

studios are union shops for which the pay scale is a matter of public record.

Disney Animation’s Animation Guild contract, for example, specifies a current

minimum payment for experienced or journeyman-level artists, from animators to lighting

specialists, of $39.133 per hour, or $1565.32 per week for a 40-hour workweek.

For positions like assistant animator, assistant lighter, or assistant technical director,

the minimum pay is $33.49 per hour, or $1339.60 per week. A list of studios covered by

the Animation Guild can be found at www.animationguild.org.

According to figures from the International Game Developers Association, salaries for CG

artists in the gaming industry range from $57,000 a year for an artist with one to two

years’ experience, to $68,000 for a lead artist or art director with six or more years of

experience. Of course, salaries can be much lower for entry-level positions at studios,

and go well into six figures for top producers. According to job-seeker search engine

Indeed.com, the average salary for a senior character animator in the US is $62,000.

And the US Bureau of Statistics reports that the average salary for a multimedia artist

and animator in 2008 was $62,380, with jobs in the motion-picture and video industries

averaging $71,910, and those in advertising and public relations in the range of $57,740.

It should be noted that many CG professionals are paid hourly rather than annually.

Of course, salaries vary depending on country and region. Artists generally earn more in

Los Angeles than in, say, the Midwest. On the other hand, it costs more to live in

Los Angeles. As always, flexibility is key. “I don't see the crazy bidding wars we used

to have,” says Fringe Talent’s Debra Blanchard, who advises job applicants to be willing

to compromise on the issue of salary, “especially if it’s a job you really want.”

SOURCE: http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2010/September-1-2010
/ANIMATION-SALARIES.aspx

Caca PUU??

2011-04-25T14:12:00.001-07:00

Hey guys.... no words just check it out! I laugh a lot!

NiCe WeB

2011-04-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I just found this great and amazing site. I love this kind of fluid, modeling, physics, I mean all this kind of work is just lovable!

Check it out: http://monophyl.com/

MeeT hUnGeR!

2011-04-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I found this making of "great" about meeting hunger. Yeap, the hunger is real!!! hahaha
Check it out!

KaTanA

2011-03-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I found this cool post in Death Fall. KATANA, the new software development of The Foundry and Sony Imageworks is almost out!!!! Check out the white paper in their site, you´ll be amazed.

SCREEN CAPTURE FOUNDRY RIGHTS

http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/articles/2011/02/21/221/katana-white-paper/

cOLIMO.... real time postproduction software

2011-03-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

COLIMO is a postproduction tool, that was designed with the primary target of changing scenes after the rendering process. This application is not the same than Motiva SOAP, it is his big brother.

CHANGE LIGHTS, COLORS AND TEXTURES using prerendered images as base. You can change colors and textures and his influence over the whole scene including raytraced reflections, refractions and GI bleeding. For better comprenhension visit the Videos & Demo section.

RENDERER ENGINE INDEPENDENT It don’t handles real 3D data, 3D meshes are not needed anymore, you can share your project without share your meshes! It only takes some pre-rendered images and some passes of our (fast) Modo 501 pass or MR special shader.

FULLY GPU ACCELERATED All the process is made in your GPU through 32 bit

internal buffers using the size of the viewport, but your images can be saved in full input size.

Motiva COLIMO Overview I from motiva on Vimeo.

ThE FoRce Is iN yoUr HaNdS

2011-02-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Nice ad-hoc.....

GaMe iN yOuR hANdS

2011-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, what´s up!!!
I found this great tv ad of Sony new technology (NGP).
Great VFX by the way and compositing. The color correction is great, giving nice mood to the story going on to the screen. The only shot I guess could be better is the one of the balls falling down. The reflection and depth could had been better. Less than that, great.

Monster RELATIONship

2011-02-03T15:26:00.001-08:00

Hey did you ever imagine how a monster loving life could be? Check it out...

NiCe Flipping Story

2011-02-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hey I found this video in the vimeo site. It is old but really nice, similar to a tutorial I saw a while ago in Computer Arts, Love it!

Kraak & Smaak from WEAREWILL on Vimeo.

Nice bUT tRUTH

2011-01-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hey guys i just found this video, is real but hey now a days (I must say) is necessary technology. Check it out and think about it...

NicE sHORT

2011-01-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, long time... happy new year and so on. I wanted to share with you this video I found in the web, the story is kind of abstract and mysterious, emotional and dark with a touch of love. I loved the color palette, well balanced and nicely worked out. Check it out.

WhAt Is WiRe rEmoval????

2010-11-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, being involved in the VFX world means ots of things. For me as a spanish speaker is harder, as you now terms are almost the same but when it comes the time for a exact thing is when it gets hard. I found a job proposal with the title WIRE REMOVAL and I was like what is that?

I had an idea, maybe cleaning the background, removing something and yeap I searh the term and I found this interesting article in FX Guide. It explains what is this and what are the positive and negative points of making it in several ways. Could be tracking a part, removing frame by frame and so on. Check it out.

http://www.fxguide.com/article453.html

3d wOrLd!!!! ALERT ALERT is invading us!!!!

2010-11-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hahaha... hey there! Yeap, as you read it... 3d is making a big change in all senses. Not only in the cg world but films are coming part of a live experience. The stereoscopic world is becoming the next fundamental version of a movie. But what the hell is stereoscopic? Well is a way in which movies or images are separated in different fields to make the illusion of depth.

Our eyes are designed to see one image, when it breaks these try to mix them and send that signal to our brain. Is a really interesting theme.

Here is a list of the ten fundamentals of making stereoscopic films.

This text was elaborated by the StereoscopyNews editor back in 1994, then revised and edited several times, the last one in 2010 after several stereographers were consulted, and consecutively exchanged contradictory opinions. We hope the text reflects the middle-of-the-road vision of what to do and what not to do when shooting 3D.

Source : http://www.stereoscopynews.com/download/software/923-qthe-ten-commandments-of-stereoscopy.html

SnEaK pEaK

2010-11-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I have been working on my new demo for next year. I am missing some stuff from work that I want to add, such as rotoscoping and tracking. It´s been a hard and amazing year, many things had happened to me. First entering again school, then working as a trainee (that I must say is already kind of a junior position because of all the things they make me do, I mean tracking and ompositing is not learning right?) and then quitting again school. Ahhh, but hopefully I will be better next year, one of my goals is leaving Mexico for new adventures, and stablishing in a new country.

Ha anyway it seems like my diary here....neeeee... wrong! haha. Here is the sneak peak, hope you guys like it.

NiCe SiTe!

2010-10-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hello there, it has been a while since my last post. Sorry but I have been really busy, and guess what? I will make my new demo, also planning some other stuff. Life is hard, but you know what?... you have to live it, emotions, actions, experiences... all this is the meaning of life.

Ok, no more emotional... I found this site. It is really nice, so many themes and inspirational stuff. So vintage and contemporary, nice link I wanted to share with you guys.

www.notcot.com

NiCe... The truth about the worst jobs to get in VFX Industry

2010-08-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, long time since not writting here. I have been working in a postproduction company here in Mexico and also studying my Animation Degree. Looking through the web I found these amazing article called THE 5 MISERABLE VFX JOBS THAT MAKE MOVIES POSSIBLE. It is so truth that I thought it might help newbies to have patience in this field. Some people skip them and some other don't, but definitely I had rotoscoped and tracked... And you know what now I realize how important is that job, even though some people don't get, anyways why does anyone wants to do it???

Here is a sneak peak:

Everyone assumes VFX happen in an office that looks something like Mythbusters except with excited artistic types gathering around computers, talking about what kind of dinosaurs they want to make today. And for the top ranking people, the ones who get to talk on the DVD special features, it might be.

But several steps down the ladder from those guys, you have an army of peons whose job descriptions seem to have been created as part of some cruel psychological experiment. If you dream of a career making super heroes fly, these jobs are where you'll start, and you may never leave.

So, as you watch some $200 million VFX-filled blockbuster this summer that has CG in basically every frame, remember to say a prayer for the...

Andy Cochrane Image

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_18486_the-5-miserable-vfx-jobs-that-make-movies-possible.html#ixzz0yCpmi52l

HoW To TrAiN yOur DRAGON!

2010-04-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I just went to the cinema and saw "How to train your Dragon", the new film from Dreamworks. I must say I came out happy, but personally expected more. First of all the story is really good, I loved it. The animation was great, such as effects. But let's talk about the 3d design...

1. CHARACTERS
They were created with a fresh style, influenced by Nicolas Marlet. They were cool, the eyes expression, the gestures, really well done.

BUT... THE DRAGONS
I really expected more from them. The design reminded me of POKEMON, that movie from a couple of years ago. Isn't it weird the way "CHIMUELO" looks alike to MEWTWO? Even to STICH, the little monster of Lilo. Even though I loved the expression of the eyes, how they worked the pupil was nicely done to produce the ideal feeling.

The other ones, definitely looked simple. I know is a different style, new kind of look, but even people that don't know about animation told me that they could look better. I totally agree. Being a huge fan of eyes, those looked just like spheres.

2. TEXTURE
It looked really good, can't deny it. The people skin loves it.

3. ANIMATION
No words, totally great. Dynamics look so smooth, the hair... I mean that is so good.

I guess people will have different opinions, but this is a potential proof that even the new ideas have influence or realte to another project... even if it is original someone could have created a similar one. Anyway good movie.

3d mOdELinG BoX!

2010-02-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! This time I wanted to share you a craftsman box I modeled for my 2d texturing class. I wanted to be semirealistic and have exact details of an original box. This exercise was just for texturing in psd, but since I like mental ray I prefered to use a mia shader with flakes, car shader. Then a blinn for the metal and then a black blinn for other details. I really liked the result, here is a wireframe and a render.

PD. This is a tip: Since I wanted to smooth it out, I noticed it wasn't necessary. This is because a box has strong lines, not curved. So I just did a bevel with 3 divisions really close and buala.

CuTe WeAr PaLeTTeS!

2010-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Hey guys yesterday I found this cool website for nice, vintage color palettes. It is based on the cloth, to make color combinations and look great. Great way to use palettes!

http://blog.wearpalettes.com/

NeW fOnT

2010-01-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, looking for new fonts I found this pretty eye catching, fun and stylish. From the TypeTrust Type, from the REM COLLECTION... really nice. VIA : VEER

WalK cYcLE

2010-01-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, looking though my work I found this animation we did in class. It was the first time I attempt to make a walking cycle animation. This type of animation is categorized as classical animation, meaning it is produced frame by frame. It was exciting and frustrating at the same time, and it let me think about the hard work every animator makes. Some peopel might think it is so easy to draw, but hey let me tell you that making thousands of drawings is not so fast. I did it based on a walking cycle drawing I found in my research and on top of this I started to draw my little monster. By the way I love MONSTERS!!! ARRRR! HAHAHA.

Anyway I let you here an onion version to see each of the 9 drawings I did to recreate it.

After that I created a background (repeating back) and added color to my monster. I wanted to have a nice vector and clean look, based on the PPG style.

AVATAR ReViEw!

2010-01-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, this week I went to the movies and it was necessary to see AVATAR. First of all let me tell you that I really enjoyed it, I mean it was so exciting to see all those graphics and the mood of every composition, colors, plants, elements and characters that complement each other giving the right balance for the scene. So it is so interesting for all of us, the animators and designers to iscover the process behing and I found this interesting videos. Check them out.

This other one is James Cameron talking about the process of the movie and making of, from idea to reality.

Let me tell you this is a new generation of movies and we will be part of it.
For more information: http://www.losmercenarios.net/como-se-filmo-avatar/
*IS IN SPANISH BUT YOU CAN TRANSLATE IT IN GOOGLE.

HaPpY nEw YeAr!!

2010-01-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hey guys I did this in a free time. I hope this year is teh best for everyone, in every sense... love, money, joy, peace and happiness. I wish you all the best and thanks for everything! Have an awesome start of year! HAPPY 2010!

FeAtUrEd oN COROFLOT member's gallery!

2009-11-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I was looking thorugh my email today and guess what? I was in the member's gallery of COROFLOT. I was excited haha, I must say. Check out this web, nice way to upload your work and get known.

NeW PrOjEcT Ae!

2009-09-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hey there, I just wanted to post my new little project for a Construction Company here in Mexico and recently this little video was to make a difference in their presentation for Panama... well congrats to Grupo Ticonsa for their success in that country, now starting new projects over there.

Everything was done in 2 days and want to thanks Adolfo for the audio, who did a great job and was so professional. Thanks man!

Software: After Effects and Photoshop CS3.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KING OF POP

2009-08-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, as you know the king of pop died on June 25, of a cardiac attack as a result of a drug mix to sleep because of his insomnia. I still remember that day, I couldn't believe it... Michael Jackson is death at 50 years old.

All the world was in shock, the biggest male music icon was death and his presence was gone. I want to day he was an amazing entertainer, the best one. Such a purity in his heart, noble and an enormous heart. I am no one to critique his rumors and scandals, all I can see are the facts of his life: love that can't lie. An adult who didn't lose his strength to get amazed about things in life and really care about the world, the people and love.

Smile, even though is hard... he was a great human. Even he is not here, his legacy is alive for centuries, his talent, music and dance steps... will be here remembering us who was Michael Jackson.

So all I want to say is happy birthday to the only one: THE KING OF POP MICHAEL JACKSON.
Even he is in a better place a big from Earth our brother.

“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”

Michael Joseph Jackson

DiGiTaL pAiNtIng!

2009-07-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hey, this time I wanted to share a painting I did for a studio as a test. Supposed to be in a wacom tablet but since I don't have one yet haha, I did it with the mouse. It was hard, really hard for details, personally prefer the wacom tablet to paint, maybe a Citiq! that would be great!

WhIcH cAr Is FoR yOU?

2009-06-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, as you know branding, marketing and design are evolving in this era. The contemporary design and innovation is the key to attract the audience, which is getting harder everyday.

So I found this cool and creative ad from Audi. It shows different keys, being a characteristic key that every customer looks in a car. Well done, check it out!

NiCe MaRkEtInG FOR OpTiCAL Brand!

2009-06-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Today I found a nice ad for a optical brand called Mo Multiópticas, based in Spain. The creativity it involves is great, guided by another sense and visual game. Check it out¡

NiCe TaNK CaSe StudY

2009-06-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, looking through the net I found this amazing case study presentation. Take the time to see the design and creative process.

PrInCeSS FrOG

2009-06-08T15:41:00.001-07:00

Hey, as Disney fans would know... They are going back to the 2d animation, the classical animation type of films. Must say a little bit risky about being in times where 3d animation is cosolidated.

This film is directed by Ron Clements y John Musker, the same ones of The Little Mermelaid and Aladdin. The story is about princess Tiana, who finds a frog that tells her to kiss him and then he will become a prince, but... the kiss didn´t work as it supposed to.

30 seconds PrEviEw!

2009-06-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hey finally here it is! A preview I found about the amazing new short from Pixar Studios. Take a look, I must say the texture and animation job is pretty amazing as always.

dOn't LiE To Me.... your face tells the truth!

2009-04-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hey, looking through animation blog I found this video about a new program from FOX called "Lie to me". I saw the trailer and it looks pretty interesting, ashamed that is not currently in Mexico.

Anyway, this besides being a really original and interesting tv show, it will be pretty helpful for animators 2d and 3d for facial rigging and expressions. Take a look!

New pIxAr short!!!!

2009-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Yeap, as you heard it, a new animated short from Pixar, thanks to the author and idea creator Peter Shon. Here is a brief story about how it started....

In this film, clouds not only take on the familiar animal shapes we often see forming above, but cloud people actually create real babies. One cloud, Gus, has mastered the art of creating beautiful, but especially dangerous infants – crocodiles, porcupines, and others like that – and they make the delivery service increasingly difficult for Peck, the stork.

... Animated films are still his passion, though. In fact, one Disney film that he saw with his mother when he was a child influenced “Partly Cloudy.”

“The idea came from ‘Dumbo,’” Sohn says. “I’ve seen that film so many times. There’s a scene in the beginning where a stork delivers animal babies and the last one he delivers is Dumbo. I always wondered where the birds get the babies. Then I realized that they come from clouds and that’s why they have to be delivered by birds. I just dine on those early films.”

It’s a diet that has served him well.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!!!!

HiStOrY Of ROTOSCOPING

2009-04-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, this time I want to share this amazing article abut ROTOSCOPING, form beginning to end. The software packages that vfx artist use and the difference between them. Explanation and images about it, anyway a fully complete article in all the sense.

Take the time to read it, it is very interesting and usefull for this industry.

DIGITAL FUSION

SHAKE (images from : fxguide.com )

LoVe TYPOGRAPHY???

2009-04-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, driving through the web haha, it sounds funny... I found this amazing designer, for me a typography designer. His name is Pablo Abad, a graphic designer and art director in Madrid, Spain.

He is guided by typography and for sure you can appreciate this in his portfolio. I was really amazed and I like it a lot. Typography is a world full of letters that can be transformed into beauty.

WhaT wiLd Things!

2009-04-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hey you! I found this video trailer today. I saw it last year at my school in Vancouver. It reminded me my friend Louie, he was so excited about it. He keep saying about this book his mom read to him when he was little.

To be sincere, I have no idea of this book... But it's actually pretty famous. So I'll have to read it.
This video is amazing, I would love to see the making of.

What do you think about it?

HUeVO cArtoon!

2009-03-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hey, 3 weeks ago we finished a commercial for KFC promoting "OTRA PELICULA DE HUEVOS Y UN POLLO". I was in charge of modeling the little toys and the Box meal.

It was easy, I could say the hardest part was the compositing. Things getting match with the 2d animation and perpective, so many changes and renders! But I really enjoy it and at the same time alucinated the audio.... me quedaron rebonitos.... !!!!

LoGo PropoSal!

2009-03-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hey, me again! Here is the logo proposal for a entertainment music show in USA. The concept idea is a retro funk colorful style. Their actual logo is composed by two cubes with bevel text on it.

I really liked the final design, and in high res y better. Waiting for the answer, many submissions were made here at Playpost tv.

SOFTWARE: MAYA 8.5 AND PHOTOSHOP
TEXTURE: MENTAL RAY
MODELING: AUDIO CABLE

VeEr FacEs!

2009-03-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Long time without blogging. Well I have been busy working at several projects here in the studio. I just finished a logo that I loved, it is so retro style. But I will post this later.

Now I wanted to share this website application with the well known site VEER. It is so cool, I spend around an hour playing this at work, so funny!
Make your face is a new kind of game that veers offers in the web, you can create faces with so many options, from serious to super cool ones.

Hope you enjoy it as I did.

FACE BUILDER

FLASH tyPing!!

2009-03-09T16:13:00.001-07:00

Hey, navigating through the web I found this amazing flash type generator. It is simple but keeps you there. And again here is my name in the german style, for me is more retro than that hahaha.

Chek it out:

Try it yourself: http://www.typeflash.com

in LoVe WitH mY nAMe!!!

2009-02-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody, this time I play with my name text. Some free time, mmm what else to do? So it was time to be creative! I play around with my name in MAYA 2008 and bevel it. It was simple but something was missing... I like simple but detailed things. Researching time.... and finally I start to wonder about ambient occlusion in Mental Ray. I most say, it is awesome! finally those smooth shadows and plain white texture, absolutely beautiful.

Rendered and adding some stuff in PSD, I really love it. It is simple but rich in meaning, just me and how I am.

PD. SORRY about the quality, I will try to fix it :)

FIrsT CG sCeNe!!!!

2009-01-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I couldn't wait to show you this. I mean, I was in shock!... finally I got a really good 3d scene. Everything started with a MAYA TUTORIAL, which congratulations to the guy or girl who did it. After 2 days HERE IS THE RESULT.

The textures were all 85 percent done with UV MAPPING. The cup and sugar cane a design of myself, plus stock images of the food.

I learn a lot! How to use HDRI images, reflection, scattering, ambient, I mean more in depth the textures field. And believe me, they are completely important, I could say the most important!
You could even have a cube and a plane, but with the texture you can create anything!!!

Hope you like it!

CaLacA... KillIng FoR yOur BoNeS!!!

2009-01-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! As I told you, free time = creative stuff. Now, I bring digital a sketch I did inspired in my visit to a piercing shop. The guy here has lots of skeletons and those things hahaha, you know what I mean. It was November and here in Mexico we celebrate the calling "DIA DE MUERTOS DAY", this is a special traditional day in which mexicans bring food and remember their dead people. It is supposed they come and it the soul of the food and make us companion for a while.

Anyway, so being surrounded by so many skeletons and so on my hands created a nice, funny skeleton head. In my free time here, I created this. I thought it needed something funny.

After thinking, I decided to put this.... a phrase we say when we like so much someone, I don't know how to explain it... well you kill to be with that person. It was done in fully Illustrator and type from veer.com .

CeLL PrOpOsAL!

2009-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! This time I will post a really quick and nice project at the end. The plan here was to create a cell animation as a proposal for a Pharmacy. I said to myself... Oh gosh!, I mean modeling a cell is just simple for the trick is in the texture. By looking for texture tutorials, shaders and so on, the pre-final proposal looked amazing! Emmy and I were just playing with them, simple but special animation to them and before Combustion edition it looked really good. Here it is...

YUpI!!! My FiRst FlUiD iN BLENDER!

2009-01-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, lately I started to work in Blender. This is free 3d software application, which has been used to make amazing 3d short films like BIG BUNNY. (I love this character is amazingly cute and modeled)

So I download it on the day before yesterday, and let me tell you that in the beginning was horrible! I just move and didn't achive anything! The interface is intimidating, I first got use to C4D ,later on Maya and now Blender. But OMG! So many buttons and directions, hidden keys, new ways to save and render.

So my mission was to learn the interface, a whole day of watching video tutorials and reading let me move in it. I mean, not at a 100 percent, but I know how to move everything, scale, rotate, set screen settings and so on. And today I decided to start with FLUID SIMULATION, this software lets you create fluids without many plugins. I would love to work with REAL FLOW , but at the end there are other ways if you don't have it.

Looking at fluid simulations at youtube using BLENDER, I said to myself, hey it looks realllyyyy good for liquids. So here I go again, learn what are fluids, domains, obstacle and so on, and here is what I achieved....

After baking so many times, and moving, and redoing, I got this render shot. Pretty good for being a beginner in this, hopefully I will make more. And, if you ask me how I put the texture on, I really don't know. I did the texture and achieved the water look, but by clicking and moving it was on the fluid. Yeah!

GiRL bEaUty PaInTinG!

2009-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, now that I have been working on PLAY TV here in Mexico City in my free time I try to make creative stuff. This time I draw a sketch from a girl and mmm I really like it.

So I decided to take advantage of it and make use of the Wacom Tablet at work. It took me around 10 hours, the final version was modified in a cold mood color. Here it is, and hey isn't she beautiful?

Hope you like it.

UP Till the SkY!!!

2008-12-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hey, another quickie news. Disney Pixar has been working on several projects for us, the next year they will show up the movie call "UP". Pretty interesting story and nice 3d animation as always. A creative story and what else can I say? Let's wait to have a complete opinion. Opens May 29, 2009.

ShReK iN bRoAdWaY!!!!

2008-12-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, how are you? I am pretty good , I can say I will have an amazing end of year, but I will keep you inform soon about it, just some things need to be fixed and have a deal. Anyway, I wanted to post this. As you moght know, I love 3d animation, Pixar, Disney and Dreamworks. Anything that is related to this creative world amazes me. The last 2 weeks I have been preparing xmas stuff and navigating, and researching in the web. Suddenly I found this!

Do you remember Shrek? Of course! Who can forget this movie. Well now the magic is real, as you hear it!

"A very big, slightly gross, and entirely beautiful new musical has come to your neck of the woods. Based on William Steig’s classic book and the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film, SHREK THE MUSICAL tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure.

With an unforgettable score of all-new songs and breathtaking scenery and costumes, SHREK THE MUSICAL brings this hilarious and beloved story to dazzling new life right in front of you. Part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun, SHREK THE MUSICAL proves that there’s more to this story than meets the ears."

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

SOURCE: Shrek in Broadway

MaYa TyPoGrApHy!

2008-12-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hey, lat day in Maya Class Pablo teach us how to simulate ray lights inside a letter. The first thing is to bring the AI 8 cropped letters and later bevel plus them. After this is done the letter curve is duplicated and located in front of each one. Then a simple loft (be careful in this step, one by one cause right now Maya can't do it into a group), add a transparent texture, then 3 ray lights one up, one down and one at the side, all of them at the same center point. Adjust some light attributes and buala!

I add some texture to the bevel ones and enchanted it a little bit in PSD. Hope you like it!

PhoTOsHoP cs4!

2008-12-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, last week I had the opportunity to attend the Adobe CS4 Presentation in thw WTC MEXICO. It was really amazing. In the main table of experts were a Flash Web developer with 26 certifications! a video production designer, a Photoshop certified expert and a InDesign magazine editor.

The new feautures are really useful in many programs of the package. InDesign has a new feature to export the magazine or project like a pw presentation with buttons, links and the new way to export a interactive magazine!

Flash is easier now! What can I tell you, motion tween wasn't so easy. After Effects, Premiere... Photoshop can paint 3d, create basic 3d objects and more about the 3d world. Really useful for many of us! And my favorite ILLUSTRATOR, now we are able to work in many different parts of a project and export it in many ways as pdf.

Merry ChIStMaS iNsPiRaTiOn!!

2008-12-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, as you know Christmas eve is coming is a few days. Wuau! I can remember last year I was in school over there in Canada. Anyway, such amazing experiences.

I love to look for tutorials for something new and there were so many desktop wallpapers, and I ask myself why not? I love vintage and Victorian style, lately I have learn that the simple things are the most artistic things. So I created a nice Christmas wallpaper, based in this, just a Victorian texture, some lights, shadows, nice text and a element that stands out form everything... 2009!!!!

Hope you like it.

NOTE. Click on the image, a new window will open then save it on your PC.

A LiTTlE bIt LaTe!!!

2008-11-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, I am working on crowdSpring until I get a real job. I was so happy that I was like um? why not? So I started to create some stuff for projects on this page. I finished two but... They closed!!! It is so bad! ha ha, anyway big lesson for next time!

Project for conductor team (ONLY logo reserved)

Project for use case in LinkedIn (ONLY logo reserved)

Note: This projects were proposals and all rights reserved FOR LOGO to each company.

DyNaMiCs

2008-11-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, this time I learn dynamics in Maya. It is really easy, not too much work to do, just to have pretty much attention to the passive and active objects. The only tip is to have a really good computer because Dynamics takes too much RAM MEMORY.

Here is a look of the experiment, just balls with mental ray and dynamics.

ArE YoU A mOnKeY?

2008-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hey, I found this amazing picture on the web. It was so funny that I couldn't resist and I wanted to add something. Thinking I remembered a Mexican friend during my VFS studies. He always call everyone monkeys. In the beginning I didn't knew what he mean, but later on I realized everything. Hahaha and it is true! I decided to look on the web and actually there is a website! for monkey work! (http://www.jobmonkey.com)

For those who didn't understand, here is a definition :

1. MONKEY WORK


	Useless miscellaneous tasks or duties assigned to someone capable of more challenging work. These tasks are usually boring and require very little brain activity. The type of work involved is somewhat professional, but still monotonous and stupid to the employee. "I just got demoted at my job. The crap I'm doing now is frickin' monkey work."

So I ask you ....

RayTracing MayA!!

2008-11-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

Hey just playing with a Maya assignment I achieved this effect. It uses Raytracing for MAYA and the final result looks pretty good. Just a plane floor and a model light, helping with a background image and there you go.

AnIMO For MaYa aNd 3d MaX!!!

2008-10-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hey, I found this software I never heard. It is called ANIMO from Cambridge Animation Software. It is use for 2d animation, and it has a plugin for Maya and 3dMax called "SCENE III". This way you create everything in 3d and later render as a 2d animation. Also there is "INKWORKS" which gives your animation a cartoon cel look with the flat painted and outline style.

It emulates traditional methods of classical animation, such as production and the key stages for the digital process. This is the way it works.

Reference: http://www.animo.com/3d/3d.php

StILL DREAMING!!!

2008-10-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, what's up! Lately I have been so into 3d and texturing that I remember a project I did combining the typography with textured colors on it plus some enhancements that communicated the idea of the composition. I used Cinema 4d for the main base, type, floor and white paper. Then I brought it to Photoshop and buala. This was a the first approach for a contest the IED MADRID made a month ago. I really like it, so I wanted to share it to you.

WATER WITH MAYA... fluids!!!

2008-10-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, this time I wanted to post something really nice. I saw it and right away came to my mind a similar poster technique in 2d. I am talking about the famous water dress, used in Photoshop and other ads.

This time traveling in the web hahaha that sounds funny, anyway, I found this video that reminds me Gisele's Ad Poster. Here is the original ad and a making of picture on set. She is wearing a bikini and later on photo retouching comes.

And this is the ad for Mattoni Star mineral water, it is really good.

Mattoni Star from watch it on Youtube.

Here is a description of the post production process:

"The water dress itself was a great challenge since it's the first time in a moving water dress has been created. The main challenge was finding a concept for the dress that gave it both a design and volatile, liquid properties. The research and developpement department experimented a lot untilthey had a behaviour that is both naturally fluid and stylized enough to be recognized as a dress worthy top model.

For the creative process Blackmountain wrote their own fluid simulation force in Maya, and by carefully using particles forces they were able to give them the shape of the dress. The designer then combined several passes of particles in Houdini, created a water surface, and rendered it out of using an animated version of Hana as a holdout for reflections and refractions.

The resulting particles were then deformed and transformed into liquid surfaces in Houdini, and rendered in Houdini mantra renderer, using physically based mode. Additional splashed were done in real-flow. In order to get such a perfect adoption to the model, Hana was created as a 3D Bodyscan. In the compositing some real water layers were combined with the artistic 3D water. The shooting was performed on 35mn in 2 long nightshoots in Carlsbad."

TeStInG TuToRiAl!!!

2008-10-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hey, I have been looking lipsync and blend shapes for the meeper character. It has been hard but at the end it will definitely looked good. My textured environment scene is still in stock, until I finally arrive to rendering and mental ray. I really like texturing, it is really interesting but in maya there area many options like bump, specular, shading, bla bla bla. It is complicated!

Anyway, I can't wait to really see how texture could look more realistic, here is a proof of what I have seen in tutorials. I am waiting to arrive to mental ray and other rendering details.

BaCk To VecToR aRT!!!

2008-10-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I found a vector image I left incomplete. Well during this weekend, besides trying to paint and advance a little bit more in my oleo painting I decided to keep doing this portrait. Since I remember, I was shocked with the beautiful eyes of this girl in the cover.

Yes, this image that has been all around the world. I am talking about the most important cover National Geographics has ever had, it made history. The photographer was Steve McCurry, who had the luck to take this picture in 1984 during his stay in Afghanistan. The cover was first published in 1985 and sold millions of copies.

McCurry went back to find this afghan girl...

"She was identified through a series of contacts that led to her brother and husband, who agreed to ask her if she was willing to be interviewed. "

And it was in March 2002 when the photographer had luck, he finally found the 17 years old girl who picture a long ago.

"This is the face that so captivated not only National Geographic readers but also anyone who saw her image around the world," said Boyd Matson, host of the National Geographic television show EXPLORER, who was with the group that met with Gula.

So this is the image I have been working on again, making use of Gradient mesh and vectors. The eyes took me almost 2 complete days to finish and recreate the amazing color. This is the first time I ever mix gradient mesh, since I don't use it very often, but training makes someone better. Until now I am still working on the skin shadows....

REFERENCE:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0311_020312_sharbat.html

TeXtUrE, CoLoR AnD BuMp!

2008-10-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hi, hello, hello... Now is time to color the uv map. Bring the uv to photoshop, to make this in the uv editor select snapshot and save it. Then open it and start to color it. You will have to be logic and check where is the eyes, head, finger, nails and so on.

You could support in Maya if you have doubt, slecting a uv and then you will be able to locate it in your uv map. Make a base color and then keep going with the shadows, middle tones and at the end details. In my case I add some marks in a brown tone. Be careful doing this, I have been having problems to make it smooth in the cuts.

Try to keep the same color and shadows in the connections. After you are done and test it in your model you will be able to apply it to it and create the bump.

Bump is really helpful, it creates the ilusion of bevel without having it in your model. You can create it in the same UV color psd. Just leave the details that will bevel and turn it into a black and white image, or grayscale. Export it and in your texture is a link for BUMP so click the little checker square and load your file. You can fix the depth and all this attributes for better results. Check it out here:

Here is my textured meeper or chubbs, as you want to call it. Of course as I keep learning it will get better.

Uv MaPpInG!!!!

2008-10-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hey there!!! As you know I have been working on a 3d model called chubbs or meeper in some cases. Now is the turn for UV MAPPING. Some of you might ask what is this???? ....

"UV mapping is a 3D modeling process of making a 2D image representing a 3D model. The map transforms the 3D object onto an image known as a texture. In contrast to "X", "Y" and "Z", which are the coordinates for the original 3D object in the modeling space, "U" and "V" are the coordinates of the transformed object. This creates the effect of painting the image onto the surface of the 3D object."

You just need to understand that is the way to unfold the polygon into a 2d dimension. To make this first of all you need to have the model completely done. I mean you can add edges and some vertex, but not too much cause it could affect the uv. Add a planar mapping with a checker texture, it will look something like this:

After this is done, you will divide the model in parts: head, body, legs, armas, hands and so on. This is done by selecting the complete division edge (remember that all the model needs to have logic in the direction as well to be continuous) and then cut uv edges.

This part will be separeted from the body by selecting a uv for the area, and then in the uv editor right click / select/ select shell. The whole shell will be selected and you will be able to move it to leave space to cut the other parts. After all the model is cut now you will unfold.

For example the head, select the edge that divides in the middle the head and cut it again. Separate it, and now is time to unfold. But remember something, diselect one uv from the top and the bottom, this means this won't move and will stay in the same position. After you have unfold both, try to put them close to each other, select the edges of the middle and sew them. Buala!

NOTE: Not all the time this will be the best, you will need to play with the sew and unfold to have the best results.

Here is a pic of what I am talking about:

MoDeLiNg mEePeR!

2008-09-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hey it is been a while since my last post. I have been working on my module 2 in the Autodesk Certified Maya Course. This time I learn modeling, my instructor Pablo is really good! He works in one of the most important TV channels in Mexico and many other countries. He creates entries and logos, as well modeling and more. Anyway, hahah it looks like I am promoting him!

Well, the first thing to model is the character references. What is this? Well, for those who don't know this is a sketch of the character you want to create in 3d. This sketch needs at least 3 views: front, top and side. The reason of this is because Maya works in this views and while you are extruding and arranging vertex you need to match the dimensions of it.

Side: if it is fat or not, Front: the long of the feet, the knees, and top: the hands, and arms... but remember this: the sketch needs to be preferably with the arms and hands extended. You might ask why, but this makes you easier the process in animation while you add the skeleton.

For modeling there are many ways to do this, the one I used and that is really easy is the extruding of faces, you just start everything with a POLYGON CUBE, not a NURBS... Remember this are different things.

A polygon is based in faces that join in vertex, while nurbs are based in isoparms. A polygon model needs to be extruded in order, this means while you are aranging and movin g the points you need to be sure to allign them (this can be done selecting them and with the move tool selected keep press the x key, this allows you to allign them automatically to the grid). Believe me, this gives you a sense of direction in each edge and at the time to create the UV MAPPING makes your life easier.

Well, after lots of hours in te computer this is my result, the super meeper of the Maya 7 Book Character edition. The first one is in a smooth mode while the last one is in polygon form.

Any questions please send a comment, remember details make the model special, and even more in the final render. I will work on the UV, animation and eyes to keep you in track of this process.

mAyA EnViRoNMeNt!

2008-08-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hey, happy new now. I finished my first model environment in Autodesk Maya. It took me tons of time! and I really give my best. For the modeling I experience with revolve, extrude, smooth, etc. I learned a lot from tutorials! they help a lot.

I have experienced with Cinema 4d and Maya. I can definitely tell you that the interface is more friendly in C4D, really, with so many dynamics and mograph, is amazingly helpful. But also the materials are prests there, I mean you can create them easier than in Maya, but modeling is easier with it.

Maya needs more specifications and work, lighting is a nightmare. It took me more than a day to get a global ilumination, what I couldn't use was mental ray and ray tracing, but I wil in module 4. C' mon! I just started module 2, modeling of characters, and let me tell you is gettig harder everytime!!!!

Here are some tips for you guys:
-Be patient, not everything is with a click in Maya.
-Move lights and things until you get the desire result.
-Don't be afraid to make msitake, you always have the CTRL - Z
-Practice, if you don't you will never get better.
-Use the same texture for the bump, just transfro it to b-w in psd and adjust the levels.

PeAcE In MeXiCo!!!!

2008-08-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hey, this post will be different. As you know Mexico has been a democratic country and it is really rich in culture. Mexicans are people with hard working attitude, nice and happy people. I am not just telling this, it is true! The only thing that is wrong with my country is the government and the consequences of it. All the corruption inside and the unemployment, the people who is in the top feels the power in the little ones.... and unfortunately we can't make nothing!

There are thousands of families without resources to survive, but do the government cares? Of course not!! The ones who suppose to take care of it just don't care at all, they just discuss and they seem to make the minimum effort. Mexico has 128 senadores and 500 diputados, we are the 5th country with more "legisladores", and for what? for nothing!

But I am getting angry, let's go to the point. Is enough! Mexican society got together as a country, the people who is fed up with all the crimes and kidnapping in the last months. The first one was the son of Marti, the owner of this store. He was only 14 years old and they killed him! even they said they got the money. The next one was the daughter of the owners of the club Nelson Vargas, the found her death in a car and she was rapped.

I mean, why? what's going on with the society! It seems we are trapped in the medieval times!
People has fear to go out, this is not freedom! We don't want to leave a country full of shit!

Yesterday I felt proud of everybody, we join and walk against all this. We raise our voice to the government and let them know we want peace, security and a better life! It was amazing! So many people dressed in white with a candle that shined as the hope that lives in our heart to live like a healthy society, as humans.

The start time was at 6 pm in the Independence Angel and it finished at 9 pm in the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico, where the national anthem sound like never!
Mexico is beautiful, full of magic and rich in many senses, and this is a proof of the power of our society.

NeW PiEcE!

2008-08-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. In the recent months my life has changed a lot and I feel kind of apart of what I love to do. I have been studying and learning once again from experiences, people and the real world. Few weeks ago I received an invitation of a person who likes what I do, my style and the message people receives through my work. So I decided to keep doing what I like, I am trying to finish it for that person who believes in me. Working late in night and finding new stuff in the web, I already have the look frame of it. It will follow my philosophy of dreams and the circumstances we are living in the world right now. I must tell you that it's not easy to take classes, work and have homework or school projects, but I need to follow my visions. Here is the first look frame, I promise I will work ad hard as I can to get a great piece.

MAYA uPdAtE!!!

2008-08-11T11:59:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, well I have been taking classes in Maya Autodek 9. It is really exciting and amazingly powerful. Right now is the basics, but as you know I have some experience in Cinema 4d. The tools are a little bit different but it has pretty much the same as Cinema. The last class I enter to Modeling and I created a simple scene. You can see the difference of light and the settings without fixing it. Look the before and after.

ReACh OuT

2008-07-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hello hello, now is the turn for a really cute video. The design is simple but the message beside it is really clear. A group of little shapes are in a room with black and white, until they work together to reach the top window and boom! Colors appear and they paint their life!!! Do you relate with it?

"There is no greater disability than a closed mind"
- Patricia Ana

REFERENCE LINK: http://www.adobe.com/flashon/?v=dfa2b05b25e5c82

GrEaT cReATiViTy In AdVeRtIsInG!

2008-07-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hey, her is an bunch of really good ads,creative and interactive. This shows the revolution that brand, advertising and creativity are taking. There is a great collection!

This is one of my favorites, dreams come true!

REFERENCE:
Retrieved July 2008,
http://malevi4.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/creative-interactive-outdoor-advertising/

GrEaT iLLuStRaToR!

2008-07-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, as you know (people that knows me of course haha) I love to be researching and looking for fun, new and inspirational stuff like illustrations, books, magazines, tutorials and more. This time I found tons of things but the one that I am going to talk about is the beautiful work of the french illustrator called Adolie Day.

Her designs are so cute and have a unique style, classy and detailed, full of feeling. The image posted is from the "La Marelle", as you know is in french and I don't count with it, hopefully one day I will, for sure!.

Congratulatiosn to this illustrator and enjoy!

REFERENCE:
Retrieved July 10, 2008
http://adolieday.blogspot.com/

WEDDING DESIGN!

2008-06-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, it's been a while since a posted my last project. Well I am a Digital Designer officially now and this was my first job as a freelance. The main objective was to design a wedding service website interface for a couple and to have a set of invitations that matches the style. Reena, my buyer was really nice and we had a great connection. This was really satisfactory for me, experience something new and at the same time learn more. This work showed me a new way of invite people to the wedding and all the things that this requires. Hope you like it!

SORRY I AM NOT ABLE TO SHOW YOU GUYS THE FINAL DESIGN OF THE SET, BUT HERE IS THE WEBSITE AND THE FIRST DESIGN FOR THE SET.

WEBSITE DESIGN

FIRST SAMPLE DESIGN

PD. Rights reserved for Reena

2D PoStCaRd!

2008-04-17T11:37:00.001-07:00

Hello there!I got my final postcard again, looking at my stuff finally I got it. It was done in 2d class and it was about designing a post-card about any song. As some of you know I love dance, so resarching and looking in You Tube I decided for Fergalicious of Fergie. The theme is sexiness hahaha as I put mine in FB. Well anyway I really liked the final result.

DeMo Reel!

2008-04-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hey almost graduated! It is an awesome feeling, but I definitely can tell you that has been the greatest and most exhausted year of my life! I have learn so many things in professional and personal ways, you have no idea. I came knowing just filters in PSD, tweening shapes in Flash, Authorware, mmmm what else ah! how could I forget it, WORD, PP AND EXCEL hahahaha. Basically being done here is scary but I am pretty confident I will make it outside. I am young and have tons of ideas and goals, this was one of them... and believe me when I want something I get it. I meet lots of people and make few goooood friends (munchink!, moy,andie, annie, lol, etc etc etc) hahaha so many. Anyway I think I am getting so emotional hahaha and this is not my journal, so here is just a preview of some of my works during this year. Enjoy it!:)

Demo Reel from ana karen on Vimeo.

FiNal Motion Piece

2008-04-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

Hey it is been a long time since I don't post anything. Well during all this four months I work in this motion piece, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I really enjoy it, but to be honest there were some times that I hate it. I learn a lot and I research like crazy, but I didn't care I love to go to the library and found tons of cool books of animation, drawing, dreams and all that kind of stuff. Also I introduce myslef to the world of pop ups, it is awesome! I really admire the people who designs this kind of books. Well here it is, my final motion piece, hope you enjoy it!

Where dreams begin from ana karen on Vimeo.

PRINCESS AND PRINCE

2008-02-04T18:33:00.001-08:00

FAIRY FINAL DIGITALIZED

2008-02-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

FOREST

2008-02-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

BaCkGrOunD fOr PrInCeSS!

2008-02-02T19:37:00.000-08:00

Hey, what's up? I have been working really hard this days, designing and researching for the disney style I want to project in the animation. I was frustated about it,but finally I got it. So this will be the final background for the wedding scene in the animation. Also I created one for the fairy, which I am thinking to re-create, this was created with pure brushes. Anyway I liked more the one in vector disney style.

AniMaTiOn TesT

2008-01-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

Hey, I have been working in my final. I will make animation, I was researching and looking for stuff. Then I started making some test until I did this, is really short but I got the basics of movements and all that stuff.

Animation test from ana karen on Vimeo.

3D Free StuFF !

2008-01-21T14:31:00.001-08:00

Hi, today I was playing with 3d free stuff and I found a great model of a chinese guy. It was just a simple object, so I wasn't able to texture each part. Instead I use body paint, and create a good final render. Here you can see it, there are really good models if you seacrh for them in case you are interested here are some links:

turbosquid.com, 3dextras.com

Fairy sKeTcHES!

2008-01-18T15:21:00.001-08:00

Hey, for my final project I decided to choose the topic of imagination. I also think about fairies, like I love them! I was making some sketches for the final part, when the old lady opens the book and some sparkles come out. I don't know yet if I will use them, or use just some pixie dust instead of, while thinking that I paint one of the sketches , it was done in Photoshop with pure brushes. The only problem is the hair, I couldn't figure out how to fix the border, but I promise I will fix it,
until now here it is! I really like it.

2D MeSh TooL!!

2008-01-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

In today's 2d class I was introduced in a more complete way to the mesh tool on Illustrator. Making the first steps was a little bit hard, but finally with the amazing tutorial of the red pepper I finally did it! For my surprise the final result wasn't so bad! Here it is, check it out!

FounD SoMe sTuFF

2007-12-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

Hey what a surprise, looking up in my hard drive tonight I found some stuff I did for a contest almost one year ago. It was about creating a poster about anorexia but without using skinny girls or directly something that refers to that. You could use some but in a interesting way. Well I came up with two ideas, the first one was about a cosmetic kit for an anorexic.

The concept was that the supplies for them were pills, sticks, paint for nails with 0 calories, and all that.

The second one consisted in two apples, I choose this fruit because is one of the ones that has less calories and everybody likes them. S o I compare them, one is nice with beautiful color, kind of those delicious apples. The other one is skinny and has nothing left, but the shadow o it is really big. Is a little bit abstract the concept, but some poeple got it. They were made with pencil colors and I spend almost 4 days coloring them.

Just to show you guys!

FinaLLy mUsIc ViDeO dOnE!

2007-12-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hey, we already finish the term 4!!! amazing!!! I am so excited, it was really tuff, but anyway xmas and new year are coming. But here is the final music video, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done!. It took almost 6 weeks plus one to plan it. Long nights were needed to finish it. But I am very happy with the result, I learn how hard is to work in a team and how fun is sometimes. I met new people and also I made new friends, for all that an applause for the product. So here it is, ladies and gentlemans .... presenting I got something, team A ,starring Sean Dillon.... 1, 2 ...3!

I got something from ana karen on Vimeo.

BooK CoVeR???

2007-11-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hey, I just finish the draft of my book cover for Printing design. It will be a abc book of typography, to be able to use some designs we made for last term in Typography. I use a new technique and I love it!!! Here it is!

LoOk FrAMe mUsIc ViDeO!

2007-11-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

Hey here is a lookframe of our music video, until now is going really good!. Hopefully the music video will be awesome, here is a lookframe .... awesome! hahaha

Xmas Is cOmInG!!!!

2007-11-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

Personally I love this season, well not so much since I knew Santa was dad hahaha, those days hahaha. Just kidding, well playing again with cinema 4d I create these spheres. I am pretty amazed on how light can help make the textures so real!!!. So jingle bells, jingle bells.....

DiSnEy SpEakErs!!!!

2007-11-15T21:13:00.001-08:00

Hey, last week I as just playing with cinema 4d and I came with this, haha I love magic and Disney is one inspiration. It is doesn't have so much detail but I learn the boole and other stuff.

BrANdInG pRoJeCt!!!

2007-11-15T20:48:00.000-08:00

Hey what's up guys!. I have been really busy all this term, actually I have been really stressed out because I have so many things to do, but anyway is going OK. I am taking motion design, branding and DVD authoring. I thought it was going to be easy but in fact it has been a little bit harder than what I thought. But I can make it hahahaha.

For my branding project I started with an idea of flowers, the reason why is because I notice with my research that this product is not branded in a good way. You are able to see ads of chocolates,wines,I mean you see more the Teddy bears and balloons than flowers in TV and billboards. The flowers are part of a culture, you can cal it a gift culture, but people don't see the meaning of them. Why we just give flowers in special days? So I came up with the idea of branding flowers, first because it can mean more things than just love, maybe because I care of a friend or just something more than valentines day, and second because I wanted to make the market grow.

Then I needed to change it a little bit after the first critical speech, so I talk with Sebastian and he told me a great idea. First of all the USP and then what are you promising the people. So flowers.... related with... weddings, mothers day...mmmm.... and I thought....kids!!!!

So this branding project will be about a deliver flower service for kids. This will give the kids the freedom to make their own piece of art using nature and at the same time it will have more meaning. The application will be a web interface design, which is in process right now. But so far I am working in the final logo and business cards, wire frames, etc.., I did a lot of research and you know what is pretty cool what I found, branding... such a big thing!!!!

ColOr mOtIoN InFo!

2007-10-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody, finally I was able to upload my final motion piece for last term. It was a short infographic about colors theory "the basics" such as primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Me and Jamie put a lot of effort to make it, we started to use cinema 4d and because of that we struggle with some stuff. I would like to thanks Kyle (3d instructor), Ron Serna, and my friend Sebastian for his tips. Here it is enjoy it!

COLORS MOTION from ana karen on Vimeo.

sWiRL and coding InSPiRaTiON!!

2007-10-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

In this break I am some stuff that I like in illustrator. Today I was looking for more info about processing and dynamic abstraction, while this I found cool stuff.
As a result of this inspiration I create this picture, is based in simple shapes and just overlapping each other. I lost the fear of making a mess, cause I always try to make things in order, hahaha. But here I didn't use gradients, which I loveeeee, and also I just use shapes. So here it is, inspired by abstractionism, swirls, sweetness and coding ....

NeW iNTeReSt????.... ME A DEVELOPER???? %^$#@@

2007-10-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hey what's up! Well end of term was cool, everybody was so happy!!! Congratulations to everyone, good job!!!. This term I discovered new inspiration, I was looking for ideas when de repente (spanish hahaha) I found a cool image . I love abstract design but this was amazing, since then I have been researching about it. The funny thing is that I hate coding but this is getting so much my attention!, and yeah is coding. But I don't know, with it I discovered that it's not so boring. Actually you can create awesome stuff with it.

I download Processing, right now I am still in the researching process and taking a look to other sources such as nodebox and more. While this I wanted to post a new inspiration for me ...

An audio responsive installation for the launch of Muon
from Kef and Ross Lovegrove

TYPOGRAPHY !

2007-10-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey !, this time for the final in typography I worked on designing something that describes the Uppercase. First I came with an idea inspired by the Capital letters, creating something that shows the size of it. I was struggling a lot with it, so then I decided to start from the beginning. And this is what I created, something more simple but artistic in my point of view. I love swirls and I mix it with the letters, to create a sense of luxurity.

"UPPERCASE_ bw version"_ typography final
Adobe Illustrator Photoshop