| CGX
: |
Hi
Stan. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your
profession? |
| Stan
: |
Hi
Pat. I am very happy to be on CNN because this will make me
famous. Oh? You are from *CMM? Click Multimedia Magazine?.
Whazzat? Anyway since I am online, let me make the most of
my 15 minutes of fame.
I started working in the advertising
business at a time when people still thought I was a signboard
painter, when I say I am in advertising. Because I worked
in smaller agencies, my job specification encompasses everything
from Visualising to Art Direction to Print production. Occasionally
I was also the copywriter and proofreader. Talk about multipurpose!
Then I started Stan Design
and freelanced as an airbrush illustrator serving the advertising
sector in 1982 . In 1988 I extended our perspective services
to developers . In 1995 we got our first computer and added
computer walkthroughs to our list of services. Currently we
are looking to character animation to take us into the new
millennium. And we are looking to LightWave to help us get
there.
(*CMN stands for
Click Multimedia News, designated to offer exclusive information,
interesting and enlightening news, promotional offers and
other juicy bits and bytes, on www.clickgrafix.com )
|
 |
| CGX
: |
How did you get
involved in 3D designing and how long have you been using LightWave
3D? |
| Stan
: |
I didn't know it
then, but I was already designing and working with 3D Space
way back in the 70's when I was an Art Director .I regularly
design exhibition and promotion booths for clients. It's like
being an architect where we worked with plans and elevations
first , then we have to visualize it in perspective so our clients
can understand our plans.
It wasn't until I was working with housing developers during
the property boom that I began to look to 3D software to help
us in our architectural perspective projects. The year was 1995
.I still remember how exciting it was to be able to build ENTIRE
townships and have it rotated and viewed in virtual space! WoW!
Fun as it was, I had wanted to try using 3D my work with mascots.
Another one of my passion in which I indulge whenever the job
calls for is character creation. The 3D package I was using
at that time was more geared towards buildings and I had enormous
problems trying to create an organic shape.
Then in 1997 somebody introduced me to this 'Germany' guy by
the name of Ahmed Balfakih. Funny name for a 'German' I thought
- until I found out he was Yemeni. But he was the friendliest
and most helpful guy you can ever meet. He showed me this programme
called LightWave that costs only RM 4,500 (I think) and told
me if I used a pirated version he will turn my office Mac into
a DOS machine. I bought a Mac version. |
 |
| CGX : |
Did you have any
experience in animation before starting on LightWave? |
| Stan
: |
I have always been
a fan of animated movies but I have never ventured into animation
because you have to use the flipcard method to test your drawings
and my big fat thumb always gets in the way. When I bought my
first 3D software I also bought a multimedia software bundle
that allowed me to do line tests of drawings I have done in
the course of my work - and presto - I have an animation. That
kind of sums up my experience before LightWave. |
| |
| CGX : |
Why did you choose LightWave? |
| Stan
: |
Why? It is cheap?
Seriously, I get to do what I want to do and I get to do it
fast. Modeling is superb, lighting is fantastic, and it is a
very deep programme. The deeper you go the more you find it
can do. I honestly have only scratched the surface. . |
| |
| CGX : |
So in your work, LightWave
is frequently used for / in… |
| Stan
: |
Character creation , although
I have also used it in walkthroughs and also to help sell some
3D designs. |
 |
| CGX : |
Has LightWave significantly
impacted your work in any way? |
| Stan
: |
Impacted? It has opened up a
whole new world. I used to be an airbrush illustrator. Now I
am a digital artist, and animator. It has widened my horizon
somewhat. |
| CGX : |
What other software do you
use besides LightWave and what software do you also use together
with LightWave? |
| Stan
: |
FormZ /Photoshop/Director/Video
toaster/Premier. |
| CGX : |
Tell us Stan, how many projects
have you produced using LightWave? |
| Stan
: |
It is difficult to keep track
of how many projects I do. Some involve LightWave in a big way,
in some LW plays a minor role. But generally if it involves
a 3D character, LightWave will come into play. |
| CGX : |
In the course of producing
something, what LightWave features are the most utilized for
most of your works? |
| Stan
: |
Modelling and Rendering |
| CGX : |
So, which is your favourite
and proudest achievement to date? |
| Stan
: |
In the course of learning the
programme I have modelled and animated babies, horses, chickens,
sexy girls, dragons, muscular men and I am proud of all these
as they represent the various stages of my learning curve. I
have done some interesting character animation on a Squirrel
mascot for Sukan SEA (Currently appearing on RTM 1 & 2)
but really nothing yet that is near where I want to be. |
 |
| CGX : |
And where would you like
to be? |
| Stan
: |
So far, I have mostly been working
on single character animation without a decent story line...mostly
TVC's. It would be quite challenging to work on a short story
featuring a few characters where I can explore facial expressions,
lipsync, and character interaction. |
| CGX : |
As an experienced LightWave
user, what are its winning points? How would you rate it compared
to other leading 3D software? |
| Stan
: |
Superb! I have been fascinated
by 3D since I saw a Benson & Hedges TVC in 1982. But the
high cost and learning curve involved in 3D programmes then
made it something that was economically and educationally unfeasible.
You have to be very rich and also be something of a rocket scientist
to fathom the workings of most of the programmes available.
LightWave is a bit like Ahmed - friendly to artists. Most of
us artist types just want to get right down and dirty and get
things done without having to plough through a library of 1000
page manuals. You can get in at any level. I was animating a
little baby riding on a horse before I found out that F9 is
for rendering. Which is what Ahmed is for - he knows all the
basics and he will HAPPILY tell you if you call him - even at
3 am in the morning. I guess this is the kind of support that
people like us need. "Hey Ahmed how do I..."
I have done some animation, which had some clients asking "Did
you do that on SoftImage?” Give a couple more years and
they will be asking "Did you do that on LIGHTWAVE?"
Then you know LightWave has arrived. |
| CGX : |
Mind sharing a little on
what you are currently working on? |
| Stan
: |
Currently? Nothing much. Just
wrapping up a hand drawn 2D animation of a fairy with swirling
hair and billowing clouds |
| CGX : |
Most CG artists and designers
have a personal style or significant trademark, to put it simply.
How would you describe yours? |
| Stan
: |
It is hard to put a finger on,
but I like the cartoony fun stuff more than the 'so real you
can't tell if it is or isn't' kind. |
| CGX : |
You draw inspiration from
… |
| Stan
: |
Japanese animation. |
| CGX : |
5 years down the
road … |
| Stan
: |
Hopefully I will
be famous then. |
|
Click Grafix thanks Stan for his time and effort for this
interview. For more information please email standes@tm.net.my
|
