Which DVD should I get?

#8

After seeing your “Retired Pirate” piece, it’s hard to recommend a title, as you can already create pleasing illustrations. I think everyone should get Scott Robertson’s first dvd if you feel lacking in perspective skills, I continuely refer to it and it’s been price reduced quite a lot. If you feel you need more drawing or rendering skills take a look at Neville Page’s four volumes. They are fan-freakin’-tastic. I am eagerly awaiting more volumes from him.

This might may be an unpopular suggestion but my favorite dvds and the ones I learned the most from were the Carlos Huante set. It’s hard to say why I like them so much. It might be that I’m a huge fan of his work or how he simply states “You don’t have to be a production person… you can be an artist.” They are very inspirational. I wish he’d put out some more.

I just got two of the Dylan Cole dvds (Volume 1 and 3). Haven’t had a chance to view them yet. I find I struggle with environments so I’m hoping they will help. If you do order some wait till tomorrow (July 27th), they are releasing a slew of 3D dvds and I’m hoping they’ll announce some more analogue titles.

Good luck.

#9

Thanks guys! Excellent recommendations :smiley:

Dr. Ira Kane was pointing out my biggest concern. Do I NEED those videos? That was the question I kept asking myself. I can draw basic objects and buildings (nothing too complex) in 1 or 2 pt perspectives but that’s about it. So I don’t know how that compares… is that knowing very little (where I would probably want to invest in Scott’s DVDs) or is that good enough?

It seems like all the DVD’s are excellent… which does make me feel better (any that I choose in the end will be worth it).

Btw, thanks Rogfa for complimenting my work :slight_smile:

  • Leo
#10

Well if you want to do Star Wars style concept art and
you’re looking for a DVD that concentrates on concept art
you get one of Ryans. He does a good job at explaining
his workings on a concept art image, for example keeping
the image constantly readable, so if deadlines suddenly
change or sumthin, he can give the picture away at any
time and whoever gets it is able to understand it and
find all the vital elements for the concept from it.

Get just one DVD at first and decide if you want more after
that. Try one of Ryan’s architectural (hi-tech city or
the low tech city siege images) videos, for example.

You might well know that Ryan, Zhu and Dusseault all
worked for Star Wars , Episode III , and all got their
own DVD’s. Usually there’s just the makings of one
image per video, but Dusseault (Dusso) makes five
images on one DVD, so that’s a good buy.

Yea Neville Page always deserves a mention, wowskillzz…

I can find you the exact names of the DVD’s later
if you want to.

.

#11

Thanks Squibbit! Coming from a cartoon style background, I definitely need to improve on realistic lighting and shading. I was thinking of getting Ryan’s first DVD on rendering matte objects, but it seems most of you recommend the architectural ones first, so I might just get those.

So, so far this is what I’m getting (I think lol):

1 - Feng Zhu - Volume #3 - The Fundamentals of Shot Design for Enviroments
2 - Ryan Church - Volume #5 - Rendering Architectural Interiors (I think it would complement Feng’s nicely)
3 - ?

Just to point out, more than likely I’ll be using Painter IX exclusively (I can’t afford PS CS2), so if that makes a difference, let me know :slight_smile: Although all these, use Painter… but there were some that didn’t like Dusso’s that seemed good.

Also, I have zero skills when it comes to drawing aircrafts in perspective. I can draw them freehand, but they are out of perspective lol. I know it’s fundamental for any concept artist to know how to draw these (like x-wings and tie-fighters), so I’m thinking maybe a vehicle drawing DVD might be necessary. I saw one of Scott’s tutorials on the web, but man… he gets into techinical stuff. I can understand if I was designing a vehicle how important this would be, but for conceptual art, is it important I learn this? Feng has one on quick sketching aircrafts, I’m not sure if Ryan’s DVDs just show you how to render, or if they teach you how to sketch them too.

Let me know what you think.

  • Leo
#12

yea I mentioned the architechtural DVDs because of what Ryan says
about concept art design on those. I do have the Rendering Matte
Vehicles DVD too, but I haven’t watched that yet :slight_smile:

In the DVDs I’ve watched so far Ryan church uses Painter ,too,
while Neville Page for example, works on photoshop. They’ve of
course both used both programs and tell you that each has its
advantages and that on the videos they use the programs they
prefer more.

.

#13

Didn’t Dylan Cole also work on Star Wars? I have heard very positive things about his DVDs. I heard Dusso speeds stuff up immensely and just voices over and that it’s too advanced for people who’re just starting off.

I wasn’t that impressed by Carlos Huante’s DVD… but then again I haven’t seen the second one.

1 - Feng Zhu - Volume #3 - The Fundamentals of Shot Design for Enviroments
2 - Ryan Church - Volume #5 - Rendering Architectural Interiors (I think it would complement Feng’s nicely)
3 - Scott Robertson Vol.5 - Enviroments. Lotsa them.

#14

Thanks AngryScientist for your direct recommendation :slight_smile: Quickie, between Ryan’s 3 ArchiDVDs is there one that stands out? I just picked the interior to go with Fengs…

  • Leo
#15

The interior dvd is an excellent choice :smiley:

#16

I like your recomendation (Scott’s Enviro DVD), Ryan seemed to like it too :smiley: Now he does use photoshop. I sure hope he doesn’t use SPECIAL brushes… I want to be able to follow along with Painter IX.

  • Leo
#17

Scott Robertson uses some layer things in Photoshop to get started… but I’m not sure if PainterIX supports that. Any version of PS works, it’s just the things like ‘Difference, Multiply, Hue, Overlay’ that he uses. And the ‘Color’ settings on PS brushes, from what I remember. I think you get all of those in Painter? Still need to dl that demo lol.

#18

Well, I’m not the best person to ask, but from what I’ve seen, it does have layers and blend modes (color, multiply, etc… didn’t check for hue, but I will when I get home). I’m not sure what the “color” settings on the brush is tho.

I noticed in Ryan’s and especially in Feng’s work, he draws perfectly straight lines… do you think his sketches are first done on paper (with a ruler) or does he do it all in the PC using a tablet (or using the line tool)? I suspect the line tool, but the lines like a tad sketchy.

Definitely get the demo! It’s awesome and for $180 (download version, $220 for boxed) it’s hard to beat. The blending tools are nice and the artist oils really give off a nice painter look.

  • Leo
#19

Feng had said that all his lines are done without ruler, and having in mind Ryan, I think his are too.

The ‘color’ mode of a brush is that any color it touches, it turns towards the color you’ve selected, leaving all the brightness and saturation information intact. It’s just easier to work that way than painting over when having in mind Scott’s technique. But I’m sure you can find a way to do that in Painter :smiley: Maybe there’s a new tinting tool?

#20

Hmm… I must find out about this special tint you speak of :wise:

For future reference, which is your favorite Scott perspective drawing DVD? Seems like volume #1 will be a good refresher, but I don’t know if it’s going to be too basic. I like the cars and spacecraft one too.

  • Leo
#21

Well the first one! I have only watched that, the spacecraft and the enviroment one. The spacecraft seems to be the most interesting one for me tho! lol It’s not basic, it’s extremely good grounding. I’ve learned SO much just from one viewing.

#22

I feel like I’m lacking rendering skills. My works come out too saturated and the lighting isn’t that good. Is there a DVD to help someone develop a good foundation for lighting a scene and choosing the right colors for the mood? Or should I just use reference images until I pick it up? :slight_smile:

  • Leo
#23

Using reference images, photos etc is a good idea, not copying them but using the color pallette and layout :thumbsup:

#24

I also noticed the lighting is much more theatrical than realistic (in most cases). I will use reference images from movies and real life. I want to get a good DVD that teaches proper lighting. I hope Ryan’s Interior DVD will hook me up, if not I might have to go with a hi-tech or low-tech DVD he has.

  • Leo
#25

i can recommend to watch one dvd firstly, before buying some of them. i was very disapointed as i had the chance to watch some of them.
maybe it is just cause i thougt about some “real” training lessons. instead it was mostly “hey - have a look over my shoulder how nicely i can paint”. it was not more than one of thousand step by step tuts from the net just with much more steps :slight_smile:
not all dvds are like this, robertson teaches you the fundamental stuff - it is a nice course to learn perspective.

but for me it makes no sense to watch somebody (church, feng) 2 hours how he finalises just one painting. after 10 minutes it was clear how his approach is and i got bored to see him making the same stuff over the whole picture.

a highlight for me is the ian mccaig series. there you can really see how he creates a nice story in short time, designs the main characters, paints mood pictures and much more.
and he is a great speaker too.

another interesting one was the first huante dvd. there you can see how he developes out of nothing a strange creature just by playing around with basic shapes and defining them more and more.

such things were more interesting for me, cause you can see how they are developing ideas from nothing, how they think, why they are doing stuff like this and discard other ideas and all the interesting stuff you can learn from.

but thats just me, others may have more fun with all the dvds.
but a training course should look differently.
i want to know how i can practise stuff like this, what are the different procedures, what should be avoided … all the stuff people can train at home who have not the chance to study it.
instead there are too few informations to be really helpfull for most of the dvds.

#26

Thanks for sharing your point of view. I wasn’t expecting a classroom in a DVD. I think 2 hrs is hardly enough time to TEACH. I just wanted to see their workflow, how they render objects, etc. Thanks for the recommendation, I will check out Ian’s now…

Later,
Leo

#27

I Think the excellent choice will be “to get Scott ROBERTSON dvds first of all”

to learn the basices:D