The title is pretty much it. It’s photoshop at the moment since the person approaching me generally has a photoshop only line of DVDs. So no projection would be possible, though that might change. Since Im using photoshop extended I could see simple video composites being done in the video tools just added to cs3.
So I leave this as a open brief to discuss themes and techniques that you would like to learn the most.
Cliff
I think one of the most important things you could teach people, especially regarding matte painting is the use of different colour spaces and how they are used within film work, ie Linier, log etc how and why you would work in both. This is quite important and something that maybe less experienced people have little or no knowledge of, so yeh that’d be cool 
Dave.
So your talking about linear and log spaces. Hmmm interesting I will give it some thought.
Yea i agree with Dave, colour space is one thing that seems to get neglected in tutorial material. Would be good to see more on that side of things.
Yep would definitely agree with the above posts, have only just joined the world of work and have had to get used to working in different colour spaces for different things. I was never taught anything about them at University which i now consider to be surprising given how integral they are to any kind of work, but especially mattes imo. A short theoretical explanation accompanied by some practical examples of their influences would be enough, i don’t think it would necessarily have to be a large tutorial, just enough to give people a good understanding of the basics.
I was never taught anything about them at University which i now consider to be surprising given how integral they are to any kind of work, but especially mattes imo.
Yeh its amazing, i never heard of this until recently, and its possibly one of the most important concepts you need to know, surprised they dont teach this in uni.
The british invented the language, just because you are too lazy to recognise the significance of the letter U. LOL
My english teacher is probably spinning in her grave.
Rich
OH SNAP!
Personally I spell color: B-R-I-V-O-L-B-N, the number 7, the letter Q, --‘Brennemenahgah!!!’
Haha! I know the feeling! I was talking to my compositing tutor about doing some matte paintings for my final project and she said ‘its not really practical though is it’.
I said ‘what? surel its the most practical way to extend a set, far more pratical than flying to Guyana to shoot my forest shots’.
At which point she explained to me that hauling glass and paints around with me everywhere i go will slow my production down so much that it wouldnt be worth it and i should just find somewhere to shoot it properly.
‘Yep… ok…’
you’d be surprised, it seems few people actually know what matte painting is and its intended use. I’ve seen people present speed sketches as matte paintings in there portfolios, and post productions houses who refuse to share textures because they assume you paint everything by hand, from scratch. Dont get me started with uni/colleges/workshops, “matte painting, oh yeh … whats that again?” and when they do know, well … the quality of education is photoshop basics at best. I especially love magazine tutorials that get an artist on board to do a matte painting tutorial which ends up with pretty little fish and sub-marines in it, hmmm … must stop griping … yeh, im bitter and twisted, i know.
Dave.
I bet it is a completely different case in America, I have been living in UK for 10 yrs, and it seems to me that the general public is always a little behind with updated technology. And a lot of teachers in collage and uni r so old fashion and acedamic. Sometimes I think we better off get taught by a 25 yr old that have been using photoshop for 5 yrs at home or just sit at home learning video tutorial.
I think at the moment, if u want to learn real matte painting in a class in UK, its in Escape Studio in London.
Yeh i can highly recommend escape, i knew a few people there and THEY are amazingly in touch with the real world, not to mention been supported by tutors that actually work in the industry with first hand experience they’re also located in the heart of london surrounded by some of the biggest studios in the biz. Very cool, and again, highly recommended
Dave.
I thought about doing a Maya crash course at Escape if i feel im lacking when i leave uni. By all accounts they are very well staffed. If i ever needed to pay for training again in the UK, they would be my first port of call.
Nick
Me too, if I can afford their courses 
I am really interested in their compositing course, but it costs 8500 pounds
I agree with you but then i think the opposite is also true. You have to get a balance between the understanding of the technical skills required to work in a professional film environment as well as the traditional skills involved in knowing how to paint. Even if modern matte painting is more photo manipulation and compositing than actual painting, a good understanding and proficiency in this area (composition, colour theory and light etc) would make you a better matte painter than someone who knows photoshop really well.
I’m not sure how much the DMP video tutorials and photshop tuition actually teach you anything about the art, more that they give you an understanding of the process. In this respect i think the only way to learn is to do, over and over, and guidance from an experienced landscape painter, whether they had ever turned a computer on or not, would be a valuable resource.
Anyways, like i said you need a balance of both, so here’s to that.
yes, traditional skills are very important, but what kind of subject in uk actually teaches in-depth composition technique, color theory? The course in uni i did was so crap, they didn’t even really teach us how to draw. :S
Yes, there were a few life drawing lessons, but that unit was so disconnected from the course, they don’t even break it down for us how will learning life drawing will benefit us in working the film industry at any level? Honestly, I better off learning fine art and figure out how to apply the skills on my matte painting myself, which is exactly what I am doing now.
I think as a matte artist you have to be well prepared for a life of constant learning and improvement where the traditional side of things are concerned. But it would be great if there was more in the way of good matte painting training. Im actually quite happy learning the different aspects (traditional skills, 3D, compositing, matchmoving etc) seperately, but it would be fantastic if there was a solid course that offered them all together focused around a career in matte painting.
I dont think it will happen tho. At least not in the next 10 years. My uni is struggling to make up numbers in the Digital Visual Effects course that i am on, let alone a matte painting course!
And yea, i get traditional training here, if u can call it that. But its pretty much just an hour or 2 a week to practice, i dont think ive really learned anything from the tutors. Vilppu and Gnomon make up the best part of the proper teaching ive had in that area…
Nick
