[caryjames]

Hi Guys- I am in the middle of an interview process with a major company in my industry. Rendering and CAD technology is pretty new to my field and I find myself struggling to be able to explain in a concise way what exactly it is that we do?

In my design portfolio I have juxtaposed Rhino screenshots of my models with Maxwell images that I have created from them. I showed them to an acquaintance who mentioned " that I take very good photographs and that it must take me a long time to set up the scenes to look just like the computer model". When I explained what the images were it was still very confusing to the person who couldn't understand how the images were made.

Once I did get them to understand how it was done they then thought that "the computer did it all" they didn't understand how many techniques were involved to get the image looking the way it did.

So my question to you guys is how do you explain what we do... I want to convey to the new company that these images are not photographs of items that I have created in the physical world, but are computer generated images created from Rhino models but am a bit concerned that the lack of understanding of how these images were created may work against me.

Any thoughts, have any of you folks encountered this before?

Thanks!!

[-Adrian]

Video/Screencap.

[JDHill]

Show them a rendering with good lighting but no materials, then one with bad lighting and good materials...the juxtaposition of these with your finished images might help them to understand on a subconcious level just what it is that you do.

[ivox3]

Tell them that your like God and unless you create it, .... that man and objects are going to just be pieces of diffuse clay.

Sorry ... couldn't resist.

ps. I think JD's method is the best. I personally just explain it as virtual physical simulation that uses the physics of real light to arrive at what something might look like in the real world. Although that might sound complex to a lay person, ..they usually will at least grasp the idea without having to beind their mind with the technicalities involved. People do understand the concept of 'viritual'. .....sort of. Tough subject, ..no doubt.


Explaining that the properties of everything within the picture/render has to be described technically/scientifically though .....is not a bad idea. Without getting technical, .. it allows people to start imagining little just actually how much is involved.

[giacc]

I use to mention the term "hyperreality", explaining that the images are like photos, but are previous to the production of any real thing.

[caryjames]

Hi Guys: Thanks for your responses!!! I borrowed a page from "Becco_UK"- the guy with the UFO Shadow Mobile thread on the WIP page. I took some screen shots of one of my models and added them in the reflectance channels on some diffused planes- I then bisected my model with one of the planes and made everything float in mid air so to speak.

I like your idea JD and will add a couple more renders with and without materials to illustrate the process.

I will follow this with a description of the process verbally..... still tough to explain though. Thanks all for your input
Cary

[def4d]

You could make a video showing wire -> shaded -> standard render -> clay render -> Maxwell result
If think we all have this kind of problem, and sometimes the question i have is "Why do you show photos of the finished projects?", it's always a great moment!

[bjorn.syse]

Interesting debate.. caryjames, it would be great to see what you finally came up with to explain it to them.

- bJörn

[itsallgoode9]

when i'm trying to explain what i do to somebody not in the industry here's what i say (point of reference, i do liquor bottle renders when the company doens't want to pay the photog or the bottle is a new design that hasn't been made)

having said that...

a couple super basic ways i explain my work to those who do not understand:

"this bottle i rendered...it does not exsist anywhere in the world...I made it on the computer to look like a photographer took a real photo of a real bottle" (if they say "the computer does all the work" I tell them, "it took me 40 hours to make this single image", even though that might not be the case...sometimes it actually is the case)

or..

"this is a bottle that my company needs a photo of. it takes a photographer 1 day to photograph it, but it costs the company $15,000 for the photog. I take a week to make a fake version that looks 95% identical but costs 1/4 of the price"


People that don't understand 3d will never understand anything you say if you mention a single technical word. So make it as simple as you can. They might not understand the amount of work that goes into it, but i've never had a person not be awed by my works when I try to compare it to something they know..... "this is not real, it does not exsist in the world" or "it costs this photog X amount, my work takes the place of a photog"

If they start to ask "how do you do it" I politely say something like "welllll....there's really no way i can describe it in a way that you would understand if you do not know terminology in the 3d world" because that is true. If you start trying to describe it they will be bored to tears, confused an regretfull for asking.

The best thing to describe any 3d work to those that don't know how it happens, is try to compare it to something they know.

[voxelpictures]

Caryjames,

If you are using Rhino to model and render in maxwell you should use specify terms in digital prototyping:

''Digital Prototyping gives manufacturers the ability to virtually explore a complete product before it is built. By using a digital prototype, manufacturers can visualize and simulate real-world performance of the design with less reliance on costly physical prototypes, reducing design and production costs.''

Please download the pdf of digital prototyping on the autodesk links:
http://usa.autodesk.com/company/digital-prototyping

The PDF explain all you need for such interview and is exactly what you need to describe + a little explanation about your workflow with maxwell with rhino.

Most important of all, if this is an industrial manufacturing plant they would most likly want their parts to be realize digitally + rendered in maxwell and provide your model for physical prototypes. Beware, in that case maxwell rendering is lest important than the functional prototyping part.

Good luck man and hope the best for you.

Roshan Martin

[pluMmet]

Photo realistic virtual reality.

I think that conveys what one would like them to know about this type of work.

Try it on someone and I think you'll see

[caryjames]

Hi all- Thanks so much for all your input! I will piece together my reply from all of your responses.

Voxelpictures- I especially like your response- it is exactly what I/we do and it is concise and to the point.

I think that there can be a bit more confusion when it comes to my case because I actually produce what I am rendering.

Here is an example of my workflow

Consult with client- develop concepts and produce sketches
Create Rhino model
Create Maxwell render of Rhino model
Email Rhino model to my casting company who will print/grow a 3D resin part(s) from my file and then cast in my metal(s) of choice
I then will assemble (braze, weld), set any gemstones and then finish

I think that the difference lies in the fact that I also produce the item... no one would expect that say Hyltom would actually make the coffee maker or one of the architects here would actually go ahead and make the building. But with me the expectation is that I will be making the item so it adds a bit of confusion in the ... "oh you have it made already" variety.

Here is a link to a render that I made to help clarify the situation, for some reason photobucket won't allow me to just insert the photo - I use Firefox but have tried IE as well and I also updated Flash but all I get is html code when I try to link a photo. I have just started with photobucket (which I hate.... toooooooo slow) but of course they haven't sent me the download/signup link yet. So here is my link thanks again

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/c ... axwell.jpg

[bjorn.syse]

Hey that's really neat! Good job!

[caryjames]

Thanks bjorn.syse- I was down to the wire... I started that render at 2:00 am and had to get my portfolio out the next day . So low res and no fiddling with lighting but I think it will help get the point across.

[ivox3]

Cary ... Nice concept. Let us know how it comes across.