CGI Production Workflow Behind-the-Scenes

Learn more below about how our 3D artists bring great digital illustrations to life.
Then reach out to let us know how we can help with your upcoming projects.

704.625.6313
info@seanbusher.com

To return to our portfolio page click HERE.

We create a lot of vacuums via CGI because our client is often working on their marketing campaign while still finalizing the final product design. Here you can see two shots we captured in a production studio where prototypes were used instead of the real thing. Our team then takes the engineering CAD and creates a 3D version of the vacuum and renders it to match the angle and lighting on the scene.

All projects start from a wire mesh, which is then textured and rendered to create the final look. 

This project for the City of Charlotte was about keeping the sidewalks clear and needed a summertime look (nice tree canopy, green grass), but the production was taking place in January. Solution? Create a CGI background image.

The Arts & Science Council hired our team to produce works of art that showcase history, science, and the arts in a series of mega-images. Get a sense of how each of these images comes to life by peering behind-the-scenes into our computers to view the cgi setup of each composite image.

Here's a screen grab of our 3D software showing the camera angle and the various objects placed within the scene.

When the camera is moved it becomes apparent that only what's necessary is built into each scene. The texturing and detail work is only necessary on the parts of objects that face the virtual camera. Foreground and background elements combined with depth-of-field renderings give the illusion of realistic spacing within a scene.

3D mannequins can be used as placeholders until the actual models are photographed and composited into each scene. These mannequins are also great at conveying action and spacing for art directors during the pre-production phase of a project.

Every bit of the final images, except for the people and animals, is computer generated.

Smoke and mirrors - literally. This cgi background plate was created prior to the studio photo shoot. We took the company's logo (the VS shape) and made it into a 3D structure, filled it with lights and nice textures, then added the smoke effects. After all the pre-production work the photo shoot was quite simple.

This image of the exploding grenade is a mix of photography and 3d art. Real: tank, model, airplane (toy model). CGI: grenade, rocket launcher, barbed wire, landscape.

This project was completed in the early years of our team combining photography and CGI. Liquid, hair, and smoke tend to be some of the more difficult aspects of working within a 3D ecosystem, but we were super-pleased with the beautiful splash we were able to create here.

Location fees and production expenses can often be eliminated by the usage of 3D renderings. In this case we built an imaginary tennis stadium, seat by seat.

We mix CGI backgrounds into our photography projects a lot. In this ad campaign for Heels.com we did this a ton - every one of these background images is computer generated. Yep - the jungle, heavenly closet, neon city, ballet streetscape, shoe museum, chair/fireplace, and speed boat are all virtual creations. 

This behind-the-scenes video is 5+ years old already, but it still does a great job of showing how our 3D artists can help bring great visual to life.

To return to our portfolio page click HERE.

Contact

Reach out to our team today!

704.625.6313
info@seanbusher.com

Serving clients all over the U.S. from our home base in Charlotte, NC:

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