3D modeler vs Computer Artist Careers

Among the exciting, cutting edged, and future possibility careers available to college students and grads today are the 3D Modeler and Computer Artist career tracks. Although these two fields may sound practically identical, they really have a number of noteworthy differences. This is seen not just in their educational requirements, but in their job descriptions and job prospects, as well.

The education required for these two related yet different occupations varies. 3D Modeler programs offer mechanical design and industrial training so that the candidate is capable of understanding machinery, gearing, balance, materials science, and varying additional facets involved with physical engineering. These programs concentrate on the development of surfacing aesthetics and strong modeling, along with technical skills involved in 3D. In contrast, Computer Artist training programs require at least an Associate’s of Arts degree, although a bachelor’s degree of arts is preferred, along with minimally one to three years experience dealing with Macintosh computers in a field relevant to graphics. A well prepared candidate will have strong skills in creativity and versatility to perform tasks on a variety of software platforms. Experience and mastery of skills should be proven in PhotoShop, Illustrator, and in Flash, Design, DreamWeaver, and HTML programming. Adaptive solving of problems and thinking creatively are among the types of computer artist characteristics.

The job descriptions and requirements of both careers present differences between the 3D Modeler and Computer Artist, too. 3D modeling has much to do with creating wire frame, mathematical personifications of 3D objects by utilizing specifically created computer programs such as 3ds Max or Maya. Such 3D Modelers generally employ one of among three different techniques to do this, such as box modeling, useful for developing characters and living models; patch modeling, useful for developing buildings, furniture, and cars, i.e. physical objects which possess curved shapes; and poly-modeling, effective, advanced, and exact modeling techniques. In contrast, a computer artist literally creates animation and graphics out of their own creativity and observing the customer’s guidelines. Such employers will anticipate that their computer artists are capable of creating multimedia presentations, brochures, promotional pieces, web sites, computer artwork, and technical illustrations to be utilized in literature, technical manuals, newsletters, and any other forms of media.

Though both career paths have good job prospects for the future, there are differences here as well. 3D modeler jobs typically lie in the fields of film effects, props, and characters; CD-Rom design; broadcast design; location based entertainment; game design; television special effects, props, and characters; simulations; and Web site design. Entertainment is not the only field in which 3D modelers find work. Chemistry, architecture, geology, engineering, and medical fields all require professional and capable 3D object modelers to design research and development models. 3D modeling jobs should grow by twenty-six percent between now and 2016, a far greater percentage than the average for overall occupations. These workers earn a median average nationally of more than $50,000. Computer Artists find work in the booming field of Internet, as well as more traditional fields like the entertainment industry and graphic design. Computer artists type jobs are expected to grow at the overall job rate of around eight percent between now and 2016. The average salary nationally for computer artists is just under $50,000.