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Re: For the artists: RIP



Ah, OK... Just incase my previous comment makes me come across as anti CGI, thought I'd better clarify that I'm not. I'm not trying to contribute to an "us and them" divide, as I didn't know the was danger of one developing. Just reread my last post and it does seem to sound a little more antagonistic than I intended, was intended to sound more jovial (couldn't resist using the Monty Python line). I wasn't having a go at the CGI artists, mostly pointing out that in this particular case it seemed a fairly elaborate method for the immediate task.

I like CGI, and all the possibilities it opens up. I really like Jurassic Park and Walking with Dinosaurs. I'm aware that there's a reasonable list of problems dino-enthusiasts and researchers raise when discussing these productions, which ruin it for some, whereas I'll tend to shrug that off and enjoy them warts and all. I also like the older pre-digital methods of recreating these creatures too, but think that the CGI are obviously the best choice these days to get a more accurate believable result (and some of the animatronics are pretty good for the close-up stuff). I have a lot of respect for all these forms of art and the skilled people involved, and for a long time aspired to do this sort of work myself.

I think the point I was trying to make is that you have to expect these problems will arise in these sorts of productions due to the huge teams of people involved, and the proportion of people involved with some expertise on I assume will always get watered down. If the models can be reused as a starting point for later works that can be tweaked and perfected that's great and then can be reused, which had occurred to me, but wasn't sure if this was their plan.

I would have thought it would be more efficient to get '2D artists' who specialise on this material to do the artwork for the magazine and a series of concept artworks that highlight the look and feel of the animals plus have the scientific details straightened then and then pass that on to the CGI team to base their work on later for the documentary (or what ever). I just think it would be easier to get an artist to correct a 2D piece than it would to get a team to fix a 3D piece when professional advice is offered (considering the man hours, time constraints and expense involved). Now I've seen Ken's post I see how it all evolved.

BTW - I saw King Kong last night, generally liked it - probably pushed the far fetched aspects a bit too far for me - but it was a monster/fantasy movie after all. I would have loved this film when I was a kid. My girlfriend didn't like most of it, but cried her eyes out at the end.

Likewise, a Merry Christmas to all,
Chris


At 06:03 AM 18/12/2005, jrc wrote:


I too, wish to encourage all illustrators. Your talent is an absolutely necessary component in helping the rest of us in our mutual attempts to understand critters and their environment.

Season's Greetings to all,
Jim

----- Original Message ----- From: "Todd Marshall" <toddsmarshall@earthlink.net>
To: "DML" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 12:01 PM
Subject: RE: For the artists: RIP




My best wishes and encouragement go out to any paleo-artist out there whom is trying to do there best at what they love. Merry Christmas fellow dino-lovers! Todd www.marshalls-art.com







------------------------------------------------
Chris Glen
PhD candidate,
School of Biomedical Science
Anatomy and Developmental Biology Dept.,
University of Queensland
Q 4072, AUSTRALIA
Room: 418
Phone: (07) 3365 2720
Mob: 0408 986 301
Email: c.glen@.uq.edu.au
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Returning home after a hard day of
dodging dinosaur feet and droppings,
only to find their burrow trampled,
one Late Mesozoic mammal says to an other :
"Hey, a falling star, make a wish."