CGF - What are the main applications you use in your work?
I’m currently using LightWave 3D for all my work. I also use the FPrime plugin most of the time, both for testing and final rendering. Recently I started learning Maya and XSI.
I always strive to use the least amount of tools as possible. I consider it important to use the least to create the most. Old art masters used few tools to create masterpieces. Those pieces still amaze us nowadays, so I try to mimic that to attain more wisdom and a polished vision. I like to take a martial art approach: learn first to give a death blow with just a punch, before learning how to give a flying kick.
CGF - What features of LightWave do you like the most?
The render engine. I'm very pleased with the level of realism and quality you can achieve with it. The most amazing part is to achieve realism with, and know you haven't applied all of its power to create it! I always feel I just scratch its surface with my creations.
CGF - What areas of 3D would you say are your specialty?
Lighting and texturing. There are times that I forget about myself, and keep working for 12 hours in a row. Then I realize it is already night, or the next day morning. It gets pretty scary sometimes! Well, most of the times...hehe. I know it is not good. It is something I need to control, but it is not easy.
CGF - How much post work do you do to your rendered images?
I never use post work that will require more than 3 minutes. I only use post work that can be easily replicated for animation. I normally use a bit of saturation, and curves in Photoshop. Sometimes it is so subtle, that most people cannot notice the difference. I know this because I have asked my design classmates. They just tell me I'm crazy! I never retouch any shadows, highlights, or use several passes for rendering and tweaking.
Sporadically I use post work to aid myself in finding a specific look for an image. I render the image, apply post work, but then I replicate the same effect inside LightWave. So, I use it for the process, but not really for the end result.
