A_P_TPC_Vol11_2015_

DIGITAL PAINTING

18. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
    ALTHOUGH BEING A MATTE PAINTER MEANS WORKING TO SET SPECIFICATIONS, A TALENTED ARTIST CAN
    STILL MAKE IT ALL COME ALIVE, AS TIBERIUS VIRIS REVEALS

© Tiberius Viris

19. KNOW PHOTOSHOP
    INSIDE OUT
    “Photoshop is amazing,” says Christian Kugler.
    “With recent enhancements several people could
    theoretically work on the same shot. I love the
    customisation of the brushes, and I am just starting
    to use the Brush app on my iPad. The Vanishing
    point filter is great for setting up perspective, and
    actions can really help speed your work along. I set
    up all of my repetitive tasks such as flipping the
    canvas, adding a new layer, defringing, resizing the
    image, and other helpful tasks as actions triggered
    by function keys. For my brushes I delete all of the
    ones that are not essential, as it can add a lot of
    time to sort through them all.” Your hardware is
    just as important. Kugler advises that you “always
    use a tablet, even when working in 3D,
    compositing, or just surfing the web. There is a
    saying that the pen is mightier than the sword, but
    in this case I just go with saying the pen is much
    faster than the mouse. If you aren’t used to
    working that way give it a few days or a week and
    you will see your speed greatly improve.” © Christan Kugler

Mean and moody:working on moody scenes!” “I really love

says Viris. “Playing with light, haze and colour palettes is

what makes me happy”

Get real: Although 3D has become

increasingly important to the matte painter, Viris believes being able to

create the photo-real is still the most important thing

Details detours:matte paintings up close,” says Viris, “you will “If you look at the traditional

notice that most of their ‘detail’ is nothing more than blobs of colours, however from the viewing

distance they look perfect.” Keep this in mind when you’re creating your matte painting

Enjoy the view:might often be about fixing things, A matte painter’s job

but he or she is often a traditional landscape artist too

Working together: “When doing freelance projects,”

explains Viris, “it all depends on the communication between you and the client, which is an art in itself!

At the very least you should ask to know the overall purpose of the shot and get familiar with the

sequence it belongs to”

Freedom beckons: Viris doesn’t

often get much in the way of creative freedom, but when he does get it, he

says, “creating moods is often the most fun part – at least for me!.

Light direction and coverage, colour palette and atmospheric perspective

usually play the biggest roles in setting up a specific mood”