On rendering images

There is text and there are pictures, words and images.

If you like, images range from real life human images through to cartoons, with hybrids in-between. As in:

I have this difficulty expressing pictures that I can visualize in my head as output on paper. I can see the images, but cannot render them into actual pictures. I could see the logo used on these pages in my mind long before it was in a form that could be published. Hence, all the words on this site and so few images!

I know many artists who are actually able to both visualize and render images. But even with this talent, artists require expensive equipment and materials to express their creativity. Artist’s papers and paints can cost a great deal.

Not only that, but the process of outputting images has traditionally been long drawn out. For example, animators typically start the output process by drawing the images they have created on paper to situate them, and more so to see if they work. Once on paper, these images are transcribed onto "cels": clear plastic sheets like those used to output slides for overhead projection.

The good news is that technologies are being developed which make images both cheaper and easier to generate and show. It is only by using today’s technology tools that George Lucas the filmmaker is realizing some of his original "Star Wars" vision. Previously, his dreams and fantasies could not be rendered fully, and his vision had to be compromised in reality.

These days, when generating their ideas, animators can draw the starting position for a character and draw the final picture, and the computer will automatically fill in the activity in-between using say a walk sequence. The only problem is that currently every walk looks like all of the other computer generated walks.

Once generated, animated films can be shown over the Internet- giving animators a means of distribution to show their own films.

At the end of the day, image rendition is difficult for me personally. But to others it is easy. Each of us has skills in different areas. We need to:

encourage every individual to specialize in what they are good at and inclined to spend their time doing. And they should be able to earn a living out of these activities. Otherwise, we end up with people spending their lives doing something primarily because they have to do and may not even be especially good at. This waste of talent leaves everyone worse off than they could be.

partner with people with complementary skill sets. After all we cannot be good at everything.

Specialize in your talents and partner with those with other complimentary skills. And generate and outpour your output, pictures, text, whatever it may be. We can and should all be creative artists now.

 

Author: Simon Buckingham

What do you think?

To make a comment to the author, send e-mail to simon@unorgan.com