Update 7/29/2019: Omar's new scene is ready to render and already underway on SheepIt. If you're part of the CG Cookie Render Monsters team, we'd appreciate you launching the SheepIt app on your computer to contribute. NOTE: Make sure on your SheepIt account "Options" you enable Render my team's projects first. Thanks!
Update 7/18/2019: Omar is polishing new scenes.
Update 7/3/2019: Omar has 2 new files ready for rendering. Let's do dis.
Update 7/1/2019: We have finished rendering two of Omar's reel projects. Way to go community. Omar still has several to prep for rendering. I'm going to unpin this thread and re-pin once it's ready to render again.
Update 6/17/2019: Omar has updated his shared project folder with new scenes to render. It was accidentally uploaded as a new folder so if you've already synced the previous folder, you can delete that one (if it's still there) and you'll have to sync this new one. From now on we know how to avoid this so no more re-syncing.
The time to render is now!
Update 6/16/2019: We've finished Omar's first 2 scenes! Way to go People 👏👏 Thanks to everyone for contributing. Now we're waiting for Omar to setup and upload his next scene.
@theluthier Kent after comparing the original Cycles renders and Element 3D real time ones, I think you are right, rendering it out of Cycles is totally worth going the extra mile for. Although you and Lampel said it was great, that it's 95% there, for a second I saw a twinkle in your eyes saying "C'mon dude, you know it, I know it... there is no spoon." And then the twinkle continued "No one eats an Oreo and doesn't go all the way to the stuffing in the middle, the cookie part is just enough". I see what you mean twinkle.
I didn't want to bother people though, but I guess if I'm going to try this there's no way around that. I don't know how to use Drop Box, I've never used it before. Should I get an account? I hope it's enough space. I remember you kinda set things up in a similar way in the Rendering & Finishing A Blender Animation course. I should re-watch that. I have never done things through the internet so this should be a learning experience.
I, Kent Trammell, am commandeering Omar's original post! [evil laugh] I'm the one that encouraged Omar to reach out to the community for helping him render his demo reel. My computer just sits collecting dust most nights and I'm happy to lend some rendering power to this project while I'm asleep. I suspect that there are a number of CGC community members willing to do the same 🙏
If you want to help out, please follow the instructions below!
The status of the project will be stated and updated at the end of the thread title in brackets. When it says "READY TO RENDER" that means a project has been submitted to SheepIt for rendering. If it says anything else, the project isn't ready for rendering yet.
The status of the project will be stated and updated at the end of the thread title in brackets. When it says "READY TO RENDER" that means it's ready to sync the project folder and start rendering. If it says anything else, the project isn't ready for rendering yet.
STEP 1 -- Sync Omar's project folder to your Google Drive.
If you have a gmail account, you have 15 GB of free Google Drive space. Just click the link and when you're redirected to the Google Drive website, right click on the "Demo Reel Files" folder and choose Add to My Drive.
If you're on Mac or Windows, use the official Google Drive app (personal version) to sync your Google Drive to your computer's file system.
Render_Scenes_1_Packed.blend
If you're on Linux like me, there is no official app. I've had some success with Open Drive but it seems to have stopped syncing on my system. I'm currently using Insync and it's working beautifully. It's $30 after the 15 day trial period, which I will likely pay.
STEP 2 -- Open one of the render-ready .blends with Blender 2.8
After the project folder has finished syncing *entirely* to your computer, launch Blender 2.8 and open Demo Reel Files > Blend Packed Files > Render_2.8-Scene_1_Packed.blend. Then follow Omar's instructions in the file for CPU or GPU rendering, whichever your machine is best equipped.
Enable viewport rendering to double check the scenes look fine (no pink from missing textures). I've tested these files myself and they should be ready to render without problems.
STEP 3 -- Render the Animation
The files should all be setup properly so anyone that opens them doesn't have to do anything but click the Render button.
That should be all you need to do to contribute rendering to Omar's project! Note that these scenes are heavy and can take an hour or more per frame, even on a high end machine, which is why Omar needs our help.
When the rendering is all done (or you need to stop and regain your own GoogleDrive space), simply navigate to the Google Drive website, right click on the folder and choose "Remove".
You should be SO PROUD of this dostovel! I love the subtle premise you introduced into the reel: Each asset / project being teased as a toy on the kitchen table. That little touch goes a long way to show how much effort you've put into the reel itself in addition to each project.
Overall I think this showcases your skill as a digital artist capable of many tasks including, modeling, texturing, shading, lighting, animation, rendering, compositing and video editing. You're a powerhouse and it shows.
My only criticism is that the music seems to be cut in a way that skips a beat around 1:14. Did you use Blender to edit the video?
PS: Make sure you post to the gallery!
@theluthier Thanks for the kind words, Kent. It's been too long since I started it and I've lost all perspective. After seeing The Joker I'm like dude, that's the lighting and composition I would've wanted in all this reel, that now I want to do it all over again. But yeah, maybe when I was 16 I could've had that luxury to try it all over again, now it's impossible, that's why I need to make 3D my actual job and not my sometimes side gig.
So the audio part was frustrating. I didn't want the music to just fade away, I wanted it to end proper, so I tried cutting it, but it always sounded weird, I have no clue how to work with audio. The video is set as unlisted so I could get some feedback and correct things I missed. I listened to that part of the song so much trying to stitched it, that I thought I hid it well, fresh ears is what I needed. I'll start by trying to fix the audio and see if there is any other place I can stitch it together that matches and hides it better.
I used After Effects to edit and do some effects after. I hope one day marriage laws change and Blender, After Effects and Photoshop can have a kid together, imagine the possibilities.
That is CRAZY GOOD!
It's just- It's just amazing Omar!
I don't know what else to say, well done.
Good work Omar! That shows that you have wide range in digital arts.
dostovel I do that kind of musical cut too, it's a good technique. I just think the cut is a half step off from the beat of so. It could help to find a metronome app to match to the song's BPM for aligning the cut. A very minor technical hiccup in the scheme of the reel. It's possible no one would notice the way it is now too.
Fantastic work Omar! I keep watching it over and over again. This is closer to a short production than your typical demo reel. Its memorable and will definitely get your foot into doors.
The only thing I keep asking myself is "If hadn't known you and your body of work, and I had stumbled upon this. Would I understand what this demo reel is showcasing?"
The title card only indicates an e-mail, maybe this is showcasing your independent studio and the work its done over the year (not necessarily something you worked on but people who work with you). Maybe you were responsible for just the lighting? Nothing is hitting me over the head telling me this is an extremely talented generalist that is responsible for 99.5% of everything I'm looking at.
I think somewhere you need to say you are "responsible for all assets/lighting/compositing, with the exception of _______. " You wouldn't even need to put it in the video but in the description below.
I'm super excited for you Omar. Get this out in the world and see where it takes you!
It's been a long time coming but that was absolutely superb Omar! I genuinely wish you the best of luck but looking at the quality of this work I highly doubt you need it. I aspire to reach this level one day and it's stuff like this that keeps me motivated, so a hearty thank you as well!
@theluthier I will look at that metronome thing if it can help with that. Though with a name like that, sounds like something the ninja turtles should be fighting with.
phoenix4690 Thanks Phil. You make a really good point. I'll add some text at the end maybe? or perhaps at the beginning describing it is a demo reel and what I've done within it.
thecabbagedetective Thanks A-A. Nah it's nothing, I bet if Andrew Price saw it he would tear it apart criticizing it, that guy aims really high in quality.
@theluthier I updated the video up there, I think the audio cut is better now and I added the text at the beginning. Any other critique please do so, don't hold back, this is the real thing, but if everything is ok I'll post it here in the gallery and everywhere else.
Also, when I start applying for work, do I send the video file along with renders or should I just upload things in Artstation for example and just send links?
dostovel I would link potential employers to a nice, neat collection of my work. Personally I would upload images and videos / demo reel to artstation and send a link there for easy viewing. Artstation is built with this approach in mind. Note how you can link to a "casual" version of your profile as well as a "professional" version that includes a resume.
@theluthier Alright, Artstation it is. Now to wait and see if I get an approved Visa back. Thanks so much for all the help everyone. Thanks for everything Kent, I'll be forever in your debt. Learned a lot on this process, I still consider myself an amateur, I hope that by doing 3D as a full time job, I'll get better at it.