Posts Tagged ‘maya’

is a graphic designer with experience in both printed media and digital multimedia graphics, including photography, animation and video. Maintains a distinctive style, often using unconventional and re-cycled materials. He is also a keen Musician regularly performing his mix of electronic and percussive instrumentation live in and around Liverpool. Over 10 years experience of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, MM Director and Flash, and has recently added to that 3D modelling and rendering using Alias Studio Maya. BA Hons Graphic Design Liverpool John Moore’s University (G. 1996).

Prior to working for Onteca:

client:Richard lloyd Jones – Design (London) On-screen Graphics and properties for BBC productions, (inc. “My Dad’s The P.M.” and “Chiller”) and for Sky TV Production, “Dream Team” (2004)

client: Clare Gabbot – Video Production (Liverpool) Filming of various live comedy productions (Rawhide Comedy Club) for archive and promotional video. Filming of annual performances by Anfield Detached Youth Project. (2003 – 04)

client: Maguffin Ltd. (London) Artwork, design and effects for filming of music video (“John Lennon – Working Class Hero” Music Video DVD, properties and runner.(2003)

client: GS Records – 2003 Music IT Course (Liverpool) Course Co-ordinator, audio engineer, tuition of digital (2003)

client: ADS UK – Web Development (London) Design, animations for web projects. (2001 – 02)

client: Hype Design (Liverpool) Multimedia, web design, (inc. promotional CD Rom for Luxor Lighting) (2001)

client: Moorfields Digital Printers & Finishers (Liverpool) Designer and print-technician, P.O.S. graphics, advertising and company literature, exhibition, large format, floor graphics and special media. (1998 – 2000)

client: Connect (Liverpool) Web designer for “Merseyworld” project, (sites inc. Liverpool Airport & Laver Publishing) (1997)

client: Hillsborough Survivors and Families for Justice Campaign (Liverpool) Design of Logotype to represent the JUSTICE group, used on all stationary and merchandise (1997)

client: Littlewoods Home Shopping (Liverpool) Catalogue design and marketing for menswear department, new-product marketing, stationary and publicity material.

Onteca has run a series of short workshops (lasting from two days to a week) in professional media production skills, many on behalf of Media Training North West. Each of the skills are used by Onteca in the cross-platform work of the company. These courses have been pitched to meet a number of different student needs, from community groups without previous experience, to working professionals seeking to refine their skills. Examples of previous courses are:

After Effects & Premiere
Concentrating on the use of these production tools to create CGI for moving image. These editing packages can be comined with colour keys and production techniques to provide effective special effects.

Game Design& Quality Assurance
Looking at how to use a variety of design theories and industry practices to ensure a smooth and creative workflow.

Java Programming for mobiles
Applications that work across platforms, networks and phone types, drawing on Onteca’s extensive experience in this area.

World Builders
‘Modding’ existing games can be an easy way into 3D design for beginners, and a useful way to speed up production schedules for professional game designers. Increasing numbers of games that started of as ‘mods’ have become comeercial properties in their own right. Also the use of generic world builders that can be used across, games, engines and platforms.

Introduction to 3D Modelling
A beginner’s introduction to Maya. This is a complex and very powerful application that is used across the Games and CGI industry. This course provides an initial access point for personal or further study. To become good takes years, but you have to start somewhere.

Web Design Using CSS and accessible GUIs
Web design the correct way. Useful both for beginners and those web-designers who have become trapped in the habit of using tables and want to evolve their practice to fit the current industry standards.

Ring-tone Production
Creating your own ring-tones from scratch.

Having attended an Investment Event last night I started to wonder about how and why people invest.  I am currently reading Quicksilver by Neil Stevenson which is set in the 17th/18th century which is a period which marks the invention of finance, paper money, short selling and many other wonderful things.  Almost as soon as money was invented so was fraud, bubbles and bankruptcy.  At one point in Quicksilver everyone discovers that the Goldsmiths kind of early bankers have empty vaults and all their money has gone.

Surely we have learnt something from these kinds of shocks, well clearly not as the recent history of banking shows.  So thats great but what does it teach us about now.  Well it is clear that within 5 years there will be more online revenue in the games industry than through retail.  When you go for lunch everyone has an idea for an iPhone app (always a good sign of a boom) 10 years ago it was ideas for websites or was it tulip bulbs I forget.

We all like to follow the crowd and investors more than most, this is generally good if you can get in early enough but strangely investors are running scared of iPhone and haven’t even really noticed that download games change the rules.  There have been a couple of big investments I think Glu mobile got a fair amount of money but most UK investors have a strange disconnect they know iPhone is successful but don’t seem able to unpin the risks.

Every office has its own personalised methodology when approaching their day to day work load. Many arrive at the office armed with their double espresso venti cappuccino, set in the zone of hammering out a perfected PowerPoint presentation to the corporate big wigs. Some people even knowingly glue themselves to their poorly manufactured and terribly uncomfortable office chairs from the hours of 9-5, unbeknown to them that they are haven’t seen daylight for over a year. This I am happy to report is NOT the working structure of the Onteca office.

With any job that involves an individual to exert their creativity within their work, environment and habitual comforts are essential. At Onteca it is apparent that the company nurtures a freeform style and its colleague’s creative composition through its relaxed approach to business. The Onteca cluster consists of individuals who specialise in various areas, ranging from graphic designers, computer programmers, visual artists and music composer. All of which make Onteca what it is today, a compressed source of enthusiasm and creativity for the world of innovative technology.

Onteca is defiantly independent and want to make their games with as little external interference as possible. They have grown to their size through doing a variety of different projects but our core passion is the production of Computer games. Emerging more as a games developer, Onteca are happy to stay in the shadows of such a commercially run industry and let their work speak for itself. Their work with new emerging technology screams exuberance, modernisation and eccentricity. Components needed in such a conditioned culture where individuals are becoming harder to entertain, and as a result succumbing to the customs of replication.

Onteca to this day

Multitasking is what Onteca does best; here is a little glimpse into what the company is up to.

Bluecoat project – Bluecoat’s is an award-winning art gallery best known for their continuous programme of innovative exhibitions. Dan, Onteca’s own software and computer programming connoisseur is currently working on the Bluecoat project. Bluecoat are looking to improve visitor engagement on their website, this will be done by developing a 3d map. This may sound simple to us techno proletarians; however this requires precise architecture programming in action script 3.

14-19 Diploma – I am sure you have noticed my last blog covering Onteca’s educatory work with students in Wirral. Max is Onteca’s very own film director and interactive media tutor, is currently working with the on the training programme of the 14-19 diploma. The Diploma is an alternative curriculum that combines theoretical and practical study, providing a different style of learning that will offer young people an alternative route into higher education, apprenticeships or employment with training. Onteca provide training in such up-to-date industry standard software packages such as MAYA 3d modelling, Flash, Photoshop, Web Design and Video After Effects.

Onteca Training Programmes – Onteca believes in educating individuals in the different emerging technologies, consequently the company has proposed a new line of Training Programmes. Whether you’re just starting out along the path to be a games developer, or you want to learn how create a custom Smartphone application for your business Onteca will provide a training course tailored to your development needs. Course materials consists of Programming courses e.g. Introduction to C++, iphone 2d and 3d development and intro to CSS. Digital arts courses e.g. Intro to Photoshop, Flash, Autodesk Maya, 3d modelling and intro to web design. And Leadership courses e.g. Thinking the future.

Monsteca Corral– This is a project that is growing ever so close to my heart. Everyone at Onteca has a role to play with the development of the Monsteca Corral game, whether it is creating sounds for the Sdompe’ (Jo), perfecting the artwork of new characters (Rich), working on the architecture of the game (Simon), developing the game as a whole (the maker Ben) or my role of marketing the game to the public.

(Ben: The maker)                                              (Rich: Creator)

Day by day the tick boxes are being crossed off and we are getting closer and closer to the finish line. At the moment Jo is currently making sounds for the game and the characters, this is a very peculiar process to watch first hand when it involves banging chairs against the floor to see the types of sound effects they can make. It is however very interesting to see how different sounds can be manipulated and constructed with such programs as Sound Forge SoundLab. I can’t wait to finally hear how the Sdompe is going to sound.

We now have two months to finish the game so to keep you guys updated I am going to try and keep an up-to-date development diary. Watch firsthand the Monsteca Corral game come together.

See you soon

Hello all, Sophie here.

In my introductory blog last week I told you guys that my ground is in Public Relations and how I will be working on Onteca’s new game Monsteca Corral, furthermore Monsteca is not the only thing that should raise some eyebrows. Unbeknown to many, Onteca plays an exceptional role within the Wirral 14-19 Diploma .

The Diploma is an alternative curriculum that combines theoretical and practical study, providing a different style of learning that will offer young people an alternative route into higher education, apprenticeships or employment with training.

The Diploma combines a wide range of elements that aim to develop confident and independent learners with the skills to succeed in the workplace. In addition to a broad range of knowledge therefore, young people will also gain competency in skills such as independent thinking, English, Maths and IT. Although diplomas will give an insight into particular industries and sectors, the skills gained through such work can be applied to all professions.

Originally the diploma consisted of vocational courses such as Hair and Beauty Studies, Construction and the Built Environment and Retail Business. Subsequently the Diplomas are now advancing along with the progression of modern day technology, and no one knows more about advancements in technology than Onteca.

The guys at Onteca are keen to introduce the Information Technology Diploma to their students, covering areas such as:

1.Business: How organisations work and the role technology can play
2.People: How to work well with other people
3.Technology: How to create technology solutions

Plus exploring a cross theme of multimedia, looking at how to design and develop a multimedia products for a particular audience. Onteca provide training in such up-to-date industry standard software packages as MAYA 3d modelling, Flash, Photoshop, Web Design and Video After Effects.

The Diploma represents a huge opportunity for Wirral students of all abilities to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes to succeed in work and life in the twentieth first century. I personally believe Diplomas like these will help restore the loss of hope many students have lost, by introducing them to totally different form learning.

For more information about the types of Diplomas available go to the Direct Gov website, or feel free to contact me to learn more about Onteca and their contribution to the 14-19 Diplomas in the Wirral area at sophie@onteca.com

See you soon

surgery – test masking

composited two different shots, organs from oblique angle over room and body from a straighter angle.surgerytestmask

beating-heart

A 3d rendered beating heart, modelled and rendered in maya

heart and lung machine partially sorted before i add…. guess what?… more tubes!

needs rest of objects inserting into scene…

heart and lung machine… bin… etc

…more tubes!