Interview Massimo Righi

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

Q. Hello Massimo how are you and howz your animals in the computer, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in CG?

Hello, first of all I want to thank you for the opportunity. I’m born in Italy in 1972 and actually living in Forlì, a quiet and pretty small town in the North of the coutry. I am a self-thought CG Artist and I work as freelancer with my soul mate and now also co-worker Silvia Puliè (just celebrated 15 years together, well, not bad though;))...I always loved visual arts from photography to traditional drawing and airbrushing. Silvia has an art degree. I started doing 3D as a hobby in 1999 and till 2005 it has been a growing passion that made me decide to sell my bookstore and give it a try as a professional... and here I am...

Q. So, you are a freelancer, please tell us what difficulties a freelancer have to face in getting the work?

Well, at the beginning is never easy...What I think make the difference is the passion for this kind of work. At first I started building my portfolio so that people started to know me, than I began answer to works offers from guru.com to craiglist and made some great experiences. Now, two years later, I no longer need to look for work, I can consider myself lucky because is the people that used to contact me.

Q. After watching your portfolio we came to know that you are an animal lover but there is any another special reason for creating those? Italy is known for the design but we have not seen any architectural or abstract designing in your portfolio, any plan?

Yes, I love them, is it so evident?:) Till the animals and nature keep inspiring me, I will model them.

Yes, Italy is known for the design , but I think is all about choices...For example, I never liked too much modeling cars but I ended up making some work as third party for Volkswagen. This

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

work is umpredictable, I learned to keep my mind open to everything as long as are interesting projects. Who knows the future, maybe I will model buildings one day...

Q. What is the main reason of choosing Maya in your arsenal? Will you like to see any change in the future versions of Maya like more modeling options, better renderer or anything?

My first 3D software was Rhino3D. It helped me a lot understanding all the Nurbs modeling (I still think it’s the best Nurbs modeling software), than I started learning polygonal modeling and when I tried out Maya PLE it was love at first sight. To be honest after Maya I stopped looking for other 3D tools.

I think at Autodesk and before at Alias have great developers, well, I believe in their work and I’ m sure the future releases will be more and more improved.

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

Q. Please tell us in detail about your latest work “Trapped” and “Lunchtime”, what problems you encountered in creation and how you achieve such realism?

I made both of the images after my recent trip in the south-east of Asia. What I would like to do is to pick of the animals the characteristics that more catch my attention.

For “Trapped” I just finished a brief “Making of”. You can view it here on cgarena.

About “Lunchtime” well, I’ ve always been fascinated by giraffes. I had in mind

some unusul camera angle and funny expression. After many angle view tests I went for this one.

I used Maya 8.0 for modeling, and MentalRay for rendering.The fur is polygonal (no Maya fur) I used HRDI/FG and Dof. The background is a photo taken in Borneo and it’s been rendered within Maya. There is not postwork, I only enhanced the contrast and the color gamma with Photoshop, used also to paint the textures.

About realism, I always try to keep

things simple, I use few lights, and add more of them only if really need. The texture work is also very important. I needed some quality reference material for achieve decent result. I used some photos taken at the zoos and spent many hours on that using a wacom tablet. I mainly use custom patterns and brushes as painting tools.

Q. Have you ever tried model a human being in 3d? Everyone said women are the most difficult to model in 3d, we all know very difficult to understand the women but really difficult to model too, what your view on this?

Of course I tried many times and I like to model humans. Working as freelancer I often provide commissioned models of humans. I recently created a magazine cover (PSD Magazine) , inspired by an old photo of Audrey Hepbourn. We have many examples of talented artists and beautiful artworks rapresenting women, as I told you is all about choices, but I will sure do more humans in the future, expecially women :)

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

Q. What other interests do you have that help influence your work and keep you motivated?

I have many interests, from photography to music but the thing I can’t live without is travelling, as much as I can. I like to visit wild places but also big cities. that definitely keep me inspired and motivated...

Q. Of all of your artwork, which piece is your personal favorite and why?

Looking back on them I always feel I could improve them in some way... “Green Frog” has been the first work I submitted to various online galleries and that gave me a lot of satisfaction.

AN INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Righi

Q. What’s the most useful thing you have learnt in 3d?

I’m always learning. In this work everyday you can achieve better results or undertstand something new.

Q. What advice would you give to future wanna be modelers and freelancers out there?

Is always tough at the beginning but with training and passion I think everything is possible, so don’t give up, ...Just find your own way and try to identificate yourself with what you do.

Q. Are you working on any projects currently? If so, what are they?

I am working on many parallel projects. I am doing models for commissions and reverse engeneering market. About personal project, I wish I do something great with my 3D animals, just thinking what...

Q. Anything you like to add? It is your chance now to state your opinion about anything?

I would like to thank people that has believed in my work and that has awarded my images. I am thanking to 3DTotal, CGSociety, galleryof3d, highend3d, Raph.com, Treddi , cgitalia, 3Dcyborg, 3DValley, 3Dworld Magazine, Psd Magazine...of course CGArena and many others.

Thanks a lot Massimo for taking out sometime for us from your busy schedule.

CGArena is proud to present “Vehicle of the Future” (3D Challenge), 05 June 2007 - 03 Sep 2007, sponsored by Npower Software. Express your creative ideas in a new and interesting way.

Modelled by Mark Rademaker in Power Nurbs Pro

Your Mission

Create an image which justify the theme of Vehicle of the Future using Power Nurbs Pro. This Challenge is a WorkIn-Progress Challenge -- all contestants are required to post their work-in-progress images for community to critique/ comment in order to qualify.

How the Challenge will be Run

This challenge will be a WIP (Work in Progress) Challenge. Each challenger is required to submit Work In Progress (WIP) images, from the initial concept sketch to the final render. to the post production on regular intervals. The purpose is that everyone can learn from each other, offer feedback and critiques.

1. Enter the Challenge by registering yourself on CGArena forum. 2. Download the fully functional demo version of Power Nurbs Pro plug-in from www.npowersoftware.com. Npower plugin is available only for 3ds max so you can use only Autodesk 3ds max for creation of the image. 3. Submit your work in progress images in forum on a regular basis. otherwise will be disqualified. 4. Participate in the community by critiquing other challengers works in the respective threads. 5. Submit your final entry till 03rd Sep 2007, midnight 00:00 GMT. 6. There will be 3 winners. CGArena, Npower decision will be final and no participant allowed to contact sponsors regarding the challenge or asking reasons for disqualifications. 7. You have to submit the final 3ds max file with image for verfication process. 8. You are allowed to use any type of post -production in the final image to make image better and richer.

Terms and Conditions

1.) Entrants agree to give permission to the sponsor to use all or any part of the artwork entered in this contest, (hereinafter, the ‘Work’) in the Company’s demonstration tapes (reels), promotional materials (ads, PR, etc.), booth graphics and presentations for the promotional purposes.

3.) The Company, in exchange for this release, will provide a credit for the Work within the material in which the Work is used.

4.) Submissions must be the sole Work of the entrant and not require approval of any other entity.

5.) Entrants will not receive financial remuneration for their Work.

Final Image Size

- Your final image dimensions should be print resolution. Do not send in a low-resolution. - A guideline is minimum 2800 pixels wide and/or 2048 high, JPG, 300 DPI. - Send your final image in zip or rar format with your name, complete shipping address, email, telephone number in a text file on email address futurevehicle@cgarena.com with subject “Vehicle of the Future”.

First Prize - $995 USD

Power Nurbs Pro - Power NURBS unique hybrid approach fuses the next generation NURBS surface construction technology with the industry’s leading Solids modeling technology bringing an unparalleled modeling experience to the 3ds Max Platform. Power NURBS modeling environment is designed to provide artist intuitive access to complex advanced modeling tools allowing you to expand your creative potential beyond the polygon world.

Second Prize- $695 USD

Power Solids - Until recently NURBS based-Solids modeling technology has been confined to high end non-artistic engineering applications; however, nPower’s Power Solids for 3ds Max changes everything. Power Solids provides designers and artists an exceptional intuitive modeling environment with unrestricted access to Solids geometry.

Or

Power Surfacer - Power Surfacing intergrates the world’s leading edge NURBS surface modeling technology into the heart of Autodesks 3ds Max.

Third Prize- $695 USD

Power Solids - Until recently NURBS based-Solids modeling technology has been confined to high end non-artistic engineering applications; however, nPower’s Power Solids for 3ds Max changes everything. Power Solids provides designers and artists an exceptional intuitive modeling environment with unrestricted access to Solids geometry.

Or

Power Surfacer - Power Surfacing intergrates the world’s leading edge NURBS surface modeling technology into the heart of Autodesks 3ds Max.