3D Animator: Duties and Salary
by Robyn Tellefsen
Through 3D animation, artists manipulate images to give the impression of movement in a world with colors, depth, sound, and texture. With today's design software, 3D animators can create these realistic spaces without having to draw everything from scratch in every frame.
Duties of a 3D animator
3D animators create an imaginary world filled with people, cartoon characters, and everyday objects moving and interacting within an ever-changing environment. Using state-of-the-art design software, 3D animators make fictional worlds look real.
However, 3D animators don't have the luxury of creating their masterpieces in a vacuum. Their work is often done out of sequence and must be coordinated with composers, programmers, writers, and other artists to bring a project from inception to release.
Where to find 3D animator jobs
Beyond motion picture cartoons, 3D animator jobs may be found in broadband Internet animation, broadcast and Web advertising, computer and console game development, education, live entertainment, military and corporate training, research, and TV programming.
3D animators may also specialize within a particular area of the animation field. 3D animators can become educational process animators, layout or background artists, presentation animators, production designers, story artists, or texture and lighting specialists.
3D animator programs
3D animators may receive career-focused training at colleges, universities, or schools that are dedicated to the design arts. 3D animator programs provide foundational courses in illustration, storyboarding, and modeling. Technical classes in Flash, Maya, 3ds Max, and others build the hands-on skills needed to become a 3D animator.
3D animator programs also consist of animation history, choreography, layout, life sciences and anatomy, music, and stage lighting. The best 3D animator programs devote time to workplace skill development and project management techniques as well as software training. Upon completion of a 3D animator program, artists should have a strong portfolio of animation projects (including demo reels) in order to compete in the job market.
Demand for 3D animator jobs
Compared to other artists, 3D animators will see the greatest number of job openings through 2016, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, 3D animator jobs are projected to increase 26 percent through 2016, which is faster than the 16 percent growth predicted for artists overall, and much faster than the average for all occupations.
Median annual earnings of 3D animators were $54,550 in May 2007, not including the earnings of the self-employed.
If you're ready to put your creative and communicative skills to the test, learn more about 3D animator programs available in your area.
Duties of a 3D animator
3D animators create an imaginary world filled with people, cartoon characters, and everyday objects moving and interacting within an ever-changing environment. Using state-of-the-art design software, 3D animators make fictional worlds look real.
However, 3D animators don't have the luxury of creating their masterpieces in a vacuum. Their work is often done out of sequence and must be coordinated with composers, programmers, writers, and other artists to bring a project from inception to release.
Where to find 3D animator jobs
Beyond motion picture cartoons, 3D animator jobs may be found in broadband Internet animation, broadcast and Web advertising, computer and console game development, education, live entertainment, military and corporate training, research, and TV programming.
3D animators may also specialize within a particular area of the animation field. 3D animators can become educational process animators, layout or background artists, presentation animators, production designers, story artists, or texture and lighting specialists.
3D animator programs
3D animators may receive career-focused training at colleges, universities, or schools that are dedicated to the design arts. 3D animator programs provide foundational courses in illustration, storyboarding, and modeling. Technical classes in Flash, Maya, 3ds Max, and others build the hands-on skills needed to become a 3D animator.
3D animator programs also consist of animation history, choreography, layout, life sciences and anatomy, music, and stage lighting. The best 3D animator programs devote time to workplace skill development and project management techniques as well as software training. Upon completion of a 3D animator program, artists should have a strong portfolio of animation projects (including demo reels) in order to compete in the job market.
Demand for 3D animator jobs
Compared to other artists, 3D animators will see the greatest number of job openings through 2016, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, 3D animator jobs are projected to increase 26 percent through 2016, which is faster than the 16 percent growth predicted for artists overall, and much faster than the average for all occupations.
Median annual earnings of 3D animators were $54,550 in May 2007, not including the earnings of the self-employed.
If you're ready to put your creative and communicative skills to the test, learn more about 3D animator programs available in your area.
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