Should You Specialize or Be a Generalist?

[@3dhotshot]

Great content !!! - I think an artist should focus on subject matter that they are passionate about instead of jumping around all over the place.

[@AllanMcKay]

Awesome ZKL! I definitely think artists should learn the foundations and then specialize, and get good at that craft, it definitely helps you focus since 3D is so broad. But the only problem I see is when people specialize from day one - this is something I saw a lot when I first moved to the US. Everyone just was good at 'hard surface modeling' or their other one thing - and didn't have any understanding of how to do other tasks. So that's the importance is to have a solid understanding of the foundations, which makes you a stronger artist but then focus on the area that you want to niche down on (whether it's because of passion or because you know you can get paid a lot and have a lot of opportunity) with that foundational knowledge behind you. Thanks ZKL!

[@3dhotshot]

@@AllanMcKay definitely agree with solid all round foundation both for modelling and lighting for sure.

[@SizSarayut]

This is a great motivation one! I started as generalist and after that I focus on fx for like 6 years, now I'm comfortable enough in fx and thinking of improving other skill as well, I would have felt bad if I left everything behind.

[@AlexAndRiEL]

Thanks Allan! You are doing a lot to the community! Priceless information and the hottest topics!

[@BeauJoeBaggins]

It is difficult to hire young generalists because, in my experience, they say they know the whole pipeline but then favor only one part of the pipeline to the point that the whole project suffers because they only said they were a generalist to get hired. I don't recommend hiring straight out of college.

[@nabilzaghdoudi6028]

i'm using 3d in my daily work ( it'a about 17 years already) and still don't know what specific 3d subject i love more §§ it depends on project i get and i think that i love everything in it

[@AllanMcKay]

There's nothing wrong with loving everything - it is important to still have an area that people know you for and think of you above all others. But it doesn't mean you have to be pigeonholed into knowing just one thing.

[@nabilzaghdoudi6028]

Thank you Allan i' m learning a lot from you

[@anoobgamerNG]

In this changing world already learnt tools are disappearing (In my case 3ds max.) so it's hard to learn new tool with full day hectic job.. As being a Generalist it's becomes more difficult to manage...So What to do?

[@AllanMcKay]

oh boy - the amount of times I have heard '3ds max is disappearing' .. ever since 3ds max 1. It's still the highest selling 3D tool overall, and heavily used at ILM and a lot of other studios, including Pixar, Scanline,, Pixomondo, Blur etc. Definitely not going anywhere - just lot of weird people out there who want to bash other products if they use maya or blender :) It is important to keep up to date with the latest tools and techniques coming out, and being software bi-lingual can definitely help. But it's also even easier to just simply get overwhelmed with fear - focus on what matters most and where your time is best served. You are right, there is infinite new tools out there, and the person who chases two rabbits catches none. So focus on what are the areas you think will help you get to your end goal (not others) and really dominate those. So if Unreal has some cool new tools, and there's some shiny new AI thing over here, and a new rendering engine over there - but you like v-ray, you want to get better at shaders and texturing with substance etc. Focus on those things, not everything. At least that's the best way to stay sane. And finally, people love to spread fear, especially if it helps them feel better about themselves. So when people tell you certain software is disappearing, and it's by one of the top 10 biggest software companies in the world, I'd probably question what secret information they have that nobody else does :) (I'm fairly involved with Autodesk, and I have Autodesk execs that live on my street, so I'm fairly aware of all their products trajectories years out). Best of luck! :) PS. I run a large CG department that is all 3ds max, we work on pretty much all of the biggest shows that are coming out in 2023, and if anything I'm trying to hire more talent because it's so hard to find. So there's definitely loads of opportunities out there

[@anoobgamerNG]

@@AllanMcKay Thank you So much....😄😄

[@3D-VFX]

Andrey Lebrov, How the hell can you fit so much inside your head? Your reel looks like it's from different specialist!