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From: Classic_-_Concepts@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Computer animation
Message-ID: <16945@cup.portal.com>
Date: 9 Apr 89 22:16:43 GMT
References: <1836@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>
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Organization: The Portal System (TM)
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> whether I should continue with 'animation' or go into graphic design ...
 
   I would strongly urge you to learn computer skills even if you do decide
to go into graphic design.  The last three projects that I was hired for,
I was up against graphic designers with excellent credentials and many years
of experience (average about 15 years experience).  I got the jobs.  All
three of them, because of my computer skills.  A graphic artist without
computer skills is going to be in serious trouble in a few years.
   In terms of choosing between computer animation and graphic design (with
computers), the pay is higher in the former, the number of jobs is greater
in the latter.
   Oh, and if you have some programming skills you will be better off still.
I knew how to write drivers and conversion programs (as well as batch files)
and these also were in my favor.  My background is almost entirely in fine
arts.  This isn't true for everyone, but I found the best way to acquire the
computer skills was to have a computer at home.  I've never taken any computer
courses, but I suspect that I learned as much in a week at home than I think
I would have in several months of classes.  (This is not to say you shouldn't
take classes, it's just something to think about.)
   Good luck whatever you decide.  Both are exciting fields.  And don't look
for jobs in the northwest.  My friends in California seem to be getting a lot
more work and higher salaries, at least for the time being, than we do up here