Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!po0o+ From: po0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Paul Andrew Olbrich) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: Computer animation Message-ID: Date: 11 Apr 89 19:44:07 GMT References: <1836@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>, <16945@cup.portal.com> Distribution: na Organization: Class of '92, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 35 In-Reply-To: <16945@cup.portal.com> This is a reply the following stuff... > > 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 What about people like me, who would like to get in from the other end? I'm majoring in computer science, and I'd like to get into computer animation. What would you suggest in the way of art or design skills? Would these be a necessary thing to have on a resume? I'm artistically talented, so I'm going to put my free electives toward art or design courses anyway, just because I enjoy that sort of thing. Would it be beneficial to minor in graphic design? ... Please comment because I'm not really sure what I should do, or what is best, or necessary, or whatever. Drew Olbrich po0o+@andrew.cmu.edu