Early Rendering & Visualization Reel

Description:

This reel captures a snapshot of my 3D and animation work from the early 2000s through 2006, spanning a period where real-time rendering, simulation, and visualization workflows were evolving incredibly quickly. Looking back at this material is a reminder of just how far both hardware and software have progressed.

Most of the shots featured here were rendered long before HD became standard! A SIngle HD frame could take upwards of 60 minutes per frame to complete back then. Today, many of those same scenes could be rendered in only seconds using modern GPUs and rendering engines.

Project Credits:

Company: Viewpoint Corporation

Primary Software Utilized:

3D Studio Max, Maya, After Effects

Contributions:

CAD conversion, 3D Production, Animation, Rendering, Technical Direction, Music

What was rendering like in 1997?

⦾ The ⬆️ image above was my first office 3D project, hard to believe but it was very advanced for its time!
⦾ The ⬅️ image on the left took 36 hours to render on my desktop machine!
⦾ YouYube and Google Didnt Exist yet!
⦾ There was ZERO instant gratification.
⦾ Animation was done with 3D Studio.. it wasn’t even called MAX yet!
⦾ Desktop computers wre about $1500
– 16MB RAM
– 200MHz CPU
– Dial Up Internet
– 15″ monitor was normal and gigantic on a desk
⦾ In short – it was rough.

Early Rendering & Visualization Work Full Credits:

GE: GEnx Turbine Engine — 2005
Created for GE to support promotional, educational, and marketing efforts surrounding the upcoming GEnx turbine engine program. Over twenty minutes of educational animation and visualization content were produced from the virtual model.
Responsibilities: Modeling 30%, Animation 100%, Rigging 100%, Scripting 100%, Rendering 100%, Post 100%

GE: F136 Turbine Engine — 2005
Developed using Alias Maya 6.0 to visualize the GE / Rolls Royce joint military turbine program. The digital assets were used across video, print, and even physical promotional materials.
Responsibilities: Modeling 30%, Animation 100%, Rigging 100%, Scripting 100%, Rendering 100%, Post 100%

Eskimo Girl — 2005
Originally created as a personal character project to explore UV mapping, rigging, and animation workflows in Maya. The character continued evolving over time as a testing platform for new techniques and software updates.
Responsibilities: Modeling 100%, Animation 100%, Rigging 100%

Toy Top and Tricycle — 2005
Created as part of Viewpoint’s animated short film “Roundular,” these scenes were used to establish rendering, material, and dynamics quality standards for the production.
Responsibilities: Modeling 100%, Animation 100%, Rendering 100%

Pampers: Spiderman — 2005
Originally developed as a low-resolution interactive asset, the model and textures were rebuilt and enhanced for higher-quality print and animation output using 3D Studio Max.
Responsibilities: Modeling 100%, Animation 100%, Rigging 100%, Scripting 100%, Rendering 100%, Post 100%

Acco Paper Clips — 2005
A faux-commercial exercise created during downtime at Viewpoint to further explore rendering techniques with Mental Ray inside Alias Maya 6.0.
Responsibilities: Modeling 100%, Animation 100%, Rigging 100%, Scripting 100%, Rendering 100%, Post 100%

Math Expression Scene — 2005
An experimental procedural scene focused on expression-driven animation and dynamically generated geometry systems within Maya.
Responsibilities: Scripting 100%, Rendering 100%