WELCOME

The art of the environment

It’s all too easy to be carried along by the excitement of massive explosions, fantastic characters and alien motherships in visual effects extravaganzas. There is nothing wrong with that of course, but sometimes a change of pace is welcome and a broader look at world building can be equally satisfying for the 3D artist.

With this in mind we take you on a journey through some of the fascinating digital environments that either house the big explosions, or that stand as art in their own right.

Hopefully by now you have unfolded our special gatefold cover to enjoy the splendour of Ryan Elliot’s stunning artwork. We don’t often get the opportunity to create this type of cover, but what better way to celebrate the wider format than a sprawling landscape, with a steampunk inspired city nestled between the hills.

Not only do we show you how to create your own environments, we also demonstrate how these skills can be used for beautiful architectural visualisations, a real crossover of function and art.

On top of the environmental content this issue, we teach you how to create some truly awesome-looking neon typography.

Thanks for reading, until next time…