Michael Grinberg

Maya Attribute Options tool.! Newest addition to my personal tool set. Took me a few days to write it on and off. This tool helps me to re-order attributes without having to re-do the incoming/outgoing connections. Some options are still a work in progress... #reorder #attributes #mel #maya #tools #rigging

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Do you want to level up your game dev team? Do you want to learn some of the magic that makes some of the greatest games? Alex's course is a great place to start. And if you have designers on staff you think would benefit, I highly recommend this bootcamp. #bootcap #gamedesign

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Connect Life VFX: Redefining Visual Mastery Founded: October 2019, Vancouver Our Mission: At Connect Life VFX, we are passionate about crafting visual effects that go beyond the ordinary. We elevate stories through a seamless blend of artistic vision and technical precision, creating imagery that captivates and inspires. Our Team: We are a collective of talented artists, skilled technicians, and forward-thinking visionaries. United by our pursuit of excellence, we strive to push the limits of what visual effects can achieve, making every project a masterpiece of innovation. Core Values: - Innovative Artistry: We continuously explore new ideas and techniques, bringing fresh perspectives to the world of visual effects. - Narrative Focus: Our work is deeply rooted in storytelling, enhancing each narrative with visuals that amplify its emotional and dramatic impact. - Commitment to Excellence: We are dedicated to delivering exceptional quality in every frame, ensuring that our work standsout for its precision and creativity. Studio Culture: - Creative Collaboration: Our studio is a space where creativity thrives, fueled by the exchange of ideas and the synergy of diverse talents. - Limitless Imagination: We embrace the convergence of artistic disciplines, fostering an environment where imagination knows no boundaries. Join Our Vision: Be a part of Connect Life VFX and contribute to the future of visual storytelling. Together, we are setting new benchmarks in visual effects, transforming the art form, and making the impossible a reality. #VFX #VisualEffects #ConnectLifeVFX #CreativeExcellence #FilmIndustry 

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Admit it. You've impulsively Kickstarted a board game (or 3 in one year, in this writer's case…) based on the stunning artwork & presentation alone. When Jay Cormier, Board Game Designer and Vancouver Film School Game Design Instructor, launched his brand-new game 'Corps of Discovery' on Kickstarter, board game lovers couldn't resist. In fact, within 1 hour of the Kickstarter launch on April 23 the game was fully funded and is now nearly 800% funded! Read THE BLOG to find out all about Jay's board game, his exciting career journey and learn how you can experience VFS's Game Development programs 👉 https://ow.ly/VTza50Szggu

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Padawans! Now is your chance to #JoinTheForce! Read the eligibility carefully - you must! What does Padawan mean? A Padawan is a learner or apprentice. The term can refer specifically to a Jedi apprentice within the Star Wars universe. It can also be used more generally to refer to a trainee, a beginner, or an inexperienced person. (source: Dictionary.com)

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I finally found the time to create and share something that has been on my backlog for a while! I often encounter confusion (my own included) when trying to use math to develop more efficient solutions than simply relying on built-in tools in 3D software. In particular, this post dives into object orientation in Maya—a task that can range from straightforward to quite complex. I understand how hard it can be to approach this kind of problem without a strong technical background, but solving these challenges programmatically can provide much greater control and performance. It’s definitely time well spent, and your workflow will improve significantly as a result. I’ve provided both the code and a brief (though not exhaustive) introduction to key linear algebra concepts. I hope this helps shed some light on the topic and offers clarity in an area that can often seem tricky. A special thanks to Marco D'Ambros — without his patience, I would still be a long way from understanding any of these concepts! Any feedback is more than welcome.

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I’ve been asked many times, why I prefer Marmoset Toolbag over Substance Painter for Normal Map Baking. The answer is simple: Painting custom cage distances. Especially with models that have tight or crammed areas this feature can save lifes. In combination with the ability to create and assign bake groups for exploded baking, Marmoset has been my go to for texture baking. Those simple features have been around for a long time, but to my knowledge are still missing in Substance Painter and would be a great addition! #texturebaking #gameart #texturing #gameartist #3Dartist #3Dart #adobe #marmosettoolbag #substancepainter #3Dtool

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Another blow to the industry as new tax cuts affect studios and jobs in Montreal. In March, the Quebec government announced it would increase the base rate of the tax credit from 20 to 25% and cap its application to 65% of a contract's value, whereas before there was no cap. https://lnkd.in/eb4bq3tx Changes to make our industry more sustainable is required... #vfx #visualeffects

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I understand the challenges many face when trying to break into the games industry and find the right role. Before contacting a team member or recruiter, I recommend checking the job listings on the company's careers site to identify suitable positions. This approach not only demonstrates professionalism but also expedites the process. Simply reaching out to inquire about available roles may not be the most effective initial contact, as it can lead to a less fruitful conversation. For those interested, here is a link to all the current open roles at WB Games: https://lnkd.in/enp8Q8YN #GameIndustry #CareerOpportunities #Professionalism

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🔥 This is how I teach the 5 basics of Substance Designer ❗ 🥇 I explain the core to Grayscale Information. 🥈 I show how I blend information in Designer. 🥉 I control my information with the basic noes. 🎖️ I make a Pattern for my students showing all possibilities. 🏅 In every Material I have to mask all the details. 👨‍🏫 "if you want to learn material art, first learn the basics. Without the basics, you won't be able to achieve a good result." 💥 This is a complex career, yet it doesn't mean it is hard. What makes it hard is not knowing what you need, to get the results you want. You can wish it as much as you want but without dominating these 5 points it will be hard to achieve a good result. 💡 One last Pro Tip: The best way to practice these 5 points, is by creating individual and specific shapes. It will force you to use all of this and open your mind when working on design! #3d #vfx #texturing #TextureArtist #3dtexturing #digitalartist #substance3ddesigner #3dartist #gameartist #gameart #adobe

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Go check out my tutorial on the Epic Dev Community. It is still in development but even so, there might be some things you didn't know already in there. This will end up being a big tutorial that will grow and grow. I'm so stoked to keep bringing these tools, tips, and tricks to the community I have more tutorials on the way so keep an eye out!

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Version 1 of the Procedural Snow Toolset it out! I've added more options to all the assets! The HDA, the snow material function, and the snow material. Check out the tutorial I've made for this asset toolset. Showcase & Tutorial video: https://lnkd.in/dSknBNPz You can get it from here: https://lnkd.in/dH7d7WBS #unrealengine #ue5 #procedural #environmentart

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Develop isn't over for most people. But sadly it is for me. Gabriele Sanfilippo and I attended on Tuesday and Wednesday morning to chat shop with people interested in hearing about life at Spliced Inc. and Anchor Point Studios. Develop never disappoints. And as always>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Familiar Faces ✅ Worthwhile conversations ✅ Effervescent energy at the hotel bar ✅ More beards than the year before, and the year before that ✅ People sporting a different hat every day of the event? ✅ Several meaningful introductions made that we'll keep in touch with? ✅ But more than all this - whilst a lot of studios and publishers will measure ROI by looking at the cost of attending the event and seeing the data off the back of it (as important as this is) - let's not undervalue>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The energy we take from it, and bring back with us 🔋 The connections we make that remind us of the industry we love so much 🤝 The subsequent uplift in focus, happiness and positive attitude it brings to all of us 🌞 What a great reminder of the best industry on the planet! 🌍

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Monthly Unreal Game Challenges update! I'll need some time to to improve the base Unreal project to an acceptable quality approaching AAA that feels good to play. Right now there's just a few things hindering that. This means Monthly Challenges will come online early August! This gives me time to upgrade the Unreal 5 project, better understand how it's working, and gather/create resources to explain things for you so everyone can dive in. For those that don't know yet. Monthly Challenges will be run through the GameDevSG Discord, please join that! Also, you can install Unreal 5.4 and start tinkering now. I'll gather good tutorials on how to get started, but I don't have time yet for that. Challenges will be setup so you can pick off something that is specific to your discipline, and use the community to help you along when you get stuck. The idea is to overall learn how to implement and iterate better on your work and have something more relevant for employers that is shown in engine inside of a fully working game. Stay tuned. Thanks all! #gamedev #portfolio #gamejobs

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Swarm of insects in Niagara. HLSL If someone likes this, I'd be grateful for a repost, colleagues. I'm continuing to develop the asset, or rather, to make an enhanced version. I've expanded the functionality so now you can select any insect. You can set movement points, such as from one burrow to another. You can create areas where insects are allowed to move. You can choose any target for an attack — a player or, for instance, a rock. #NiagaraEffects #HLSLShaders #UnrealEngine #InsectSwarm #GameDev #TechArt #VisualEffects #RealTimeVFX #NiagaraSystem #UE5

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if GIMP - Open Source Image Editor has an overhaul to the shortcuts and be similar to the general graphic software in the market I believe Gimp can in fact destroy Photoshop and demolish it to the ground. the amount of horse power and tools Gimp has are phenomenal, it just goes unnoticed by the general user base.

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Writing shaders made a lot more sense to me than using a node based shader editor. "NORMAL_MAP = vec3(0,10);" Really helps with foliage in an isometric style, especially if it's moving and is lit by a dynamic light source. it helps keep the lighting consistent and avoids back face discoloration.

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