Professional animation skills have been around for some time now. It is a career that has a lot of opportunities for growth and development. You will have to do a lot of learning and you will have the opportunity to work with different media such as computers, video, music videos, movies, cartoons, and advertisements. What exactly is this profession?

This article will provide information on the following point:

• What is 3D Animation
• What Does a 3D Animator Do?
• Where Do 3D Animators Work?
• How to become a 3D Animator and Earn Money
• How do 3D Artists Make Money?
• How Much do 3D Animators Make?
• What is the Highest Paying Jobs in Animation?
• How to Make Money With 3D Design
• How to Make Money With Animation
• How Much Money Can You Make Selling 3D Models?
• How to Make a Living as a Graphic Designer
• Make Money With 3D Printing – How Much Does It Cost?
• Make Money With 3D Modeling

What is 3D Animation

The field of 3D animation is extensive. Also known as 3D CGI or visual storytelling, it is both exciting and new for both the creator as well as the audience. In recent years as the popularity of 3D animated movies and television shows has grown, so has the industry. Movies like “The Croods” and “Cars”, or “Ice Age” and “The Incredibles” are all examples of 3D animation.

In the world of animation, there are two types of animators, 2D and 3D. Essentially, they do the same job. Both suggest new ideas, usually to a team, complete a certain amount of research to ensure their ideas are original and engaging, then render them on paper, or with the use of computer software.

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3D animation is more realistic because of the addition of depth. Adding depth creates more life-like characters, and it is much easier for 3D animators to make changes to a scene because they can move or transfer an object more easily.

People who work in the field of three-dimensional (3D) animation create visual effects and animated characters for television, video games, and other electronic media. Many animators work in the movie and film industry. 3D animators create moving images using digital models and add details to the pictures, such as landscapes, skin color, or clothing.

What Does a 3D Animator Do?

Someone who works as a 3D animation artist may also have the job title of multimedia artist. On a typical day, they take on a variety of responsibilities for the purpose of planning and crafting their art form. Some of the specific job duties of a 3D animator may include:

• Creating animation and graphics with the aid of computer illustrations and software programs.
• Spending time researching the project to get ideas for animation.
• Creating a working model of scenes to be animated in movies, television, or video games. This process is called storyboarding.
• Receiving feedback from clients and the rest of the design staff and incorporating the responses into project edits.

Animators can be self-employed and will meet with clients to plan the scope of the work, or they will work with a team of other animators and creative professionals. If traditionally employed, 3D animators meet with actresses and actors, directors, game designers, and other animators to decide on specific job functions and establish deadlines for each part of the project.

Where Do 3D Animators Work?

Most people with jobs in 3D animation work in offices. 3D character animators may also work in film and video production studios, public relations offices, advertising agencies, for software publishers, graphic design firms, computer systems design firms, web design firms, and teach at colleges and universities.

They typically have a workstation with a large drawing board, a computer, and numerous software programs that enable them to complete their work.

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Some may work out of their own home or rent office space if they are self-employed. People in this profession usually work full-time during typical office hours, but need to remain flexible to work in the evening or on weekends when deadlines are approaching.

In 2014, animators held just over 64,000 jobs, and a little more than half were self-employed.

How to become a 3D Animator and Earn Money

Important Requirements

Having artistic talent is one of the most important aspects of becoming an animator. If you have a flair for drawing different types of images, you are off on a good start. This foundation will enable you to successfully develop the skills that you will need in your career. Natural talent will make it easier for you to be successful in this field.

Choose Your Specialization

Animators can work in a variety of industries as previously mentioned. You can work for webmasters, advertising firms, construction companies, video game creators and so on. You cannot possibly become an expert in all these areas. Some opportunities may require 2D knowledge or 3D. You have to choose the one that is most suitable for you. If you are focused, you can easily position yourself as an expert.

Find Out What It Takes To Get Into Top Studios

Set your eyes on the best studios in the industry. Find out the qualifications and skill levels that are required for animators who work with these studios. If you aspire to this level of qualification, you will be able to get jobs at any level in the industry. When your aim is high, you will put more effort into your training and you will be able to compete with the best professionals.

Make Sure You Are Always Working

Using skills in 3D animation to make money as a digital graphics artist requires that you continue to improve your skills. The only way to do this is to make sure that you always have an ongoing project. If you have not secured employment in a studio, you can get jobs from freelance websites. Apart from giving you ready cash, these jobs will also enable you to gain a lot of experience.

Keep Learning

Even if you have a degree in the appropriate discipline, you cannot afford to stop developing yourself. The school that you attend cannot teach you all that you need to know about animation and computer-generated images. Search for books that will enable you to upgrade your knowledge. Most of these publications are available as eBooks so you can conveniently read them and practice the lessons on your PC.

Create An Attractive Portfolio

It is vital to create an impressive demo real. This is a presentation of the type of jobs that you are capable of doing. Make sure that you include samples of your best work. Prospective employers want to know that you have the ability to render, animate, texture and so on. You may combine a few of your original characters to tell a story in a short video of about three minutes.

How do 3D Artists Make Money?

After acquiring the needed skills needed to become a 3D artists, the internet provides a lot of ways to make money with your newly acquired skill. We will discuss about 5 of them below.

1. Sell 3D Modelling Training Courses

There are many people making good money by creating courses on different topics and selling them online. You can become a 3D trainer, share your basic 3D modelling knowledge & skills, and earn passive income. Websites such as YouTube and Udemy allow you to create content on training courses with a few simple steps.

All you need is a laptop, microphone, camera, a recording software and you are set. Make sure that you research popular topics that people want to learn and pay for. If you are using sites such as YouTube, you can earn more by meeting the criteria with a monetized account.

2. Start a 3D Printing Blog

If you are good at coding and designing your own 3D pieces, you can combine your skills to make some money. Many professional coders are considering investing their time and energy into 3D modelling and graphic design.

You can create, design, and sell unique 3D software, plugins, and scripts to save other time and make hundreds or thousands of dollars passively. All you need to do is to stand out from the rest by writing better scripts, enhanced software, optimized workflows, and more user-friendly features.

Some 3D artists can make more than $ 1000 per month passively by selling their work to online buyers.

3. Sell Your 3D Software, Plugins & Scripts

Are you good at coding and designing your own 3D pieces? How about you combine your skills to make some money! Many professional coders are considering investing their time and energy into 3D modelling and graphic design.

You can create, design, and sell unique 3D software, plugins, and scripts to save other time and make hundreds or thousands of dollars passively. There are many platforms such as AssetStore and BlenderMarket where you can showcase and sell your work.

4. Sell Printable 3D Art Online

You can sell 3D art on some of the most popular peer-to-peer trading platforms such as Amazon and eBay. 3D designs are cool and some people want to buy them for different reasons. Some customers may want 3D art printed on clothing or on paintings.

You could even sell it in physical form. For clothing, print on demand is an awesome way to go. You could also sell in your own online store with Ecwid e-Commerce.

5. Create an App

If you have the skills, you can create an app and monetize it. Making an app will require a lot of your time and some good coding skills. If you are passionate about coding and 3D art, why not make something that suits your users’ needs. The secret lies in choosing the correct niche.

Look for something that you think people need on a regular basis. You can look into forums, Facebook groups and reddit to find out what’s hot in the market. Making an app will earn you money as long as people are using it.

How Much do 3D Animators Make?

A lot of factors will surely affect how much you are able to earn as a 3D animator. Some of them will include your years of experience, your portfolio and even the company you are working for. Even if you decide to go freelance, your pay pay will also vary from client to client.

3d animators in the United States make an average salary of $64,087 per year or $30.81 per hour. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $42,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $95,000.

As most things go, location can be critical. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Nevada provide the highest 3d animator salaries.

If you want to get paid the most as a 3d animator, being employed by a company such as Activision Blizzard or iVEDiX would be a smart choice, as they are the highest paying companies in this field. Additionally, companies like Zimmerman Advertising and Robert Half International also report highly competitive salaries for 3d animators.

What is the Highest Paying Jobs in Animation?

Specialized areas and high-level positions that often command higher salaries include:

1. Mathematical Modelers 

Mathematical modeling is one of the most specialized branches of the animation industry. Mathematical modelers use mathematical models to illustrate processes or solve complex problems. Using mathematical modeling skills and software technology, mathematical modelers create and animate 3D representations of processes.

Professionals in this field typically hold an advanced degree in mathematics or related area, along with a degree in animation. The average salary for mathematical modelers (mathematicians) is $111,110 per year. High performers could earn up to $167,250 per year. 

2. Medical Animator 

Medical animation is a highly specialized field that requires skills beyond animating for television and films. Because medical animators must translate complex science into medical media, many hold an advanced degree in a science, medical, or a technology-related field in addition to a degree in animation.

Medical animators create interactive medical productions, medical animations, interactive science apps, and medical illustrations for biotech companies, museums, ad agencies, educational institutions, medical device companies, and broadcast media. 

With just 2,000 medical animators/illustrators across North America, medical animators are in high demand and salaries are competitive. They could earn up to $100,000 per year, with creative director and other supervisory positions commanding up to $175,000 per year.

3. Senior Animator 

According to Full Sail University, “the senior animator works closely with the lead animator and art director to establish the overall aesthetic of a video game, as well as defining the methods and techniques to be used by animators within the department.

Senior animators also support the pre-production development of the video game through collaboration with the lead animator and game designers.” Many senior animators train and manage junior animation staff. 

Glassdoor reports that the national average salary for senior animators is $96,520. Salaries are higher at major studios such as DreamWorks Animation ($124,777), Zynga ($101,170), and Blizzard Entertainment ($104,004), and in entertainment hotspots such as California. 

4. Animation Art Director 

Animation art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in film and television productions, games, advertising, and dozens of other areas. Most creative staff report directly to the art director and he has the final say on what makes the final cut. Art directors also train junior staff and manage budgets. 

Salaries for art directors depend on the scale of the project, the studio or company they work for, and many other factors. According to the BLS, art directors in the motion picture and video industries average $106,630 per year. Those in specialized design services average $93,300. 

Advertising and public relations art directors average $94,840. The median wage is $89,670, with an average $172,900 per year for high performers. 

5. 3D Modeler 

3D modelers work with industry-grade animation tools such as Maya, 3DS Max, and Blender to bring fully rendered models and environments to life. 3D modelers work in film, video games, advertising, engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and many other industries. A 3D modeler working at a major studio such as Pixar or Disney can earn as much as $100,000 per year. 

How to Make Money With 3D Design

Depends on type of Design, and if you want to FreeLance, or Apply for some company

FreeLance:

• you can start with FreeLancing on Upwork, the world’s largest online workplace

Or sell your model on TurboSquid , CGTrader – 3D Model Store and such websitesAnother option to consider is to sell on Game Engines Asset Stores, like Unity Asset Store, UE4 Marketplace or even The CryEngine MarketPlace And Finally, you can sell a 3D Printable model, Shapeways – 3D Printing Service and Marketplace

Applying for a Company:

• You’ll need to specialize in one 3D design section (Characters, Hard Surface, Environment) and make a strong portfolio to show, you can extend later but master one first
• focus on learning commercially used 3D Software like 3Ds max, Maya, ZBrush, Mari…
• Focus on Composition and detail in your portfolio, try realistic first, because even cartoony styles are based on realistic concept

How to Make Money With Animation

It is important to know the process of 3d animation as a generalist, then we can find a way to specialize and focus our attention on that process. Let’s say Modeling. But modeling what?. There are characters, objects and scenery; all these but in a style you prefer. Could be realistic or cartoonist.

Making a portfolio is the stepped stone in this industry. Once we have a good portfolio, this ensure to retain a potencial client. This client might be coming from local business, a person or company from your own place or city, most of them probably in advertising purposes.

After developing a little experience. We can apply in some freelance websites in order to get gradual experience, and also gaining money. This is the way an Artist is going to be recognized. After doing works and gaining reputation. This experience would pass in higher projects and then after practice and developing skills we can apply for big animation studios.

The first step is the most difficult and that is “willing to do things” the second is to keep the steady practice, and finally looking every detail turns into a masterpiece.

How Much Money Can You Make Selling 3D Models?

If you’re putting in 160 hours per month generating 4 high quality models and turning a profit of $500/mo you are not only losing money, you are hemorrhaging money out of every orifice. You could probably make more per month working a common minimum wage job.

According to the graph, it is visible that architectural 3D interiors, 3D exteriors and furniture 3D models have the highest competition, meanwhile such categories consisting of science 3D and watercraft 3D models have the lowest one.

How to Make a Living as a Graphic Designer

While it is possible for creative individuals to master their skill by doing their own designs, it does take both talent and promotion to really earn a living designing. If you’re serious about expanding your skill set so that you are more marketable to a larger market, you can make profits by selling your designs or accepting projects. Here are some tips so that you are prepared to make additional income putting your graphic design skills to work:

Sell Digital Files Online

One way to get a name for yourself is to start selling digital files. If you can create images, textures, or fonts, you can sell the digital files online. There are a few ways to sell the images.

You can either join a marketplace where the company will promote your files for you or you can run your own site, optimize and sell your files for 100 percent of the profits. People and companies will buy rights to use the image and you can make a passive income for years after you’ve designed the image.

Take on Projects as a Freelancer

One of the most difficult things about being a freelancer is finding clients. There are plenty of clients who need a designer to create a logo, an ad, or art for their web page. One way to get regular work by promoting your design portfolio is to sign up for a freelancing website where you can show off your talents and get matched to clients who are just right for you.

On the best freelance websites, you can add some of your past designs, set your own rates, and request reviews from past clients. You may take on small projects to start, but with a comprehensive portfolio and positive reviews, you can make a decent living. Some of the popular freelancing sites include oDesk, Elance, Freelancer, Microlancer, PeoplePerHour, and 48HoursLogo.

Earn a Degree and Get Hired by a Design Company

You can make money on the side as a designer, but you can also earn a living getting hired on as a designer with a design firm or a corporation. Most employers that are hiring a designer in-house are looking for someone who has a large portfolio or a degree.

If you do not have much experience designing on a professional level, completing a formal degree program might help you get a foot in the door.

By taking a graphic design training program, you can learn about the principles of design and what types of software you will be working with. Being artistic by nature is important, but to really succeed you need to have more than just a creative mind. Enroll in a certificate program or an undergraduate program and you can start applying for in-house graphic design jobs.

The first step to making a living as a graphic designer is to build a portfolio. The portfolio is like a resume for designers to showcase their skills. Every time you finish a project that you are proud of, adds an example from the project to your portfolio. With the right training and the right marketing skills, you can make extra money on the side doing something that you really enjoy doing.

Make Money With 3D Printing – How Much Does It Cost?

3D printing is one of the most exciting technologies to come along in recent years. But how much does it cost? Find out here!

3D printers allow people to create physical objects using digital designs. They’re used for everything from making jewelry to creating replacement body parts. The technology has been around since the 1980s, but only recently has it become affordable enough that anyone can buy one.

• What Is 3D Printing?

A 3D printer creates an object by laying down successive layers of material until the final product is complete. Each layer is printed with a different color, so when the finished item is removed from the machine, it looks just as it would if it were made by hand.

• The Pros & Cons Of 3D Printing

There are pros and cons to using 3D printers. On the plus side, they allow people to make things that couldn’t otherwise be manufactured. They’re also relatively inexpensive, making them accessible to more people than ever before. However, there’s still some debate about whether 3D printing will replace traditional manufacturing methods entirely.

• Where Can I Buy A 3D Printer?

If you’d like to learn more about 3D printing, check out our guide to buying a 3D printer. We’ve got everything you need to know about what type of 3D printer you should buy, where to find one, and how much it costs.

• Which Type Should I Choose?

There are two main types of 3D printers available today: desktop and industrial. Desktop 3D printers are small enough to fit on a desk, while industrial 3D printers are large machines used by businesses. Both types of 3D printers work similarly, but there are some differences between them.

• How Do You Print Things?

Desktop 3D printers use plastic filament to build objects layer by layer. This process takes longer than with an industrial printer because each layer must dry before the next one can be printed. Industrial 3D printers use metal powder to print objects. These printers are faster than desktop models because they do not need to wait for layers to dry. However, they are more expensive.

Make Money With 3D Modeling

Do you love creating art but don’t know where to start? Learn how to create amazing 3D models using Autodesk Fusion 360! Create stunning 3D models in just minutes by following this step-by-step tutorial.

• Create a Vector Image

In order to make a 3D model, you need to first create a vector image. A vector image is an image made up of shapes that follow mathematical rules. This means that when you resize the image, the shape will remain the same size. You can use any software program to create a vector image, such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, SketchUp, or even Microsoft Paint.

• Add Textures

Once you’ve got your vector image ready, you’ll need to add textures to it. Adding textures gives your model depth and realism. There are two ways to do this: by adding a texture map or by painting directly onto the surface of the object. Texture maps are images that contain color and shading information. They’re usually used with 3D modeling programs to give objects more realistic appearances. Painting directly onto the surface of an object adds another level of detail and realism.

• Apply Materials

You can use any material you’d like to paint on your model. Paintbrushes come in different sizes and shapes, so choose one that’s appropriate for the size of the model you’re making. If you’re new to painting, try starting out with a small brush and gradually work up to larger brushes as you gain confidence.

• Export as.STL or.OBJ

Once you’ve finished painting, export your model as an STL file (.stl) or OBJ file (.obj). These files can then be imported into other programs such as Blender, Maya, Sketchup, and others.

• Import into Autodesk Fusion 360

To import your.stl or.obj file into Autodesk Fusion360, click File > Open. Navigate to the folder where you saved your file and select it. Click OK. You will see the file listed under the “Open” tab. Select it and click “Import”.

Finally

With all that included, the graphic design world online can be an overwhelming territory.

The steep competition and the multitude of options that are available to do can be stressful. But it is essential to believe in your graphic design skills, stand your ground and make an effort by taking up jobs, however menial, into giving you a big break in the industry.