Computer illustration I did

[someawfulbridge]

So I had to recently do an illustration of an old computer for dayjob's corporate newsletter. For looks' sake, after hunting around for reference pics, I went with a Commodore PET (but with a CBM's keyboard--I wanted the Selectric-type keys). Modeling time was around 8ish hours (even though I might never use the model again, just in case, and for learning purposes, I modeled all the recesses for the holes in which the keys and tape drive are placed--I stopped short of modeling the back, however). This is what I came up with:

 

 

Next, I played with various camera angles and rotations until I found the angle I was looking for. Since this was going to end up as an illustration, I did a toon render of the beast.

 

 

I took that into Illustrator, did a LivePaint/LiveTrace conversion of the toon render, took that into Photoshop, colored, offset the red color from the black lines (to set the lines apart, and give it a distressed, poorly offset look), and added some binary code as a background. Oh, and to further go with the obvious (this is not at all visionary, mainly a tech exercise (techsercise?) for me), I threw the only line computers-who-aren't-HAL should be allowed to say on the screen. This is the final result.

 

 

Incidentally, the 0s and 1s are a binary translation of an astoundingly vile and pornographic excerpt from Georges Bataille's Story of the Eye. In corporate life you have to find your subversive fun where you can (such as making the woman who stole your parking place exactly 5% fatter and 5% uglier in her newsletter pic).

 

So that's my unsolicited sharing for the day: how I went far out of my way on a project, and invested 3-4x the time, to toy with A:M. Much more enjoyable, all around.

 

Cheers--

Mark

[the_black_mage]

wow thats one old computer O_o... nice work btw

[AProd]

Hey Mark,

 

Great job with the PET (I remember that machine! Never had one--my first was a C-64).

 

In corporate life you have to find your subversive fun where you can (such as making the woman who stole your parking place exactly 5% fatter and 5% uglier in her newsletter pic).

Thanks for the belly-laugh. That is AWESOME!

 

Reminds me of the "Art of Star Wars" exhibit they had here in San Francisco several years ago. There were several matte paintings from the first trilogy there, and I always loved looking at the little "artistic expressions" in them. Like the stormtrooper with a huge smiley-face head standing in the back of the crowd scene. Or the one whose feet were pointing backwards. Or the little tiny bumper sticker on the back of the Millenium Falcon model that read "How's My Driving..."

 

I've often put little messages on billboards and such and put them in CG scenes...too small to be resolved on the broadcast, but I know they are there. (Though more recently I've had to be careful with that, with more shows being done in HD )

 

Anyway, great job, man! Cheers, John

[someawfulbridge]

Thanks for the com(pli)ments. I'll have to check out the Star Wars stuff!

 

I know this is straying OT, but there's a great interview with Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo seeking the same freedom in corporate life, talking about the subliminal messages Mutato Muzika inserts in their commercial work:

 

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/24924/1/1

 

 

Hey Mark,

 

Great job with the PET (I remember that machine! Never had one--my first was a C-64).

 

In corporate life you have to find your subversive fun where you can (such as making the woman who stole your parking place exactly 5% fatter and 5% uglier in her newsletter pic).

Thanks for the belly-laugh. That is AWESOME!

 

Reminds me of the "Art of Star Wars" exhibit they had here in San Francisco several years ago. There were several matte paintings from the first trilogy there, and I always loved looking at the little "artistic expressions" in them. Like the stormtrooper with a huge smiley-face head standing in the back of the crowd scene. Or the one whose feet were pointing backwards. Or the little tiny bumper sticker on the back of the Millenium Falcon model that read "How's My Driving..."

 

I've often put little messages on billboards and such and put them in CG scenes...too small to be resolved on the broadcast, but I know they are there. (Though more recently I've had to be careful with that, with more shows being done in HD )

 

Anyway, great job, man! Cheers, John

[heyvern]

Great computer illustration!

 

I do the exact same thing. Some small innocuous clip art is needed. Just to break the boredom I will turn this into the Sistine Chapel and spend loads of time on it. It's fun AND therapeutic.

 

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And yes, you must watch out for HD stuff now. I heard a funny story about that. Someone put in a bunch of "jokes" or easter eggs in tiny little background elements on an animation project.

 

After going to HD the detail was so accurate they could see and read EVERYTHING in the background. HD is going to be tricky for that kind of thing.

 

-vern