What is a Groom TD?
Groom Technical Directors create believable hair, fur, and feather grooms for characters, props and environments. Groom TDs work closely with Creature TDs regarding the requirements for their workflow. They also work closely with the modelling, rigging and lookdev teams to ensure the best quality work is being produced at all times. Creature TD’s are integral to the development of animation and simulation rigs for creatures, digital doubles, vehicles, props and the subsequent simulations. You will find technical and creative solutions to develop high quality rigs and simulations according to the needs of the production.
Entry Level Skills & Capabilities
The following information outlines the exact skills you need to demonstrate as a Certified Digital Artist. You must be proficient and capable of completing all these skills and capabilities.
1. Communication skills
- Strong communication skills to describe and present your work with confidence
- Willing to show progress frequently and able to receive and discern feedback objectively
2. General
- Gathering and analyzing real-world photographic and video reference
- High level of proficiency in finding and identifying good references.
3. Shaders
- Knowledge of how a shader works and ability to generate texture maps
- Understand what texture maps are used to support look-dev (AO, curvature, masks)
- Ability to setup complex surface textures and prepare surface files for lighting
- Capable of painting and generating procedural texture for follicles, strands and meshes
- Bonus: Understanding of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) workflow
4. Groom
- Ability to work with clumping modifiers
- Clearly demonstrate knowledge of groom density, taper, and noise modifiers
- Ability to recreate real-world elements such as fur, hair, and feathers
- Demonstrate ability to create a groom at the correct physical scale and size
5. FX
- Bonus: Experience with dynamic hair simulation, and common industry standard solvers (Houdini Carbon, Vellum and NHair)
- Bonus: Dynamic simulation: cloth, hair/fur, feathers, skin and muscle, an asset.
Software Proficiencies
Ability to use one or more of the following software packages:
- Autodesk Maya
- Houdini
- XGen
- Yeti
- Ornatrix
- Shave
Language Proficiencies
Basic ability to use on or more of the following coding languages:
- Python
- Maya Embedded Language (MEL)
- Bonus: C++
Prerequisites
These skills are equally important in terms of your understanding and ability to do this role. Although they are not skills or knowledge that is officially certified, it will be obvious to recruiters and Certified Digital Artist(CDA) reviewers if you have knowledge in these areas.
Art Fundamentals
- Perspective
- Lighting
- Composition
- Anatomy
- Colour Theory
- Form
Life Skills & Communication
- Thinking Critically
- Communication Skills
- Conflict Management
- Taking initiative
- Collaboration
- Time Management
Portfolio Projects
Roles in Creative Media & Entertainment industries are quite different to traditional roles. As a Digital Artist, you need to prove your creative and technical abilities which requires an online portfolio filled with projects that showcase your work. One or more of the following projects should be included in your digital portfolio to demonstrate your skills and abilities to perform the required skills of this role.
- Create a turntable that demonstrates at least 2 different grooms that are based on real-world photographic reference.
- Create a simulation of a groom on a character, animal or props that clearly demonstrates a natural movement and interaction with surrounding lighting
- Demonstrate a close up of a groom to show high details and features
