It’s time to meet another Squid from TurboSquid HQ, and this week, we’re talking to Kevin Alimia, who was recently promoted to Assistant Technical Artist. Having previously worked in Member Services, Kevin utilizes his 3D modeling knowledge to help the artists meet a very high set of standards. Read more about Kevin below:
To start off, tell us a little about yourself! When you’re not at TS, what do you like to do?
Outside of work I do various things. I go out with friends, drinking. I like to go to the movies, I read, I draw/paint, I stay home and have movie days. In warmer days I like to just be outside walking around or go to the park. I also love to cook and bake, especially during the holidays!
What about when you’re at work? What does your day look like?
Typically, I come in early and work on personal projects. Once the official work day starts, I spend my time working on Custom 3D projects for various clients. That typically entails technical checks to be sure models meet certain standards and required points. When I have a little “free” time I work on improving my skills and speed. (more…)
TurboSquid has a wealth of simpler models that customers love to buy: ordinary forks and spoons, hairbrushes and combs, cups and saucers.
Until now, artists who create these models were reluctant to put them in our CheckMate Certification program because of the price floors of $39 for Lite and $49 for Pro. For this reason, we’re now allowing prices of $19 for CheckMate Lite, and $29 for CheckMate Pro. These price floors apply only to simple or plain models of certain types such as silverware and fruit, the kinds of models that can’t reasonably be priced at $39 or $49.
We’re glad that artists who create these models will now be able to join CheckMate, and reap its benefits of higher sales and happy customers.
How to set a price as $19 or $29
As with previous price floor changes, you can’t use the new pricing right in the Publisher–you need to get an inspector review before the price can be changed. This will ensure that prices remain appropriate and competitive at TurboSquid.
Publish your model and submit it for certification at one of the price tiers allowed in the Publisher ($39 for Lite, $49 for Pro).
After your model passes certification, open a support ticket with the subject “CheckMate Price Change Request”. Include the Product ID for the product you would like changed, and to what price.
Based on comparison with similar models on the TurboSquid site, an inspector will review your request and change the price if appropriate.
Price change requests are processed once a week, so please allow our inspectors time to review your request.
In this week’s Meet the Squids, we talk to Kate Voisin, our marketing team’s graphic designer. Kate is a Louisiana native, growing up just outside of New Orleans, the city she has called home for almost a decade. Read on to find out about the many hats she gets to wear at the office, and why she suspects that TurboSquid may, in fact, be a cult (but in a good way).
What does a day at TurboSquid typically look like for you?
My days at TS vary. On the marketing side, I write newsletters, handle our socialmedia accounts, and help to make sure our site shows up in search correctly.
On the design side, I make infographics and ads, help to pretty up the website, and Photoshop Nic Cage’s face onto our manager’s pictures sometimes.
Basically, it’s my job to make sure TurboSquid is always reachable, approachable, and visually appealing.
What’s your favorite thing about working at TurboSquid?
Can I have three things?
1. I get to make fun, engaging content for a fun, engaging company, that’s seen by lots of people– it’s kind of what every graphic designer wants to do.
2. I have total access to the massive 3D model catalog, so getting to use the models in my design work is a real luxury. I could seriously spend hours perusing the catalog. (And sometimes I do! For work.)
3. My third favorite thing about TurboSquid is every single thing about TurboSquid. I know this is a total cheater answer, like asking for infinite wishes on your third wish, but whatever. I’ve worked in New Orleans for a long time, and the TS office is easily the most positive, employee-friendly workplace I’ve ever encountered. When I started, I was pretty sure I’d joined a cult, because about 5 people told me within the first week that it was the best job they’d ever had… and if it IS a cult, I’m completely happy to drink the kool-aid / eat the cereal / wear the tentacles. I love it here. (more…)
Check out the latest script created to help those submitting models for CheckMate Pro or Lite Certification. The script, developed by TurboSquid artist Popa_3D, is a great tool to use when preparing your 3ds Max file for submission to CheckMate.
The tool was created to help artists with all aspects of preparing a model for submission.
The rendering tool allows for easy turntable creation.
Tools preps wireframes and renders to easily pass inspection.
The fixing tools include “one click” options to remove Ngons from your model, remove isolated vertices, perform a batch rename and loads of other features that will make fixing your model incredibly easy.
The script also comes with its own installer and a comprehensive help section to answer any questions about the many features in the script.
There are fast scene inspection tools which will show problems in your scene which can be used as a good guide, but the Official CheckMate Script for 3ds Max is what the CheckMate Inspectors used when working with models.
The San Francisco Zoo’s new tiger cub has been making headlines this month– and not just for being adorable. The honor of naming the baby cub will go to the highest bidder in a fundraiser for the SF Zoo. So, in honor of the new tiger family, we’re naming thePROmax‘s amazing tiger model as our featured model of the month! Check out our interview with the artist, and find out what inspired him to create his very own virtual zoo.
When did you start 3D modeling?
I started 3D modeling in 1998. We have a family-owned computer training academy, and we were looking for a professional company to create an effective advertising campaign. As there were no reputable advertising companies in our city, I decided to give it a shot. I had knowledge of Adobe After Effects, and I began to learn 3DS MAX. I loved rendering 3D models in 3DS MAX. I was lucky that we had a server computer and the fast workstations in our office to render complex models quickly. (more…)
With NASA holding its first-ever Google Hangout in space last week, we’re honoring space buffs everywhere with a new homepage image from artist GrafxBox based on his SciFi Fighter model. Although this artist has a wide variety of models, his flair for sci-fi is what brought his work to our attention. Find out where GrafxBox gets his inspiration in our interview below.
When did you start 3D modeling?
It was probably about 20 years ago when I started learning 3D with Autodesk 3D Studio. It was prehistoric 3D software compared to now! What brought me to 3D was books I saw in the early 1990′s about images created with software that only large companies could afford. Back then there were not a lot of tutorials on the Internet, so I bought some books for my own education and started doing some stuff. I made a cover for a Spanish magazine in 1992. (more…)
