Would you say you have to be a designer to operate Flame?

[HalloweenJack2]

I came from linear editing routes. After using Avid, Editbox, After Effects and Smoke I'm now usually on Flame.

I'm happy with my skills at composting, editing and grading and I can create some nice VFX sometimes, but I'd say design was my weakest point.

I was wondering if Flame operators are generally expected to be designers or does it vary?

Especially now Smoke and Flame have merged, I'd imagine there are quite a few Flame Ops that have also come from an editing background.

I suppose I'm asking how much the skill base of Flame Ops varies.

Any thoughts?

[Andy-Dill]

it varies widely. 

I know great ops who went to design schools, I know great ops who have science degrees and I know great ops who didn't go to college.  Based on the work they do you'd never guess which was which.

[HalloweenJack2]

Thanks.

When if asked if Flame ops are generally expected to be designers, I was interested if it was a requirement as an ability or skill. Not so much if they had an education in design.

Do you know what I mean?

[Andy-Dill]

I'd say it's staggeringly important that a flame op has a good eye.  That translates into a number of things, one of them would be design.  In that sense it's important.  As to it being important enough that it should be an advertisable skill, I don't think so.  Most of the design work I end up doing is very clearly dictated by art directors or other clients, so in that sense it doesn't matter. 

I used to work under the best designers out there and consider myself to be on the designy end of flame ops, but it's very rare that my feelings on type and layout are sought.

[majush]

I was an editor too. I am also very weak with designing stuffs. But then I dont think flame is meant to do design stuffs.

[Grant.Kay]

Sorry Majush,

I would have to disagree with you strongly on that point.

There are tons of design tools in Flame and you can pretty much do what you want.  

The point is whether you use Flame or any other application for design, if you know your tools well, you can get the look you want.  

For Flame Artists who do specialise in design and not just comping in a pipeline would certainly agree with me concerning these points.

In terms of the tool of choice for design, that will be down to the requirements of the job as well as the choice of the artist.

You are more than entitled to your opinion on a public forum but I think in defence of Flame and as a Flame Artist, I will disagree.

Regards

Grant

[renegagnon79]

Hey Grant,

I think someone touched a cord here... Kidding aside, I do believe that Flame (and Smoke on smaller part) do has pretty much everything that you need to go through a whole project within it.

Okay, there may be other platforms/softwares that may do 3Dbetter or easier, but it is still feasible in Flame.

Yeah, it may be the old Autodesker talking right now, but I strongly believe that you can pretty much do whatever you need in Flame/Smoke/Lustre.

As for being a designer to operate Flame, you definetely do not need to. I am able to work in Flame and I am nowhere near a designer or even an artist for what it's worth!

But I could definitely operate the software and with time, become an artist...!

Later,

Rene

[Grant.Kay]

Hey Rene…

Agreed on all points 🙂

Regards
Grant

[HalloweenJack2]

Thanks for all your interesting views on this 🙂