"Realism is a craft that serves art."

Uhm, of course it is. No argument there.

My point, however, is that in order to understand the craft of 3D in its entirety, and evolve your own artistic style, realism (specifically, Photorealism) is something all 3D "artists" should strive to achieve at some point in their learning process. There are many reasons why, not the least of which is a better overall understanding of the application, tools, lights, cameras, materials, and models.

The mastery of realistic rendering is still a lofty goal in 3D; it's usually the reason why technology progresses in the field, and one of the most sought-after capabilities in the VFX and architectural industries (where 3D is used most often). Combining 3D elements seamlessly with live action footage to produce visual effects for movies or visualizations, etc. is where the use of 3D is most relied upon commercially.

Message edited on: 03/26/2006 15:06