Mastering the Art of 3D – Hannan Ali

Ever wondered what it takes to bring imaginative 3D animations to life, combining artistry with technical skill? Then read our interview with Hannan Ali, a freelance 3D Artist, located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

What’s your area of expertise in post-production and who are your main clients?

As a freelance 3D artist, my work starts from 3D modeling all the way to editing the video in Premiere Pro. For post-production, my expertise lies in sound designing different music tracks to fit the narrative of my animation. I specialize in creating 3D models, adding realistic lighting, textures, and animating to create product visualizations. My main clients mainly include product manufacturers and/or sellers, and creative agencies seeking top-notch visuals for their products.

Tell us about your journey in post-production. What inspired you to enter this field, and what drives you each day to excel in your work?

Certainly! My journey as a 3D artist is although relatively new, but still, it has been a thrilling ride.
Since childhood, I’ve harbored a creative spark that yearned for expression. The mundane 9-to-5 job life never resonated with me—I craved something more.

I initially explored 3D animation as I was looking to create a short film and soon I discovered product animation. 3D art became my canvas. It allowed me to sculpt worlds, breathe life into pixels, and tell stories beyond imagination. Each day, I wake up fueled by the desire to create, innovate, and push the boundaries of visual storytelling.

What’s your biggest achievement in your post-production career?

Ah, “The Chess Match”! What a thrilling endeavor it was! In May of this year, I embarked on this ambitious project—a chess-themed animation. The board came alive, knights danced, and bishops whispered secrets. But the hurdles I faced were too many to count! Yet, I persisted. I unraveled the complexities, wrestled with glitches, and composed symphonies of light and shadow. And when the final frames aligned, it was magic—the red king with a golden crown flying above the board while a river of blood gushed underneath it – drowning the board. That, my friend, is my crowning achievement—a testament to persistence, creativity, and the thrill of conquering uncharted realms.

What are some of the challenges you face in post-production and how do you overcome them?

As a 3D artist, they’re my shadow companions, my artistic sparring partners.
Here’s the backstage glimpse:

• Realism: Complex modeling, texturing, and lighting. A lot goes into getting the desired results on screen!
• Render Times: Oh, the waiting game! Patience, my friend. While the GPU sweats, I sip virtual coffee. – Fun fact! I bought a separate PC just to play games when my system gets busy with rendering!
• Complex Dynamics: Cloth, hair, fluids—they misbehave. But I try my best to tame them with physics sorcery.
• Tech Gremlins: Glitches, crashes, lost files. My secret weapon? Backups, incantations, and a dash of luck. – Congrats, you now have 534,893 random files at the end of each project!
• Client Expectations: Navigating client expectations in the world of 3D animation is like tiptoeing on a creative tightrope.

Remember, every challenge is a pixel waiting to be molded. And when the final frame whispers, “You did it,” I raise my digital goblet to the artistry of overcoming.

What are your top 3 pieces of advice for someone aspiring to succeed in the post-production industry?

Certainly! Here are my top three gems for budding 3D product animators:

• Master the Basics: Start with the fundamentals—understand modeling, lighting, and texturing. Then, layer complexity step by step.
• Unleash Creativity: Let ideas flow. Imagine a mundane product as a hero’s journey. What story does it tell? How does it transform lives? – Take inspiration from around you.
• Craft Your Portfolio: Gather your best work, arrange it like a gallery, and make sure people stumble upon it easily.

What are the three most essential tools or software in your post-production toolkit, and how do they enhance your workflow?

Certainly! In the realm of 3D animation, my toolkit comprises essential companions that enhance my workflow.
Allow me to introduce them:

• Blender: This versatile 3D software is my Swiss Army knife. It sculpts polygons, weaves landscapes, and breathes life into digital realms. From modeling to rigging, Blender is my canvas, and I wield it with precision.
• Second Monitor: Behold my oracle of knowledge! When glitches strike or enigmas arise, I turn to my second monitor—a gateway to answers. It’s my digital Gandalf, whispering, “You shall pass!” as I seek solutions.
• Adobe Premiere Pro: The conductor’s baton in my symphony of pixels. As frames pirouette into a dance, Premiere orchestrates. It stitches visuals, syncs audio, and crafts the final opus. With this tool, chaos transforms into art, one frame at a time.

Oh wait, can’t forget my anti-glare glasses! When you’re staring at a screen for 13+ hours a day, you must take care of your eyes – no?
Together, this propels my creative journey, turning imagination into tangible pixels.

Where can people find you?