Silo Q&A With Dale (Dasch) Schulz
Multi-Disciplined Artist at Dasch Studio

Current Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia
Website: http://www.daschstudio.com

How did you get interested in 3D art? What do you enjoy about it?

I first felt the need to incorporate digital 3D into my workflow in 1999 while working as an Art Director in a small design studio. I needed to apply graphics to simple curved shapes for some trade show booth mock-ups. Digital 3D turned out to be the answer. After my first few experimental models I knew that these methods would change EVERYTHING about the way I worked. I now use digital 3D in approximately 90% of my commercial art contracts.

What thrills me about 3D is the ability to control every aspect of an illustration and edit on the fly. Textures, lighting, camera angles, perspective... these things are hard to change in a pen & ink drawing; but are relatively easy in a 3D workflow. Also, digital characters and props are re-useable and recyclable.

What is your typical modeling workflow?

My models always start as quick pencil doodles and sketches; if I have to digitally reproduce an existing item I will measure it, sketch it, and photograph it for reference. I also 'rehearse' my building process on paper--doodling possible edge-loop positions and flow.

Next, I open Silo and start building. For my VectorArt 3D pieces (models built for dimensional clipart - to be used by CNC operators) I place an image into my viewport as a guide.

I use a combination of box-modeling and edge extrusion modeling to build my shapes.

My favourite part of the modeling process is UV-mapping and Silo makes it easy and painless!

Once my models are built and UV-mapped in Silo, I export as .obj for lighting, rigging and rendering in StrataCX. For the dimensional clipart I export .stl files from Silo.

How long have you been using Silo, and how did you get interested in it?

I've been using Silo for nearly three years; I got interested in it after seeing a promotional piece extolling the virtues of Silo's UV workflow. At the time the improvements were still in the planning stages, but I really enjoyed Silo's marvelous interface and easy modeling tools.

What do you like about Silo--why do you use it?

Silo seems to have been designed for artists, not mathematicians. The interface is clear and uncluttered and all menu items are customizable. It was easy to set up a 'Dasch-friendly' workspace and display. To me Silo's UV tools are worth any price I might pay for the app. It is now so easy for me to bring my characters and artifacts to life with believable textures, mapped quickly.

What types of projects do you work on?

Most of my projects are for illustrations. I've created models for posters, CD and book covers, and advertising illustrations. One of my recent projects was two illustrations for billboards produced for the Sobey's Grocery Store chain in Eastern Canada. I have just completed a series of simple political caricatures which are being used in a new game app for iPhones.

Can you share any specific titles that have included work completed in Silo?

All of the models in my VectorArt3D collection (Dasch Fun Cuts 1) were completed in Silo.

The models are also available individually to CNC operators at: www.vectorart3d.com