The 3D Production Pipeline

What is it?

A 3D production pipeline describes the order of steps taken in any given context to create 3D content. No two production companies will likely ever have duplicate pipelines. Though pipelines do vary in the way theyre organized and executed, theyre all roughly the same on a macro level.

Dreamworks (macro level) Pipeline

Development

Script Storyboards Visual Development Casting

Pre-Production

Modeling Rigging Basic Surface Layout

Production

Character Animation Effects/Lighting

Post Production

Gas Powered Games (macro level) Pipeline

Pre-Production

Story Concept Drawing (mostly environments) Storyboards

Character Development

Character Concepts Character Modeling Character Rigging Character Texturing

Character Animation Environment Development

Environment Modeling Environment Texturing

Coding the Engine

Collisions and Physics

A smaller studios pipeline

Great example available online for the short movie Meet Meline (2009)

Official Website: http://www.meetmeline.com/ Trailer: http://www.vimeo.com/3872070 Making Of: http://www.vimeo.com/7708580

CG Talk Profile: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?

Pipeline Chart for Meet Meline

Pre-Production Art for 3D

Concepts

Environments Interiors Characters Props

Storyboards Turnarounds

Environment Concepts

Interior Concepts

Character Concepts

Vehicle and Prop Concepts

Storyboards

Turnarounds

To Take Home

3D Production Pipeline

What is it, and what are their similarities? What differentiates the various forms, and what are they used for?

Pre-Production Art