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  • 5 Game-Changing Things That Will Instantly Elevate Your 3D Workflow — From Chaos to Pro

    5 Game-Changing Things That Will Instantly Elevate Your 3D Workflow — From Chaos to Pro

    I love storytelling.

    But, I’ll try to cut the BS and go straight to the point.

    These 5 habits changed how I work, think, and create in 3D. They’ll save you hundreds of hours — and probably a few mental breakdowns.

    • Number One

    Keep it simple.

    3D life is already super complicated.

    Project structures, inputs, 3d files, more inputs, textures/maps, renders, layers, inputs, model libraries, hdri libraries, dirt maps, bump maps, alpha maps, .jpg this, .tif that, resolutions, render passes, a bit more inputs, lighting, shading, materials, and zillion other things.

    So, whenever and wherever you can keep it simple – just keep it.

    File names, texture names, folder structure, lighting, shading, layer organization – as much as you can – keep it clean and simple.

    It will give you much more control, and the ability to quickly change things, it will fasten your workflow (by the time), and, in the end – it will keep your mind clean as much as possible.

    simple structure = clear mind = better art

    • Number Two

    Be the CEO of your projects.

    If you force yourself to be organized, you will have benefits for a lifetime. When you use-to be organized – you will never go back to the chaos. I know… we are all chaos, but you must force that instinct and go through it.

    It will make your life easier. It will make you more relaxed. It will make you more in control. In that way, you will always know where is what. You can go back to a project that you worked on a couple of years ago (or decades ago), and know exactly where to look for what.

    If you organize your projects properly, then you can focus on details, quality, better relationships with clients, and better artwork in general.

    Things you have to organize:

    • Project folder and file structure
    • Assets – 3d models and textures (everything by categories)
    • Proper file naming and dating
    • Layer structure inside 3d scenes
    • Object and material naming inside scenes (I know… this is a pain, but try to do it as much as possible)
    • Render archive – proper naming and folder structure (again)

    organization = efficiency = better art

    • Number Three

    Work as a painter.

    Especially at the beginning of a career, people tend to work by some rules. And that’s good.

    However, a rigid workflow can cause you numerous problems, both in terms of art quality and efficiency.

    When working on a project – we tend to make all in realistic scenarios – we place lights where they should be by physical rules, we make materials according to physics, etc. But that is very limiting.

    As the artist, you should have the control. Imagine shots in your mind and make it real.

    If you feel you need some extra light on some detail – just add it.

    If you feel the water is too dark, then light it up!

    Do not be rigid. Even if the client needs a super-realistic case – that’s up to you to make it from the “best-case scenario”.

    If you have a reference for some color, and you do not feel it works, just shift it a bit. And the client will be happy too.

    Now you are in control. You are not just a “tool”. You are the creator.

    The best photographers work this way too. Adding lights, changing colors in post-production, get rid of something that irritates them (even if it’s there in real space). Believe me, no one will spot those things, but everyone will spot stoning images.

    Relax and work as a painter. Add lights, change colors, and do anything that will make that artwork better – make your artwork yours.

    think as a painter = work as a painter = better art

    • Number Four

    Keep mind and eyes fresh.

    Very often, when I work on something, at some point after hours of work, I think – this is it! This is the final! Man, I finally nailed it. Now I can go to sleep.

    But the next morning… I open the render and my enthusiasm goes from 100 to -100. “What the f… is this s…??” Oh man, that hurts.

    But – get used to it. It’s a completely normal thing.

    Your brain and your eyes get tired of watching the same thing for hours and you lose your sense.

    There are a few tips for this, but the only proper one is to get rest. Do not look at a damn thing for a couple of hours/days/weeks/months. Even years (if you are making your Mona Lisa).

    I’ve heard the saying “art fatigue”. That’s literally it. Watching art and working on some artwork is a hard intellectual thing.

    So, relax and keep your mind and eyes fresh as much as you can. That’s your biggest resource.

    fresh mind and eyes = fresh artwork = better art

    • Number Five

    Make a to-do list.

    I love to-do lists.

    The to-do list is the most powerful thing in the organization. And it’s free.

    All you need is a piece of paper and pencil. Or phone. Or text editor on pc, or, in my case – notion (software).

    Earlier, I keep everything in my head. And I thought I was good at that. And I was. But man, making a list is the another level.

    Another benefit from to-do list is this: it makes you get the things done.

    Especially when you mix it with the timer. (I’ll talk about this more in detail for sure – but not right now)

    Now I make a to-do list for everything.

    • Client comments (every time – this is so good – just try)
    • Project plan
    • How to clean a workspace
    • Render list (if you working on a big amount of renders)
    • Daily diets
    • Grocery store list
    • Making how-to lists
    • And whatever you can put on some list

    I recommend you, for a beginning, to have some physical notebook with lines, and after you use to it – go digital.

    For clients and especially for yourself. For your projects. Try to work this way.

    For your projects: take a good look at your artwork, see what you want to change, and make a list. This is the game-changer.

    I still use a physical notebook, especially for client comments and for starting some new projects – because it’s so flexible. And for other stuff, I use notion.

    to-do list = better project/shot view = better art

    For today – that’s enough.

    Until next time,

    Stefan

    P.S. These are huge topics. And I will go into detail for each. So, subscribe to my newsletter and don’t miss it.

  • Is AI the End of 3D/CGI Industry?

    Is AI the End of 3D/CGI Industry?

    How I Faced the ‘Scary New Thing’ and Turned It Into an Ally

    When generative AI made a break-through a couple of years ago, everyone got upset. Me too. A powerful new thing.

    Just 2–3 years earlier, we used to say art would be the last thing AI could touch.

    The moment we saw the first really good images from Midjourney and DALL-E was shocking and paralyzing.

    A zillion questions in my head.

    One fear: What about us? 🙁

    To be completely honest — I wasn’t really scared.
    I believed in my power to adapt, as a human being.
    I knew I’d figure something out.

    But let’s go back in time. (like The Terminator, you get it?)

    But in May 2024, something happened.

    A client asked me to make really large-format renders (5.25m x 4.25m), not for a billboard but for close-up viewers. They were very detailed, with a lot of people in the images.

    Of course, I accepted — because nothing is impossible. As a human being, I can figure everything out.

    I didn’t know what to do, but I started thinking — fast. Time was running out.

    And that was THE moment.

    That was the moment when Terminator became a good guy. A best friend. A protector. Someone who helps you conquer the enemy. Helps you survive.

    That was the moment I completely let my guard down — and shook hands with the robot.

    I used AI in my post-production process, and it turned out great.

    The client was very happy with the result — me too. Since that moment, I’ve been using AI in my post-production workflow regularly.

    What 21-Year-Old Me Learned from a Comedy Movie

    Let’s go back to 2013 for a moment.

    I was 21 back then (and that’s the real scary part!).

    I watched a movie called The Internship.

    Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, two salesmen, lost their jobs because they didn’t keep up with new technologies. Then they decided to try for an internship at Google.

    The movie was fun, nothing special, but one sentence cut deep into my (young and fresh) mind — and stayed there, probably for life.

    When they first arrived at Google HQ, a self-driving vehicle passed by (remember, it’s 2013 and that was completely new).

    Nick (Owen Wilson) got scared when he saw a vehicle without a driver passing them, but Billy (Vince Vaughn) calmed him down with THE sentence:

    “It’s scary because it’s new.“

    Oh man, that hit me. It still does. Just think about all the “new” things in history:

    First industrial machines. First trains. First motor vehicles. First computers. First airplanes. First typewriters. First cameras. First phones with cameras. First phones with cameras that rocked. First TVs. First this. First that. First e-books. First e-commerce. First 3D software. First generative AI. First electric dogs. First AI humans.

    Okay, the last two are scary — but only because they’re new.

    LIGHT & MAGIC and Star Wars

    In 2022, Disney+ released LIGHT & MAGIC, a TV mini-series.

    Man, you’ve got to see this. Evolution in real time.

    You can see how 3D slowly took over. They were scared of 3D at first.

    But 3D, as you surely know, brought us amazing things.

    It was tough for some of them in the beginning — they had to adapt. But guess what: we have to adapt all the time. We have to learn constantly if we want to stay relevant.

    If you’re not willing to learn — that’s okay. But that’s a sad path. When you stop learning, you start waiting to die.

    New knowledge is my core motivation.

    Evolution is a never-ending process — both collective and personal.

    Be curious. Learn new things. Then you don’t need to worry.

    AI Didn’t Kill Jobs — It Shifted Them

    Since May 2024 — exactly one year — my workflow includes a new segment: AI. That’s now the standard. A new basic. Renders are much better with AI, and clients are already used to it.

    There are even people specializing in this type of work. The industry is growing. Maybe some jobs have disappeared, but it’s not the end of the world. Those people just need to learn new skills — and they’re back in the game, stronger than ever.

    If you think your unique value lies in manual work that no one else can learn — you’re already losing the game.

    Your uniqueness should absolutely be your superpower — but not the skill itself. Your superpower should be your creativity, your ideas, your experience, your adaptability, your ability to learn — to be the king of the jungle, no matter how the jungle changes.

    Anyone can learn a skill and keep it for life. That’s simple. A one-time effort.

    But not everyone has that inner drive. To adapt. To learn. To lead. To be the king.

    New tool

    You can be scared of AI. You can be its enemy. You can cry over your fate.
    Or — you can use it as your new advantage.

    In the end, someone must give it input. Even if it creates art on its own — it’s still just a tool.


    We love art because it’s personal. Remember: art is a piece of the artist’s mind.

    We don’t connect with art because it’s flawless — we connect because it’s human. Imperfect. Honest.

    AI can help us with manual tasks, skip boring parts, and elevate our work to the next level.

    I don’t know what technologies are waiting around the corner. But I do know many will arrive in our lifetime.

    And I know one thing for sure:

    No matter what happens — I’ll still be the king of the jungle.

    P.S. At some point, I’ll share my workflow — how I use AI in my art.

    Subscribe to my newsletter and get tips, tricks, and personal stories about the creative process — straight from the source.

    Got questions? I’d love to hear from you: stefan@vizzzia.com

  • Just Imagine… — How the Mental Picture Actually Works

    Just Imagine… — How the Mental Picture Actually Works

    Imagine a tree.

    In a backyard.

    The tree is a palm.

    Next to a small house.

    The house is red.

    No, no — the house is black. Black bricks.

    There’s a swing next to the tree.

    What color is the swing?

    There’s an old bicycle leaning against the tree.

    Did I mention that it’s snowing everywhere?

    No, actually — it’s a sunny summer day.

    Yes, there is sand all around the tree.

    What you just created and edited in your head is a mental picture. A mind’s eye.

    You can add details, change colors, the point of view, the weather — literally everything.

    That is the place where art is created. In your mind.

    When reading a novel, you do this all the time.
    Also when listening to a story.

    Every person has this ability — but only artists feel the need to create, to give it a physical form.
    To show the world their unique view.

    And for me, there is nothing more magical than this:

    Making art is literally using a piece of your mind — and giving it to the world.
    To live there forever.

    MIND MEDIUM

    For this medium, you need nothing. Just an empty mind.
    But actually, that’s the problem.

    Why?

    Because having an empty mind is one of the hardest things for human beings.

    One of the best tools to help you empty your mind is meditation.
    But — that’s a subject for another day.

    Even when you’re making something from reference images or real models — the mental picture is still in the game.
    Sometimes less, sometimes more — but every piece of art is made with the help of this ability.

    TWO STEPS OF MAKING ART

    This is how I see the creative process:

    STEP ONE: Imagine your piece of art in your mind.
    STEP TWO: Convert it into physical form (painting, 3D render, sculpture, etc.).

    That’s it. Two steps.

    Remember these two steps — I’ll get back to them in a moment.

    For both, you need experience. A lot of it.
    You surely know that feeling — trying to make something in your art, but not liking it.

    That’s probably because of this:

    You didn’t imagine it clearly enough.

    We usually think we have. But we haven’t.
    I think it’s a kind of bug in our mental system.

    IDEA

    When you want to make something great — and you fail to bring it to life — it’s often because you didn’t imagine it deeply enough.

    The idea is, at first, something blurred.
    Like a pre-pass in an old render engine.

    You need to render that idea in your head.
    With every “pass” of thinking about it, the image gets more defined.
    At some point, you’ll see it so clearly that all you need to do is translate it into physical form.

    And for that, you need skill.
    But remember:

    Technical skill is nothing more than a tool.
    The place where the art is created is your mind.

    Even when experimenting with tools and techniques, you’re constantly returning to the mental image — reshaping it, refining it, and then trying again.

    This is not just my way of working — this is how we all work.

    STEP TWO IS EASY. STEP ONE IS NOT.

    Everyone can learn step two.
    But mastering step one is mental work.
    Hard mental work.

    And you have to keep reminding yourself of that.

    Sometimes I spend days stuck on a single shot — and then realize I never truly stopped to think deeply about it.
    A few focused minutes of imagining the scene properly is often all it takes to find the answer.

    It’s not easy — But it’s necessary.

    And this applies to everything:
    Painting, rendering, music, architecture, sculpting, business ideas, machines, fashion, construction…

    This is how humans work.
    It’s how we made everything in this world.
    It’s what makes us unique.

    We imagine — and then we build.

    FILMMAKING

    The clearest example of this process is filmmaking.

    A director reads a script — and while reading, they imagine scenes in real time.
    If they like what they see in their mind — that’s a good starting point.

    That’s why people often say:

    “I liked the book much more than the movie adaptation.”

    Because they imagined it in their own way.

    And the more experienced you get in visual art —
    the richer your imagination becomes.

    You start reshaping your mental images automatically — making them more refined, more stylistic, more yours.

    CONCLUSION

    I could talk about this subject for hours. Days. Endlessly.

    Because it’s one of the most magical abilities we have as human beings.

    But I won’t.

    I want to leave space for you — to think about it, to reflect, and to explore why this is such a fascinating and limitless process.

    Until next time —
    stay curious.

    — Stefan

    P.S. At some point, I’ll share my workflow — how I turn ideas into finished pieces of art.

    Subscribe to my newsletter and get tips, tricks, and personal stories about the creative process — straight from the source.

    Got questions? I’d love to hear from you: stefan@vizzzia.com

  • How Leonardo da Vinci Unlocked His Secret Superpower — and How You Can Use It as a 3D Artist

    How Leonardo da Vinci Unlocked His Secret Superpower — and How You Can Use It as a 3D Artist

    Leonardo da Vinci. A synonym for art itself. The greatest influencer of all time.

    His paintings are the most recognizable pieces of art on the planet. Ever.

    But how did he do it? What makes the Mona Lisa so special? How did he turn something as ordinary as a portrait of a woman into the most iconic piece of art in human history? And is there really a difference between mediums – 3D art and painting? I don’t think so. It’s all about philosophy. You can create something just as special. Why not? Don’t think you can? That’s YOUR choice.

    So, let’s begin.

    He was born in a small village in Italy, more than 500 years ago. But you know what? Some people are evergreen. Pioneers. Free spirit people. Timeless people. If you gave him a teleport and dropped him into 2025, you can bet he’d still be THE PLAYER. Why? Because he had the greatest superpower of all: curiosity.

    There’s nothing more powerful in this world than curiosity.

    If you’re curious – then you have that superpower too. And you’re already ahead of the majority of people. But I mean real curiosity. How does something work? Why is the sky blue? How does a stream flow from the mountains all the way to the ocean? What is life? How does the mind work? What makes great art… great? Do you feel it? I bet you do.

    He was exactly like that. He was the first human who truly explored how the human body works. Can you believe it? Thousands of years of human history – and no one asked those basic questions the way he did. But he did. And that simple truth didn’t make him the greatest artist. That was just a mindset.

    In his biography, Walter Isaacson wrote that Leonardo wasn’t a genius. He didn’t have an IQ of 300. He was just a curious guy. Even lazy, but curious.

    He started like everyone else. With the basics: drawing, painting, thinking, drawing, painting, thinking…

    He kept getting better, until one day, he became a master – by doing. And when you learn something BY DOING, no one can take it away from you. It is always with you, forever. That’s your new basics.

    And that’s JUST A SKILL.

    But if you want to be among the greatest – you need more. The next step is to find your STYLE. How do you find your style? By doing and by EXPLORATION. That’s where curiosity fuels your art. EVERYONE can find his style. Because everyone is different. Everyone has something that he/she likes. Finding your style is nothing more than exploring yourself. Your inner self. Carefully observe your mental picture and transfer it in its physical form. (I’ll make an article on Mental Picture soon, so sign up for my newsletter)

    Leonardo LOVED the slow burn. When he was on a project The Last Supper , witnesses reported that some days he just came, looking into a painting he was working on and just added some tiny brush strokes then went home and came back in a few days. Some days he just LOOKED at the painting for HOURS, did nothing, and went home. That’s how you are building a masterpiece. It’s a process. Every piece of art needs its own touch. Every piece of art needs its own soul.

    Now we know some of Leonardo’s basic painting processes. Mindset. Workflow. Not much, but enough for the beginning.

    So, what’s the Da Vinci’s Secret Superpower?

    His secret superpower is just one thing: KNOWLEDGE.

    He actively collected information from a young age to his last days.

    By doing. By observing. By exploring.

    He worked on the Mona Lisa for 16 years. And guess what — he never finished it.

    With every new insight into facial anatomy, he would tweak her smile — again and again — until it became iconic. He was constantly updating his skills, his style, and his psychology – mindset.

    He added details, adjusted features, and reworked the painting with every new piece of knowledge. He was chasing perfection. Learning every day and using that knowledge using that knowledge to improve his own work. It’s a never-ending process. You will always find out something new. Do not let that paralyze you. Just work. Just do it.

    He NEVER stopped learning and using that knowledge for his work. That’s the whole secret.

    When you stop learning – you are a dead walking man, just waiting to die.

    Learn new things every day, use it, learn new, use it, and don’t worry. Every new piece of information is a piece of your unique puzzle. The way you see the world is 100% unique. The more you know – your puzzle is more unique. That’s your style. That’s your life. That’s your mind. Leonardo has a colorful mind puzzle: technology, nature, painting, sculpting, biology, anatomy, and many more. That was IMPOSSIBLE not to be unique. So, relax and enjoy the ride.

    Oh yeah, the subject…

    And is there really a difference between mediums – 3D art and painting?

    It is just a medium. Brush, mouse, pencil, hammer, fingers, keyboard buttons, AI, VR empty hands moving… Who cares? I bet Leonardo would have used 3d mediums for art if he had been born in the 1990s. Not because 3d is something special, it’s because it’s the latest (really usable and flexible) piece of technology for visual art right now. And the best of us always use the most usable mediums.

    Since this is my very first blog post, I wanted to start with someone who embodies everything this blog is about: curiosity, creativity, mindset, and process.

    And Leonardo represents all of that.

    Thanks for reading – and good luck with everything you’re working on.

    Stay curious.

    Until next time,

    Stefan

    P.S. If this kind of insight resonates with you, follow me for more deep dives into creativity, art, philosophy, and business. Join the newsletter and keep your curiosity sharp.