GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Visual Effects Summit: Math, but Make It Cute
Chih-Yu Hsieh (VFX Artist, Tuatara)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Summits Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Visual Arts
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
VFX is a unique discipline that requires a mix of art and technical skills, and the technical aspect has always been a barrier to entry for artists interested in this field. This talk aims to show artists that just like art, math is something you can learn through practice and dedication, and a key part of VFX.
In this talk, Chih-Yu (Geodraws) will dive into useful math concepts, provide visualizations to help explain the idea, and show real VFX examples to demonstrate how math can be applied. We will act as a VFX artist tasked to make a stylized torch fire. After each round of the art director's feedback, Chih-Yu would show how math can be used to address the feedback. Forget the formula and equations, he will show you a visual approach that helps link the math to the visual problem.
Takeaway
Attendees will gain a new perspective on math, and how to use it as a tool to solve visual problems in VFX. They can expect to leave with concrete examples and tips that can be used in their next VFX work.
Intended Audience
VFX artists that are more on the artistic side, maybe afraid of the technical aspect and looking to expand their toolbox. An intermediate-level understanding of material and particle systems is preferred. Math level not required.
