What is a Technical Artist Job?
A technical artist is a specialized professional who bridges the gap between technical and artistic aspects of game development. Technical artists play an essential role in the game development process, working closely with programmers and artists to ensure that the vision of the game is achieved within the technical limitations of the platform. Technical artists are responsible for creating tools and pipelines that allow artists to work efficiently while maintaining the artistic quality of the game.
What Usually Do in This Position?
Technical artists are responsible for ensuring that the technical side of game development is up to par with the artistic vision. They work with both artists and programmers to create tools and pipelines that allow artists to create assets that meet technical requirements. Technical artists also help identify and resolve performance issues, as well as optimize assets for use in games.
Top 5 Skills for Position
- Strong artistic skills
- Proficiency in programming languages such as C++ or Python
- Experience with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine
- Experience with 3D modeling and animation software such as Maya or Blender
- Excellent communication skills to work effectively with both artists and programmers
How to Become This Type of Specialist?
To become a technical artist, you need to have a strong background in both art and programming. Many technical artists have a degree in computer science, game development, or a related field. It's also important to have experience with game engines and 3D modeling and animation software. Building a strong portfolio that showcases your technical and artistic skills is essential to getting hired as a technical artist.
Average Salary
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a technical artist in the United States is around $77,000 per year. However, this can vary depending on the company, location, and level of experience.
Roles and Types
Technical artists can work in various roles within the game development industry, including:
- Tools Programmer - responsible for creating custom tools and plugins for artists and designers
- Graphics Programmer - responsible for developing and optimizing graphics features such as lighting and rendering
- Gameplay Programmer - responsible for developing and implementing gameplay mechanics
- Technical Artist - responsible for bridging the gap between art and programming
There are also different types of technical artists, including character technical artists, environment technical artists, and VFX technical artists.
Locations With the Most Popular Jobs in USA
The game development industry is concentrated in certain areas of the United States. Some of the most popular locations for technical artist jobs include:
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Austin, TX
- New York, NY
What Are the Typical Tools?
Technical artists use a variety of tools to bridge the gap between art and programming, including:
- Game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine
- 3D modeling and animation software such as Maya and Blender
- Programming languages such as C++ and Python
- Custom tools and plugins created using scripting languages like Python or MEL
- Version control software such as Git or SVN
In Conclusion
Technical artists play a vital role in the game development process, ensuring that the technical side of game development is aligned with the artistic vision. To become a technical artist, you need to have a strong background in both art and programming and build a strong portfolio that showcases your technical and artistic skills. The game development industry is concentrated in certain areas of the United States, with the most popular locations for technical artist jobs being San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, and New York. Technical artists use a variety of tools, including game engines, 3D modeling and animation software, programming languages, custom tools, and version control software.