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Career Profile: Computer Graphics Specialist

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:58 am
by Tami
Career Profile: Computer Graphics Specialist
By Michael Paul

What do Computer Graphics Specialists Do?

Computer graphics specialists use computers and related technologies to create and manipulate electronic images. There are three main application areas in Computer Graphics:

* Art and animation
* Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD and CAM)
* Creating maps, charts, tables, and graphs

What are some fields related to computer graphics?

Fields related to computer graphics include graphic design and computer science.

Initially, Computer Graphics Specialists are involved in creating rough or thumbnail sketches of layouts of their ideas. They may have a flash of inspiration on how a piece should look, or the piece can come as a result of much hard work and many failed attempts.

Either way, the rough layouts need to be approved by the end user (person who will eventually pay for and use the service) or the graphics specialists’ supervisor of manager. Often, the graphics specialists will work in close conjunction with the end users. Sometimes it is the end users themselves who have the idea on how the layout should look, and it is up to the graphics specialist to make it come to life.

Here are some more specific examples of what being a computer graphics specialist might entail:

*Art and animation- Animate 3-dimensional cartoons, video games, television ads, or other media types.
*CAD/CAM- May design models of manufactured goods such as buildings, cars, or even entire environments, to be analyzed by others. CAD systems also assist in the medical field in orthoscopic surgery and other applications.
*Maps, Charts, Tables, and Graphs- These tools are often used in business presentations to effectively display market share, sales, or other data in a graphic manner.

Computer graphics specialists also create geological, topographical, meteorological, and environmental impact maps for use in a wide array of settings.

There are some important considerations to weigh if you are thinking of pursuing a career as a Computer Graphics Specialist:

*The importance of technology in the field. Computer Graphics Specialists must be on the cutting edge of both hardware and software developments. If they are not using the latest technologies available, then there is a chance that someone else is doing the work faster or better.
*A bachelor’s degree is required for most positions. Programs or courses in fine arts, graphics, design, computer science, or video/film production are helpful.
*Computer Graphics Designers have a wide array of tasks they can perform, which increases the variety of work they do from day to day.
*The employment outlook for Computer Graphic Designers is excellent. Every day people are looking to computers more and more for design and graphics


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