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Previs Artist

Everything you need to know about the job of a previs artist including required skills, responsibilities and salary.

Student work by Daria Zadecka

What does a previs artist do?

Previs artists (or, visualization artists, or previs animators) create and block out 3D digital content that helps illustrate the outline of a story or production, helping to visualize what a scene, set, or certain actions will look like before it’s filmed, created, or finalized. They will experiment with different camera staging—angles, lenses, moves, etc.—and rough animation using proxy and production-ready assets. Visualization artists can contribute to every stage of production: pre-production (pitchvis, previs), production (techvis, stuntvis), and post-production (postvis).

Previs is probably the most common form of visualization. It helps filmmakers envision a film before going into production, almost like a 3D storyboard. Based on the script or 2D storyboards, the role of a previs artist/animator is to see how the action of a shot or sequence could play out, which they translate into a 3D space. These animations are rough in nature, they concentrate on main actions and blocking, and need to be produced quickly in line with the production schedule.

Previs artist job description

The work of a previs artist (or any visualization artist) will never be seen by film audiences or video game players yet their output is vital to the final product. In some cases sequences will be intricately visualized, matching shot-for-shot in the finalized scene. 

A previs artist's role is to create draft versions of key scenes and sequences to test the action and act as a basis from which to animate, act out, film, or build. They work closely with the director and often the visual effects supervisor to plan out the scenes at a conceptual stage, like visual rehearsals of a scene. They reflect the director’s vision by bringing the storyboard to life, allowing for any important changes to be made. 

Role & responsibilities of a previs artist in the film and games industry:

  • Liaising with directors and animators regarding the look and style of the sequences to be previsualized
  • Researching the sequences and assembling references for the previs sequence
  • Translating storyboards into animated sequences
  • Deconstructing and planning out sequences
  • Depicting staging, blocking, camera motion, and character performance
  • Editing and compositing scenes
  • Testing assets and rigs
  • Integrating sound elements into visuals in sequence
  • Rendering final animations of previs
previs-vs-final-render-virtual-production

How much does a previs artist make?

The average wage of a previs artist is between USD $81,000 to USD $150,000. (Source: Glassdoor).

$81k Jnr. Previs Animator
$150k Snr. Previs Animator

Skills required to become a previs artist

Similar to the role of a real-time 3D artist, previs artists require a broader focus and, along with 3D animation, will also be required to assemble and work with layouts and cameras. Their role can also often include modeling and texturing basic props and characters.

A common pathway to becoming a visualization artist is to study 3D animation or take a virtual production course. 

Film and television studios may look for the following skills in previs artists (and other areas of visualization):

  • Strong sense of cinematic composition and lighting
  • Character animation (timing and performance)
  • Experience with rendering
  • General 3D skills - modeling, rigging, shading, etc.
  • Able to take and interpret creative direction
  • Understanding of animation process
  • Fundamental knowledge of film language and genre
  • Able to work with motion and/or performance capture data
  • Solid knowledge of cinematography principles - framing, camera angles, composition, cinematic lighting, perspective
  • Understand the fundamentals of virtual production
  • Can translate CG cameras and animation to apply to real-life situations

What software and tools do previs artists use?

With the increasing use of virtual production, techniques, a lot of larger previs studios (e.g., The Third Floor, Halon) are moving over to game engines to produce their visualizations, allowing them to make edits in real-time. However, knowledge of other software is still required/beneficial.

Previs artists and other visualization experts may need knowledge of a combination of the following software:

maya
TOUCH

Maya is a comprehensive 3D animation software used for creating detailed models, animations, and visual effects. It's popular in film, TV, and game development for its powerful tools.

3dsmax
TOUCH

3ds Max is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It is developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

motionbuilder
TOUCH

MotionBuilder is a 3D character animation software produced by Autodesk. It is used for virtual cinematography, motion capture, and traditional keyframe animation.

blender-01
TOUCH

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software tool set. It is used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D-printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications and virtual reality.

unreal
TOUCH

Unreal Engine is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, first showcased in the 1998 first-person shooter video game Unreal

Nuke
TOUCH

Nuke is a node-based digital compositing and visual effects application first developed by Digital Domain and used for television and film post-production

How to become a previz artist

“Using Unreal Engine is a perfect way to onboard people into virtual production as the ability to be physically accurate with settings and values is built-in to many parts of the software and allows for a natural transition into the virtual world." -Deepak Chetty, Filmmaker and CG Spectrum Virtual Production mentor


Download a game engine 

Download and familiarize yourself with a free game engine like Unreal Engine. 

Build skills 

Build skills companies are listing on job sites. For additional support, enroll in a reputable course. CG Spectrum’s courses include mentorship from real-time pros and an industry-led curriculum. 

Stay ahead of trends 

Online tutorials, webinars, and publications can help you stay up-to-date on trends and keep your skills fresh. 

Create real-time content 

Creating content in a game engine will teach you relevant tools while building your portfolio. Upload finished work to a visual platform, like ArtStation, to showcase to potential recruiters and to view your progress. 

Sell assets online 

Create and sell assets on Unreal Engine Marketplace, or similar, to gain exposure, get constructive feedback from real-life users, demonstrate skills to potential employers and collaborators, and make money! 

Join competitions and game jams 

Practice your skills and create content for your portfolio by participating in game jams (e.g. Epic MegaJam, itch.io/jams), or starting one with friends. The Rookies also host contests. 

Engage with communities 

Networking is vital. Interact with industry pros who might offer advice, insights, or job opportunities. Join the Epic Developer Community and see our resources section for more. 

Collaborate with peers 

Know an animator who’d love to add their character performance to a 3D environment? Perhaps a friend wants to help you build a virtual world! Collaborating with peers is fun and can produce more polished portfolio pieces. 

Internship 

Internships at studios specializing in real-time, can help you break into the industry. It’s not viable for everyone but can be a way to gain hands-on experience while networking and experiencing studio life.

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Ready to Start Your Film & Games Journey?

Download our course guide to see how we can help you on your pathway to your dream career.

Tips to break into the real-time 3D industry

Here are some additional resources to help you get ahead as a real-time 3D artist working in virtual production.

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Industry Pathways

Welcome to our brand new series, Industry Paths. Tune in to meet our professional mentors from across the film, games, and visualization industries and hear directly from them about how they got started, what a day in their life looks like, and why they do what they do.

In this episode, you'll hear from Nicklas Byriel, CG Spectrum's Department Head of 3D Visualization.