ai, cgi & post production Sep 2023

Best of Breed, headquartered in London, is a CGI illustration studio and artist agency that specializes in CGI illustration and VFX services tailored to the global entertainment and advertising sectors.

In contrast to many artist agencies led by sales-oriented personnel lacking production insights, BOB stands out by providing expert guidance founded on profound technical knowledge and practical creative proficiency. BOB's team possesses an in-depth understanding of the industry, ensuring clarity and simplicity throughout every project phase.

BOB has consistently played a pivotal role in delivering exceptional imagery for a diverse range of media formats, including print, animation, VR, and AR. This track record has enabled the team to establish fruitful, long-lasting partnerships with clients across the advertising and entertainment industries on a global scale.

Clients include Meta, Skoda, Oysho, Nike, Honda, Tiffany & Co., Airwick. Allianz, Mercedes, MAC Cosmetics, Absolut Vodka, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Disney and many more.

The BOOM team specialise in CGI illustration and animation, including character design, CGI modelling, texturing, animation and retouching.

They have developed a thorough understanding of how to craft an image to communicate the right message and captivate the consumer. It is no surprise that the team have been working together for almost ten years, producing exciting solutions for some of the largest global brands, including: Apple, Coca-Cola, Gillette and Nike.

Their keen eye on innovation and trends has earned them a place among the top commercial digital artists in the world.

Along with their roster of illustrators, photographers and filmmakers, BOOM work across cutting edge media disciplines to meet the clients’ needs.

BOOM have been awarded 200 Best Digital Artists 2017/18 by Lürzers Archive.

Multi award-winning Carioca Studio is a world-renowned image concept house highly sought after for their work, specialising in advertising imagery.

Carioca was founded in 2005 by three artists (Dragos Coman, Andrei Stoleru and Dragos Traistaru), all photographers with fine art and advertising backgrounds, along with production expertise. They always have a strong vision about each new project they are involved in, Carioca starts with a big idea: and bring their complete vision and perfect execution from production and shooting to post-production.

Carioca offers integrated visual services, from production (locations, casting, hair & makeup artists, set construction, mock-ups) to photography, Illustration, CGI and post production. The company now has 23 people working in three different departments – Production, 3D and Post-Production.

Clients include Dalwhinnie, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Europcar, Mercedes-Benz, Sony Ericsson, VW and WWF. Carioca Studio have been awarded Cannes Lions, Epica and ranked as #2 in photography by Lürzers Archive. 

Dom Savini, a visual translator and storyteller based in Philadelphia, leverages over two decades of experience in advertising, pre-press, post-production, and broadcast as a content artist. His artistic journey began with biomechanics, evolving into a fascination with the human form in motion, expressed through illustration, photography, and digital arts.

Dom's unique blend of skills and distinctive photo-illustrative style has garnered recognition from global advertising agencies and brands. Inspired by diverse influences, from comic book illustrators to Renaissance painters, his work consistently exhibits a signature lighting and style.

He thrives on collaborative creativity and embraces the ever-evolving artistic process. Dom's mission is to redefine visual storytelling and explore limitless creative possibilities.

Additionally, since 2018, he has been an elected committee member, dedicated to enhancing South Philadelphia's future for his family and neighbors.

"We operate as a CGI and retouching studio based in Barcelona, functioning as an integral division of EGM. EGM is a company focused on comprehensive graphic image treatment.

Since 1974, we've maintained collaborations with renowned photographers and graphic artists, specialising in image retouching and post-production.

Our team boasts a blend of artistic talent and technical expertise, supported by robust media infrastructure. This equips us to oversee diverse disciplines including photography, design, organic modeling, rigging, animation, compositing, 360º videos, and virtual reality. This array of services positions EGM as a creative and robust technological partner. Our clients confidently entrust us with their project development.

We remain committed to pioneering digital content creation for various channels, utilising cutting-edge technologies in printing, projection, and visualisation."

Founded in 2018 by award winning photographer Mark Zawila, Fabric Studios is a London-based CGI and retouching studio, specialising in 3D illustration, product visualisation, animation and retouching.

"At Fabric, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are passionate about crafting visual stories and creating eye-catching imagery."

Fabric has grown rapidly and has had the pleasure of creating work for brands including Sony, Bremont, Garmin, Nutribullet, Samsung, Stella Artois, Miller and Chivas Regal.

Fabric Studios is also an ambassador for HDR Light Studio.

Lubo Sergeev boasts a remarkable career as a renowned photographer and digital artist, amassing an impressive 25 years of expertise in the realms of advertising and commercial image production.

Throughout his journey, he has garnered numerous prestigious awards for his exceptional work.

Motion design studio and creative production partner MAINFRAME have been originating creative concepts and delivering high quality and unique content for over twenty years.  They are passionate about producing beautifully crafted motion and imagery.

Partnering with agencies and direct to client creative teams, they offer not only creative solutions to briefs or treatments but also technical knowledge invaluable to the design process, adapting for each project’s needs and every client’s requirements.

Over the years they have partnered with countless global and local brands. Most recently working for PepsiCo, Harrods, Aston Martin, Bowmore Whiskey, the BBC and Honda to name a few.

Marc Mallafré is a creative director, art director and concept artist.

He has over 25 years of experience in the advertising industry. During all these years he has specialised in automotive, among other fields. He is also professor of creativity and art direction in several universities in Barcelona.

Even though he has embraced the AI tools, especially Midjourney, in his daily work, it’s his project Carpocalypse where he finds a new source of inspiration. Automotive, sci-fi and dystopia are the three main content pillars of his unique visual universe. There he diverges from advertising and art direction and heads his creativity towards concept art and cinematography.

Some of his more influential artists are Stanley Kubrick, Syd Mead, Katsuhiro Otomo and Denis Villeneuve. If you are looking for a conceptual delivery to your project, with a creative and artistic approach, look no further.

Mustard Post is a renowned creative retouching and cgi studio, dedicated to crafting advertising imagery with unrivalled production values. Led by founder and former photographer Tony Swinney, the studio brings together high-end post-production with the creativity of a photographer’s eye.

Mustard delivers stunning work across all product categories, alongside specialist expertise in automotive. A lifelong petrolhead, Tony has spent years perfecting the way vehicles look in different lighting conditions.

Over the past year they have created imagery for Sky TV, Bizzarrini Automobiles, Formula 1, Bentley Motors, McLaren, Amazon and Norton Motorcycles to name a few. 

You can expect a collaborative workflow, with one-to-one contact throughout every project. There are no account managers to deal with – you will always work directly with a creative expert.

Over 19 years Mustard Post has enjoyed repeat business from some of the world’s most prestigious brands. Like them, you can count on Mustard to deliver.

Based in SE Asia, Paul David, who began his career in fashion/advertising photography, has transitioned into the role of an AI fashion/art designer.

He adeptly combines his passion for the arts with cutting-edge technology to create groundbreaking and captivating artworks.

With a profound understanding of art and photography history, as well as an acute awareness of color nuances, and backed by 20 years of retouching skills, he has quickly developed a fascination for the potential of AI and machine learning.

He employs these tools to expand the horizons of conventional art and explore fresh avenues of creative expression.

"My aspiration is to craft digital art that transcends the conventional boundaries of the digital medium, such that it defies recognition as digital art altogether.

I find immense satisfaction in the progress I've made so far on this creative journey."

"As a commercial photographer and director, I am always looking for new and innovative ways to make my work more engaging. Over the past year I have been exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance my still and motion work in unique and creative ways.

Every image in this Spotlight incorporates AI in some form. Some are composites of traditional photography with AI-generated backgrounds or elements, but most are purely the result of my vision combined with these new tools.

If you are an agency or brand looking for innovative ways to share your story, then we should talk.”

Named one of the best advertising photographers in the world by Archive Magazine and called a lighting master by PDN, Teri Campbell is the creative lead at Teri Studios - a destination for consumer packaged goods companies, restaurants, beverage, and food-related businesses seeking original photography and motion work for advertising and packaging.

Client partnerships include: Kellogg’s, Baskin Robbins, Maker’s Mark, Folgers, Kraft-Heinz, KFC, and Jimmy John’s.

With over 25 years of experience, THE SCOPE is a globally recognised name in full-service CG work. Their recent projects with Renault and Nio highlight the remarkable advantages of CG productions for vehicle launches. Launch projects require precision and total control, precisely what THE SCOPE provided for these two brands. Their expertise in computer-generated imagery tailored every aspect, from lighting to backdrop, flawlessly.

These recent collaborations showcase the profound benefits of CG productions, offering complete control over settings, optimal lighting, and the capacity to craft an unforgettable narrative while eliminating logistical concerns like accessibility, permits, security, and weather worries.

In an industry where first impressions are paramount, THE SCOPE's CG productions offer finesse and creativity that traditional shoots struggle to match. These recent launches are testament to THE SCOPE's ability to seamlessly blend innovation and automotive excellence.