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Sean Wagstaff

Sean Wagstaff is a 3D animator, consultant, and freelance writer based in the San Francisco area. As Chief 3D Artist of Hypergolic Studios, he led a team of artists in the recreation of the Civil War's "Battle of the Ironclads." He wrote the first books on Macintosh 3D graphics: "The Macintosh 3D Workshop" and the "3D Starter Kit for Macintosh" (Hayden Books) as well as "Animation On The Web," for Peachpit Press. To contact him about anything but diet plans and debt relief, e-mail creativepro@wagstaffs.org.

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Strata 3D CX: Familiar Application in Changing Times

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on November 30, 2004

This easy-to-use 3D application sticks to its roots and renders great-looking pictures. Native Photoshop file support makes it even more accessible for graphic designers, but power users will find Strata 3D CX's modeler lackluster.

The Cat with the Fresh Hat: Corel Painter Makes the Most of its 9th Life

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on October 5, 2004

The newest version of Corel Painter features a less-intimidating interface, much-improved performance, and a handful of new media brushes and effects. According to Sean Wagstaff, Painter IX is the closest version yet to working with traditional paints and brushes.

Adobe Video Collection 2.5 Puts Premiere Back in Focus

Features: Written by Sean Wagstaff on June 1, 2004

Adobe's digital video products -- especially Premiere -- had been lagging behind the competition until last year, when the company introduced a completely overhauled line-up called the Adobe Video Collection 2.0. With the just-released Collection 2.5, Adobe applies the same interoperability to its video products as it has to its Creative Suite. Does this get Premiere back on track?

Nikon D100: Everything Old is New Again

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on January 27, 2003

With its quick response time, full metering controls, and interchangeable lens system, Nikon's D100 low-cost digital SLR camera marks a coming of age for digital photography. How good is it? Just look.

2002: The Creative Year in Review

Features: Written by David Blatner Sandee Cohen Bruce Fraser Sharon Steuer Sean Wagstaff Brian P. Lawler Eric J. Adams Pamela Pfiffner George Penston Sonja Schenk Susan Glinert Stevens David Morgenstern on December 31, 2002

What kind of year was 2002 for creative professionals? The staff and contributors of creativepro.com reflect on the year that's been and the year that's about to be.

Digital Photography: Two Approaches to Panoramic Images

Features: Written by Sean Wagstaff Brian P. Lawler on November 25, 2002

Making panoramic images is easier than you think -- if you have the right tools and the proper perspective. Here are two takes on the subject: First, Brian Lawler shows how he took a fresh view by looking up and seeing vertical panoramas. Then Sean Wagstaff reviews an odd-looking gadget that makes shooting panoramic photos a snap.

No Flash in the Panorama: 360 One VR is a Virtual-Reality Gadget that's Here to Stay

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on November 25, 2002

Kaidan's bizarre-looking egg-cup-in-a-mayonnaise-jar is no abstract sculpture. It is actually a digital camera lens with special software that makes fast work out of the tedious task of shooting and assembling VR panoramas. Although cumbersome and costly, it's a no-brainer for frequent VR authors.

Plasma Gives Web Graphics 3D Transfusion

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on July 8, 2002

Although Flash and Shockwave are widely accepted as file formats for highly interactive and animation-intensive Web site graphics, creating compelling 3D content to work with those formats has, until now, required a cobbled-together collection of unrelated design tools. To fill that gap, Discreet has designed its $650 Plasma.

Nikon Coolpix 2500: Handy 2-Megapixel Point-and-Shoot with Cool Design

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on April 22, 2002

DeBabelizer Pro 5: The Ultimate Image Translator

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on February 11, 2002

Plug-ins Key to Expanding Universe

Features: Written by Sean Wagstaff on August 13, 2001

Sean Wagstaff introduces a few of his favorite plug-ins for Electric Image Universe.

Electric Image Universe, the Sequel

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on August 13, 2001

Reclaimed from Play, Inc., the former 3D Animation System has been revamped, re-launched, and renamed. Universe 3.0 adds a standard-setting modeler, ray tracing, and other welcome features.

Wacom Intuos3 Graphics Tablet: Whack 'em with a Touch Strip

Reviews: Written by Sean Wagstaff on January 22, 2000

Wacom's latest pressure-sensitive tablet gets more hands-on controls and programmable buttons, but is the added bulk worth it? Sean Wagstaff puts pen to plastic to find out.