Following, we would like to introduce the founders of Lightstorm3D.

Dirk Bialluch

My career started with a large interest in computer technology in 1983. After learning some programming languages I started to develop software to act out my desire to create digital music and graphics. Soon I realized the digital content I was creating with friends had reached a commercial level and just a few years later what was once a hobby became a fulltime job.

In 1995 I joined the team at Software 2000 and started working as an allround 3D artist on computer games doing game cinematics and realtime content. Some years later I was leading the 3D department.

Due to my strong programming background I became a technical artist. I concentrated on technically challenging tasks and started to write custom software solutions. In 2001 I was nominated as Maya Master by Alias and this technical orientation finally resulted in a job at Ambient Entertainment to work as lead software developer on the first German CG feature “Back to Gaya”.

In 2003 two colleagues and I started our own company Lightstorm3D and worked on several games, films and commercials. In between times we still work as individual freelancers.

I am now fully concentrating on the technical side of digital content creation, mainly doing software development. I also do VFX work, pipeline planning & development, rigging and animation. With a background in artistic workflows and the technical knowledge I am able to come up with solutions that are easy to use and provide a great amount of flexibility to enhance daily production processes.

 

Kay Poprawe

At the tender age of eight I discovered my talent for drawing. Using an Atari 800XE I had my first experience with digital graphic design in 1985 followed by an Atari ST1040 in 1991 on which I started to create high quality 2D graphics for different demosceners and groups. Out of this resulted I got employment at Software 2000 as 2D artist where I was involved in countless projects. Aside from designing digital images I specialized on texturing and shading 3D objects and gained experience in level design. Till now I enjoy my spare time to learn more and more new stuff and techniques besides my regular full-time jobs.

 

Marco Windrich

Aged seven I got my first home computer, a Commodore Amiga 500. Using Deluxe Paint I made my first tentative attempts to dive into the digital realm. In 1996 I started vocational college with main focus on graphics and design. I learned a lot about traditional drawing and painting. I had the opportunity to have a look at 3DSMax which revealed a completely new and interesting way to create graphics.

Right after school I was employed by Software 2000 as a junior 3D artist and started working with Maya. My first project was the PC games title "Pizza Connection 2". I was responsible for modelling props and buildings and did character skinning. I also learned how to texture, shade and render in Maya.

"Magic Island" for the Game Boy Advance was my first console title to work on. It was a racing title like Mario Kart with pre-rendered 2D sprites. I created the backgrounds for menues and did character, landscape and level design.

In 2001 I became a freelancer and worked at Ambient Entertainment on the first German CG feature film "Back to Gaya". My main task was to model props and complete sets.

In 2003 I started my own business called Lightstorm3D with two colleagues I knew since my time at Software 2000.