Technical Graphics

3-D Illustrator Georges Pradez uses
Corel® DESIGNER™ to create a scalemodel fit for royalty.

“I need precision… DESIGNER helps meorganize space and structure.”Georges Pradez
3-D Illustrator

SPOTLIGHT

The Story

Georges Pradez

Veteran Belgian 3-D illustrator, Georges Pradez, isbetter known for his regular cultural radio broadcasts
than for his work as an artist and a model builder witha passion for aircraft. Pradez was, in fact, already an
accomplished airbrush artist when he was introducedto Corel® DESIGNER™ in 1992. Since then he has
migrated through seven versions of the software and has
expanded his artistic repertoire from two-dimensional
illustration to computer-developed 3-D models withstrong realism and flair.

3-D Illustrator
Corel® DESIGNER™ power user

DIGITAL ARTIST'S PALETTE
Corel DESIGNER

BENEFITS• Easy replication of delicate
patterns and designs• Risk-free ability to create complex
3-D models

As someone who has built a prestigious 40-year career
communicating the spoken word, Pradez admits that inchildhood he had difficulty learning the written word. “Igot my revenge by pretending I knew the language,” hesays. He went into radio, and carved out a distinct niche
in Belgium's radio and television broadcaster, RTBF.
Pradez has always held a particular fascination for flight;
building model aircraft is a passion he has indulged all
his life. “By creating models we can be a little like ourCreator,” he says. “We can own the models; we canpossess them. And we can make an aeroplane, afactory, and, even a city, appear from nothing.”

The Challenge
His talent for drawing aeroplanes and helicopters
incited Pradez to perfect his airbrush techniques. "Ialways sought to push the limits of realism," he says.
“And what thrilled me with the airbrush was thehyper-realism that it could add.”

The problem, however, is that airbrushing is apainstaking process and once completed, an airbrushed
illustration can’t be reversed, and hence corrected.

The Solution
Then Georges Pradez was introduced to Corel DESIGNER.
DESIGNER streamlines the production of technicaldesign and illustration with absolute precision. It eases
the task of creating, managing, plotting and sharing
technical drawings and illustrations.
“I need precision; the more precise my drawings are,the happier I am,” Pradez explains, adding, “DESIGNER
helps me organise space and structure. It also helps meachieve the airbrushed look electronically.” Through
DESIGNER, Pradez has also discovered clipart and its
value as a self-instructional tool. “Clipart is a formidable
resource,” he says. “With clipart, I can deconstruct animage to see how it was created.”
DESIGNER has become a principal drafting andillustration tool for Pradez. Often beginning with an
original blueprint or old photocopy, he will use DESIGNER
to build and perfect a model, layer by layer, on hiscomputer screen. Fine details can be easily applied tothe lettering on a fuselage or wing, for example. Says
Pradez: “You can choose any letter you want andrecreate it.”“With the Undo
command, this is
the first time in thehistory of humanitythat you canreverse time.”

In 1996, Pradez’ skills were put to the test when heand a friend were asked to help build a scale model
destined for public display in the Musée de Belle Vuein Brussels. The model was that of the Maisonnette
des Princes, a Swedish-style chalet built within thegrounds of the Royal Palace in Laeken, and inspired by
King Leopold III’s Swedish wife, Astrid. Intended toremind the royal family that there was life outside thecastle, the Maisonnette became a part of life andleisure for the children and friends of subsequent
generations of the family.
Using Corel DESIGNER, Pradez gathered his confidence
and put his skills to work reconstructing the Maisonette
at a 1:10 scale. “Everything was organised and designed
using DESIGNER,” he says, “even the scale chairs aroundthe dining room table.” The actual Maisonette is asmaller version of a real Swedish chalet, complete withthree bedrooms, dining and living room, and kitchen,along with period decorations, furniture, and appliances.
Pradez' model recreates all of it to perfection.

The Benefits
Corel DESIGNER greatly eases the replication of patterns
and designs, eliminating both the tediousness and therisk associated with creating complex models. There’s
also the huge psychological benefit of removing thefear of making a time-wasting mistake. As Georges
Pradez makes clear, it's all in the software: “With theUndo command, this is the first time in the history ofhumanity that you can reverse time.”
In addition, DESIGNER interfaces with precision
cutting tools which enabled, for example, the cuttingof pre-fabricated sections of the Maisonnette with ahigh degree of accuracy.
Pradez has an almost childlike enthusiasm for softwaretools such as DESIGNER. He also points out, however,that he doesn't feel computer design and production
methods will ever replace hand craftsmanship andwoodcarving expertise. “Traditional tools and methods
still have their place,” he says. He adds, “What’s
important is to express yourself in the medium in which
you work. When you learn to accept the language andlimitations of the software, it becomes irrelevant
which tool you use.”

Illustration by Georges Pradezwww.corel.com

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Printed in Canada 08/03 JB#2081-487