Artist's cv

Artist's cv

Tian Cao

Technical Artist
tiancao_ct@outlook.com LinkedIn

Professional Experience

         Ubisoft Montreal | 2024 Aug - Present, Montreal, CA
Senior Technical Artist


Anvil Pipeline

  • Focusing on enhancing the character rendering workflows and asset production processes, with plans to roll out improvements across all future Assassin’s Creed projects.
  • Collaborating with engine developers to implement technical solutions that can be applied to current and future projects, with a focus on R&D and integrating new tools into the artists’ workflows.
  • Conduct early-stage research and comprehensive feasibility analysis—covering pipeline, performance, visual quality, and project compatibility—ensuring that technical solutions are in place before project mass production begins.



         Ubisoft Quebec | 2022 Aug - 2024 Aug, Quebec City, CA
Senior Technical Artist


Assassin’s Creed: Shadows

  • Developed a comprehensive set of universal character shaders for hair, clothing, and skin, establishing a standardized shader solution for all future Assassin’s Creed projects.
  • Provided ongoing support for all Assassin’s Creed projects in development that utilized the universal character shaders.
  • Identified and resolved shader performance bottlenecks, optimizing GPU occupancy.
  • Established the character creation workflow for the project, offering tool support including automation scripts, a Substance Painter environment for rapid visual effect validation, and procedural materials in Substance Designer for quick asset production.
  • Conducted batch inspection and processing of art assets, enhancing production efficiency and reducing rework costs.



         Tencent Games | 2019 Jun - 2022 Jun, Shenzhen, CN
Technical Artist

Tencent Games : Lightspeed & Quantum Studios    2021 Oct - 2022 Jun
Game for Peace
PUBG Mobile

  • Responsible for creating material libraries for in-game characters and equipment, optimizing performance to ensure compatibility across various devices.
  • Supported the CG team with VFX materials, environment shaders, and unique animation effects, utilizing Blueprints and scripting to aid in each season’s opening cinematic.
  • Conducted R&D to develop and integrate new technologies to prepare for future projects.

Tencent Games : Morefun Studio    2020 Aug - 2021 Oct
Ace Force
Hitori no Shita: The Outcast

  • Responsible for developing stylized Unity shaders, optimizing and resolving complex rendering challenges to enhance visual quality.
  • Led the transition of Unity NPR shaders to Unreal Engine’s NPR rendering, collaborating with graphics programmers to adapt the render pipeline for stylized visuals.
  • Established lookdev environments and custom toolsets in Maya, Substance Painter, Blender and other DCC tools, for stylized asset production, increasing workflow efficiency.
  • Testing and documenting shaders under various lighting conditions, providing comprehensive guidelines for the art team to achieve consistent visual results.
  • Provided specialized materials for effects, post-processing, and environment setups.
  • Delivered blueprint support for the CG rendering team.

Tencent Games : Morefun Studio    2019 Jun - 2019 Sep

  • Intern



Professional Skills

Proficient in:

  • HLSL, GLSL, Cg
  • Substance Designer, Substance Painter
  • Unreal Engine, Unity3D

Extensive experience with:

  • Python, Maya Python
  • C#
  • Maya
  • Blender, Marmoset

Moderately experienced with:

  • C++
  • Houdini, Clarisse



Education

   OCAD University          2016 Sep - 2020 May, Toronto, CA

Bachelor of Fine Art: Digital Painting & Expanded Animation

Exhibitions

2020 Surfing the Internet

  • The Art Museum
  • 2020
  • University of Toronto

Grants and Award

BMO 1st Art Ontario Winner: 2020 Surfing the Internet

  • 2020, Toronto, CA

Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award

  • OCAD U, 2020, Toronto CA

Project 31 - Digital Painting & Expanded Animation Award (DRPT)

  • OCAD U, 2020, Toronto CA

Project 31 - Digital Painting & Expanded Animation Award (DRPT)

  • OCAD U, 2016, Toronto CA

Interviews

Tian Cao talks about winning BMO 1st Art! CBC Metro Morning. Ismaila Alfa. September 17, 2020

OCAD U Grad Regional Winner At BMO 1st Art! Competition. OCAD U September 17, 2020

5 Questions with… OCAD’s Tian Cao Winner of BMO 1st Art! Competition. Hye’s Musings. Heidy Morales. September 16, 2020

“A Day in the Life” with Digital/technical Artist Tian Cao. Toronto Guardian. Joel Levy. September 16, 2020