Ian Dean
Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creativebloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and leading video game title Official PlayStation Magazine. In his early career he wrote for music and film magazines including Uncut and SFX. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on AI, digital art and video game art and tech, and more to Creative Bloq, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5. He's also a keen Cricut user and laser cutter fan, and is currently crafting on Glowforge and xTools M1.
Latest articles by Ian Dean
![Making the VFX for Halo season 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ComkyFgWx99ymogKxhmFDh-320-80.jpg)
Making the VFX for Halo Season 2
By Ian Dean published
How MPC brought a gaming universe to life.
![Making the VFX of The Fall Guy; a man on fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/itokMpjKZePnTqbvCLRaxH-320-80.jpg)
Making The Fall Guy meant 'honouring' the practical stunts of the 80's show, says Cinesite's Jennifer Meire
By Ian Dean published
Breaking down the film's VFX.
![Day in the life; a woman stood in front of a stack of books and drawings](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UQF2xjP73H3x84zELzXKrG-320-80.jpg)
A day in the life of Apple TV+ graphic designer Gina Alessi: "We're surrounded by flurries of paper, set drawings and research photos"
By Ian Dean published
A day in the organised chaos of a film's art department.
![Pro 3D art technique; Cornelius Dämmrich](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVg3KYNYAf7ZctcA4nUZY3-320-80.jpg)
3D art advice: a pro's time-saving tip for easier subdivision surface modelling
By Ian Dean published
Cornelius Dämmrich shares his shortcut.
![Artist in residence; inside the art studio of Charles Ratteray](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j74TsLe4R2y5vpVqvXwb3k-320-80.jpg)
Artist in Residence: inside the bustling studio of Marvel, Netflix and Disney artist Charles Ratteray
By Ian Dean published
Library meets laboratory in this artist’s studio.
![Lux Aeterna AI tools; people mill around in a VFX studio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uSQy4Z4u2A7agFEMj67YiA-320-80.jpg)
Inside Lux Aeterna: how AI tech and USD is helping to build CG wonders
By Ian Dean published
"We're able to compete on a global level," says CEO Rob Hifle.
![Graphic design in Apple TV's Manhunt; wanted poster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D49bYVeKGCmAaKwntyKMEB-320-80.jpg)
"A weird, wonderful and demanding job": How Gina Alessi made the graphic design in Apple TV's Manhunt
By Ian Dean published
There's an art to recreating 19th century America.
![Best CGI movies of the 90s; a t-rex and a mouse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t5Dq2swcLtWos5UhYb3tqY-320-80.jpg)
The best CGI movies of the 90s
By Ian Dean published
The VFX films of the 90s that influenced filmmaking.
![best lightbox for tracing and drawing; three square lighboxes with art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bk4wkxb96n4XfskW56Yk5Z-320-80.jpg)
The best lightbox for tracing and drawing
By Ian Dean last updated
Discover the best lightboxes for tracing and drawing today
![Three of the best easels for painting on a green background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZxXEyWwhCenJyBwGZSA46a-320-80.jpg)
The best easels for painting in 2025
By Ian Dean last updated
Our experts pick the best easels for painting available today.
![Rob Dwiar game art book; a book in a game environment](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kHnpGfhM6j4z8RRFtSpfcF-320-80.jpg)
Game environment design is a growing art form, reveals new book
By Ian Dean published
Planting new ideas.
![Xencelabs Pen Display 16 hands-on; a large OLED pen display with a stylised illustration on its screen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W2hhamJ2WiFbkveWKDnzp9-320-80.jpg)
Hands-on with Xencelabs Pen Display 16: a 4K OLED drawing tablet for everyone
By Ian Dean published
It sets a new standard.
![Jules Wittock; a long mazy painting](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zy7UknAF2BhijRtsYKGavj-320-80.jpg)
Artist Jules Wittock reveals the hidden secret to his mesmerising maze paintings
By Ian Dean published
"People can go inside of my mind."
![Autodesk Star Wars droid challenge; a robot stands on a desert planet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FZGNdjF7iJXonDWWX5GuSb-320-80.jpg)
Star Wars superfans can now design their own droid
By Ian Dean published
Autodesk celebrates Star Wars with a unique challenge.
![LeiaPix; an image of a field](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TYhQW8Mpo3K6EJfQ9QXH9D-320-80.gif)
Don't hate me, but I think this new AI art tool could have a use
By Ian Dean published
LeiaPix turns 2D art into 3D animation.
![Songs of Silence art contest; an illustration of a fantasy character](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/McGPEAsqecsbQMuYUCwXZS-320-80.jpg)
Get published - enter the Songs of Silence art contest
By Ian Dean published
Your work could feature in a new video game art book.
![Marvel Art of Russell Dauterman; Marvel comic characters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VpDkayuGyxaxgrPBfgpLid-320-80.jpg)
Marvel artist Russell Dauterman's new book is a work of art
By Ian Dean published
The Marvel artist celebrates a decade of comic art.
![Nothing Ear review; two ear buds on a wooden table](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7QpJnwvvrKQCDbhpyCAPL-320-80.jpg)
Nothing Ear and Ear (a) review: eye-catching designs meet high-end tech, for less
By Ian Dean published
Sounds like something you'll need, but which is right for you?
![Unreal Engine 5.4 features; an animal with a rock](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AbuDGwXxJGZZ4yLeJrq5sn-320-80.jpg)
Unreal Engine 5.4 is here, and it's good news for filmmakers and animators
By Ian Dean published
New motion graphics, virtual camera and animation tools.
![Vertex 2024; two men on a stage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9NUrh5p7LGrwdoHtKfEam3-320-80.jpg)
Vertex 2024 - our best bits and some surprises
By Beth Nicholls, Natalie Fear, Ian Dean published
We had a blast at Vertex 2024, here are the highlights.
![Nvidia ACE AI; a game character sits in a leather chair](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oF3C4QUYL7gFiL2ZStU3of-320-80.jpg)
I tried Nvidia's AI for games, with comically realistic results
By Ian Dean published
It's 2062 and everyone still loves Taylor Swift.
![Nvidia RTX vs M3 Max; two laptops on a wooden table](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MrVC2CeKauZiFbZ7cxyhXA-320-80.jpg)
I just watched an Apple MacBook Pro get mauled by a Razer Blade 16
By Ian Dean published
Has Nvidia just started a new hardware war for creatives?
![Evercade EXP-R; a black handheld retro console](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7bbStQvQxdHMzXMUcwfLsR-320-80.jpg)
I'm confused by Evercade's new retro console (but I still want one)
By Ian Dean published
The Evercade EXP-R looks visionary, but who's it for?
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