Needed: advice on race car paint schemes

[D-Angle]

Okay, bear with me, this is a bit of an odd one...

I'm looking into different 'branches' to add to my business (3D design) and wondered how race car paint schemes get designed, and if there might be an opening there. What I'm thinking of is coming up with the concepts and producing the visuals that a race team could use to show to potential sponsors and the paint shop.

I would assume that the clubman guys wouldn't be interested(and/or simply might not be able to afford it) but I wondered if anyone knows how the middle-size teams, say touring car/GT class size, go about this? I would really like to know what they do about designing the paint scheme of their cars to see if it's worthwhile us pursuing it.

Any advice anyone could give would be much appreciated. Told you it was an odd one!

[Frik]

I would presume they just render their full car CAD models. That'd be the most straight forward way to look at it initailly.

[The DJ 27]

Or another way (I think) is to take 2D drawings of the car from all elevations and draw the paint scheme that way. I.e both sides, front, back, top etc

[D-Angle]

Sorry, what I mean is how do they go about getting it done - would they get a designer to come in and help develop a corporate identity for the team to show potential sponsors, i.e. 'this is how your brand would fit in' or is it just left to the sponsoring companies themselves to figure out?

Thanks for the replies

[Simon Mason]

9 times out of 10 its done in house by the teams. Mainly because it is a negtiable point and as such open to numerious changes before a final deal is struck.

>> Edited by Simon Mason on Monday 29th November 20:30

[D-Angle]

Simon Mason said:

9 times out of 10 its done in house by the teams. Mainly because it is a negtiable point and as such open to numerious changes before a final deal is struck.

Cheers Simon, do you know if they usually use an in-house designer or is it just put together by team management?

[andy_b]

smaller teams do it themselves, larger teams who appreciate how important branding and identity is will either get an individual (like me -see my profile) to design a livery, or one of their prime sponsors will oftern have a design department or agencey. There are three or four motorsport livery specialists, but I wont advertise them !!!, although any graphic design house would be able to knock out a design.

Good liveries are ones where you use the car surfaces for colour split lines etc, doesnt always work like that, and often the sponsor wants something else, but thats how it pans out. You need to ensure you have a directory of the correct logos and typefaces, thats critical when a team presents them with a design on their first acquintance.

I'll start some mock ups in 2D profile drawings, always including a plan, then I'll mock something up in 3D,normally as a Photoshop or Illustration. Its important always to consider 3d when designing liveries, its surprising how often this isnt considered. Thats what gives 3d designers like us a small advantage

Lots of other secrets, but I'll keep them to myself


>> Edited by andy_b on Sunday 12th December 15:23