DEVSISTERS’ Secret to Bringing 3D Characters to Life

As technology continues to advance and becomes more crucial to the creative process, the boundaries of art have grown to encompass digital illustration, animation, motion graphics and more. By blending the capabilities of technology with the beauty and diversity of art, creative professionals are harnessed with the power to make their creations more lifelike than ever before. Samsung Electronics’ ViewFinity S9, a 5K monitor for creatives, has set the standard for high-resolution monitors and empowered creative minds to unleash their best works.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with two 3D designers at DEVSISTERS to explore how the ViewFinity S9 is helping them bring 2D characters to life.

▲ 3D Lighting/Compositing Artist Sangyi Kim (left) and 3D General Motion Graphic Designer Sena Yoo from DEVSISTERS

Since its establishment in 2007, the DEVSISTERS have provided popular games and services centered on Cookie Run IP (Intellectual Property), including a mobile runner game, “Cookie Run: OvenBreak,” and a mobile RPG, ”Cookie Run: Kingdom.” Cookie Run games have a total of 200 million players worldwide. The DEVSISTERS plan to expand their business from mobile games to include PC, console and VR games, as well as TCG, animation and licensing in the future.

Q. Can you briefly introduce yourselves and tell us about your roles in 3D design?

Sangyi Kim: I am responsible for Lighting — creating natural light and shadows to spotlight 3D characters and objects. I also handle compositing — combining 3D elements and effects from different sources into a single cohesive image. During the Lighting process, I focus on color expression to enhance each character’s personality and charm.

Sena Yoo: I am in charge of marketing content planning for 3D-based Cookie Run, 3D General Motion Graphic Design and Lighting. My major focus is on making 3D characters converted from 2D more dynamic with stories and motion graphics.

Q. What was your most recent 3D creation using the ViewFinity S9? How was the experience?

Sangyi Kim: As part of a collaborative project with Incheon International Airport Corporation, we recently had an exciting opportunity to create 3D content for the Media Tower in Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport, to be on display until late August. The project required us to be meticulous as the content is displayed on a 27-meter screen, meaning that even the smallest imperfections can really stand out. Fortunately, the ViewFinity S9 enabled us to review the content and visualize how it would be displayed to accurately identify any aspects that needed to be improved.

Sena Yoo: The Pivot feature was helpful when editing vertical videos as all we had to do was flip the monitor. I was concerned about the possibility of flickering and visual noise while displaying the content at a high resolution at the Media Tower. However, the ViewFinity S9 allowed me to check these issues in advance.

What’s more, it was essential for the Cookie Run characters to have fluid and detailed motions to convey the joy and excitement of travel at the airport. That’s why the ViewFinity S9 was the perfect monitor for this project.

Q. What are the differences between the ViewFinity S9 and other monitors you have used in the past?

Sangyi Kim: Adding light elements such as contrast and depth is very important as this makes the characters more realistic. The ViewFinity S9 precisely presents colors and light the way it was meant to be seen, ensuring smooth color gradation and avoiding the color clumping common in other monitors.

Another impressive feature is how the monitor precisely displays both the light and dark parts of an image without distorting the color. The difference is visible — the color expression and detail on the ViewFinity S9 is simply superb, and it significantly boosts productivity.

Sena Yoo: ViewFinity is capable of showing the full spectrum of colors even in bright highlights or shadows. That’s the biggest difference I’ve noticed. When we’re applying final touches to the video, we could easily check for whiteout¹ or overly dark areas in images with shadows before exporting. We could see the video as it was meant to be seen before playing it on the Media Tower. It helped a lot.

Q. What is the most satisfying feature of the ViewFinity S9?

Sena Yoo: I was satisfied with the ViewFinity S9’s 5K resolution, as poor resolution can reduce the details of an image. Furthermore, the monitor clearly defines highlights and shadows, enhancing the clarity of the content.

Sangyi Kim: I love the flexibility of the ViewFinity S9. I can move the interface anywhere on the screen, meaning I have much more space to work with. On top of that, the monitor’s Matte Display effectively reduces reflections or glares from lights. I can focus on my work more comfortably without a light shade or a monitor hood.

Q. Are there any other features you want to highlight?

Sangyi Kim: Many 3D designers prefer CPU rendering rather than GPU rendering as it is more productive. As such, they prefer using monitors with Windows OS. However, I’ve noticed there are few monitors that support both 5K resolution and Windows OS. The ViewFinity S9 is a perfect choice for 3D designers who are looking for Windows OS compatibility.

Sena Yoo: During meetings, we often share materials on a screen. Before, sharing screens was a hassle. But with the ViewFinity S9, we can conveniently share our work wirelessly on anyone’s monitor. Plus, the monitor is an all-in-one product that provides a variety of features for the creative process.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to share about the ViewFinity S9 with designers?

Sena Yoo: For designers, the monitor is a sketchbook and a paintbrush. They need to express everything on a monitor as if it were a sheet of paper. Therefore, a monitor and its resolution are critical factors to consider when working in the 3D art industry. I believe the ViewFinity S9 is an ideal companion for 3D designers, as it supports ultra-high 5K resolution and advances work efficiency.

Sangyi Kim: I really believe ViewFinity was made with designers and creative professionals in mind. The colors are precise and the monitor is sleek and beautiful. It shines by itself. It gives you a real lift in terms of productivity. I can’t recommend it enough.

¹ Whiteout: A phenomenon caused by extreme white areas, making objects hard to identify and distorting the perspective