JAB Media Services.com
John Albert Burnham
Independent Artist
3D Generalist / Digital Content Creator
Technical Training / Corporate Support Graphics Preferred
3D model: Osio Madistio
Image rendered in: Arnold
Last Updated: 11.25.25
Work Status: Available for work
Desired work: Illustration / Animation
Emp type: Freelance / Contract work
Env type: Remote or Onsite (Locally)
Hourly Rate: Negotiable
Technical Support Graphics
3D Animation
Sometimes training demands take priority before the item or device in question becomes available. 3D graphics are a great way to achieve critical visual references, not only for a clearer understanding early on, but can also be repurposed in user manuals or in any marketing materials.
To view my exclusive 3D animation reel that I cannot publicly display due to copyright infringement issues, you will need to click the link below to view it. A code generator will then create an access code for you.
JAB's Exclusive 3D Animation Reel
(Note: This link will send you to an encrypted JavaScript controlled HTML5 page that will require a code to open.)
Rendered in:
Data courtesy of:
Rendered in: Mental Ray
Data courtesy of: General Motors, Inc
Repurpose
In this General Motor's interactive electrical circuit training example, the user could test voltage differences by interactively placing the desired electrical assets on to a virtual test board and attach colored wires to form a circuit. The Fluke meter (on the right) would show the voltages at different location points allowing the student to better comprehend Ohm's law without having the actual testing equipment physically present to do so.
Rendered in: Mental Ray
Data courtesy of: General Motors, Inc
Repurpose
In this General Motor's interactive electrical circuit training example, the user could test voltage differences by interactively placing the desired electrical assets on to a virtual test board and attach colored wires to form a circuit. The Fluke meter (on the right) would show the voltages at different location points allowing the student to better comprehend Ohm's law without having the actual testing equipment physically present to do so.
Rendered in: Mental Ray
Data courtesy of: General Motors, Inc
Repurpose
In this General Motor's interactive electrical circuit training example, the user could test voltage differences by interactively placing the desired electrical assets on to a virtual test board and attach colored wires to form a circuit. The Fluke meter (on the right) would show the voltages at different location points allowing the student to better comprehend Ohm's law without having the actual testing equipment physically present to do so.
JAB - Previous Employers
Employers and Facts
• Digital Animation Corporation (3 years)
• The Ross Roy Group (3 years)
• Word Pictures, Inc. (10 years)
• Raytheon Production Services (5 years)
• Team Detroit, Inc. - The Park (1 year)
• Nissan - Virtual Garage (4 years)
• XMCO (1 year)
Interesting Facts About JAB
- 27-year career in multi-media as a DCC for the automotive/military industry
- Fell into 3D animation directly out of broadcasting school
- I do not have a degree
- 90% self-taught in all areas of my expertise
- Began my 3D career in 1988 on an 8-bit Dubner CBG2 3D computer system (Digital Animation, Corp)
- Composited the first set of 2D animated Ball-Races for the Palace of Auburn Hills Jumbotron (Detroit Pistons)
- Began using Autodesk 3DS Max in 1998 (Word Pictures, Inc)
- Began using Autodesk Maya in 2005 (Raytheon)
- Performed data-pull (acquisition) for Raytheon (RPS) and again for Nissan (Virtual Garage)
- Exclusively attended meetings at the HQ of General Motors, AC Delco and SAAB (Word Pictures, Inc)
- Learned vector-based animation programs to author dozens of technical training CD-ROM programs (Word Pictures, Inc)
- Attended Las Vegas tradeshows to display our interactive titles (Word Pictures, Inc)
- Became a Flash programmer exclusively (Raytheon)
- Created a Z06 Corvette oil sump animation used in the 2010 North American Auto Show in Detroit (Raytheon)
- Utilized Team Center (multiple employers)
- Worked "on-site" during all military projects (TACOM or at XMCO)
- Obtained pro-audio experience being a musician during studio and live events
- Lifelong musician (drums/vocals)
- jabmediaservices.com DBA started in the year 2000
Freelance / Contract
Virtual / Remote
313 - 296 - 2823
john.b@jabmediaservices.com
JAB - Skillsets
Services and Knowledge Base
Graphics and Illustration
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Corel CorelDraw
- Corel Paintshop Pro
I am most efficient at Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I have used CorelDraw and Paintshop Pro (with a previous employer) in the past, but I will always be loyal to Adobe products.
Animation
3D Animation
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk 3DS Max
- Autodesk VRED Professional
- Luxion KeyShot Pro
For 3D, I am universally efficient with Autodesk Maya first, Autodesk 3DS Max second with KeyShot Pro in third. I am also comfortable with VRED Pro scene setup, setting up interactivity and rendering and output.
2D Animation
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Animate
For 2D, I am very efficient with Adobe After Effects, and the use of Adobe Animate for vector character animation not to mention scripted interactivity
Compositing
- Adobe After Effects
- The Foundry's Nuke
- DaVinci's Resolve
My time invested skillset is with Adobe After Effects. DaVinci's Resolve I do have basic but limited understanding of The Foundry's Node based Nuke compositing software.
3D Special Effects
I have a good understanding (and have used) MASH, Bifrost and all the "N" based special effects.
Accessed within Adobe After Effects, I have mid-level experience with Boris FX's Silhouette, Sapphire, Continuum and Mocha Pro.
Interactivity
Creating content that the user could interact with exploded in the 90's when Macromedia Flash hit the market. For an employer, I learned not only Flash but also Macromedia Authorware (the predecessor to "Director") to accomplish technical training programs for various corporations. Once it was revealed that Flash had a security leak, "a backdoor" for hackers to access people's websites, the program quickly died, along with the Macromedia company. Adobe then acquired Macromedia, fixed the security leak and re-released "Flash" under the new name "Animate" which is still being used today.
Unreal Game Engine
I only recently began to investigate this. I will admit it has sparked my interest to go further. I'm at no level to be of any use to anyone currently, but at least I have scratched the surface. It is amazing!
Website Creation
Websites are a 50/50 collaboration of an artist's idea, along with the technical expertise to assemble it and make it accessible to people. Without question I can create a website (as I created the one you are currently viewing) but I am not an artist's artist. I made the artistic decisions on this site, but I tend to think of myself as a worker bee in the industry. So, if tasked to work on someone else's site, I would probably request artistic direction.
When I created this site, I used Go Daddy for the URL and storage space, Word Press as the shell and Brizy Builder as the editor.
Pro-audio
I have countless hours on analog gear (too much to list), but like most I have migrated over to digital equipment. I own and use the Soundcraft UI16. I am also comfortable with the Allen & Heath CQ 20B, Behringer X32 and XR18.
Software wise I am exclusive to Ableton Live and Adobe Audition.
I mix with stock plugin's as well as a Wave's Audio, Fab Filter and a variety of other 3rd party plugins.
Video editing
I have cut on the Avid Media Composer 1000, Apple's Final Cut Pro & Adobe Premiere Pro and many other non-mainstream editors.
I have only recently begun to indulge Davinci Resolve.
Illustration
Vector Based Images
Since 1993, I have been creating illustration images in one form or another for the US military, the automotive industry or for other business uses. Although most of my experience has been using Adobe Illustrator, I also have a fair amount of time in with CorelDraw.
Software
- Adobe Illustrator
- CorelDraw
- Adobe Animate
- Creo (minimal experience)
Application
- Automotive - Collision procedure support art
- Military - Field user manual support art
- Color art for business logos
- 3D extrusions profile art
Illustration Examples
Sidenote: Since all military projects are subject to extreme security measures, I do not have the work I did for them in my possession to display as a demo. The Illustrations shown as my examples have been created from random images I personally choose to "create" for demo purposes using existing reference art.
Overlay Drawing
Illustrations can be created from supplied sketched go-by's or from creating overlay drawings using a photo as the goby. (examples below)
Vector Export
Illustrations can also be created quickly from 3D CAD files by exporting the vector information as an .eps file or in a native Illustrator format.
Data courtesy of: General Motors, Inc
Hand Sketch
Illustrations can also be created from supplied sketch art. I unfortunately do not have the original sketch, but the clown face below was created from the supplied piece. Colors and shading were matched to meet the artist's render and supplied to them as an .EPS file for promotional use.
Data courtesy of: The Fun House Band
Real world use: The Fun House Band banner
A word about Creo Parametric Software
My knowledge of this program is minimal, although I did experience the demo years ago. As I understood it, it is a powerful CAD software that is much more than an editor. Illustration job posts mention Creo quite a bit, but much like IDEA's, NX, and many other CAD software I've interfaced with, the export of CAD information from Creo to vector art is not much different.
Given the opportunity, I am more than confident I can get up to speed with the Creo Parametric interface and become efficient with it quite quickly.
Creo Parametric Software Screenshot
Interactive Graphics
Technical Training Content / Digital Signage
One of the many CD-ROM based training programs I created while employed at Word Pictures, Inc from 1995 to 2005.
Digital Training Content
Remember Flash?
From 1996 to 2020, Macromedia Flash was a very popular vector art animation program that through the implementation of JavaScript became an interactive sensation. Adobe eventually bought Macromedia out and took control over Flash (and Authorware, another amazing authoring program).
The world was full of Flash content; it was used everywhere! The native .swf file format was small, visually robust and interactive.
It wasn't until Steve Jobs wrote a letter to the industry stating some "not so good" information regarding Flash, and its discovered under-the-hood security issues and non-IOS incompatibilities that it began to lose its luster and eventually around 2017 became essentially MIA.
Adobe took the ailing program, changed the name to "Animate", made some much-needed changes to the programs run code, implemented the new HTML5 standard as a publishing option and in 2015 re-released it to the public. It's a great program and I still use it today.
Multimedia Development
While employed at Word Pictures, Inc. I created dozens of CD-ROM based interactive technical training programs for GM, AC Delco and other automotive suppliers. I not only created the content, which included still graphics, illustrations, "animated" the illustrations, created 3D video animations, edited supplied video footage, I also programmed the actual presentation.
Pre and Post Testing
Every CD-ROM program I created had Pre and Post testing, as well as remediation and access to all the learning content to pass the final test, for a robust learning experience. It was a shame when Flash became no longer popular, but years later I still offer it as one of my content services.
Digital Signage Content
Roadside Advertising
When advertising display signs (typically the ones that you would see along the side of the roads and freeways) became digital, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities to gain people's attention. Since the day of pasting up huge paper static images was gone, choosing this method of advertising became more appealing and affordable. Through digital signage companies, large digital banners and signs can be changed and uploaded with the just click of a button.
Doctor office Kiosks
I can confidently say that most of us at one time or another have been to the doctors, and while we sat in the examination room alone, we typically (from boredom) watch a constantly changing video screen that displayed different advertisements and educational visuals about health-related topics for our entertainment. The graphics and the interactive options we saw were usually vector-based content with the ability for us to interactively "choose to learn more". With interactivity being HTML5 and JavaScript driven, the file formats they use no different than Adobe Animate (Flash)
Digital Signage Playback
I can utilize the supplied creation program supplied by a signage company, or I can natively make any content that you may need created. Additionally, because the images and videos are stored on a CMS (content management system) changes can be made to these visuals without ever having to touch or update the visual playback device itself.
Digital signage companies are abundant, such as TelemetryTV, NoviSign, OnSign TV, and Yodeck.
HTML5 and JavaScript
Although the native Flash program had its day, Adobe Animate saved the application by adding the option of HTML5 Canvas and Javascript instead of just Actionscript 3.0. Although it's been years since I've created content using Flash, I never forgot how to do it or how cool it was. Knowing my current focus is to obtain technical training projects, it made sense to me to embrace these changes and breathe life back into creating interactive graphics.
Please see my current examples below.
This is a HTML5 Canvas Playback Test
Did you know?
Can a piston engine be completely animated with only two rotational keyframes?
The power of
Autodesk Maya 2020 (+)
It absolutely can!
Camshafts, pistons, rods, valves, lifters and pretty much anything else can be animated from just two rotational keyframes for the crankshaft. Those two crankshaft key frames make up the 360° cycle and act as a driver to animate everything else associated with it.
Because of this configuration, when you increase or decrease the speed of the animation, everything directly proportional to the crankshaft changes also. To render the animation in another program, just bake the keyframes and export it as an FBX file.
I accomplished this animation using Autodesk Maya with:
- MEL scripts
- Driven Keys
- Parenting constraints
- Aim constraints
- Patients (lol)
I'm pointing to the screen of a Corvette kiosk at the 2010 North American Auto show in Detroit Michigan. Traveling the path of oil inside the LS9 (Blue Devil) engine, this on-screen animation revealed how the attached sump system prevents the engine from oil starvation at high RPMs. Basically, the same method aircraft use in their engines. The animation was created for the General Motors Corporation while I was employed at Raytheon Professional Services, so it was a proud moment for me when it was chosen for the 2010 auto show.
John Albert Burnham
Freelance
Multimedia Creative / 3D Generalist
Plymouth, Michigan, 48170
john.b@jabmediaservices.com
313 - 296 - 2823
- Graphics / Illustration
- 3D animation and rendering
- 2D animation and composting
- Visual FX
- Video editing
- Interactive graphics
- Pro - Audio
- Automotive (alternative)
* All images shown on the site were created by John Albert Burnham either privately or during previous employment.
* All images shown on the site are copyright protected by the listed corporate owners.
Image reuse is strictly prohibited.
JAB Media Services.com
© Copyright 2025 - JABurnham