THE GNOMON WORKSHOP: Digital Sets 2: Lighting and Texturing

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

Over 2 1/2 hours of lecture

This series introduces the essential techniques for creating digital sets and backgrounds, an area of visual effects growing in prominence. In this second disc of a series of three, visual effects designer Eric Hanson covers the global illumination revolution, reviewing lighting principles specific to digital sets. He then leads into direct lighting techniques for both exteriors and interiors.

TOPICS COVERED:

Exterior Direct Lighting,Light Domes,Optical Effects,Interior Cubic Arrays

Fill Shadow Technique,Weathering Surfaces,HDRI Lighting,GI with Mental Ray and RenderMan

Digital Sets 1: Design, Modeling and Camera

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

Over 2 hours of lecture

This series introduces the essential techniques for creating digital sets and backgrounds, an area of visual effects growing in prominence.

TOPICS COVERED:

Architectural Design,3D Tracking Issues,Worldspace Issues,Multi-node Camera Setup

NURBS Technique,Polygon Technique,Perspective Correction,Camera Projection

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP:MAYA FLUID EFFECTS:Pyrotechnics

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

Over 2 hours of lecture.

In the third DVD of this series on Maya Fluid Effects, effects animator David Schoneveld reveals the numerous methods he uses to create and control fluid explosions, covering dynamic, non-dynamic and texture-based effects.

TOPICS COVERED:

Basic Flame Construction,Density Field Controlled Explosions ,Temperature Controlled Explosions

Non-dynamic Explosions, 2D Explosions,Creation of Dynamic Lava

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP: CHARACTER MODELING FOR PRODUCTION

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

270 Minutes

BEHIND THE SCENES (BTS) is a new and exciting DVD series developed to showcase the creation of a game cinematic sequence. The series follows a team of artists as they demonstrate their production techniques from concept phase to final rendered animation.

TOPICS COVERED

Efficient Polygonal Modeling Workflow,Acquiring Reference Via Photoshoot,Creating a Proxy Model,Working with Art Director and Concept Designer,Creating a Detailed Full Character,Sculpting Additional Details in ZBrush,Making Art Directed Revisions,Preparing the Final Model for Production

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP: MATCHMOVING:Object Tracking in Production

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

135 Minutes of Lecture

In visual effects work, it is common to have an element in the live-action footage that needs to be tracked. This is often the case when you need to add an effect to an actor's face, attach a CG object to a moving vehicle, or even add lip sync to an animal's performance.

TOPICS COVERED

Object Tracking,Automatic Object Tracking,Moving Cameras/Moving Objects

Fitting and Evaluating Object Motion,Inverting Object/Camera MotionTesting and Troubleshooting

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP: MATCHMOVING:Essential Production Techniques

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

180 Minutes of Lecture

In this DVD, Tim Dobbert walks you through the steps involved in a typical production-level matchmove, also known as camera tracking. In order to integrate CG elements with live-action footage, the essential first step is to align the 3D camera with the real-world camera.

TOPICS COVERED

Photogrammetry,Matchmove Pipeline,2D Tracking,Calibration

Automatic Tracking,Set Fitting,Testing and Troubleshooting

DIGITAL TUTORS: Set Dressing and Design in Maya

For more info: Product homepage

Software Requirement: Maya 8 and up (2008 required for project files)
Run Time: 3 hrs. 41 min., 2 discs
Platform: Mac / PC

DIGITAL TUTORS: Urban Environment Creation in Maya

For more info: Product homepage

Software Requirement: Maya 8.5 or higher

Run Time: 6 hrs. 5 min., 2 discs

Platform: Mac / PC

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP:Intuitive Animation

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

Duration: 200 minutes

In this DVD Robert Kuczera guides you through his character animation process from beginning to end.

TOPICS COVERED:

Animation Principles,Fast Animation,Key Poses,Breakdowns,Inbetweens,Animation Workflow,Optimizing the Workflow

Preparing the Maya Environment,Timeline,Graph Editor,Dope sheet,Layer,Shelves,Hot Keys, MEL Scripts

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP:MAYA DYNAMICS:Outer Space Environments

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

Over 5 1/2 hours of lecture.

In this DVD, John presents the entire process of creating an outer space effects sequence.

TOPICS COVERED

Cloud Particles,Cloud Shader,Lighting,Sprite particles,Emitters,Goal,Springs

Turbulence Field,Expressions,Point Particles,Collisions,Rigid BodyInstance,Paint Effects

3D TRAINER:MAYA Physical Dynamics

For more info: Product homepage

DVD-ROM

Learn how to use real world physics to drive advanced simulations within Maya. Use fields like gravity and vortex to create incredibly realistic reactions between objects. Take advantage of constraints to create working catapults that can hurl boulders through the air. Or shake thing up with a massive wrecking ball.

view videogoogle promovideo

3D TRAINER:Maya Beginner and Beyond

For more info: Product homepage

DVD-ROM

5 HOURS of LESSONS

Maya beginner and Beyond is designed to teach you what you need to start building a strong foundation in 3D. Once you have the basics, we will take you step-by-step through more advanced modeling, lighting, texturing, animation, and rendering.

view videogoogle promovideo

THE GNOMON WORKSHOP:Vehicle Modeling for Production (DVD DOBLE CAPA)

For more info: Product homepage

Formats: Mac or PC only DVD-ROM

380 Minutes OF LESSONS

BEHIND THE SCENES (BTS) is a new and exciting DVD series developed to showcase the creation of a game cinematic sequence.

TOPICS COVERED

Efficient Polygonal Modeling Workflow

Working With the Art Director

Creating a Proxy Model

Creating a Detailed Helicopter Interior

Creating a Detailed Helicopter Exterior

Making Art Directed Revisions

Preparing the Final Model for Production