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New Release - Digital Camera Work and Graphic Design
With Ben Long
Join photographer and teacher Ben Long as he describes the tools, creative options, and special considerations involved in shooting with a DSLR camera at night or in low-light conditions, such as sunset or candlelight. The course addresses exposure decisions such as choice of aperture and shutter speed and how they impact depth of field and the camera's ability to freeze motion.
Ben also shows how to obtain accurate color balance in tungsten and fluorescent lighting situations, and how to postprocess the images in Photoshop to remove noise caused by higher ISO settings. He also demonstrates accessories that can greatly expand your low-light photography options.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 4 hours
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With Anthony Q. Artis
Embark on the very first steps in the process of creating moving images. In this course, author Anthony Q. Artis, a veteran of the film and television industry, introduces the core ideas behind how video cameras capture moving images. The course covers foundational concepts of lighting, such as why light is important, what kinds of lights to look for, and where to put lights relative to a subject. In addition, Anthony discusses sounds, an often-misunderstood aspect of video, and shows how to properly set up mics and adjust audio levels on a shoot.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 3 hours
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With Konrad Eek
Matting and framing is relatively simple, and doing it yourself costs less and is more rewarding than using a framing service. In this course, photographer and professional framer Konrad Eek describes the tools, techniques, and creative decisions involved in matting, framing, and hanging photographs.
The course begins with an overview of framing concepts, terms, and tools and then shows how to choose and work with the various components of a framed print: matboard, frame, glazing, wire hangers, and more. The course also examines the issues and creative options behind hanging an exhibit, whether in a gallery or in a home.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 210 minutes
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With Ryan Kittleson
This course introduces Mudbox, the Autodesk digital sculpting suite, and teaches digital artists how to create realistic assets in Mudbox, including 3D characters, immersive game environments, and product designs. Author Ryan Kittleson focuses on modeling, sculpting, and texturing, as well as topics such as extracting normal maps and exporting assets to Maya and 3ds Max for further rendering and animation. The final chapter covers techniques for showcasing your work in Mudbox.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 255 minutes
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With Chris Orwig
In Photoshop CS6 for Photographers, author, photographer, and teacher Chris Orwig explores Photoshop from the perspective of the photographer.
The course details the features and techniques behind enhancing and retouching photos, preparing them for print and online publishing, and much more. Chris demonstrates how to make basic edits in Camera Raw, develop and save color profiles, work with layers and selections, tone and sharpen, and retouch images while retaining their natural character.
Chris also shares some creative tips and project ideas, such as converting a photo to black-and-white and enhancing a portrait with hand-painted masks. The course also covers workflow details, such as organizing images in Bridge and Mini Bridge, optimizing Photoshop preferences, and calibrating your monitor.
2 DVD-ROMs (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 735 minutes
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With Chris Orwig
This course provides in-depth training on Camera Raw 7, the Photoshop CS6 component that enables photographers to open and manipulate raw format images. Raw images are minimally processed in the camera; they're effectively the exact data recorded by the camera's sensor. Author Chris Orwig shows you how to control a raw image's appearance-exposure, shadow and highlight detail, color balance, and sharpness-with far more precision than is possible with JPEG images. The course also introduces the new workflow procedures and technical concepts and issues associated with raw content, so that photographers can best leverage this powerful format.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 375 minutes
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With Deke McClelland
The third part of the popular and comprehensive series Photoshop CS6 One-on-One follows industry pro Deke McClelland as he plunges into the inner workings of Adobe Photoshop. He shows how to adjust your color, interface, and performance settings to get the best out of your images and the most out of Photoshop, and explores the power of Smart Objects, Shadows/Highlights, and Curves for making subtle, nondestructive adjustments. The course dives into Camera Raw to experiment with the editing toolset there, and returns to Photoshop to discuss toning, blur, and blend modes. Deke also teaches tried-and-true methods for sharpening details and reducing noise, as well as creating quick and accurate selections with Quick Mask, Color Range, and Refine Edge commands.
2 DVD-ROMs (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 645 minutes
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With Deke McClelland
In this course, industry pro Deke McClelland teaches you how to build on your basic knowledge and achieve next-level effects in the premiere image-editing program from Adobe, Photoshop CS6. Discover how to seamlessly move and patch areas of a photo with the Content-Aware toolset; stretch the brightness of a scene with automatic and custom Levels adjustments; create intricate designs with text and shapes; and morph an image with layer effects and transformations. Deke also shares his techniques for sharpening details, whether addressing noise and highlight/shadow clipping or camera shake, and converting a full-color image to black-and-white. The final chapters show you how to best print and save images for the web, making sure all your hard work pays off in the final output.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 570 minutes
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With Paul F. Aubin
Find out how to create compelling architectural designs using the modeling tools in Autodesk Revit software. In this course, author Paul F. Aubin demonstrates the entire building information modeling (BIM) workflow, from creating the design model to publishing a completed project. The course also covers navigating the Revit interface; modeling basic building features such as walls, doors, and windows; working with sketch-based components such as roofs and stairs; annotating designs with dimensions and callouts; and plotting and exporting your drawings.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 630 minutes
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With Ben Long
Shooting on the road, whether it's on vacation or on assignment, introduces a variety of considerations for photographers of all levels. How do you store the shots, back them up, edit and enhance images in the field, and then merge those images with your master library at home? In this course, Ben Long addresses these topics and more from the perspective of several field-shooting scenarios, including city vacationing and backcountry hiking.
The course takes a look at the hardware and software issues behind field shooting: assessing storage and backup needs, evaluating GPS geotagging options, surveying power and charging issues, and more. After discussing each of the components, Ben shows how they fit together in different field setups, ranging from an extravagant laptop-based system to a no-computer setup that backs up photos to a compact digital wallet device. The course also spotlights some workflow strategies to consider when you get home, from transferring photos to merging them with a larger photo library.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2012 / 188 minutes
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With Ben Long
Shooting with the Nikon D7000 details the features, controls, and options in the Nikon D7000 camera. Author Ben Long provides an overview of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera and reviews the Nikon D7000 camera's components and basics of operation, including changing lenses, navigating the menus, shooting in Auto mode, and reviewing and managing photos on the camera's LCD screen. The course also covers white balance options, advanced metering and autofocus controls, flash, and shooting HD video, and includes a chapter on sensor and camera maintenance.
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2011 / 210 minutes
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With Derrick Story
Even the simplest, most compact digital camera is capable of taking magazine-quality shots, once the user has a working knowledge of its features. In Digital Photography Principles: The Camera, Derrick Story shows how to master and take advantage of everything from basic resolution settings to the latest imaging technologies. He teaches even beginning digital photographers how to apply techniques that will have friends asking, "How was that shot taken?"
DVD-ROM (SingleUser, Closed Captioned) / 2008 / 3 hours
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With Aristomenis Tsirbas
In this DVD, director Aristomenis (Meni) Tsirbas covers the basics of one of CG animation's least understood components: camera and staging, specifically in the context of effective storytelling. By breaking open one of his award-winning short films Meni reveals his creative process for designing a sequence to play clearly and dramatically. Story beats are broken down, camera motions are developed, and important narrative tools such as zoom factor and depth of field are explained. A detailed Do's and Don'ts section guides the viewer to create polished, compelling, and tasteful camera animation by addressing proper use of motion curves, avoiding the 'digital curse', and overlaying the right amount of camera shake.
TOPICS COVERED:
Scene coverage
Scene blocking
Breaking down action
Camera framing, motion and shake
The camera axis
Zoom factor, F stop and depth of field techniques
Working with motion curves
Telling a good story
Review
"Meni is a unique film-maker because he knows how to do everything on a project. He's a true auteur, and that's what allows him to use everything that's necessary to creatively push a project and combine all the elements to tell the most concise and clear visual story possible." - Shane Acker Academy Award Nominated director and animator "9"
DVD-ROM / 124 minutes
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With Darin Hilton
In this DVD, Darin takes you through the production and completion of a camera projected 3D Matte painting using Autodesk Maya and Adobe Photoshop®. Darin covers the essential techniques and solutions for 3D matte painting as he progresses from rough concept to modeling, rendering and creating the painting in Photoshop®. After bringing the finished matte painted layers back into Maya, he describes how to apply them in the scene. Darin also shows methods for solving common texture distortions with additional projections. Finally, he demonstrates simple techniques for bringing life to your scenes.
TOPICS COVERED:
Camera Setup
Modeling for Projection
Camera Animation
Photoshop® Setup and Painting
Projection Setup
Shader Setup
Image Re-Projection
Atmospherics and Light Passes
DVD-ROM (Win) / 225 minutes
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With Eric Hanson
This series introduces the essential techniques for creating digital sets and backgrounds, an area of visual effects growing in prominence. In this first disc of a series of three, visual effects designer Eric Hanson reviews architectural design principles then leads into setting up a scene with a tracked camera and live-action plate. Next, Eric illustrates efficient set modeling techniques using both NURBS and polygons. Finally, the lesson provides a broad review of camerawork, from motion control to camera projection. Throughout the disc, Eric uses a sample scene of an urban environment to highlight all essential steps. The lecture is designed for all advancing intermediate Maya artists.
TOPICS COVERED:
Architectural Design
3D Tracking Issues
Worldspace Issues
Multi-node Camera Setup
NURBS Technique
Polygon Technique
Perspective Correction
Camera Projection
Review
"Eric Hanson has worked on some of the most significant digital set films of our time. These dvds are perfect for anybody wanting to learn proven techniques from an accomplished industry professional ." - Dan Abrams, 3D Environments Lead Spiderman 2, Sony Imageworks
DVD-ROM / 140 minutes
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With Wayne Hollingsworth
This DVD consists of five stand-alone lessons that cover various techniques using Maya's fluid dynamics. In each lesson, Wayne walks you through his process, providing the viewer with a greater understanding of how to set up dynamic fluid simulations for production shot assets. Wayne starts by showing you how to create a believable fire simulation. He demonstrates how to control Maya fluids with a variety of textures and expressions to create a highly detailed and believable flame thrower effect. He then demonstrates how to create various smoke effects, including the desired "wispy smoke" effect. Wayne also discusses his methods for controlling fluid emission and motion using a variety of emission controls, collisions, and fields, to produce complex smoke, fire and dust simulations.
TOPICS COVERED:
Creating believable fire
Creating oil smoke assets
Texture Maya Fluids with detailed ramps and expression
Creating wispy looking smoke
Creating a smoke bomb effect with the use of dynamic fields
Creating ground dust elements that could be used for various effects
Lighting Maya Fluids
Rendering Maya Fluids
Review
"Wayne is one of the rising stars in FX. He figured out fluids quickly and is taking fluids to only where the top Maya FX artist are. He's been one of the leaders in helping new artist get better results online." - David Schoneveld Senior FX Artist Digital Domain
DVD-ROM / 228 minutes
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With John Clark
In this DVD, John presents the new Camera Sequencer in Autodesk Maya, a toolset that allows users to create camera shots in a non-linear editing-style timeline within Maya. Using the Camera Sequencer, the viewer will learn production methods of building full sequences in Maya, shot-by-shot, which can then be playblasted as movies for editorial and animation. John begins by exploring the Sequencer menu and tool bar, and doing a general run down of all the exciting new functionality. Using a simple cycle of animation, he uses the Sequencer to "shoot" the animation from various camera angles, and edits the resulting shots until they begin to tell a story. Learn how to use the non-linear editing functions of the Sequencer - cutting, trimming, scaling and sliding shots on tracks, and look at methods to create and group alternate camera setups for easy presentation. John will also show you how to import a set of storyboards which have been exported from Final Cut Pro, and how to build a sequence of animation from these storyboards. This lecture will give animators, previs and rough layout professionals the ability to create full sequences of animation directly within Maya, quickly and efficiently.
TOPICS COVERED:
Shot Creation
Camera Creation
Sequencer Preferences
Sequencer Tools
Shot Grouping
Rendering Movies
Non-linear Sequencer Editing
Importing an EDL
Importing Audio, Rough Layout
Review
"I'm always looking for great ways to expand my knowledge base within Maya, and John Clark's Maya Dynamics DVDs have quickly helped me get up to speed on the inner workings of the often overwhelming dynamics module. His clear, concise lessons and methods are a one-stop-shop for all your effects development needs." - Michael Ford Senior Character Technology Supervisor Sony Imageworks
DVD-ROM / 104 minutes
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With Tim Jones
In this lecture, Tim breaks down the process of rendering passes out of 3ds Max and demonstrates how to composite them together in Digital Fusion. Learn how to generate many different types of passes and how they are used in production. Identify and correct commonly occurring issues, from incorrect matte edges to bit depth and color correction. Acquire an understanding of what happens under the hood inside your 3D software and how to mimic that behavior while compositing to produce the highest quality renders. Tim demonstrates his techniques using Scanline, V-Ray and Brazil.
Review
"Tim Jones has been at Blur for over 2 years now and in that short time he's become a studio leader and one of our "go-to" guys for lighting. He has both a technical understanding of how light works and a critical artistic eye; both skills are needed in Blur's work environment where an artist may be called upon to do photoreal shots one week and light-hearted cartoons the next. Tim is able to solve ANY lighting problem that we throw at him with ease, coming up with great looking solutions every time." - Tim Miller, Creative Director, Blur Studio
DVD-ROM / 260 minutes
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With Aristomenis Tsirbas
In this DVD, director Aristomenis (Meni) Tsirbas reveals the essentials for creating properly animated stereoscopic imagery. Although Maya and LightWave are used, the course is platform agnostic and can be used with any animation software, even if it doesn't have stereoscopic tools. Meni guides you through a comprehensive overview of all the major principles of stereo filmmaking. Meni begins with a biological discussion of how the human eye perceives stereo imagery, and then covers the principles of 3D, including near and far divergence, the conversion at the screen plane, and working with camera movement. After creating a final render, he completes the lecture by showing how to display animated stereo sequences. This is a comprehensive yet simple to understand lecture that gives artists all the tools needed to generate exceptional stereoscopic imagery.
TOPICS COVERED:
The biology of the human eye and its limits
Maximum divergence of near and far objects
Convergence and the screen plane
Converting 2D CGI to true 3D
3D do's and don'ts
Maya's stereo tools
Final output and display
Review
"Meni is a unique film-maker because he knows how to do everything on a project. He's a true auteur, and that's what allows him to use everything that's necessary to creatively push a project and combine all the elements to tell the most concise and clear visual story possible." - Shane Acker Academy Award Nominated director and animator "9"
DVD-ROM / 103 minutes
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