Digital Tutors – 12 Principles of Animation in 3ds Max 2010
HF | 907  MB | Project files incl. | 3ds Max 2010+
www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=106&pid=351

In this course, we will guide you through the 12 Principles of Animation in 3ds Max.

Why does my character’s motion look so unnatural and unappealing? How can my animations captivate an audience? What is missing in my character’s movement that will enable it to be more convincing and entertaining? These are a few questions that will be answered throughout this training, all with the help of the 12 fundamental rules of animation. Principle by principle, we’l venture through understanding the meaning behind each question asked above, as well as how each can and should be implemented for success. By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge you need to create magnetic, natural, and memorable character performances.

Lessons: Read the rest of this entry »

Lynda.com – Margo Chase’s Hand-Lettered Poster: Start to Finish
HF | 84MB
www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=686

Acclaimed graphic designer Margo Chase shows how she created a beautifully hand-lettered poster for a special appearance at the Santa Barbara chapter of the AIGA. In this installment of Start to Finish, watch as Margo carefully creates a design with ink and paper and then refines the composition with the aid of a computer. The end product is a stunning, organic statement of style and grace that is refreshing in our world of too-pristine computer graphics.

Read the rest of this entry »

Digital Tutors – Creating Realistic Eyes in Photoshop and Maya
HF | 987 MB | Project files incl.
www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=5&pid=279

In this series of lessons, we will learn how to texture and render realistic eyes using Photoshop and Maya.

When trying to create highly realistic, lifelike characters, the importance of the eyes is often understated. In fact, the eyes are one of the most important aspects to consider when creating characters that truly look and feel alive. During this course, we will learn how to create highly realistic eye textures from scratch using Photoshop, and in a way that gives us a high degree of flexibility and control over the textures’ color variations and other details. Once the texturing has been completed, we will jump into Maya, where we will discuss shading and rendering techniques that can give the eye a highly realistic final look. Along the way we will be exploring many additional tips, tricks, and workflows that you will be able to use both in Photoshop and in Maya to help create more believable, realistic eyes for your characters.

Lessons: Read the rest of this entry »

Digital Tutors – Animation Tips and Tricks in Maya
HF | 628MB | Project files incl. | Maya 2009+
www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=5&pid=173

In this course we will learn various animation tips and tricks to make more appealing character animation

This course will provide you with a sampling of tips and tricks collected by our animators. We will learn how to improve our animation using different tools such animation snapshot and motion trails. Then we will go over some simple ways of how to apply weight to character, use silhouettes to strengthen poses, and add offsets to make our animations look more natural and less rigid.
Read the rest of this entry »

Digital Tutors – Introduction to Tracking in After Effects
HF | 239MB | Project files incl. | AE CS4+
www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=117&pid=206

In this series of lessons we’ll learn how to use the tracker built in to After Effects to analyze real life footage and find the movement of objects. This is an important technique for matching an image or animation’s position, rotation, scale and perspective skewing to footage.

We’ll begin this project by doing a simple one point track using some easy footage and how to apply that movement information to other layers. We’ll then learn how to do a two point track on real footage and create a black-bar effect over someone’s eyes. Lastly, we’ll track the four corners of a television screen to replace the image on the screen. We’ll then learn some tips for getting a track from difficult footage using color correct techniques.
Read the rest of this entry »

3ds Max MasterClass Series Collection from Autodesk

The Package includes 9 DVD’s :

• 3ds Max Master Class Series 1 – Character Rigging and Animation with Character Studio
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 2 – Advanced Character Rigging with 3ds Max
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 3 – Vehicle Rigging in 3ds Max
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 4 – Unlocking the Secrets of Lofting
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 5 – Materials All Dressed Up
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 6- Texture Mapping within 3ds Max
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 7 – Advanced Film FX with 3ds Max, Pflow and Afterburn
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 8 – Reactor Creating Dynamic Simulations
• 3ds Max Master Class Series 9 – Compositing Process In Mind

Read the rest of this entry »

Gnomon Workshop – Styrofoam Helicopter
Mental Ray Physical Sun/Sky and Rotational Motion Blur
Duration: 76 min | Project files incl. | 115 MB
www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/products/tutorials/jen_series/

In Styrofoam Helicopter, Jermey covers Mental Ray’s Physical Sun & Sky and issues revolving around its use including texture gamma, proper use with sss shaders, tone mapping, and rendering with clouds and backgrounds. Jeremy also explores linear motion blur as it applies to complex rotation.
Read the rest of this entry »

SolidWorks 2010 Bible
Wiley | 2010 | 0470554819 | PDF | 24.6 MB
www.amazon.com/SolidWorks-2010-Bible-Matt-Lombard/dp/0470554819

The only guide you need to learn the leading 3D solid modeler program, SolidWorks.

This in-depth guide goes into extensive detail, not just on “how” the software works, but in many cases “why” it works the way it does.

* SolidWorks is a powerful 3D solid modeling system that is popular with CAD users everywhere, but to become really proficient at the more involved functionality in SolidWorks one really needs specialized training or a comprehensive book like the SolidWorks Bible
* Thoroughly covers SolidWork features using real-world examples
* Author, Matt Lombard, is well known and well respected in the SolidWorks community and host a popular SolidWorks blog called dezignstuff
Read the rest of this entry »

Gnomon Workshop – Futuristic Set Design with James Clyne
Conceptual Environments for Feature Film Production
HF | 319 MB
www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/453/Futuristic-Set-Design-with-James-Clyne

In this first of three DVDs in a series, James will cover a wide range of Adobe Photoshop® techniques that he uses as a concept designer in the feature film industry. Focusing on the subject of futuristic architectural landscapes, James starts with a blank page and quickly delves right into such topics as sketch ideation directly in Photoshop® and blocking in a dynamic composition. Setting itself apart from other concept art techniques, this DVD concentrates heavily on the smooth integration of photo reference and high-end conceptualization ideas, or what James terms “Photoshop® kit bashing”, blurring the line between photo and ideation rendering. Subjects such as Photoshop® layer properties, creating custom brushes, and developing architectural concepts are also covered.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lynda.com – After Effects CS4: Apprentice’s Guide to Key Features
HF | 219 MB | Exercise files incl.
www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=787

After Effects CS4: Apprentice’s Guide to Key Features was created and produced by Trish and Chris Meyer. We are honored to host their material in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

After Effects CS4: Apprentice’s Guide to Key Features is a series of guided tours with Chris and Trish Meyer. It is designed as a gentle introduction to some of the major features of After Effects CS4. This quick–start course is for beginners who already know how to animate, users who are not familiar with the latest version, or those who need to get up to speed with advanced tools. Chris and Trish cover features such as text animators, shape layers, expressions, and motion tracking. These guided tours are also included with the second edition of Chris and Trish Meyer’s book, After Effects Apprentice (Focal Press).
Read the rest of this entry »