Archive

The Gnomon Workshop announced the release of the latest title focusing on FX Workflow and integration. In Production FX Workflows- Dragon Age: Origins, instructor Brandon Young breaks down and reconstructs an actual production shot from Blur Studio’s Dragon Age: Origins cinematic. This is an extremely rare glimpse into how a real production FX shot is constructed. Using an arsenal of production proven techniques and toolsets, Brandon will guide you through the assembly, render, and composite stages of this production shot, revealing techniques rarely seen outside of the studio.

In this series of lessons we'll learn how to use_the tracking, keying and masking nodes in Nuke to create a fast, robust rotoscope shape. By using each node for their specific strength, we'll be able to achieve production-quality results much faster than hand keying.

In this DVD, Richard Smith guides you through modeling a Next-Gengame character. Richard starts with a rough concept design and then creates a low-res base mesh. From there he sculpts each part in ZBrush with special attention paid to creating realistic clothing folds. Once each part is completely sculpted Richard retopologizes it inside of Maya using a plug-in called Nex. Finally, using XNormal he creates the normal map and then sets everything up in Maya. This DVD is intended for artists with a basic understanding of polygon modeling in Maya, but the techniques he demonstrates could_be_applied using other 3D_modeling software.

In this continuation of the Digital Sets series, visual effects designer Eric Hanson illustrates a unique and powerful method to capture and re-create natural_landscapes within a 3D environment. Integrating disparate technologies such as spherical panoramic photography, digital elevation models, high-dynamic range imagery, and global positioning, Eric is able toprovide a reasonable substitute to nodal pan motion picture shooting, with the added_ability to modify and enhance the landscape with the rich array of 3D techniques available within Maya. Various case studies are shown and provided on the DVD for_the viewer to use in their own projects.

Trin was started to create a high-res 4k still image, yet evolved to become a looping ten second animation rendered in vertical HD at 1200x1920 to be displayed on a wall-mounted digital display. Starting from a personal sketch, Trin was created in twenty hours using Photoshop, Maya, Zbrush, UVlayout, Bodypaint and Mental Ray. The entire process was recorded and is demonstrated using timelapse footage, where I explain every step with an emphasis on both the technical and aesthetic thought processes. The process covers everything from orthographics to shaders, lighting and compositing.