Maya Professional Tips and Techniques

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470146214
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya Professional Tips and Techniques by : Lee Lanier

Download or read book Maya Professional Tips and Techniques written by Lee Lanier and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2007-06-05 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Designed for busy Maya users like you, this guide offers dozens of how-tos, workarounds, and shortcuts culled from years of experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven production pipeline. You’ll discover tricks and timesavers on texturing particles, customizing Paint Effects brushes, modeling polygon faces, creating facial rigs with wire deformers, and much more—and helpful full-color illustrations reinforce the concepts. From modeling, animating, and rigging to texturing and lighting, this book will help you streamline workflow and improve your skills.

Maya for Games

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Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 0080927998
Total Pages : 399 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya for Games by : Michael Ingrassia

Download or read book Maya for Games written by Michael Ingrassia and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2008-10-03 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Well-known Maya professional, Michael Ingrassia, takes readers through his unique style of modeling: "Image Based Modeling" where efficient, realistic models can be created very quickly. Ingrassia's techniques allow modelers to create exact replicas of their concept characters or objects. The techniques presented are very efficient and allow game modelers to quickly build out stand alone props to populate environments and game levels. Presented are tried and true techniques that the author has used successfully in game production for the past 10 years. Most, if not all 3D books, focus on basic "box" modeling techniques, which are the basis for proper 3D modeling but not the complete solution. In the author's experience, students who have learned through the Image Based Modeling brand, have quickly excelled into effective modelers. One of the hardest things for any modeler to do is match their model EXACTLY to the concept art or photos they are provided. The insider tips in this book walk artists through this process. Artists begin with basic modeling and advance to a creating a complete scene and set design/game level. Rather than including sporadic models with zero association from to one another, each model in the book becomes an integral part of an overall theme realistic in game development today. The accompanying downloadable resources include 8 exclusive video tutorials on advanced Maya techniques as bonus tracks for artists providing invaluable modeling, rigging and texturing samples. Also, an in-depth video on assembling a "Killer Demo Reel" showing simple but effective video editing techniques used by the author so that artists can learn how to get their work seen. The book not only teaches effective methodology, but provides the user with impressive content for producing effective demo reels and portfolios. Pros and cons of demo reel, website and artist representation are given, along with insights into the expectations of game studios today. The video tutorials show users the finished product, and then run through the process of step by step creation of that particular technique.

How to Cheat in Maya 2012

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Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1136127496
Total Pages : 321 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (361 download)

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Book Synopsis How to Cheat in Maya 2012 by : Eric Luhta

Download or read book How to Cheat in Maya 2012 written by Eric Luhta and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2013-03-20 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Maya guide for animators, How to Cheat in Maya 2012 presents everything you need to know about character animation in Maya. Fully updated for the latest revision of Maya, this book provides you with complete, step-by-step walkthroughs of essential animation techniques to increase your efficiency and speed. This is an animator's workflow in book form, written by professional animators-not a software book with a few animation pointers thrown in. In addition to all the gold-mine coverage and interviews with expert animators from the previous edition, How to Cheat in Maya 2012 also features a new in-depth chapter on the principles of animation, updated information on camera settings and animation using Maya's new Camera Sequencer tool, the ins and outs of the brand new Editable Motion Trails tool, new techniques for working with characters in multi-shot animation tests and short films, a new cycles chapter covering actions like flying and walks, time-saving scripts, and advanced tricks with the new Graph Editor. The proven "How to Cheat" series gets you up to speed quickly, and in a way that's fun.

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118983548
Total Pages : 459 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (189 download)

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Book Synopsis Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting by : Lee Lanier

Download or read book Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting written by Lee Lanier and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-04-03 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Level up your skills with powerful texturing and lighting techniques Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting, Third Edition leads you through the latest advanced techniques for adding realistic detail to your models. This new edition is up-to-date with the latest Maya texturing, lighting, and rendering features, including an exploration of the Node Editor, new Maya utility nodes and expanded coverage of mental ray shaders, and render settings. The proven tutorials are culled from real-world experience and refined to give you the ultimate in practical skills. You'll learn workflow tips and tricks, the construction of custom shading networks, and the application of time-saving tools that bring your project from concept to reality. The companion website features several gigabytes of Maya scene files, texture bitmaps, and QuickTime movies that support the exercises in the book, giving you everything you need to advance your animation skillset. This book helps you take your rendering skills to the next level with the advanced tools and techniques that take animation from good to great. Learn the theory behind expert lighting design Understand shadows, shading components, and texture mapping Work with node networks, raytracing, and global illumination Try new approaches to rendering using Maya Software and mental ray If you're ready to take a big step forward and fine-tune your style, Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting, Third Edition is the practical, hands-on guide you need.

Character Modeling with Maya and Zbrush

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Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 0240520343
Total Pages : 410 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (45 download)

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Book Synopsis Character Modeling with Maya and Zbrush by : Jason Patnode

Download or read book Character Modeling with Maya and Zbrush written by Jason Patnode and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2008 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maya is the most powerful and popular 3D graphics software in the film industry and is being increasingly adopted by games developers. Modeling believable human and non-human characters is an absolutely vital skill for 3D artists in both industries, and this book-and-DVD package shows them exactly how to do just that.

Mastering Autodesk Maya 2012

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118148525
Total Pages : 1031 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (181 download)

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Book Synopsis Mastering Autodesk Maya 2012 by : Todd Palamar

Download or read book Mastering Autodesk Maya 2012 written by Todd Palamar and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-07-07 with total page 1031 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The exclusive, official guide to the very latest version of Maya Get extensive, hands-on, intermediate to advanced coverage of Autodesk Maya 2012, the top-selling 3D software on the market. If you already know Maya basics, this authoritative book takes you to the next level. From modeling, texturing, animation, and visual effects to high-level techniques for film, television, games, and more, this book provides professional-level Maya instruction. With pages of scenarios and examples from some of the leading professionals in the industry, author Todd Palamar will help you master the entire CG production pipeline. Provides professional-level instruction on Maya, the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software used in popular films, games, and commercials Covers the very latest Maya 2012 tools and features, including the new fluid simulation tools Showcases the techniques of professionals through numerous examples, demonstrating how to set up and manage 3D animation and visual effects pipelines Includes challenging tutorials and real-world scenarios from some of the leading professionals in the industry If you're looking for an in-depth, professional Maya resource to turn to again and again, this is the book you need.

ZBrush Professional Tips and Techniques

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118236335
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (182 download)

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Book Synopsis ZBrush Professional Tips and Techniques by : Paul Gaboury

Download or read book ZBrush Professional Tips and Techniques written by Paul Gaboury and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-05-18 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn to work effectively and creatively with all versions of ZBrush! ZBrush is used by top artists in Hollywood to model and sculpt characters in such films as Avatar, Iron Man, and Pirates of the Caribbean. In addition, this amazing technology is also used in jewelry design, forensic science, aerospace, video games, toy creation, and the medical field. Written by Pixologic's in-house ZBrush expert Paul Gaboury, this full-color, beautifully illustrated guide provides you with the ultimate tips and tricks to maximize your use of all versions of ZBrush. Reveals numerous little-known tips and tricks that exist within ZBrush, but often go unexploited Shares an abundance of helpful techniques and insights that the author has acquired from years of helping professional artists in various industries Offers dozens of version-neutral solutions and shortcuts in areas such as sculpting, texturing, posing, rendering, and more Features "Artist Spotlights" from several ZBrush experts, offering their how-to's for using the feature-rich software in today's studios Improve your productivity and quality of work with this helpful, easy-to-understand resource.

Maya Studio Projects Texturing and Lighting

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118091477
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (18 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya Studio Projects Texturing and Lighting by : Lee Lanier

Download or read book Maya Studio Projects Texturing and Lighting written by Lee Lanier and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-04-22 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn to create realistic digital assets for film and games with this project-based guide Focused entirely on practical projects, this hands-on guide shows you how to use Maya's texturing and lighting tools in real-world situations. Whether you need to sharpen your skills or you're looking to break into the field for the first time, you'll learn top industry techniques for this important skill as you follow the instructions for several specific projects. You can even create your own version, using final Maya scene files to validate results. The companion DVD includes supplemental videos, project support files, textures, tools, professional shaders, and more. Lighting and texturing projects are often an excellent way for new animators to break into the business This is the only project-based book dedicated to understanding and implementing Maya's texturing and lighting tools for creating realistic digital assets for film, video, and games Walks you step by step through lighting and texturing objects, characters, and locations Written by a professional CG artist who has worked on high-profile films including Antz and Shrek Includes a DVD with supplemental video instruction, additional tools, and more Practical, project-based instruction in this guide will help you perfect your skill with Maya's texturing and lighting tools.

Professional Digital Compositing

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470594543
Total Pages : 761 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (75 download)

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Book Synopsis Professional Digital Compositing by : Lee Lanier

Download or read book Professional Digital Compositing written by Lee Lanier and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-05-11 with total page 761 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn professional secrets of digital compositing with this detailed guide After filming is done, digital compositors move in to manipulate color, retouch, and perform other behind-the-scenes tricks that are necessary to improve or finalize movies, games, and commercials. Now you can learn their secrets with this one-of-a-kind guide to digital compositing. Professional animator and author Lee Lanier not only draws upon his own experience, he has also combed some of Hollywood's most active post-production houses in search of the best solutions. Learn valuable techniques, tricks, and more. Covers techniques for digital compositing including transformations, plate preparation, rotoscoping, advanced render passes, particle integration, 2.5D painting, HDRI, stereoscopy and more Shows you digital compositing techniques that can be applied to a variety of software tools, including After Effects and Nuke Includes a DVD with scenes, sample bitmaps, image sequences, and more Start your animation career right with the solid instruction in postproduction you'll find in this practical guide. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Maya Techniques

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Author :
Publisher : Sybex
ISBN 13 : 9781897177044
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (77 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya Techniques by : Alias Learning Tools

Download or read book Maya Techniques written by Alias Learning Tools and published by Sybex. This book was released on 2006-03-13 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation Step-by-step instructions combined with in-depth discussions of topics ranging from the importance of good topology to the subtlety of facial expressions, make Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation an excellent all-around resource for the modeling, texturing and rigging of characters. —William Dwelly, Senior Software TD Maya Techniques / Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation is you solution for creating convincing characters in Maya. Get hands-on experience with innovative tools and powerful industry-recognized techniques as you learn to model like a pro, set-up your skeleton in a fast and easy way and create realistic facial controls. This book will help you achieve hyper-real characters quickly and effectively. Get the inside scoop on high-end production techniques from industry pros Erick Miller, Paul Thuriot, and Jeff Unay! Through Project-based lessons, follow Jeff Unay's process for modeling the beast, Paul Thuriot's workflow for rigging the beast's body and Erick Miller's tips and techniques on complex facial rigging for maximum flexibility. The book car5efully delineates the entire production process for the beast's creation, so that you can both understand the individual techniques and how they relate to each other in a pipeline. You'll also take advantage of helpful video demonstrations so you can watch the experts at work. By examining the entire process, you will learn strategies for creating characters with an emphasis on anatomy and realism. Lessons are designed to cover effective workflows for devising models that can be easily manipulated and animated. The methods discussed in this book can be applied to any setup needs that you may have because you'll learn the rigging process from the concept stage through to pipeline integration. With this book you will: Be introduced to modeling theories Learn how to use powerful tools like the Soft Modification Tool and the Split Edge Ring Tool. Learn how to create custom hotkeys and marking menus Import image planes and block out a character Create an Adobe Photoshop network Use automation scripts Understand how to use a multiple rig workflow Lock, paint, mirror skin weights, and connect a bound rig to a control rig Create corrective blend shapes, and set-up cluster controls Learn how to create jaw, eye, and lip setups Discover concepts of a realistic skin shader What you need to use this book Maya Complete 7 or Maya Personal Learning Edition DVD-ROM drive Bonus Features Video demonstrations of workflows & animation skills Artist Interviews MELTM Scripts Scene Files Support Files

Maya Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation, with DVD

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Author :
Publisher : Sybex
ISBN 13 : 9781897177488
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (774 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation, with DVD by : Autodesk Maya Press

Download or read book Maya Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation, with DVD written by Autodesk Maya Press and published by Sybex. This book was released on 2008-05-05 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maya Hyper-Realistic Creature Creation is your solution for creating convincing characters in Autodesk Maya. Get hands-on experience with innovative tools and powerful industry-recognized techniques as you learn to model like a professional; set-up your skeleton in a fast and easy way; and create realistic facial controls. This book will help you achieve hyper-real characters quickly and effectively. Get the inside scoop on high-end production techniques from industry pros Erick Miller, Paul Thuriot, and Jeff Unay. Through project-based lessons, follow Jeff's process for modeling the beast, Paul's workflow for rigging the beast's body, and Erick's tips and techniques on complex facial rigging for maximum flexibility. This book carefully delineates the entire production process for the beast's creation, so that you can both understand the individual techniques and how they relate to each other in a pipeline. The companion DVD includes helpful video demonstrations so you can watch the experts at work.

Maya Studio Projects

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Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470593288
Total Pages : 425 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (75 download)

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Book Synopsis Maya Studio Projects by : Todd Palamar

Download or read book Maya Studio Projects written by Todd Palamar and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-12-17 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The only hands-on book devoted to mastering Maya's dynamics tools for water, wind, and fire In the world of animation, the ability to create realistic water, wind, and fire effects is key. Autodesk Maya software includes powerful dynamics tools that have been used to design breathtaking effects for movies, games, commercials, and short films. This professional guide teaches you the primary techniques you need to make the most of Maya's toolkit, so you'll soon be creating water that ripples, gusting winds and gentle breezes, and flickering fires the way Hollywood pros do. The one-of-a-kind book is completely project-based. Learn the intricacies of Maya's Dynamics tools and continue to build your skills with projects that increase in complexity. A DVD is included with additional video training. Maya is the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software; Maya dynamics tools create water and other fluids, wind, fire, fur, particles, and more Build professional skills in Maya Dynamics with this project-based guide Put your skills to work by completing a series of projects on water, wind, and fire effects A DVD included with the book provides additional video training Maya Studio Projects: Dynamics is one of a new series of books designed to teach animators and designers fresh skills through project-based instruction. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008

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Author :
Publisher : Book News Inc.
ISBN 13 : 160585087X
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (58 download)

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Book Synopsis Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008 by :

Download or read book Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008Art Book News Annual, volume 4: 2008 written by and published by Book News Inc.. This book was released on with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Autodesk Maya 2022 Basics Guide

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Author :
Publisher : SDC Publications
ISBN 13 : 1630574503
Total Pages : 648 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (35 download)

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Book Synopsis Autodesk Maya 2022 Basics Guide by : Kelly Murdock

Download or read book Autodesk Maya 2022 Basics Guide written by Kelly Murdock and published by SDC Publications. This book was released on 2021-07-26 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by renowned author and 3D artist Kelly L. Murdock, Autodesk Maya 2022 Basics Guide is designed to give new users a solid understanding of the fundamental skills needed to create beautiful 3D models and stunning animations with Autodesk Maya. Using clear and easy to follow instructions this book will guide you through learning all the major features of Maya. The text is complemented by video instruction. Each chapter has a corresponding video tutorial that introduces you to the topics and allows you to watch and learn how functions are performed in a way that a text alone cannot do. Autodesk Maya 2022 Basics Guide makes no assumptions about your previous experience with Autodesk Maya. It begins by helping you get comfortable with the user interface and navigating scenes before moving into modeling, texturing, lighting, animating, rendering and more. Additionally, more advanced features such as character rigging, skinning, animating with dynamics and MEL scripting are also introduced. Each chapter begins by examining the concept behind each task, the goal and the necessary features that are involved. Then you go in-depth with the objective of your task as you study examples and learn the steps necessary to complete it. Working your way through the comprehensive, step-by-step lessons, you'll develop the confidence you need to create incredible renderings and animations using Autodesk Maya. Who this book is for This text was created specifically for users with no prior 3D modeling or animation experience. If you want to work in a creative field or are just curious about how 3D animated movies are made this book is the perfect way to get started. Users who are migrating from another 3D application or upgrading from a previous version of Maya will also benefit greatly from this text. What you'll learn • How to create models using primitives, curves, NURBS, Polygons and more • How to assign materials and textures to make realistic-looking models • How to use Paint Effects to paint on and quickly create complex 3D Models • How to use lights, cameras, and depth of field to render captivating scenes • How to use keyframes, motion paths and the Graph Editor to create animations • How to use character rigging, skinning, and inverse kinematics to animate realistic movements • How to use various deformers to manipulate objects, animations and special effects • How to add influence objects, skin weights and hair to a character for a more realistic look • How to use dynamics to create fire, smoke, lightning, explosions, cloth and ocean effects • How to enable raytracing, motion blur, and fog effects for increased realism • How to render stills and animations using Maya Vector and Mental Ray for different looks • How to use the Command Line and MEL Scripting to work faster About Autodesk Maya Maya is a program, created by Autodesk, used to model, animate, and render 3D scenes. 3D scenes created with Maya have appeared in movies, television, advertisements, games, product visualizations, and on the Web. With Maya, you can create and animate your own 3D scenes and render them as still images or as animation sequences.

Secrets of Digital Animation

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Author :
Publisher : Rotovision
ISBN 13 : 2888930145
Total Pages : 178 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (889 download)

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Book Synopsis Secrets of Digital Animation by : Steven Withrow

Download or read book Secrets of Digital Animation written by Steven Withrow and published by Rotovision. This book was released on 2009-08 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Secrets of Digital Animation sets out to demonstrate and showcase a range of cutting-edge work, new techniques, and influential practitioners within all forms of contemporary animation, from anime to flashware, and from animated shorts to machinima, offering creative hints and tips from the genre masters. This book offers young practitioners, and those interested in broadening their skills, an insider’s view of the fast evolving work of animation; showcasing professionals and their creations, working methods, and inspiration, along with jargon-busting explanations and easy to follow demonstrations. Stunning examples of finished work are shown alongside conceptual drawings and works in progress. The book contains practical advice and case studies that explore the professional techniques behind designing innovative characters and fantastical worlds, and bringing them to life.

The Art and Technique of Matchmoving

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Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 0240812301
Total Pages : 329 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (48 download)

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Book Synopsis The Art and Technique of Matchmoving by : Erica Hornung

Download or read book The Art and Technique of Matchmoving written by Erica Hornung and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2010 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This authoritative step-by-step guide from one of the best matchmovers in the business allows you to master this technique that has been called the foundation upon which all VFX work stands. Author Erica Hornung imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time.

The First 20 Hours

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101623047
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis The First 20 Hours by : Josh Kaufman

Download or read book The First 20 Hours written by Josh Kaufman and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-06-13 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.