Digital-Tutors, an Autodesk Authorized Publisher, announced the availability of MENTAL RAY IN MAYA: RENDERING WORKFLOW, an interactive guide to learning the fundamentals of mental ray and the newest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists. MENTAL RAY IN MAYA: RENDERING WORKFLOW provides more than three hours of project-driven training for learning rendering techniques and workflow developed to maximize the artist's time and creativity.

With the addition of a bachelor’s degree at the recently endowed John C. Hench division of Animation & Digital Arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, undergraduates can now take advantage of an international and multicultural program that focuses on animation in all its forms.

The Gnomon Workshop welcomes back art director Ryan Church with the release of his new DVD — INTRO TO COREL PAINTER. This title will help artists new to digital painting, who are interested in learning Church's workflow and techniques for the creation of amazing concept art for the film and game industries. Assuming no previous experience with the software, this DVD explains the Painter interface, palettes and tools.

Digital-Tutors, an Autodesk Authorized Publisher, announced the availability of BODY MECHANICS AND ANIMATION IN MAYA: LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS, an interactive guide to learning body mechanics and character animation techniques and the newest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists. BODY MECHANICS AND ANIMATION IN MAYA: LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS provides more than 6.5 hours of project-based training for both new and experienced animators seeking to create believable animations with life and personality.

The Gnomon Workshop welcomes two new instructors to its training library, with the release of MAYA DYNAMICS: OUTER SPACE ENVIRONMENTS and FROM SPEED PAINTING TO CONCEPT ART Photoshop DVDs.

The National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) has commissioned design and photographic consultancy Campbell Rowley to create a new website that will include an archival record of 15 years worth of animation projects. The new site is currently being developed and will primarily focus on showcasing student projects.

This phase will be completed and launched in October 2006, with further development planned before the website is finally completed in early 2007.

Animation Mentor, the online animation school that combines next-gen technologies with the best of social networking, graduated its first-ever class Sept. 25.

One hundred fifty-four animators from 23 countries have completed their studies at the innovative school, where all of the instructors are working studio animators. They earned a diploma in Advanced Studies in Character Animation from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

During the months of September and October 2006, Digital-Tutors has partnered with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. A portion from all proceeds earned from the sale of Digital-Tutors' training products in September and October will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Central Oklahoma Affiliate, with a donation goal of $5,000.

The University of Southern California announced that the Lucasfilm Foundation, the private charitable foundation set up by alumnus George Lucas, will provide $75 million for the construction of new educational buildings and renovations of existing structures at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. In addition, the Foundation has agreed to provide a $100 million endowment for the school.

PipelineFX, makers of Qube! software, the leading render farm management system for film production, game development and digital media programs, announced that the School of Visual Arts in New York City has joined the rapidly growing list of schools using Qube! to help students share rendering resources and speed up their projects.

Gnomon is now able to offer financial aid through Federal Student Aid. Students who are enrolled in the Certificate in High-end Computer Graphics Program on a full-time basis and are citizens of the U.S. may be eligible to receive Pell Grant and/or Stafford Loan financial assistance.

The Lafayette Public Library has added animated versions of classic children’s books to its website www.lafayette.lib.la.us, reports THE DAILY ADVERTISER. This new feature, called Tumble Books, includes sound, music and narration added to read-along text.

University of the Arts Media Arts Department have begun using an Intel Core 2 Duo processor workstation system and an Intel Pentium D processor server render farm for its student’s high-end animation and digital films. The new Intel processors reduce render times for UArts students who explore complex environments, dynamic character movement and dense texturing as they create their work.

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of RENDERING TECHNIQUES IN XSI, the newest release in an expanding library of interactive video-based training for emerging digital artists. Artists will learn innovative techniques and a unique approach to rendering in XSI and compositing using the integrated FX Tree. RENDERING TECHNIQUES IN XSI provides over 2.5 hours of project-based training to increase the artist's productivity and understanding of rendering and compositing while using the powerful tools and features in XSI.

Sesame Workshop and Bear Stearns, a leading investment banking and securities trading and brokerage firm, have teamed up to launch a new educational outreach program designed to help children 2-5 and their families prepare physically and emotionally for the challenges of today's complex world and the possibility of confronting traumatic events.

The School of Cinema-Television at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles has established the John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts via a $5 million endowment gift from the estate of the late Disney animation artist Hench (PETER PAN, DUMBO, FANTASIA, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, ALICE IN WONDERLAND).

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of NEXT-GENERATION GAME TECHNIQUES IN XSI, a comprehensive resource for game artists and the newest release in an expanding library of interactive video-based training for emerging digital artists. Artists can now learn innovative and popular techniques being use in next-generation games in an interactive and self-paced setting.

The Gnomon Workshop has updated its website with new navigation, contests, forums, books and several hours of free training.

Artbeats will participate in the Avid 2006 Back to School Industry All-Access campaign. All qualified students who purchase Avid Xpress Pro Academic, SOFTIMAGE|XSI Academic, or Pro Tools Academic before Sept. 30, will receive a 30% discount on any Artbeats collection priced $399 or higher, and a free broadcast quality clip worth $199, both of which will be available for immediate download from Artbeats’ website.

Registration for Fall Term at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (Sept. 25-Dec. 10) begins today, Aug. 21, 2006.

Meanwhile, Gnomon is offering four new classes for Fall Term:
* Creature Development & Creation: Taught by Puddnhead, takes students through the entire process of designing creatures for film and videogames.
* ZBrush Digital Sculpting and Anatomy: Taught by Scott Spencer, builds on the skills acquired in the 10-week ZBrush class, guiding students through using ZBrush to convey accurate anatomical form.