Press Release from Digital-Tutors

Oklahoma City, OK - October 8, 2009 - Recognized as one of the most innovative video-based training solutions in the computer graphics industry, Digital-Tutors, the first training provider for Lightmap Ltd, today proudly introduced 'Getting Started with HDR Light Studio,' the first title in a new series of training for the software independent package HDR Light Studio, as well as four self-paced courses including 'Creating Next-Gen Game Assets in Softimage,' 'Characterizing Skeletons in MotionBuilder,' 'Multi-channel Compositing in Nuke' and 'Compositing 3D Renders in Fusion.'

As a prominent addition to Digital-Tutors online learning library, 'Getting Started with HDR Light Studio' provides project-oriented training for learning how to produce highly realistic studio environments, complete with high dynamic range lighting information, for utilization in creating lifelike product renders with any rendering software.

"Lightmap Ltd are really excited about working with Digital Tutors to create HDR Light Studio content," said Mark Segasby, CEO, Lightmap Ltd. "Their training expertise, extensive knowledge of 3D software, and real-world production experience is a very powerful combination," he added.

The four additional training titles allow artists to discover valuable workflows and concepts to creating highly detailed game assets in Softimage; time-saving techniques to characterizing skeletons in MotionBuilder; easily composite with the channels system inside Nuke; and learn how to bring in multiple 3D render passes and composite the resulting image on top of a photograph in Fusion.

Availability and Pricing

To access these new releases, select Digital-Tutors Annual Membership plan at: http://www.digitaltutors.com/09/pricing.php

Getting Started with HDR Light Studio

Key topics and highlights: adding and repositioning lights, controlling light color and intensity, adjusting bulb placement and light orientation, exploring specialized light controls, using light packs to create highly realistic lighting results, controlling background illumination, and rendering completed environments.

For a free preview and detailed description, visit: http://www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=207&pid=218

Creating Next-Gen Game Assets in Softimage

Key topics and highlights: Setting up Rotoscope references, modeling, repurposing geometry, adding secondary details, finalizing geometry, optimizing polygon count for low-res geometry, high-resolution detailing, UV layout process on low-resolution geometry, techniques for fixing overlapping UVs, utilizing Contour Stretch UV subprojections, merging all low and high resolution geometry into a single mesh, using the Ultimapper to create detailed normal maps, fixing Ultimapper sampling errors using Photoshop, and creating color maps using Photoshop.

For a free preview and detailed description, visit: http://www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=2&pid=202

Characterizing Skeletons in MotionBuilder

Key topics and highlights: characterizing and rigging correctly named skeletons, manually characterizing skeletons, getting started characterizing a quadruped horse rig, advanced character definition mapping, and control rig tweaks for correct movement.

For a free preview and detailed description, visit: http://www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=191&pid=113

Multi-channel Compositing in Nuke

Key topics and highlights: overview of Channels and the EXR file, merging using Channels - indirect lighting and reflection, color correcting specific channels to fix issues, Hue Shift to change colors, Bezier Nodes to mask the Hue Shift, organizing the Node Tree with Backdrop and Dot Nodes, adding the Refraction and Shadow Channels, merging with the backdrop, combining Alpha Channels to add the Shadow Alpha, adding a Lightwrap, Erode to fix the black outline, Grade to match the background white and black, evaluating composites, and tweaking certain areas.

For a free preview and detailed description, visit: http://www.digitaltutors.com/09/training.php?cid=203&pid=194

Compositing 3D Renders in Fusion