Category: Education and Training

U.K. training company Sphere VFX has released their new Nuke 5.1 training DVD -- "In-Depth 3D."

The course is designed specifically for people who already know Nuke but want to increase their understanding of how the 3D system works, and benefit from some industry hints and tips in producing more complicated setups. Designed with production in mind, all modules are tool focused and application based to help you understand not only how something works but why it does and how you would use it in a production environment.

DVD Classes Include:

Escape Studios has launched their revolutionary CG online learning tool. The online platform allows students to become computer graphics artists from anywhere in the world and promises to open doors into the film, games and animation industries.

It means students will now have access to world class training in Autodesk Maya at the click of a mouse.

The online training tool allows entry-level students, or anyone wanting to re-train the ability to learn in their own time and pace, with instant help from Escape’s online community.

Emerging animators from across Canada have been selected as finalists for the 2008 TELETOON Animation Scholarship. With shorts spanning from the biblical past to a hyper-industrial future, the short-listed films are now on www.teletoon.com. Cartoon fans are invited to watch and vote to decide which short in each category will win the Voter's Choice Award and receive a cash award of $500. Voting is open until September 15.

SOFTIMAGE training partner Digital-Tutors has released CHARACTER SETUP IN XSI for artists using SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7. CHARACTER SETUP IN XSI provides seven hours of project-based training for artists learning the essentials to character rigging and enveloping and a time-saving workflow to fully utilizing XSI 7's robust character setup tool set.

Creative Education Group (CEG) will be launching a new location for its arts and technology institute, Creative School of Media & Entertainment (CITS) in Singapore. Since its inception in 2001, the school has expanded offices to more than 21 countries worldwide; and has grown to become the largest private post-secondary media and entertainment school in Singapore. CEG also hits a milestone as it officially opens its headquarters in Singapore.

Autodesk has launched Animation Academy 2009, the latest version of its visual communications offering for secondary schools worldwide. The six-part curriculum introduces students to 3D animation and visual effects technology while immersing them in core academic subjects such as science, math, language and arts. For the first time, Animation Academy includes Autodesk Mudbox digital sculpting software and Autodesk MotionBuilder character animation software, along with the Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya modeling, animation and rendering software.

Softimage training partner Digital-Tutors announced at SIGGRAPH the availability of INTRODUCTION TO XSI 7 and INTRODUCTION TO ICE IN XSI 7 -- the first two comprehensive training titles developed for XSI 7 and the latest additions to Digital-Tutors' growing library of interactive training for digital artists using SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7, the newest version of the complete 3D package for modeling, animating, rendering, and character development.

Softimage training partner i3DTutorials has released free tutorials for SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7. One of XSI 7's most innovative features, the Interactive Creative Environment, also known as ICE, allows artists to visually create stunning effects for film, games, and visual effects easier than it has ever been before in the computer animation industry.

With the release of these new free tutorial videos from training partner, i3DTutorials, everyone can now see the new features of XSI 7 firsthand, including the new implementation of mental ray 3.6 and ICE.

3D software developer Luxology LLC has added Cogswell Polytechnical College to its Education Provider Program. This partnership ensures that all students enrolled in Cogswell’s 3D Modeling major will benefit from increased access to modo and other innovative 3D technology and training from Luxology.

This week The Gnomon Workshop introduces a new CREATURE DESIGN series by renowned concept artist and illustrator Terryl Whitlatch. Whitlatch has a background in vertebrate zoology and animal anatomy and has been able to transfer her scientific knowledge into science fiction, creating believable creatures of alien origin. She is most well known for contributions to the recent STAR WARS trilogy and her seven years of creature design for Lucasfilm, ILM and George Lucas' JAK Films. Her book, THE WILDLIFE OF STAR WARS received critical acclaim.

Autodesk publisher Digital-Tutors has released CREATING CONCEPT VEHICLES IN MAYA -- the newest release in a growing library of interactive training for aspiring artists using Maya, the award-winning 3D modeling, animation, effects, and rendering solution.

CREATING CONCEPT VEHICLES IN MAYA offers nearly seven hours of project-based training for new and experienced artists learning to design 3D vehicles from initial concept development to achieving the final renders and includes creative techniques to lighting, texturing, and rendering.