Category: Education and Training

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.

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.

Two new Disney Learning Adventure titles were released earlier in August: WINNIE THE POOH: SHAPES AND SIZES and WINNIE THE POOH: WONDERFUL WORD ADVENTURE (Walt Disney Home Ent., $19.99). Developed by Disney and leading educators, the DVDs help build fundamental skills for kids prior to entering pre-school or kindergarten. Featuring Winnie the Pooh and his friends, the DVDs integrate entertaining stories with cognitive learning- based themes to help educate young audiences.

The Gnomon Workshop has released three DVDs by character modeler Laurent Pierlot of Blur Studios. In more than seven hours of lecture, Pierlot shares his myriad techniques for creating compelling life-like creatures. Using 3ds Max, BodyPaint, Photoshop and ZBrush, Pierlot discusses his workflow for modeling, detailing, texturing and rendering an alien creature based on a Carlos Huante design. While Max plays a key role in the development of the creature, virtually all the methods utilized apply to any leading 3D application such as Maya or XSI.

Digital-Tutors released UV LAYOUT IN XSI, a comprehensive guide to learning the fundamentals of UV layout with in XSI and the latest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists. Containing more than three hours of project-based training, UV LAYOUT IN XSI provides artists with time-saving UV mapping techniques, creative workflow and a firm understanding of XSI's UV tools. A 30-day trial version of SOFTIMAGE|XSI Foundation is also included, allowing artists immediate access to explore the software.

The Gnomon Workshop announced two DVDs by character modeler Ian Joyner. In more than 11 hours of lecture, he shares his myriad techniques for creating compelling life-like characters. Using 3ds Max, BodyPaint, Photoshop and ZBrush, he discusses his workflow for modeling, detailing, texturing and posing a male character outfitted with clothing and props. While Max plays a key role in the development of the character, virtually all the methods utilized apply to any leading 3D application such as Maya or XSI.