3D Motion Graphics for 2D Artists:
Conquering the Third Dimension
Bill Byrne
ISBN: 978-0-240-81533-6
Add 3D to your mograph skillset! For the experienced 2D artist, this lavishly illustrated, 4 color book presents the essentials to building and compositing 3D elements into your 2D world of film and broadcast. Concepts and techniques are presented in concise, step-by-step tutorials, hundreds of which are featured throughout. Featured applications include Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Cinema 4D.
Lessons include exploring the expanded 3D functionality of the Adobe Creative Suite applications (After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator) through a series of practical tutorials. More advanced lessons then follow, with tutorials and insight provided in specifically geared lessons for 2D artists working in Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, and ZBrush.
4-color presentation is further enhanced by various sidebars, tips, and ";gotchas"; to watch for through-out the book. The DVD contains hours of project files with which you can work along the tutorials in the book... [more]
The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction, 2nd Edition
Steve Hullfish
ISBN: 978-0-240-81715-6
Containing decades of industry experience and professional colorist know-how, Steve Hullfish shows you how to take your art to the next level. Featuring techniques performed in a variety of color correction software applications (Apple’s Color, Synthetic Aperture’s Color Finesse, Avid Xpress Pro, and more), this book turns what has long been a misunderstood "black art" into a set of skills that any dedicated editor or motion graphics artist can begin to master.
The second edition has been updated to include new insight from even more professional colorists, showing the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of each grade and a new chapter containing tutorials, with files to practiv with on the DVD... [more]
Vegas Pro 11 Editing Workshop
Douglas Spotted Eagle
ISBN: 978-0-240-82369-0
Updated to include changes to versions 10 and 11 of the Vegas software, award-winning Vegas guru Douglas Spotted Eagle takes you beyond the mechanics of Vegas, teaching an industry-tested professional editing workflow. Packed with all the necessary materials, including raw video footage, sequences, and detailed instructions, this book and DVD combo gives you a working knowledge of Vegas including its exceptional audio features, stereoscopic workflow, and the DVD Architect toolset. Woven into this editing workshop are hands-on tutorials covering a complete range of essential tasks from installing the application to outputting. Novices learn the basics (including a new QuickStart chapter to get you up to speed), and experienced editors get practical techniques with real-world examples for working more efficiently and making better media... [more]
Filming the Fantastic: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography, 2nd Edition
Mark Sawicki
ISBN: 978-0-240-81473-5
Don't waste valuable time and budget fixing your footage in post! Shoot the effects you want effectively and creatively the first time. This full-color step-by step guide to visual effects cinematography empowers you to plan out and execute visual effects shots on a budget, without falling into the common pitfall of using high-end computer graphics to "fix it in post," which can be an expensive, drawn out process. Instead, learn how to put your shots together before you start shooting-whether you're working in digital or film. Learn how to effectively photograph and create miniatures, matte paintings, green screen set ups, crowd replication, digital rear projection, and so much more to create elements that will composite together flawlessly.
The main purpose of effects is to promote the story, not just to wow an audience with amazing tricks created digitally. This book describes methods for creating seamless effects that don't call attention to themselves but enhance the scene as a whole. The technical foundations of film and digital capture are given in the introductory chapters of the book, and you are presented with real world scenarios that illustrate these basic concepts in a practical sense. Step-by-step illustrations of photographic element creation empower you to learn how to effectively pre-plan and execute your own visual effects challenges... [more]
Compositing Visual Effects: Essentials for the Aspiring Artist, 2nd Edition
Steve
Wright
ISBN: 978-0-240-81781-1
Put the essential concepts and techniques of digital compositing to work for you without the need of a single mathematical equation. Compositing Visual Effects is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of film shots, figures, illustrations, and diagrams to help the visual reader gain a valuable vocabulary and understanding of the full range of visual effects, in which digital compositing plays a key role.
Beginning with an inspirational tour of the scope and magnitude of digital compositing, you get a solid overview of the kinds of digital effects routinely executed today. See how CGI is composited with live action, how set extensions are done, and what a match-move shot is. Following that you learn each of the key applications of digital compositing, which include bluescreen compositing, bullet-time shots, motion tracking, and rotoscoping. The subsequent chapters dig down into each of the major digital compositing applications, introducing the fundamental concepts, and processes behind them... [more]
Cinema 4D:The Artist's Project Sourcebook,
3rd Edition
Kent McQuilkin
Anne Powers
ISBN: 978-0-240-81450-6
Make the creative leap to 3D. Realize your artistic vision with this treasure chest of instructional projects. Get the essential concepts and techniques without drowning in the technical complexities.
This new edition is an artist's sourcebook for the visionary in you that wants to master 3D—and have fun doing it. It serves as a complete guide for the creative use of Cinema 4D R12 and all of its modules.
Short, playful projects show you how to put this powerful toolset to work. You will master R12's improved workflow, scene management, enhanced animation timeline and searchable object manager... [more]
Rotoscoping: Techniques and Tools for the Aspiring Artist
Benjamin Bratt
ISBN: 978-0-240-81704-0
Master what it takes to make your rotoscoping and digital painting blend seamlessly into each shot. Through illustrious four color presentation, the book features step-by-step instruction on the artistic techniques of rotoscoping and digital painting with lessons on:
- Articulate mattes
- Digital paint in moving footage
- Motion tracking
- Advanced rotoscoping and digital paint techniques, and much more
It also features practical insight on the subject and industry, delving into:
- The history and evolution of rotoscoping and the role of the rotoscoper
- A typical day in the life of a rotoscoper
- How to get a job as a rotoscoper ... [more]
The Healthy Edit: Creative Editing Techniques for Perfecting Your Movie
John Rosenberg
ISBN: 978-0-240-81446-9
Every film or show that we watch, no matter how great the final cut, has its problems during production. Whether it's a bad performance from an actor, a hole in the story or script, continuity or pacing issues, or something being placed in a shot that shouldn't be, there's no shortage of problems encountered once postproduction has begun. Fixing these problems then becomes the job of the editor. This book provides those editors with creative editing solutions they can employ to overcome these problems and is the key to nursing a sick project back to health in the editing room.
Though the book takes an application-agnostic approach, specific solutions are presented for today's most commonly used non-linear editing applications. Solutions more relevant to certain genres are discussed in-depth, as are solutions that editors can employ through the use of simple VFX techniques. Case studies and interviews with Hollywood editors provide readers with real-world problems encountered, and solutions used to overcome them. The companion website provides Quicktime videos and Flash animations visually demonstrating problems and how they were dealt with... [more]
The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice, 5th Edition
Ken Dancyger
ISBN: 978-0-240-81397-4
The Technique of Film and Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Analyses of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice.
New to this edition:
- Brand new chapters discussing the goals of editing, including: editing for narrative clarity, aesthetics, subtext, and dramatic emphasis
- Storytelling choices an editor makes are placed into context against a background of theory, history, and practice
- Case studies of new films, including A History of Violence, The Departed, United 93, and much more... [more]
Design Essentials for the Motion Media Artist
Angie Taylor
ISBN: 978-0-240-81181-9
With this book, students will master the fundamental concepts and principles of motion graphic design so they can apply them to their own work. They'll learn how to manipulate and bend the rules to create something unique and achieve their communication goals. This authoritative guide presents all of the design essentials in an engaging and inspiring way. Each principle is explained with text, illustration, and photography where necessary. The companion website (not gated) features additional resources, updates, and links to other sites for motion media artists... [more]
Creative Motion Graphic Titling for Film, Video, and the Web
Yael Braha
Bill Byrne
ISBN: 978-0-240-81419-3
Captivate your audience and enhance your storytelling with this tutorial based 4-color cookbook, featuring dozens of solutions to your titling needs. Each chapter includes case studies and interviews with the pros, lending cutting insight and lessons learned that will have you creating inspired title sequences in no time.
The book features genre-based tutorial sections, with step by step instructions for creating effective horror, comedy, drama, and suspense titling sequences. Tutorials for creating some of the most popular title sequences in blockbuster movies are included (Se7en, The Sopranos, 24, The Matrix). Other tutorials teach you how to effectively use sound and VFX in your titles, and also included is instruction on editing your title sequence. These techniques, as well as chapters on the essentials of typography allow you to apply these lessons to your title sequence regardless of whether it's for TV, the web, or digital signage.
Also included is a DVD with sample clips, as well as project files that allow you to refine the techniques you learned in the book. As an added bonus we've included 3 titling chapters from other Focal books, with specific instructions on titling within certain software applications... [more]
How to Cheat in After Effects
Chad Perkins
ISBN: 978-0-240-52202-9
"How to Cheat in After Effects is an easy-to-follow book that lets you in on all of the little secrets to create those commonly needed effects with ease and speed. With clear pictures illustrating the step-by-step procedures, this is the perfect tool for the arsenal of any After Effects user, from novice to advanced."
—Michele Yamazaki, Vice President Marketing and Web Development Czarina, Toolfarm.com
Compose eye-popping After Effects projects quickly and creatively with dozens of concise, step-by-step tutorials accompanied by vivid 4-color illustration. Covering features new to CS5 such as Freeform AE, Refine Matte, Roto Brush, and more, this book clearly explains how to perform advanced, typically time-consuming tasks in simplified, quick steps.
- Create an entire 3D planet scene from scratch
- Create true 3D text
- Make smoke, snow, rain, chocolate, molten gold, and more from scratch with particles
- Create animated growing vines
- Fake a tilt shift effect, and so much more
The companion DVD includes project files allowing you to work alongside the exercises in the book, as well as QuickTime movies displaying the techniques shown in the book... [more]
The Art and Technique of Matchmoving: Solutions for the VFX Artist
Erica Hornung
ISBN: 978-0-240-81230-4
Matchmoving has become a standard visual effects procedure for almost every situation where live action materials and CG get combined. It allows virtual and real scenes that have been composited together to seamlessly appear as though they are from the same perspective. 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 (sr. matchmover for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Matrix: Revolutions, and more) imparts her techniques, tips, and wisdom from the trenches that will have you matchmoving like a true professional in no time.
Lessons in the most popular matchmoving software (Maya, Boujou, and others) are included, as well as tips and techniques for surveying on set, dolly moves, and operating nodal cameras. Individual chapters dedicated to object and character matchmoves show you how to matchmove for shadow casting, adding weapons and other objects, focusing on center of gravity, as well as complete CG character support... [more]
Flash + After Effects: Add Broadcast Features to Your Flash Designs, 2nd Edition
Chris Jackson
ISBN: 978-0-240-81351-6
Flash Designers: push Flash to the next level with After Effects’ robust toolset.
- Add motion graphics and visual effects to your Flash projects
- Fuse 3D depth into 2D animations
- Prepare Flash animations for broadcast
- Save development time in executing animations
Combine these two powerhouse applications to expand your multimedia horizons. Flash + After Effects: Add Broadcast Features to Your Flash Designs,
2nd Edition gives the experienced Flash designer a working understanding of the After Effects toolset with professional techniques that raise the design bar for Web, broadcast, or CD/DVD delivery. The companion DVD contains project media that permit you to practice essential After Effects skills that include:
- Working with video and the AE timeline
- Using alpha channels for keying and enhancing interactivity
- Putting vector animation to work with Text and Shape Layers, and animation presets
- Creating 3D backgrounds with cameras and lights
- Animating with Behaviors, Parenting, Expressions and the Puppet Tool
You also get a video primer, render and file optimization techniques, and publishing and streaming guidelines... [more]
The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures
Edited By Jeffrey A. Okun
Susan Zwerman
ISBN: 978-0-240-81242-7
Wisdom from the best and the brightest in the industry, this visual effects bible belongs on the shelf of anyone working in or aspiring to work in VFX. The book covers techniques and solutions all VFX artists, producers, and supervisors need to know, from preproduction, to digital character creation and compositing of both live-action and CG elements.
In-depth lessons on stereoscopic moviemaking, color management and digital intermediates are included, as well as chapters on interactive games and full animation authored by artists from EA and Dreamworks respectively. Written by 88 top leading visual effects practitioners and covering everything about visual effects from pre-production, production, and post-production.
Simply a must-have book for anyone working in or wanting to work in the VFX industry... [more]
Make the Cut: A Guide to Becoming a Successful Assistant Editor in Film and TV
Lori Coleman
Diana Friedberg
ISBN: 978-0-240-81398-1
Key Features
- Cutting insight and tested tipsfrom 2 established Hollywood editors (combined credits include Cesar Milan: Dog Whisperer, The Simple Life, The Shield, Dawson's Creek) will have you on the path to being a successful assistant editor in no time
- Includes discussions with some of the top editors in the industry, sharing their views on what they expect from their assistants in the editing suite
- Offers technical info such as the intricacies of digitizing and breaking down a script, as well as practical knowledge on topics like interview preparation and industry ettiquette... [more]
Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects: Essential and Advanced Techniques, 5th Edition
Trish Meyer
Chris Meyer
ISBN: 978-0-240-81415-5
• Fifth Edition of best-selling After Effects book by renowned authors Trish and Chris Meyer covers the important updates in After Effects CS4 and CS5
• Covers both essential and advanced techniques, from basic layer manipulation and animation through keying, motion tracking, and color management
• Companion DVD is packed with project files, source materials, and nearly 200 pages of bonus chapters
Approx. 2,500 illustrations (2,500 in full color)... [more]
Digital Compositing for Film and Video, 3rd Edition
Steve Wright
ISBN: 978-0-240-81309-7
This practical, hands-on guide addresses the problems and difficult choices that professional compositors face on a daily basis. You are presented with tips, techniques, and solutions for dealing with badly shot elements, color artifacts, mismatched lighting and other commonly faced compositing obstacles. Practical, in-depth lessons are featured for bluescreen matte extraction, despill operations, compositing operations, as well as color-corrections.
The book is presented entirely in an application-agnostic manner, allowing you to apply lessons learned to your compositing regardless of the software application you are using. The DVD contains before and after examples as well as exercise files for you to refine your own techniques on... [more]
Fix It In Post:
Solutions for Postproduction Problems
Jack James
ISBN: 978-0-240-81124-6
This book provides an array of concise solutions to the wide variety of problems that are faced by postproduction artists in the post process. With an application-agnostic approach, it gives proven, step-by-step methods to solving the most frequently encountered postproduction problems. Also included is access to a free, password-protected website that features application-specific resolutions to the problems presented, with fixes for working in Apple's Final Cut Studio suite, Avid's Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, as well as other applications... [more]
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphic Artist, 2nd
Edition
Trish Meyer
Chris Meyer
ISBN: 978-0-240-81136-9
- Updated for After Effects CS4!
- 11 core lessons plus a fun final project
- 1st Edition sales over 19,000 units
- Full color presentation of engaging lessons that demonstrate real-world techniques
- Companion DVD features QuickTime movies and lesson media
- Learn to creatively edit and combine layers, animate eye-catching titles, replace a screen on a computer monitor, place a studio shot in anew environment, manipulate 3D space, and use effects to generate excitement or enhance the realism of a scene
- Easy to follow step-by-step instructions take you through each technique, including projects that encourage you to put your own creative vision to work.... [more]
The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 6
Rick Young
ISBN: 978-0-240-81009-6
Software packages are complex. Software books don't need to be.
Simplify your life with The Focal Easy Guide
to Final Cut Pro! This concise, full-color book lives up to its name by paring down
the software to its essentials. You learn the key features and
essential workflow to get you up and running in no time.
With this book you can start cutting immediately, whatever you
edit, whatever the format. This is an ideal introduction whether
you are a professional moving over to Final Cut Pro from another
package or system, a new user, or just someone who wants to get
the best results from Final Cut Pro, fast!... [more]
Final Cut Studio On the Spot, 3rd Edition
Richard Harrington
Abba Shapiro
Robbie Carman
ISBN: 978-0-240-81007-2
Packed with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers what
you need to know—on the spot. It is suited to editors of
all experience levels, whether you are:
- Migrating from another NLE
- Upgrading to Final Cut Studio 2
- Seeking a handy reference to raise
your proficiency
No need to wade through tomes of documentation.
Final Cut Studio On the Spot presents immediate solutions in an
accessible format... [more]
Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook
Jason Osder
Robbie Carman
ISBN: 978-0-240-81005-8
Today's digital production tools empower the small team to produce
multimedia projects that formerly required large teams. Orchestrating
a production requires more than proficiency with the postproduction
tools. Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent
Studio Handbook offers a cookbook of postproduction workflows that teams can follow
to deliver an array of products to their clients. It describes
appropriate postproduction workflows, team roles and responsibilities,
and required equipment for some of the most common media productions... [more]
The Filmmaker's Guide to Final Cut Pro Workflow
Dale Angell
ISBN: 978-0-240-80986-1
The Filmmaker’s Guide
to Final Cut Pro Workflow is the comprehensive roadmap to affordable
postproduction workflow using Final Cut Pro, Cinema Tools, and Pro
Tools. Illuminating workflow and the interrelationship of these software
applications, it also focuses on cost saving and efficiency, aiding
low-budget, independent moviemakers as well as students trying to
take their skills to the professional level.
Author Dale Angell offers a practical guide to complete film postproduction
workflow, describing low-cost workflow that can be used for 35mm
film, High Definition digital video, or DV/Red Camera... [more]
Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation: Applied History and Aesthetics
Jon Krasner
ISBN: 978-0-240-80989-2
Improve the aesthetic and communication qualities of your motion graphics.
Reach beyond technical craft skills with this multimedia examination
of the essential elements of the art, which includes:
Foundation: Realize the artistic expression of pioneering artists from film,
television, interactive media, and immersive environments as they combine the
principles of painting, traditional graphic design, and the dynamic visual language
of cinema.
Technique: Develop an understanding of motion literacy, kinetic images and type,
and the pictorial and sequential aspects of composition and choreography. Principles
are presented with contextual examples and suggested assignments to challenge
you artistically... [more]
MoCap for Artists: Workflow and Techniques for Motion Capture
Midori
Kitagawa
Brian Windsor
ISBN: 978-0-240-81000-3
Make motion capture part of your graphics and effects
arsenal. This introduction to motion capture principles and techniques
delivers a working understanding of today's state-of-the-art systems
and workflows without the arcane pseudocodes and equations. Learn
about the alternative systems, how they have evolved, and how they
are typically used, as well as tried-and-true workflows that you
can put to work for optimal effect. Demo files and tutorials provided
on the companion CD deliver first-hand experience with some of
the core processes... [more]
Houdini On the Spot: Time-Saving Tips and Shortcuts From the Pros
Craig Zerouni
ISBN: 978-0-240-80862-8
Packed with more than 350 techniques, this book delivers what
you need to know—on the spot. Its concise presentation of
professional techniques is suited to experienced artists whether
you are:
- Migrating from another visual effects application
- Upgrading to Houdini 9
- Seeking a handy reference to raise your proficiency with Houdini
Houdini On the Spot presents immediate solutions in an accessible
format. It clearly illustrates the essential methods that pros
use to get the job done efficiently and creatively.... [more]
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