This is quite simply the most comprehensive set of Maya training DVDs available, and exclusively created by 3D Buzz. It has been carefully structured to transform even the complete beginner into an intermediate to advanced Maya user. Covering three projects from start to finish, ‘Mastering Maya: The Fundamentals’ is your key to becoming a true Maya master. From beginner to expert, this single product will push your education further than any other Maya training available today.

BONUS CONTENT – Advanced Techniques
This highly technical section will also discuss the variety of utility nodes found within Maya, a part of the application that was designed to allow various controls of shading and texturing networks. Through a series of detailed lectures, you will see how these nodes can also be applied in a variety of other circumstances, allowing you to bypass a great deal of overhead on your computer as you make adjustments to any aspect of your scene, from controlling moti (more…)

Focus On 3D Models covers today’s most popular 3D model formats! Every programmer can take advantage of this 3D model and animation reference because it contains models that range from simple to complex based upon the skills and knowledge of the programmer and their intended use. Beginners can experiment with the easy-to-use basic 3D model formats. Intermediate and advanced programmers can expand their 3D modeling skills by mastering other popular formats presented in this book. The CD contains all source code from the book (including the necessary media and executables), Gmax, Paint Shop Pro 7 demo, Milkshape 3D, sample 3D models, and various freeware and shareware modeling programs.

About the Author
After programming for several years, Evan Pipho discovered gamedev.net in mid-2000 and immediately became a devoted gamer. At age 17, Evan has already tackled DirectDraw, Direct3D, and OpenGL in addition to co-creating Ngine.

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Review
The Toy Man 2007 Product Review: The content quality of Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers was well above average. The lessons and examples were simple, real-life, and easy to understand. The approach used has a strong influence in causing caregivers to desire to learn more from additional sources. It makes the labors of caregiving more fully understood. As stated before, Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers is well above average in its scoring for this category… The educational value is incredible with this product. It is very well structured with a logical flow for maximum educational potential for caregivers who are fully experienced as well as those who are new to this work. This demonstrates the true value of the educational value of this product. Skill Improvement is one of the primary fringe benefits of using Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers. The logically structured program (more…)

Let this in-depth professional book be your guide to Blender, the powerful alternative to expensive CG packages like Maya and 3ds Max. Using clear step-by-step instruction and pages of real-world examples, expert animator Tony Mullen walks you through the complexities of modeling and animating, with a special focus on characters. From Blender basics to creating facial expressions and emotion to rendering, you’ll gain all the skills necessary to build and animate a well-modeled, fully-rigged character, which is included as a .blend file on the DVD.

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Review
Zack Petroc’s creative gifts place him at the forefront of the emerging field of digital art direction. Zack’s great talent in all the traditional areas of artistic expression, coupled with a technical ability that takes a back seat to no one, combine to make him a truly unique talent. A rare ability to bring true artistry to life in a highly technical environment helps to set Zack apart. –Kevin Conran – Film Maker

In this DVD Zack Petroc presents a modern approach to digital sculpting that includes technical discussions, and features in-depth techniques for adding life and realism to your characters. Using a Maya-to-ZBrush workflow, the viewer takes a step-by-step look at how underlying muscles and bone structure affect the true form of the human body. The Maya content highlights creating and preparing a low-resolution base mesh, and includes techniques that apply to other Poly modeling packages. The central part of this demonstration takes place in ZBrush, (more…)

Review
“Anyone interested in 3D graphics needs to closely examine this book, the 3D tutorials alone are well worth the cost.” — Robert Richmond, TechIMO.com, 6/28/03

The Official Blender GameKit is a complete guide and reference to creating interactive 3-D animation and games with Blender. It begins with an extensive introduction to 3-D graphics, explaining basic concepts and the Blender interface. Step-by-step tutorials teach the art of creating and animating models, then show how to turn them into simple games. Experienced 3-D artists will appreciate the complex game demos, character animation tutorials, introduction to Python, and advanced reference section. The included CDROM offers 10 playable and editable games that readers can use to build their own games and distribute them for free.

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The set contains full versions of renowned 3D Blender software suite and a video training for it. 3D Blender allows complete professional 3D workflow, from creation of basic 3D objects to advanced animation features.
The included video training starts from basic subjects, overview and advances you into complete professional workflow.
Includes installations for Windows (both 32 and 64 bit), OS X (both Intel and PPC), and Linux (both 32 and 64-bit). Contains over 4 hours of video training from introduction to advanced topics.

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Learning Autodesk Maya: Foundation is a full-color book that offers students a hands-on approach for learning how to use Maya, the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software. You will work with real movie footage, interactive tutorials and step-by-step lessons to understand the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects. The companion DVD, which includes instructor-led tutorial videos and other resources for extended learning, will further reinforce the topics covered in the book so that you can become better acquainted with the Maya User Interface.

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Review
“an invaluable aid to understanding the program and its possibilities” — blogcritics.org, August 2004

Blender is the first and only fully-integrated 3D graphics creation suite allowing modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, and realtime interactive 3D with cross-platform compatibility–all for free. Originally developed by Not a Number (NaN) as a commercial product, Blender has since been released as free software, with the sources available under GNU GPL. The Official Blender 2.3 Guide is an introduction to the sometimes complicated Blender interface and a complete guide to everything that Blender can do. Written by the designers who created and currently maintain Blender, the book covers methods of designing models, materials, and light; rendering 3D scenes; creating 3D animations; as well as advanced topics such as using Blender as a video editor. Includes a 4-color insert and a CD-ROM containing Blender for all platforms.

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Complete video based tutorial training for Adobe Photoshop Elements 6. Lessons are presented in step-by-step videos with a total running time of over 18 hours in over 200 individual video lessons. Each instructor-guided title is presented in full motion video, with the instructor clearly demonstrating each lesson in the actual program being taught while providing a full narrative description of each step. Training comes with all sample Photoshop Elements files used in the videos so that you can work along on your own computer.

As you follow along, you learn by doing, mastering the programs at your own pace. You are provided with a dynamic educational tool – an information rich resource you can refer to again and again.

Topics include: Intro to Photoshop Elements 6, Using the Organizer, Organizer File Menu Jobs, Organizer File Menu Creations, Organizer Edit Menu Jobs, Find Menu, Using the Editor, File Basics, Tools Basics, Edit Basics, Layer Basics, Working with Type, Mo (more…)