Whether you're a novice compositor or a well-versed one moving over from After Effects or Shake, this is THE book for you to learn the ins and outs of the powerful compositing software, Nuke. In addition to covering all of the menus, buttons, and other software-specific topics, it also offers critical lessons in compositing theory, including working in 2.5D and stereoscopic 3D. Through a tutorial-based approach, augmented by video footage and image files provided on the companion DVD, this book will have you up and running in Nuke in just hours. The book features over 300 4-color images, industry insider sidebars, as well as an entire chapter dedicated to real-world Nuke case studies. The DVD files are also available for download at http://www.focalpress.com/books/details/9780240820354/.

Digital Compositing with Nuke

Arts & Photography

Lanier, Lee

Photography & Video

Routledge

Produce mind-blowing visual effects with Autodesk Maya. Gain the practical skills and knowledge you need to recreate phenomena critical to visual effects work, including fire, water, smoke, explosions, and destruction, as well as their integration with real-world film and video. In Creating Visual Effects in Maya, Maya master Lee Lanier has combined the latest studio techniques with multi-chapter, hands-on projects and professionally-vetted workflows to bolster your CG toolkit. Engaging, full-color tutorials cover: <ul>
<li>Creating foliage, fire, and smoke with Paint Effects</li> <li>Growing Maya Fur and nHair on clothing, characters, and sets</li> <li>Replicating water, smoke, sparks, swarms, bubbles, and debris with nParticles and nCloth</li> <li>Controlling scenes and simulations with expressions and MEL, Python, and PyMEL scripting</li> <li>Adding dust, fog, smoke, rippling water, and fireballs with Fluid Effects containers</li> <li>Creating damage with Effects presets, deformers, and animated textures</li> <li>Matchmoving and motion tracking with Maya and MatchMover</li> <li>Creating complex destruction by combining rigid bodies, nParticles, nCloth, and Fluid Effects</li> <li>Setting up, rendering, and compositing mental ray render passes with Autodesk Composite, Adobe After Effects, and The Foundry Nuke</li> </ul>
The companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/lanier) features a treasure trove of Maya, MatchMover, After Effects, and Nuke project files, image sequences, texture bitmaps, and MEL, Python, and PyMEL scripts, allowing you to immediately apply the techniques taught in the book.

Creating Visual Effects in Maya: Fire, Water, Debris, and Destruction

Designed for busy Maya users like you, this guide offers dozens of how-tos, workarounds, and shortcuts culled from years of experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven production pipeline. You’ll discover tricks and timesavers on texturing particles, customizing Paint Effects brushes, modeling polygon faces, creating facial rigs with wire deformers, and much more—and helpful full-color illustrations reinforce the concepts. From modeling, animating, and rigging to texturing and lighting, this book will help you streamline workflow and improve your skills.

Maya Professional Tips and Techniques

Computers & Technology

Programming

Sybex

If you already understand the basics of Maya, the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software, you’ll be ready to move on to the sophisticated topics in this updated edition of Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting. Detailed, easy-to-follow instructions will teach you the real-world production secrets that professional animators use to achieve amazing results. In the second edition, you will find extensive and updated coverage of the latest theories and trends in addition to an enclosed CD with exclusive content to help you sharpen your skills.

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

Learn professional secrets of digital compositing with this detailed guide After filming is done, digital compositors move in to manipulate color, retouch, and perform other behind-the-scenes tricks that are necessary to improve or finalize movies, games, and commercials. Now you can learn their secrets with this one-of-a-kind guide to digital compositing. Professional animator and author Lee Lanier not only draws upon his own experience, he has also combed some of Hollywood's most active post-production houses in search of the best solutions. Learn valuable techniques, tricks, and more. <ul>
<li>Covers techniques for digital compositing including transformations, plate preparation, rotoscoping, advanced render passes, particle integration, 2.5D painting, HDRI, stereoscopy and more</li> <li>Shows you digital compositing techniques that can be applied to a variety of software tools, including After Effects and Nuke</li> <li>Includes a DVD with scenes, sample bitmaps, image sequences, and more</li> </ul>
Start your animation career right with the solid instruction in postproduction you'll find in this practical guide. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Professional Digital Compositing: Essential Tools and Techniques

Graphics & Design

Learn to create realistic digital assets for film and games with this project-based guide Focused entirely on practical projects, this hands-on guide shows you how to use Maya's texturing and lighting tools in real-world situations. Whether you need to sharpen your skills or you're looking to break into the field for the first time, you'll learn top industry techniques for this important skill as you follow the instructions for several specific projects. You can even create your own version, using final Maya scene files to validate results. The companion DVD includes supplemental videos, project support files, textures, tools, professional shaders, and more. <ul>
<li>Lighting and texturing projects are often an excellent way for new animators to break into the business</li> <li>This is the only project-based book dedicated to understanding and implementing Maya's texturing and lighting tools for creating realistic digital assets for film, video, and games</li> <li>Walks you step by step through lighting and texturing objects, characters, and locations</li> <li>Written by a professional CG artist who has worked on high-profile films including Antz and Shrek
</li> <li>Includes a DVD with supplemental video instruction, additional tools, and more</li> </ul>
Practical, project-based instruction in this guide will help you perfect your skill with Maya's texturing and lighting tools.

Maya Studio Projects Texturing and Lighting

Software

<ul>
<li>Written by an industry veteran who has used Maya in such films as Mortal Kombat and Shrek, this full-color book offers advanced, professional-level techniques for texturing and lighting for rendering 3D models in Maya</li> <li>Begins with an introduction of various lighting concepts, then offers readers detailed explanations of Maya's numerous hidden features so they can achieve amazing results quickly</li> <li>Features an unparalleled exploration of Maya's Hypershade, where animators create connections between shaders, texture maps, lights, cameras, and geometry</li> <li>Provides a thorough look at rendering in Maya, including everything from batch rendering to global illumination workflow and HDRI techniques</li> <li>The CD-ROM includes the Maya Personal Learning Edition, textures, tools, professional shaders, and more</li> </ul>

Level up your skills with powerful texturing and lighting techniques Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting, Third Edition leads you through the latest advanced techniques for adding realistic detail to your models. This new edition is up-to-date with the latest Maya texturing, lighting, and rendering features, including an exploration of the Node Editor, new Maya utility nodes and expanded coverage of mental ray shaders, and render settings. The proven tutorials are culled from real-world experience and refined to give you the ultimate in practical skills. You'll learn workflow tips and tricks, the construction of custom shading networks, and the application of time-saving tools that bring your project from concept to reality. The companion website features several gigabytes of Maya scene files, texture bitmaps, and QuickTime movies that support the exercises in the book, giving you everything you need to advance your animation skillset. This book helps you take your rendering skills to the next level with the advanced tools and techniques that take animation from good to great. <ul>
<li>Learn the theory behind expert lighting design</li> <li>Understand shadows, shading components, and texture mapping</li> <li>Work with node networks, raytracing, and global illumination</li> <li>Try new approaches to rendering using Maya Software and mental ray</li> </ul>
If you're ready to take a big step forward and fine-tune your style, Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting, Third Edition is the practical, hands-on guide you need.

Compositing Visual Effects in After Effects: Essential Techniques

Create vibrant visual effects with Adobe After Effects. Gain the tips, tricks, and applied knowledge you need to carry out essential visual effects tasks and bring your digital compositing to the next level. In Compositing Visual Effects in After Effects, industry veteran Lee Lanier covers all the common After Effects techniques any serious visual effects artist needs to know, combining the latest, professionally-vetted studio practices and workflows with multi-chapter projects and hands-on lessons. Engaging, full-color tutorials cover: <ul><ul>
<li>Altering resolutions and frame rates</li> <li>Channel and color space manipulation </li> <li>Rotoscoping and masking</li> <li>Matchmoving and motion tracking</li> <li>Keying green screen</li> <li>Working in the 3D environment and integrating 3D render passes</li> <li>Particle simulation</li> <li>Color grading and distressing</li> <li>Expressions and project management</li> </ul></ul> The companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/lanier) features video image sequences, 3D renders, matte paintings, and other tutorial materials, allowing you to immediately apply the techniques taught in the book.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lanier, Lee. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lanier, Lee

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lanier, Lee. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Digital Compositing with Nuke

Creating Visual Effects in Maya: Fire, Water, Debris, and Destruction

Maya Professional Tips and Techniques

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

Professional Digital Compositing: Essential Tools and Techniques

Maya Studio Projects Texturing and Lighting

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

Compositing Visual Effects in After Effects: Essential Techniques

Creating Visual Effects in Maya: Fire, Water, Debris, and Destruction