In this DVD, Laurent shares his techniques for detailing and refining the model he started in "Creature Modeling for Production". Using 3ds Max, Deep UV and ZBrush, Laurent demonstrates the pipeline he uses every day at Blur Studio to add final details to a high-poly model based on a Carlos Huante design. He discusses how to achieve clean UVs with Deep UV, and how he adjusts volume proportions in ZBrush. He also shows how to create alpha maps in Photoshop and use them in ZBrush to easily add surface details such as veins, bumps and other skin textures. Finally, Laurent shows how to export normal maps from ZBrush using the ZMapper plug-in and how to use the normal maps and cavity maps in Max for a sample render with Brazil.

In the first of two DVDs, Aaron Sims illustrates the techniques he uses when designing creatures for movies. As the character s facial features are the first and most important part of designing characters in film, this DVD concentrates on creating the character head. Using Photoshop, XSI and ZBrush, Aaron shows you how to accomplish stunning designs that can be easily altered for other designs. Speed is an important aspect of character design in production, which Aaron demonstrates by showing you how his process helps you design within a production environment.

Houdini's dynamics system (DOPs) is a very powerful tool that allows users to not only simulate physics, but to interact with the simulation in order to make an impossible looking effects shot look realistic. This is what has made DOPs the dynamics software of choice for high-end feature effects in a very short time. This DVD covers the rigid body dynamics (RBD) features of Houdini, as well as the controls and forces that are common to RBD, cloth and hair systems (though cloth and hair are not covered in this DVD). Houdini s rigid body dynamics have been used to make characters run through walls (X-Men 3), crumble to pieces (Gatorade commercial), and to make objects on a cruise ship fly around as the ship capsizes (Poseidon). This disc is a comprehensive reference, covering features in great detail through many simplified examples, as well as completed case studies of a bowling ball, dominoes, an exploding building and a crashing train.

Designed for the experienced 3D artist new to Houdini, this disc contains over five hours of lecture and extensive example files. With Houdini's strong history as a high-level effects animation package, seasoned feature film effects artist Garman Herigstad helps demystify its unique procedural approach to creating animation. He introduces Houdini's interface to establish familiarity with the software, and then presents its powerful step-by-step procedural approach, which allows for great variations in results leading ultimately to a faster production workflow. Examples include driving animation with audio data, modifying geometry using moving image sequences, particle animation setup, and basic shader creation. Houdini's "Takes" versioning is also introduced. These examples can be used with the apprentice version of the software available at www.sidefx.com.

3D game artists are faced with certain restrictions when creating models for use in real-time. Game hardware, art direction and development time all have an impact. It is the challenge of the 3D artist to make interesting and visually believable characters while dealing with these restrictions. This DVD covers the creation of a low polygon model of a head for a game environment. Topics such as polygon component modeling, poly count, scripts and facial anatomy are discussed.