A uniquely cross-disciplinary and cross-experience book written as an accessible guide for people new to storytelling in games, new to games as a practice, and those eager to develop their existing practices & knowledge around storytelling in games. Offers careful, clear, and practical advice for understanding creative writing, in the context of games, and in discovering and developing your own games writing practice. Focuses on writing, not narrative design, as an area underdeveloped in the context of games storytelling.

FLEXIBILITY AND WEIGHT From Richard Williams' The Animator's Survival Kit comes key chapters in mini form. The Animator's Survival Kit is the essential tool for animators. However, sometimes you don't want to carry the hefty expanded edition around with you to your college or studio if you're working on just one aspect of it that day. The Animation Minis take some of the most essential chapters and make them available in smaller, lightweight, hand-bag/backpack size versions. Easy to carry. Easy to study. This Mini focuses on Flexibility and Weight. How do we loosen things up and get snap and vitality into our performance at the same time as keeping the figure stable and solid? The answer: successive breaking of joints to give flexibility. In this mini, Williams stresses the importance of knowing where the weight is on every drawing. He demonstrates that the best way to show weight is to be aware of it, conscious of it, and think about it all the time - knowing where the weight is coming from, where it's traveling over and where it's transferring to.

Learn how to animate using the world's most advanced free software for 3D content creation Key Features * Master the essentials of 3D animation with enjoyable step-by-step exercises * Get inspired by expert techniques used by professional Blender animators * Learn unique Blender insights and secrets that you won't find in its documentation Book Description Blender's supportive community and powerful feature set make it an indispensable tool for creating 3D animations. Completely free and open source, Blender holds its own against other 3D applications that cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. However, learning the software can be a challenge as Blender is known for its complex interface, and animation is not an easy subject to begin with.! If you want to get into 3D animation but don't know where to begin, Realizing 3D Animation in Blender will help you overcome these challenges by taking a practical approach to demystifying both the theories of 3D animation and the many animation workflows specific to Blender. With detailed explanations of exercises and a sharp focus on the animation process, this book will help you learn everything you need to set out on your path to becoming a 3D animator. It's much more than just an introduction. The book covers complex concepts in an easy-to-follow manner, and shows you how to avoid common errors that novice animators are prone to making. By the end of this Blender 3D animation book, you'll have gained the knowledge, experience, and inspiration to start creating impressive 3D animations on your own. What you will learn * Become well-versed with the simple rules of keyframing and interpolation * Understand the function and behavior of Blender's animation curves * Set up object relationships * Pose an advanced character rig * Bring a character to life with Blender 3D character animation * Explore advanced features such as physics simulation * Get to grips with Blender's mysterious non-linear animation tool * Render animations the professional way Who This Book Is For This book guides you in working with Blender's latest animation tools from the ground up. If you have a background in art or animation in other software, this book will help you transition to Blender. You'll find this book useful even if you are new to 3D art. No prior art skills or experience with Blender are necessary to get started.

Well before Ajax and Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation hit the scene, Macromedia offered the first method for building web pages with the responsiveness and functionality of desktop programs with its Flash-based "Rich Internet Applications". Now, new owner Adobe is taking Flash and its powerful capabilities beyond the Web and making it a full-fledged development environment. Rather than focus on theory, the ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook concentrates on the practical application of ActionScript, with more than 300 solutions you can use to solve a wide range of common coding dilemmas. You'll find recipes that show you how to: Detect the user's Flash Player version or their operating system Build custom classes Format dates and currency types Work with strings Build user interface components Work with audio and video Make remote procedure calls using Flash Remoting and web services Load, send, and search XML data And much, much more ...Each code recipe presents the Problem, Solution, and Discussion of how you can use it in other ways or personalize it for your own needs, and why it works. You can quickly locate the recipe that most closely matches your situation and get the solution without reading the whole book to understand the underlying code. Solutions progress from short recipes for small problems to more complex scripts for thornier riddles, and the discussions offer a deeper analysis for resolving similar issues in the future, along with possible design choices and ramifications. You'll even learn how to link modular ActionScript pieces together to create rock-solid solutions for Flex 2 and Flash applications. When you're not sure how ActionScript 3.0 works or how to approach a specific programming dilemma, you can simply pick up the book, flip to the relevant recipe(s), and quickly find the solution you're looking for. Adobe Developer Library is a co-publishing partnership between O'Reilly Media and Adobe Systems, Inc. and is designed to produce the number one information resources for developers who use Adobe technologies. Created in 2006, the Adobe Developer Library is the official source for comprehensive learning solutions to help developers create expressive and interactive web applications that can reach virtually anyone on any platform. With top-notch books and innovative online resources covering the latest in rich Internet application development, the Adobe Developer Library offers expert training and in-depth resources, straight from the source.

We all know what a great tool Flash is for creating dynamic, engaging web content, and Adobe's CS4 release just makes it even better. Among the newer features is the ability to take all the power of Flash for the Web and put in on the desktop using AIR. AIR capability is built right into the Flash CS4 integrated development environment, which means you can start writing desktop applications right away.

This book not only covers the essentials of using Flash with AIR (and AIR with Flash), but also shows you how to extend application functionality in new ways. Once you've got Flash on the desktop, you're no longer constrained by the limitations of running inside a web browser. You'll have access to the local desktop file system, and AIR adds SQLite functionality for native database support. And just as Flash animations have a consistent look and feel across browsers, AIR allows you to create applications that work consistently across operating systemsMac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

For any Flash developer who wants to go from the Web to the desktop (and who doesn't?), this book is required reading. It not only tells you how to do it, but is full of practical, easy-to-follow examples that will have you building desktop AIR applications with Flash in no time. Expanding your existing Flash skills with the Essential Guide to Flash CS4 AIR Development will make you an even more potent and indispensable force on any development team

From Pixar's upcoming film Incredibles 2, this making-of book is a dive back into the beloved world of the Incredibles. The Art of Incredibles 2 explores Pixar's highly anticipated sequel through colorful artwork, energetic character sketches, intriguing storyboards, and spellbinding colorscripts. Featuring gorgeous production art and interesting details from the production team about the making of the film, The Art of Incredibles 2 overflows with insights into the artistic process behind Pixar's engaging creative vision. Copyright (c)2018 Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Pixar. All rights reserved.

Over the past 25 years, Pixar s team of artists, writers, and directors have shaped the world of contemporary animation with their feature films and shorts. From classics such as Toy Story and A Bug s Life to recent masterpieces such as Up, Toy Story 3, and Cars 2, this comprehensive collection offers a behind-the-scenes tour of every Pixar film to date. Featuring a foreword by Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, the complete color scripts for every film published in full for the first time as well as stunning visual development art, The Art of Pixar is a treasure trove of rare artwork and an essential addition to the library of animation fans and Pixar enthusiasts.

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Animate choose Adobe Animate CC Classroom in a Book (2017 release) from Adobe Press. The 10 project-based lessons in this book show users step-by-step the key techniques for working in Animate. Adobe Animate CC provides more expressive tools, powerful controls for animation, and robust support for playback across a wide variety of platforms. Learn how to use and create vector-based brushes for painterly effects. Gain more advanced control over complex animations with the new Camera tool, and learn to focus the action on different parts of the Stage. Support for SVG, WebGL, HTML5 animation and video, and seamless collaboration with other designers and with other Adobe applications through Creative Cloud libraries make Adobe Animate the ideal development environment for creative animation and multimedia. The online companion files include all the necessary assets for readers to complete the projects featured in each chapter as well as ebook updates when Adobe releases new features for Creative Cloud customers. All buyers of the book get full access to the Web Edition: a Web-based version of the complete ebook enhanced with video and interactive multiple-choice quizzes. As always with the Classroom in a Book, Instructor Notes are available for teachers to download.

Design Computing will help you understand the rapidly evolving relationship between computing, designers, and the many different environments they create or work in. The book introduces the topic of design computing, and covers the basics of hardware and software, so you don't need to be an expert. Topics include the fundamentals of digital representation, programming and interfaces for design; the shifting landscape of opportunity and expectation in practice and pedagogy; placing sensors in buildings to measure performance; and the challenge of applying information effectively in design. The book also includes additional reading for those who wish to dig deeper into the subject. Design Computing will provide you with a greater awareness of the issues that permeate the field, opportunities for you to investigate, and perhaps motivation to push the boundaries.

A comprehensive guide to Apple's entry-level editing software from a passionate iMovie fan, this book features a full introduction to the editing process that will help you create professional, unique videos Key Features * Understand the core principles of editing * Leverage cross-platform insights and master iMovie for iOS and iPadOS; and the fully-featured macOS version * Use Keynote to create unique and engaging titles Book Description Complete with step-by-step tutorials for essential tools and concepts - and guides as why you should use them - this is a practical guide to iMovie that will prepare you well for the world of post-production, and the creative process at large. It's not about having the shiniest tools; it's about what you do with them. With this in mind, this book is written to help Apple users get more out of iMovie than you may think possible with free editing software as well as helping you avoid common gotchas. You can then apply the principles of editing, and understanding of common edits, effects, and keyframing - to other editing software. This book begins with an introduction to the principles of editing, and how to apply them to Apple's Magic Movie and Storyboard frameworks. Then you will learn how to navigate iMovie for iOS and iPadOS as well as for macOS, mastering simple editing tools to deliver effective videos from import to export. The final section brings in Keynote to create custom titles and animations, helping you to create a creative brand that makes your video uniquely yours. By the end of this book, you will understand the important principles behind the post-production process. You will also be able to combine iMovie and Keynote for macOS to create high-quality, engaging video projects for different formats. What you will learn * Learn the principles of editing: create, refine and add meaning * Use iMovie's Magic Movie and Storyboard tools to create simple, themed videos * Learn iMovie's 'Magic Timeline' and navigate macOS iMovie with keyboard shortcuts * Create a basic video using the iMovie timeline, using overlays and keyframing effects * Create custom titles and animations for your iMovie project using Keynote * Understand the best export settings for each project; convert videos for alternative aspect ratios * Learn how to solve and common problems with iMovie, and avoid them in future Who This Book Is For If you have an Apple device and have been asked to make a video for your professional environment, this book is the place to turn. Simple, progressive guides will help you master editing principles; using iMovie to create simple but effective videos to inform, educate and entertain your colleagues, friends, and family. This book also provides more advanced users such as YouTubers and other online content creators with valuable tips on how to stamp their unique identity and brand USPs into their videos.

Become 10x more efficient in styling micro content for your social media platforms with DaVinci Resolve 18 by a Blackmagic Design Certified Training Partner Key Features * Enhance your content with Creative editing, VFX composition, color grading, and sound editing techniques * Optimized techniques to generate quick video content to engage and increase your audience * Discover the latest features and hacks of DaVinci Resolve 18 and realize your creative ideas in a fun way Book Description DaVinci Resolve is the world's most trusted name in color grading and has been used to grade more Hollywood films, TV shows, and commercials than anything else. Version 18 enables full capacity to edit, compose VFX, mix sound and deliver for different platforms, including Social Media and the Web. You will learn how to get started using DaVinci Resolve 18 to create video content for Social Media and the Web, whether you are a business owner, influencer, or hobbyist. You will begin by gaining an overview of creating a complete short video for Social Media distribution direct from within the Cut page. You will then learn more advanced editing, VFX composition, color grading, and sound editing techniques to enhance your content even further and fix common video content issues when using consumer cameras or mobile phones. By the end of this book, you will be confident in using DaVinci Resolve to edit, fix, finish and publish short-form video content directly to Social Media sites such as YouTube, Twitter, and Vimeo. What you will learn * Learn to Edit, add effects, and post to social media using the new Cut page * Quickly deliver video projects in a variety of Social Media formats in the Cut page * Fix problems with video, such as stabilizing footage and syncing audio * Enhance the visuals of your videos through color correction and other visual effects techniques * Use the Neural Engine AI in the Studio Version of DaVinci Resolve to speed up your work * Add subtitles and dubbed audio to help your videos reach a wider audience Who This Book Is For This book is intended for the beginner content maker who is looking for quick techniques to improve their work, but it will also be useful for experienced content makers who want to begin using DaVinci Resolve for its more advanced features. It is a useful practical training manual for Social Media Marketers, Influencers, Short Film Makers, Small Business Owners creating their own content, Vloggers, and Film/Media Studies students at schools, colleges, or universities.

Written for the new generation of hobbyists and aspiring game developers, HTML5 Game Development from the Ground Up with Construct 2 shows you how to use the sophisticated yet user-friendly HTML5-based game engine Construct 2 to develop and release polished, two-dimensional games on a multitude of different platforms. The book also covers the foundational knowledge of game analysis and design based on the author's research and teaching experiences at DigiPen Institute of Technology, James Cook University, and other institutions. The author first helps you understand what really matters in games. He guides you in becoming a better game designer from the ground up, being able to play any game critically, and expressing your ideas in a clear and concise format. The book then presents step-by-step tutorials on designing games. It explains how to build an arcade-style game as well as a platformer integrating some physics elements. It also shows you how to create a more complex puzzle game-the author's own published game, Turky on the Run. Lastly, the book discusses different ways to deploy and monetize games across several platforms, including Facebook, iOS, Android, and web-based marketplaces. Sample Construct 2 project files for the games designed in the book are available on the author's website. Integrating hands-on guidance with theoretical game design concepts, this book gives you a solid foundation in game development. It will help you advance in your journey as an indie game developer.

Build real-time animations without expensive equipment using this quick how-to guide printed in full-color Key Features Get the hang of enhancing and polishing character rigs Create quick and effective animations for business or entertainment without having to delve into all the intricacies of the craft Create triggers to customize your animated experience Book DescriptionAdobe Character Animator is a power app for non-animators that provides easy rigging and easy-to- understand tools that enable you to create entertainment or business videos in no time. This guide to Character Animator gives you a comprehensive overview of the app, helping you learn the entire process-from importing a character designed in Adobe Photoshop to animating a sequence. Complete with background art, multiple character rigs and Character Animator project files, this book will show you how to animate a scene in Character Animator from start to finish. Starting with a character PSD from another artist, you'll organize and condense the file to prepare it for rigging and animation. From there, you'll systematically rig the character while exploring advanced behaviors and triggers to animate a complex scene that takes advantage of the app's best features. By the end of this book, you'll be able to create appealing animations in Character Animator for any purpose. What you will learn Assemble rigs in Photoshop for Character Animator Add tags, handles, draggable limbs, swap sets, and physics effects Use a webcam and microphone for lip-syncing, head turns, and other real-time actions Work with multiple characters, scene layers, and audio files Add loopable motions such as walk cycles Record a short animation for export Who this book is forIf you are a beginner in animation and looking to get up and running quickly by creating your own animated scenes, this is the book for you. With just basic computer knowledge and a webcam and microphone connected, you'll be able to follow along effectively. Although not a prerequisite, knowing the principles of animation or having any history with other animation software will be helpful.

A comprehensive introduction to 3D modeling, from the fundamental ideas of topology to in-depth examples that will help you take your projects to the next level Key Features Overcome complex topology problems while working through projects Learn to topologize quad-based and non-quad-based meshes with step-by-step examples Optimize your models by reducing the triangle count to improve performance Book DescriptionThis book is an introduction to modeling and an in-depth look at topology in Blender, written by a Blender topology specialist with years of experience with the software. As you progress through its chapters, you'll conquer the basics of quad-based topology using triangles and Ngons, and learn best practices and things to avoid while modeling and retopologizing. The pages are full of illustrations and examples with in-depth explanations that showcase each step in an easy-to-follow format. Squeaky Clean Topology in Blender starts by introducing you to the user interface and navigation. It then goes through an overview of the modeling techniques and hotkeys that will be necessary to understand the examples. With the modeling basics out of the way, the next stop on our journey is topology. Working through projects like a character and a sci-fi blaster, the book will illustrate and work through complex topology problems, and present solutions to those problems. These examples focus on deforming character models, non-deforming hard surface models, and optimizing these models by reducing the triangle count. By the end of this book, you will be able to identify the general flow of a shape's topology, identify and solve issues in your topology, and come out with a model ready for UV unwrapping, materials, and rigging. What you will learn Identify the general flow of a model's topology, and what might cause issues Understand the topology of a character, and the joints that they make up Handle non-quad based topology Lay out your meshes for UV seams Explore and use hotkeys to get things done faster Optimize models for a reduced triangle count Who this book is forThis book is for character modelers, sculptors, poly modelers, and hard surface modelers. Whether you're looking for an introduction to modeling, optimizing high poly or sculpted models, or just a deeper dive into the subject of topology, this book will walk you through the topology workflow from beginning to end.

Learn all about hard-surface modeling in Blender while creating three increasingly complex projects: an assault rifle, a sci-fi racing ship, and an army tank Key Features Explore Blender's wide array of 3D modeling tools and features with key images printed in color Learn techniques for texturing, rendering, and rigging Employ these lessons to create increasingly complex hard-surface models Book DescriptionBlender is a massively popular and powerful 3D program, with versatile modeling abilities that make it a great way to enter the 3D modelling world. Blender 3D Incredible Models is an extensive guide for those new to hard-surface modeling with Blender, helping you understand the complete range of tools and features it offers and how to employ those efficiently to create realistic models. You'll be led through progressively more challenging modeling projects- from an assault rifle and an army tank to a sci-fi spaceship model-giving you a glimpse of all the skills you'd need in Blender's vast ecosystem of features and functionality, ranging from textures, rendering, and UV mapping to lighting, rigging, and beyond. Each engaging project builds upon the last until you're equipped with everything you need to tackle your own modeling challenges, whatever they may be. By the end of this Blender book, you won't just know how to create the models covered here, but you'll be able to turn your own concepts and references into 3D Blender models too! What you will learn Dive into the fundamental theory behind hard-surface modeling Explore Blender's extensive modeling tools and features Use references to produce sophisticated and accurate models Create models with realistic textures and materials Set up lighting and render your scenes with style Master the use of polygons to make game-optimized models Develop impressive animations by exploring the world of rigging Employ texture painting and modifiers to render the tiniest details Who this book is forThis book is for aspiring 3D artists, animators, architectural visualizers, and game developers looking to learn hard-surface modeling, an essential skill in creative industries. A basic understanding of Blender and its interface, orienting in the 3D Viewport, creating and moving objects, and mesh editing is necessary to get started.

The Essential Guide to Open Source Flash Development is a practical development guide to creating Flash applications with OS Flash tools and workflows. You will walk away with an understanding of what tools will best suit your current situation, making your development easier and more productive, and with a knowledge of how to install and set them up. Open Source Flash has been a revolution for Flash and has made a major impact on how people build Flash content. The Open Source tools available expand on Flash's existing toolset, enabling you to do such things as easily create full 3D in Flash, or hook up to an Open Source video streaming server. Many of these useful tools are powerful yet lack documentation. This book explains in step-by-step detail how to use the most popular of the Open Source Flash tools. Explore the Open Source tools available and learn how to identify which tool you need, and how to best fit it into your workflow. Step-by-step workthroughs guide you through development with the most popular Open Source Flash tools. Written by the project leads and Open Source Flash aficionados. What you'll learn Learn how to integrate Open Source tools with existing commercial tools, and where they fit into your workflow most effectively. Get effective documentation on installation and usage, where currently very little exists in a lot of cases. Combine Open Source tools together in optimized workflows, with many real world examples and tips and tricks. Create high-speed, fully interactive 3D in Flash with Papervision3D. Stream audio and video over the internet using Red5. Exchange data natively in Flash and Flash Lite using SWX. Who is this book for? This book is for Flashdevelopers and designers with an interest in discovering what sort of Open Source products are available, and how they can be used. If you want to expand your Flash toolset and explore the Open Source Flash community then this book is for you. If you already use some Open Source Flash tools, then you will find this book a useful documentation resource as well as an eye-opener to the other tools that are available.

Detailed tutorials meant for beginners to Unreal Engine At-length discussion of Unreal Engine architecture to help build robust knowledge. Special focus on game programming on Unreal Engine

Real-Time Rendering combines fundamental principles with guidance on the latest techniques to provide a complete reference on three-dimensional interactive computer graphics. It will help you increase speed and improve image quality and learn the features and limitations of acceleration algorithms and graphics APIs. This latest fourth edition has been updated to include a chapter on virtual reality and augmented reality and covers new topics such as visual appearance, global illumination, and curves and curved surfaces. It is for anyone serious about computer graphics who wants to learn about algorithms that create synthetic images fast enough that the viewer can interact with a virtual environment. Reviews "This is the book I recommend to everyone starting out in the industry. Not only is it a great reference on so many topics, each topic is covered in impressive depth with great references for further exploration." - Alex Vlachos, Valve "Real-Time Rendering condenses literally thousands of cutting-edge papers, talks, and blogs into a single, easy-to-read volume presenting today's best practices, open problems, and promising state-of-the-art research. A key reference for beginners and experts!" - Chris Wyman, Principal Research Scientist, NVIDIA "Since it was first published, Real-Time Rendering has been an invaluable companion to anyone who wants to keep up with this dynamic field. It combines rigorous coverage of the fundamentals with up-to-date discussion of the latest techniques. The fourth edition is required reading for anyone serious about computer graphics." - Matt Pharr, co-author of Physically Based Rendering: From Theory to Implementation "I built our rendering engine and my career on what I learned in previous editions of Real-Time Rendering. This new edition is carefully updated to represent the current state of our field, and will remain the first resource I check when tackling a new challenge." - Patrick Cozzi, Principal Graphics Architect, Cesium, and co-editor of OpenGL Insights "Real-Time Rendering is the first book I recommend reading to anyone who wants to learn real-time graphics. All the relevant knowledge in one place, and a joy to read, too!" - Aras Pranckevicius, Unity Technologies About the Cover: The cover shows an example of advanced real-time rendering technology used in the 2018 Star Wars (TM) short Reflections, which includes real-time ray tracing of reflections and area light shadows computed on the GPU. The short was produced by Epic Games and built in Unreal Engine in collaboration with ILMxLAB and NVIDIA.

Understand and develop immersive animations along with animated stickers for Telegram using Bodymovin, After Effects and LottieFiles and integrate them in your React Native apps using this color guide to UI animations Key Features Explore key principles of storytelling, 2D digital animation, and design thinking Create animations in After Effects, learn how to export them with both Bodymovin and LottieFiles plugins, and tweak them using the LottieFiles platform Understand how to implement Lottie animations with React Native Book DescriptionLottie is a small and scalable JSON-based animation file. LottieFiles is the platform where Lottie animations can be uploaded, tested, and shared. By combining the LottieFiles plugin and the LottieFiles platform, you'll be able to create stunning animations that are easy to integrate in any device. You'll also see how to use the Bodymovin plugin in After Effects to export your animation to a JSON file. The book starts by giving you an overview of Lottie and LottieFiles. As you keep reading, you'll understand the entire Lottie ecosystem and get hands-on with classic 2D animation principles. You'll also get a step-by-step guided tour to ideate, sketch for storytelling, design an icon that will fulfill the needs and expectations of users based on UX, and finally animate it in Adobe After Effects. This will help you get familiar with the After Effects environment, work with vector shape layers, create and modify keyframes using layer properties, explore path and mask features, and adjust timing easily to create professional-looking animations. By the end of this animation book, you'll be able to create and export your own Lottie animations using After Effects and implement them in mobile apps using React Native. You'll also have an understanding of 2D animation best practices and principles that you can apply in your own projects. What you will learn Get started with Lottie and integrate animations either by creating them from scratch or by downloading them through LottieFiles Explore the key principles of 2D classic animation Understand the basics to create your first animation using After Effects Export your animations into Lottie JSON files through Bodymovin Integrate your very first Lottie icon animation inside your React Native app Control your animation within the app through React APIs, while exploring best practices and common pitfalls Who this book is forThis book is for developers and engineers who are already familiar with React Native, as well as UX and UI designers who want to create their own animations and integrate them with their platforms through React Native. Basic knowledge of JavaScript programming is assumed. Beginner-level illustration skills are also preferred, although not necessary.