Why take months to learn every button in 3ds Max when you can create great visuals with just a few key tools? Utilize the tool of choice, 3ds Max 2015, for generating realistic environments, seamless CG effects, and jaw dropping games in a matter of hours. You can use the memory-hogging methods that choke your display and take forever to render, or you can get it done quickly and efficiently.

Michael McCarthy offers a goldmine of artistic inspiration, timesaving tips & tricks, and step-by-step walkthroughs you ll wonder how you every got by without it This new edition has been completely revamped for 3ds Max 2015. Start animating today with detailed tutorials, source files, bitmaps, and video demonstrations all featured on the companion website."

Designed to trick the eye and stimulate the imagination, special effects have changed the way we look at films and the worlds created in them. Computer-generated imagery (CGI), as seen in Hollywood blockbusters like Star Wars, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Independence Day, Men in Black, and The Matrix, is just the latest advance in the evolution of special effects. Even as special effects have been marveled at by millions, this is the first investigation of their broader cultural reception. Moving from an exploration of nineteenth-century popular science and magic to the Hollywood science fiction cinema of our time, Special Effects examines the history, advancements, and connoisseurship of special effects, asking what makes certain types of cinematic effects special, why this matters, and for whom. Michele Pierson shows how popular science magazines, genre filmzines, and computer lifestyle magazines have articulated an aesthetic criticism of this emerging art form and have helped shape how these hugely popular on-screen technological wonders have been viewed by moviegoers.

If you're a Flash designer looking for a solid overview of Flash CS4, this book is for you. Through the use of solid and practical exercises, you will soon master the fundamentals of this fourth edition of the Adobe Flash authoring tool. Using a series of carefully developed tutorials, you will be led from basic Flash CS4 techniques to the point where you can create animations, MP3 players, and customized Flash video players in no time. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of Flash, and then lets you take the reins in a "Your Turn" exercise to create something amazing with what you've learned.

This book focuses on the core skill set you need to feel at home with Flash CS4, and also introduces you to some of the biggest names in today's Flash community through interviews and actual "How To" examples, so you can learn from the masters. You will start by studying the Flash CS4 interface, and while you're at it, you'll be guided toward mastery of the fundamentals, such as movie clips, text, and graphics, which will lead you into some of the more fascinating aspects of Flash, including audio, video, animation, and 3D transformations.

By the time you finish, you will have created an MP3 player and a Flash video player, been introduced to the basics of ActionScript 3.0, learned how to combine Flash with XML, styled Flash text with CSS, created animated scenes, and worked your way through a host of additional projects. All of these exercises are designed to give you the knowledge necessary to master Flash CS4 from the ground up. If you're already a seasoned Flash designer, this book will get you up to speed with the fourth version in relatively short order.

This book covers all of the new Flash CS4 features, such as the new animation and 3D tools, the new Adobe Media Encoder, and a pair of the coolest new additions to the tools panel: a spray brush tool and a deco tool.

You can discover more about this book, download source code, and more at the book's companion website: www.foundationflashcs4.com.

Creating Flash Widgets with Flash CS4 and ActionScript 3.0 is an introduction to developing widgets for the Internet using the features of Flash CS4 and ActionScript 3.0. Many social-networking sites, blogs, and personal home pages have adopted the use of widgets and Flash developers can create and distribute their own widgets for others to use. A step-by-step example demonstrates how to design and develop your own Flash widgets and integrate them with XML. In addition, publishing, promoting, and capitalizing on your Flash widgets is discussed. What you'll learn Using the tools in Flash CS4 Basic differences of ActionScript 3.0 Designing and developing widgets Utilizing XML with widgets Publishing widgets to the Internet Promoting and capitalizing on widgets Who this book is for

Creating Flash Widgets with Flash CS4 and ActionScript 3.0 targets novice to intermediate Flash designers/developers interested in learning how to create and publish widgets for the Internet. Table of Contents Introducing Flash Widgets Migrating to Flash CS4 and ActionScript 3.0 Developing Your First Widget Taking Flash Widgets to the Next Level Publishing, Promoting, and Capitalizing on Your Widgets

Thanks to faster browsers, better web standards support, and more powerful devices, the web now defines the next generation of user interfaces that are fun, practical, fluid, and memorable. The key? Animation. But learning how to create animations is hard, and existing learning material doesn't explain the context of the UI problem that animations are trying to solve. That's where this book comes in. You'll gain a solid technical understanding of how to create awesome animations using CSS and learn how to implement common UI patterns, using practical examples that rely on animations to solve a core problem. Frontend web developers and designers only will learn important technical details, but also how to apply them to solve real-world problems. Create animations found in common user interface implementations, such as bounce after scrolling, expanding search boxes, and content sliders Learn the technical details of working with CSS animations and transitions Use CSS transforms to very animate an element's position, scale, and orientation

The latest edition of this bestselling game development reference offers proven tips and techniques for the real-time rendering of special effects and visualization data that are useful for beginners and seasoned game and graphics programmers alike. Exploring recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of real-time rendering, GPU Pro6: Advanced Rendering Techniques assembles a high-quality collection of cutting-edge techniques for advanced graphics processing unit (GPU) programming. It incorporates contributions from more than 45 experts who cover the latest developments in graphics programming for games and movies. The book covers advanced rendering techniques that run on the DirectX or OpenGL runtimes, as well as on any other runtime with any language available. It details the specific challenges involved in creating games across the most common consumer software platforms such as PCs, video consoles, and mobile devices. The book includes coverage of geometry manipulation; rendering techniques, handheld devices programming, effects in image space, shadows, 3D engine design, graphics-related tools, and environmental effects. It also includes a dedicated section on general purpose GPU programming that covers CUDA, DirectCompute, and OpenCL examples. In color throughout, GPU Pro6 presents ready-to-use ideas and procedures that can help solve many of your daily graphics programming challenges. Example programs with downloadable source code are also provided on the book's CRC Press web page.

Create amazing animated effects such as fiery blazes, rippling water, and magical transformations. Animation guru Joseph Gilland breaks down the world of special effects animation with clear step-by-step diagrams and explanations on how to create the amazing and compelling images you see on the big screen. 'Elemental Magic' is jam-packed with rich, original illustrations from the author himself which help explain and illuminate the technique, philosophy, and approach behind classical hand drawn animated effects and how to apply these skills to your digital projects.

* Create stunning animated effects such as sparkling pixie dust, roaring tidal waves, and raging fires
* Apply the theory behind effects animation to your traditional and digital animation projects
* Written by animated effects guru, Joseph Gilland, who has worked on such feature films as Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, Pochahontas, Tarzan, and Mulan.

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.

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.