Digital Sets and Backgrounds
This series introduces the essential techniques for creating digital sets and backgrounds, an area of visual effects growing in prominence. In this first disc of a series of three, visual effects designer Eric Hanson reviews architectural design principles then leads into setting up a scene with a tracked camera and live-action plate.
Next, Eric illustrates efficient set modeling techniques using both NURBS and polygons. Finally, the lesson provides a broad review of camerawork, from motion control to camera projection.
Throughout the disc, Eric uses a sample scene of an urban environment to highlight all essential steps. The lecture is designed for all advancing intermediate Maya artists.
Topics Covered
Architectural Design
3D Tracking Issues
Worldspace Issues
Multi-node Camera Setup
NURBS Technique
Polygon Technique
Perspective Correction
Camera Projection Chapters
01. Essentials of Architectural Design
02. Setting Up Your Scene
03. 3D Tracking Setup and Issues
04. Set Modeling Technique w/ NURBS
05. Set Modeling Technique w/ Polygons
06. Misc Modeling Tricks
07. Final Project Design Layout
08. Camerawork Technique
Eric Hanson
Eric Hanson is a visual effects designer specializing in the creation of digital environments and effects for feature films. Having worked with leading effects houses such as Digital Domain, Sony Imageworks, Dream Quest Images, and Walt Disney Feature Animation, his work can be seen in The Day After Tomorrow, Cast Away, Hollow Man, Mission to Mars, Bicentennial Man, Atlantis, Fantasia 2000 and The Fifth Element, as well as many special-venue films.
Eric is also an active instructor, leading courses on effects techniques at Gnomon School of VFX and the USC School of Cinema/TV. Eric is a member of the Visual Effects Society and attended the University of Texas at Austin. He recently published the second edition of his book on Maya techniques for Peachpit Press entitled, "Maya 6 Killer Tips".
He wishes he could sleep more.
Minimum System Requirements
1GHz or faster processor
512 MB RAM
64 MB Video RAM
DVD-ROM Drive
5 GB of hard disk space
1280 x 1024 display
Minimum Operating System Requirements
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional,
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Apple® Mac® OS X 10.2
This DVD-ROM also requires the Quicktime Movie Player (Version 5.0.5 or higher), the Ensharpen Codec (Version 1.0.1 or higher) and Acrobat Reader (Version 5.0 or higher) in order to view its contents.
The web links for these installers are below. If you don't have these items on your computer, please install these items before you launch the DVD-ROM Gnomon Workshop movie.
In this second disc of a series of three, visual effects designer Eric Hanson covers the global illumination revolution, reviewing lighting principles specific to digital sets.
In this third disc of a series of three, Eric Hanson begins with rendering a Maya scene into layers and passes, then leads into the various approaches for professional compositing.
In this continuation of the Digital Sets series, visual effects designer Eric Hanson illustrates a unique and powerful method to capture and re-create natural landscapes within a 3D environment.
