Interaction with 3D Environments and Models - 3D Modeling and Animation

Scientific visualization using computer graphics has become a major challenge. Immersion and interaction with a 3D environment and comprising models of infinite size and complexity must be as realistic as possible. Attributes of appearance, perspective, visibility, sounds, illumination, etc. shall be integrated into the environment to enable a sense of presence.

Today, many industries and organizations produce 3D models that are complex from CAD drawings, items such as buildings, production plants, aircraft, ships; - landscapes with GIS; geological data for mineral exploration; medical visualizations; complex simulations, scanned or photo graphically generated; are just some of the 3D models now available.

These complex models can contain millions of 3D primitives and objects, with faces, vertices, dimension and attribute data sets. Data sets can also contain many parameters associated with the 3Dmodel.Accessing these 3D models in real-time can now be achieved using the latest PCs, 3D engines, and using DSL for high bandwidth and low latency.

Real-time processing, acquisition, and visualization with immersive and interaction are possible with high frame rates. Graphics cards and software techniques have been developed to accelerate rendering, etc. of the data sets. Latest PCs with high-end graphics cards provide astounding results.When these 3D Models are used in a 3D environment these techniques enable a sense of presence for the users; this 3D environment enables full 3D movement, with voice, sound, and interaction with objects and other users (up to 32 users can be present).

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=304404

3D Rendering with a Transparent Background - 3D Modeling And Animation

As a graphic designer I sometimes have to render an object with a transparent background. These objects are usually placed in brochures, catalogs and/or advertisements. In Feburary, we were working on a project that required rendered objects instead of photos. The problem we were running into is not having smooth edges on our rendered objects after clipping out the background. So, I came across a technique that allows you to prep 3D objects for Photoshop background clipping. This technique will allow you to create a 3D object with a transparent background. To perform this technique you will need some knowledge in 3D Studio Max R3 and Photoshop 7 and above.

Step 1: First we will begin with an object to render in 3D Studio Max. Choose an object with in your files you wish to clip out the background. Go to preference under the customize tab. In the Preference settings dialoge box under the viewport tab check the Filter Enviroment Background box.

Step 2: Next, go to the render scene dialoge box and set the output size to your specific size. Under render output select the save file box and save your file as a .tga file then render your object.

Step 3: When your rendering is complete open the .tga file in Photoshop. Go to the channels tab and turn off the Alpha 1 layer channel.

Step 4: Now, go to your layers and make your background image layer a layer. Notice the background layer has a red background. Select the magic wand tool and select the red area. Under the select tab go to feather and set the feather weight. Now delete the red background.

Step 5: Save your file as a .tif and be sure the Save as Transparent is checked then click save.

You now have a rendered image saved with a transparent background.

http://www.paragongrafix.com
http://www.lniver2000.com
Creative Design Solutions - Graphic Design, Custom Web Design, Photo Editing
The Shopping Mall - Shop Til' You Drop

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=277092

Jobs In The Video Game Industry - Be A Game Artist - 3D Modeling and Animation

So you’re a gamer. You spend your weekends slaying the Covenant and hunting orcs. You stare into your television set longingly, absolutely enamored by the beautiful artwork that game developers all over the world are able to bring to you right there in your living room. The video game industry is a vast and quickly growing field and if you’ve got the drive and the artistic talent, game design could be the perfect job for you.

Video games are one of the most visual mediums we have. Epic worlds are created, with thousands of details that the casual gamer may never even see. A cast of hundreds, dozens more monsters and villains, and fantastic landscapes and worldscapes populate all of the greatest games. Rightfully, there are hundreds of artists whose job it is every day to design these wondrous images for games. The video game industry is built on the artistic talent of a few very gifted individuals, one of whom could be you.

The most important thing to remember is that you must not only be incredibly talented, but willing to put in the hard work and learn. The video game industry has its own niches and rules just like any other career and when you jump into game design, you’d better be ready to learn them.

It’s only recently that the game industry has even begun to hire special artists. The technology didn’t use to allow for it. But now, every character and building must be carefully designed before it can go into a game. As a game artist, you’ll be working on 3D models, 2D sketches, hand-sculpted models for use in 3D modeling, and much more. You should be prepared for any facet of artistic expression and be fully willing to offer any and all amazing ideas.

Game artists will work directly under the art director and game designer, the two figureheads of game design elements. Generally the job will consist of bringing to life all of the concepts presented by the writers and theorists. But, absolute artistic freedom is not necessarily given to all game artists. You must be flexible in your design, willing to work with the programming limitations of your game.

If you create something you find epic and beautiful and your game designer comes back and tells you that it’s not going to work in the program, or the technology is insufficient, you must be capable of reworking your vision. Game artistry is as much art as it is structured design, almost like architecture. It’s a team effort, in which you give and receive feedback constantly.

Game artistry is just one of many possible jobs in the video game industry. You might find you aren’t comfortable with your artistic talent, or that you’d rather work directly on modeling, or you’d like to be one of those writers. There are many other job options in the video game industry to look into if art design isn’t for you and if you’re set on working in game design, you should check out them all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hitoshi_Jones

The Duties of A Landscaping Architect

Landscaping architects are responsible for landscaping of public and private architectural space. A landscaping architect generates landscaping design ideas and based on these ideas create landscaping plans in the form of technical drawings, sketches etc.

However the task generating landscaping ideas is generally carried out in two ways. the first method is a spontaneous method. This requires a lot of experience and creativity. The second method is fairly simple and anyone can do it with little practice. This method of designing can be termed as analytical method, where the architect reaches the final design solution by trials and errors.

In this method, before the architect generates any primary design sketches, collects raw data with him. The raw data usually may include the following things 1) The dimensions of the plot2) North direction3) Nature and topology of land 9flat or sloping)4) Amount of sunlight, wind5) Direction of sunlight, wind speeds6) Presence of neighboring structures or any other influential factor such as seashore/railway line, highway, etc.7) Quality of soil 8) Access points to the plot9) Most important, requirements of the client

Using this raw data the architect the generates unique ideas from his own experience and creates plans, elevations, sketches using 3d modeling landscaping design software, etc. This is where the duty of the landscaping architect finishes. The construction and execution of the landscaping design is not an architect's job. if the plans have been approved by the client the architect hands over the plans and other drawings such as construction details, quantities to the person who executes the design on site.

The person who executes the entire design according to the drawings provided by the landscaping architect is termed as a "landscaping contractor". The architect's duty includes supervision of the site during execution to see that the landscaping contractor carefully follows the design for necessary dimensions materials, their particular manufacturers, etc. For example if the architect has specified to use “outdoor lights” from only a particular manufacturer, it is mandatory to the landscaping contractor to use them during execution.

Thus the duties of the landscaping architect are wide, starting from the observation of the empty site toe the execution of the complete project till it's final stage.
Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Want more free tips on landscaping architect and his duties? Visit my website http://www.LandscapingDatabase.com to get great free tips to create a stunning landscaping ideas easily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shrinivas_Vaidya

Interaction with 3D Environments and Models =4D? - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

Scientific visualization using 3D computer graphics has become a major challenge. Immersion and interaction with a 3D environment and comprising models of infinite size and complexity shall be as realistic as possible t create a 4D environment. Attributes of appearance, perspective, visibility, sounds, illumination, etc. are integrated into the 3D environment to enable a sense of presence.

Today, many industries and organizations produce 3D models that are complex from CAD drawings, items such as buildings, production plants, aircraft, ships; - landscapes with GIS; geological data for mineral exploration; medical visualizations; complex simulations, scanned or photo graphically generated; are just some of the 3D models now available.

These complex models can contain millions of 3D primitives and objects, with faces, vertices, dimension, and attribute data sets. Data sets can also contain many parameters associated with the 3D model. Accessing these 3D models in real-time can now be achieved using the latest PCs, 3D engines, and using broadband for high bandwidth and low latency procucing a 4D effect.

Real-time processing, acquisition, and visualization with immersive and interaction are possible with high frame rates. Graphics cards and software techniques have been developed to accelerate rendering, etc. of the data sets. Latest PCs with high-end graphics cards provide astounding results.

When 3D Models are used in a 3D environment these techniques enable a sense of presence for the users simulating 4D; this 3D environment enables full 3D movement, with voice, sound, and interaction with objects and other users or avatars (up to 32 users can be present).

To generate these 3D environments and models requires many skills, CAD, graphics artistists/architects, 3D directors, 3D engine script writers and programmers, etc.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=318921

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than an animation is worth a settlement! - 3D Animation 3D Modeling

Courtroom re-enactment though forensic animation can be a very effective tool in persuading a jury to decide in your client's favor. Technology is enhancing civil and criminal litigation, mediations, arbitrations and case depositions in a rapid manner. One study by the National Center for State Courts has determined that 82 percent of trials using 3D modeling as demonstrative evidence have led to victory.

How jurors perceive a witness, speaks directly to their opinion of the witness's character. One study by the ACTA Press stated, "A well designed animation can influence a jurors' interpretation of the participant's activities in terms of perceived aggression, curiosity, jealousy, fear, provocation, relationships, roles and responsibilities, and guilt and innocence." Jurors will become more emotionally connected in the animation as motion, texture, and lighting are rendered in more sophisticated ways.

How Animation can be used:

The development of computer forensic animation prior to deposition will highlight where information and collaboration is required, helping focus questions while eliciting complete information. By displaying 3D modeling during question and answer sessions by asking, "Is this what happened?" Animation will make the facts clearer to the jury. Computer animation helps juries understand in tangible terms what might otherwise remain an abstract concept. Computer forensics and 3D modeling has been proven to be better than any other type of demonstrative evidence according to a United States District Court Judge.

"I have noticed repeatedly that when a document is displayed on the monitors, the jurors sit up and pay attention. Such attention is far greater than that given to a document or situation which they cannot see as it is being discussed by the attorney and the witness."

"As long as technology is beneficial in helping jurors understand the facts and, more importantly, in expediting the trial, few judges will oppose it."

United States District Judge Carl Rubin

Examples of use:

Imagine for a moment a lawyer asking a witness, "If the truck was traveling at 50 miles per hour, and hit the side of the building in this spot, what would happen to the truck?" Working with the right 3D animator, the incident can be re-enacted with the true physics of force, surface texture and speed applied to get an enhanced image of the circumstances.

Demonstrating the intricate details of an accident scene, whether portraying a medical procedure or forensic mechanism of injury, there are virtually no limitations to what can be visualized using computer animation coupled with scientific and statistical evidence.

• 
  A vehicle traveling at X miles per hour vs. Y miles per hour
• If a truck had veered ten feet sooner
• If a vat of chemicals had been placed here vs. there
• If the train operator had really seen or heard the signal
• If the substance was indeed harmless

Recently their was a trial where the plaintiff charged an architect with improperly designing a bridge. The defendant hired a graphic animation designer who took the blueprints, created a sketch drawing and built the bridge with the computer. Then, with the assistance of an engineer, the animator found that the bridge was designed properly. In fact, there had been an accident concerning a car colliding with a support column, which was not reported to the authorities until after the suit began. The animator then re-created the truck accident to show the damage to the bridge and its lingering effects.

Why Use Forensic Animation:

3D computer animations and images remain imbedded in the mind of the viewer long after they are offered as demonstrative evidence. Accidents, models, science or medial scenes, etc. are recreated to scale, through the use of computer animation, from expert or police reports. These animations are both visually presented to the jury. Statistics have shown people in general are much more likely to retain visual information that auditory information such as witness testimony.

A cardinal rule of persuasion or debate is to always show, rather than tell someone what happened. By showing the jury your client's perspective, while the opposing side tells their client's perspective, the jury is much more likely to identify and believe the visual presentation, all things being equal. As the old adage goes: a picture is worth a thousand words, and I would submit if a picture is worth a thousand words, than an animation is worth a settlement!

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=191509

Cartoon Animation - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

Animation is the process of linking a series of slightly different drawings especially, cartoons together to simulate movement. Phenomenon of persistence of vision normally needs 24 frames per second in a frame. If a series of 24 or less cartoon images (slightly changes) run per second it will make a cartoon animation. Cartoon Animation is a combination of two creative arts from cartoonists and animators. Cartoon animations are funniest show ever in electronics media.

Why Cartoon Animations Cartoon animations are merged in film industries as an impact of special effect technologies. The comic characters are graphically designed by the cartoonist with putting expressions and all and animated by animators using certain software tools. The cartoonist draw objects or character based on the storyline and the motion given as per the story directs. Usually cartoon pictures are funny illustrations with a theme behind. Cartoon should strike the viewer and has to provide food for thought. And animation adds life into the same cartoons. Making animated cartoon is tough and challenging job. Maintaining quality of execution of the cartoon and animation are real knowledge of thought on any expression like sorrow, happy as well as the motions into it.

Cartoon Animation is a sequential cartoon pictures with humorous expression based on a concept or story. Voice over is not mandatory in animations. You may or may not add voice over unless it specifies a language. It is a cross-cultural platform, where any concept can be displayed by cartoon characters. Cartoonist and Animators are such peoples, they can develop it. Computer and software help a lot to them to create varieties of animations in website stuff, games, cartoon movies and commercial applications.

Type of Cartoon Animations The cartoon graphics may be 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional models. Due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision makes an optical illusion of motion to corresponding graphics types.

2D Cartoon Animation: Graphics are created on the paper or computer screen using 2D bitmap or 2D vector graphics. 2D graphics are drawn on X-Y coordinate and automated computerized versions of traditional animation techniques such as of twining, morphing, blurring and interpolated. The GUI operating systems improved much of the techniques of 2D animations a lot. Software tools can be used for making 2D animations such as Macromedia Flash, PowerPoint etc. 3D Cartoon Animation: Characters, shapes and objects can be created in the computer using polygons. Three dimensional representations of geometric data is stored in the computer to perform calculations and rendering 2D images and 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2D vector graphics. To give a movement for the object, a digital armature is applied that process is called rigging. Some examples of 3D animations are skeletal animation, Walk through Motion and 3D cartoon shows. 3D cartoon animation has its origin as a presentation and simulation tool for scientific data. This 3D presentation tool has proved to be more powerful and compelling than any other tool available till date. There is few latest technology to fulfill the cartoon animation needs.

AniBoom has been promoting many amazing graphical stuff including cartoon animation. It strives to popularize the varieties, technologies and procedure of making cartoon as well as animation or all together.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=450399

ELECTRIC IMAGE ANIMATION SYSTEM (EIAS) V6.6.1 UB PORT - RELEASED - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

San Antonio, TX - March 9, 2007 - EI Technology Group (EITG), developer and publisher of innovative 3D software products, is proud to announce the release of version 6.6.1 of the Universal Binary version of the Electric Image Animation System (EIAS). The update is now available for immediate download on the EITG website. EIAS 6.6.1 takes advantage of the advancements in the new generation of Intel based Macintosh computers developed by Apple. This optimized update provides astonishing speed and performance improvements over previous EIAS versions on both PowerPC and Intel based Macintosh systems.

"The speed improvement of Electric Image Animation System 6.6 on the new Macintosh Intel computer is simply astonishing," remarks Matt Hoffman, Vice President of Development . "Now with our update to 6.6.1 we have the speed and stability customers expect from our animating and rendering software. EIAS continues to be the world's fastest rendering engine all the while producing some of the most breathtaking imagery in 3D."

EI Technology Group, fresh from new ownership and management restructuring, has been creating great momentum in the 3D marketplace. EITG has also just released a redesigned website online and has targeted 2007 for the release of two new 3D animation products. "EI Technology Group is on the move! We are already well on our way to version 7.0 of EIAS and have begun the development of two new products for the 3D marketplace," says Brad Parscale, CEO of EI Technology Group. "Even after having been involved in the birth of the of the 3D market twelve years ago, I've never been as excited about the future of a company as I am about EI Technology Group."

Pricing and Availability - 
Electric Image Animation System 6.6.1 is available free by download for 6.6 users. EIAS 6.6.1 has a suggested retail price of $695US for full versions and $99US upgrades for EIAS 6.5 customers. Customers with versions prior to 6.0 may upgrade for $399US. For more information or to purchase, visit our new website at http://www.eitechnologygroup.com or call us at 1-210-377-2525.

About EI Technology Group - 
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, EI Technology Group, LLC is a progressive technology company that specializes in the design and distribution of award-winning 3D Animation applications for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. EITG's software has been used in many films and television shows including but not limited to: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Daddy Day Care, K-19: The Widowmaker, Gangs of New York, Austin Powers: Goldmember, Men In Black II, The Bourne Identity, Behind Enemy Lines, Time Machine, Ticker, JAG - Pilot Episode, Spawn, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Galaxy Quest, Mission to Mars, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Titan A.E., U-571, Dinosaur, Terminator 2: Judgement Day - DVD Intro, Jungle Book 2, and Lost In Space. To learn more,

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=449229

3D Animators - Hollywood's Rising Stars - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

Computer Graphics films are now definite players in the movie industry and their role is putting pressure on the traditional film industry, especially highly paid actors and actresses. Movie goers are finding that they get just as much enjoyment out of watching a big green ogre who moves and feels like we do, as they are from Pierce Brosnan or Jennifer Lopez.

In 1995, Toy Story was the first fully CG animated film to be produced and since then, CG movies have been coming thick and fast.

By 2005, 11 feature-length CG movies were released, and this figure was almost doubled in 2006 when the industry exploded, releasing 20 CG films.

But who are the real stars of CG films?

They are the 3D artists. Thanks to computer graphics, 3D animators are now the rising stars and major players in Hollywood.

The role of computer graphics in film has come a long way since Westworld in 1973 when 2D images were first used in a movie. This rapid industry growth means there is lots of opportunity for animators to get work. But the growth appears to depend on the amount of quality animators entering the industry.

The power of the 3D artist was made clear after the 2006 boom when a plateau was met. The number of CG films planned for this year is on a par with last year indicating that the supply of trained 3D animators is not meeting industry demand.

Training Animation Stars

Increased quality education could prove to be the key to growth in this industry. Educators have the job to keep the 3D star rising. If the industry requires educators who produce quality graduates in a short time frame, the trick for educators will be to cut out the theory and teach in an intense industry simulated environment.

Tips to the Potential Star

If you are looking to become a successful 3D Artist and want to work on CG movies, research your training organisation and select one that will help your career rise relatively quickly and with quality.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=483795

3D Modeling for Healthy Forests - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

Forest Vegetation Simulations for Fire Prevention, Healthy Forest and Saving Lives. Grid Response Research for those things, which affect the flow of life on the Surface of the Planet. Let’s discuss the thinning of the forest based on Grid Modeling and ESRI Software ARC Info modeling. We need to look at several layers of overlapping data to take into account many things such as Biomass Thinning and pre-commercial thinning of trucks less than 12 inches.

This modeling takes into account carnivore and plant eating animals, endangered species and other things. It is good because you can take into consideration many layers of data with the ARC INFO Gird Software based on the data of tree height, elevation, GIS coordinates, GPS locations and possible fire hot spots in canyons. As well as potential slide areas and areas of secluded structures or private lands which could be affected and pose potential loss of life. Or areas of extreme fire hazard based on wind speeds in the atmosphere, winds aloft known data and lightening strike data.

Areas of bark beetle and other problems could be thinned as those inferior trees could not sustain. Also areas of prescribed burning which dies kill the underbrush fuel and smaller trees of 4-6 inches in diameter or less, but with flame heights controlled in certain seasons which are not dangerous to do controlled prescribed burns you could keep the forest healthy after removing the above mentioned and harvesting the surplus. Here is the explanation of how to deal with the complexities in computer modeling and simulation of forest policy.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/snfpa/library/arch...ume3/appn_b.pdf
(This Study is old and much of the new studies and software is event better). Such under burning helps the forest and prevents the big burns as we saw recently in California. During years of severe drought certain species of trees in our forest population, take a tremendous hit, in some cases up to 60% of a certain species will be eaten alive by insects. There is no sense in wasting that level of forest destruction.

What we find is that after the bugs come the fires of the dried and dead timber, which burn so hot they kill even the old growth of 60-inch trunks and up burning hotter and nothing survives. Many of these fires are man made. Then next comes the floods and land slides preventing fast growth of new seedlings. Floods are serious and I can certainly remember doing my share of sand bagging the following years after large California Wildfires. Please read the following so you can understand the subject matter before continuing; Regarding the effect of water and droughts on the forest, you must understand the severity of the issues of the issues. We still have severe droughts in Montana, WY, ID, NM and it will be a few more good solid rain years before AZ and CA are out of the woods. Meanwhile due to changes in the Jet Stream flows OR and WA have both been added to the list of drought areas, these states are normally flush with water.

When we allow growth and put out the small natural fires without taking out the dead wood, under growth we make the eventual fires huge with 120 plus tons of fuel sitting ion each acre. I cannot tell you how to get out that much underbrush without putting in a few roads. But I can tell you how to figure out what growth to take and what growth to leave so that you do not have the entire forest burn down. This can be calculated using computer modeling and Lighter than air UAVs can mark the trees to be removed and the most problematic areas for fires, insects, pathogens, flooding, etc.

Healthy forests are pretty important on our Planet, it is obvious that we need them. And there is no reason to let the entire forest go up in smoke just because in our infinite wisdom we have affected the natural flow of things after millions of years of evolution. The latest fire simulations are much better today than in previous years due to the large numbers of people working on this. Here is a paper being prepared which outlines all the variables, which are encountered and can taken into consideration through such modeling.

http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/giscc/units/u130/u130.html
When I first got involved with ESRI ARC Info and Arc Data in 1993 things were taking a new turn. Back then the software was more limited than today as we have better database capabilities.

http://www.rand.org/education/mcarthur/Talks/esri.html
If we take what we learn in wars and fighting the enemies and use such scenarios to fight unhealthy forest areas, insects, drought and water issues, we can prevent the catastrophic fires like we saw recently. Even though we know they have been part of the forest since before mankind has occupied the continent. It is important with these new innovations that we apply high tech tools to help us manage fire risks and good forestry policies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Rewarding Careers In Video Game Design - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

Companies are interested in hiring those people who have a natural instinct of what makes a game good or bad, someone who knows how to design good games, a person who is passionate about playing video games. Secondly, while designing, one comes across many problems so they need someone with good problem solving skills. Last but not the least, companies need a person who can do things efficiently in a very short span of time, because of the fast paced competition in this industry.

Training Requirements

Not everyone can become a video game designer. It requires very specific training from a video game designing school. Many degrees are available online.Colleges and universities offer degree programs and technical training in video games designing. These programs help you to develop various levels in the game from the beginning till the final stages. Technical training includes drawing, characterization, editing, interactive media and game design which strengthens your foundation for video game design.

Working Environment

Working as a video game designer involves working with a team of people from different fields who coordinate different aspects of the game to create a new video game. If you are interested in making a career in this industry you could choose from a wide range of positions. A storyboard or character artist works out the skeleton with sketches and paintings of the different elements of the game. For this you need advanced technical training in graphic design and computer animation, which helps you to put your ideas through.

Animators and character artist produce the characters of the game and give it a real look and feel with the help of 3D programs. Creating a new game is a long process and designing is one of the major stages. The team is made up of a lead designer and other level designers. It is the responsibility of the level designers to create the right environment at different levels of the game for the player. They perceive the design team's vision of the game and create the necessary impact. They have to make the game exciting and engrossing. As the levels change, environment designers give the game a three dimensional quality. Texture artists give the flesh and skin to the various elements of the game. They see to it that the textures are convincingly fitted to their characters.

Programmers make the video game engine run. C++ is the preferred programming language. This is an essential part of video games. AI is helpful in creating different elements of the game. Interface designers create menus heads up display in the game. Sound and audio experts create the required dramatic sound effects of the game and set the right mood. Professional testers deal with bugs and other related problems.

With the help of specialized training in advanced graphic design and your passion for video games you will be able to bring your video game characters to life and use your conceptual skills to bring out the concept envisioned. This will prove to be a valued asset for creating new video games and give you the required cutting edge to succeed in this competitive industry.

http://www.articlecircle.com/career/rewarding-careers-in-video-game-design.html

The World Of Maya - 3D Animation and 3D Modeling

If we are to talk about computer animation and the software associated with it, there is one name we can't afford to miss--that's 'Maya'! Maya is the leading name in 3D animation and rendering software for its high-end features and unique capabilities. Getting its name from the Sanskrit word for 'illusion', Maya indeed lives up to it by its powerfully impressive potential, which have enraptured all the animation-crazy creatures of the present world.

To let you in this world of illusion and Maya, you must know its origin. This is an integrated 3D software package, developed from Alias' Power Animator. Maya has been released in two versions--May Complete and Maya Unlimited (the more advanced version). Many popular feature films of today owe their fame to Maya. For instance, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2: Judgment Day have their fame rested on the power of Maya 3D animation. Maya's originator Alias Research merged with WavefrontTDI and this resulted in great synergies; both combined their best software strengths taking each step closer to the discovery of 'Maya'.

Alias moved the Mac product 'Alias Sketch!' to the SGI platform and modified it further with the code name 'Maya'. This was when this word first came into use. Later, AliasWavefront merger took the Maya saga forward inspiring customers to switch to this high-end product. When Alias was acquired by Autodesk in 2005-2006, this software came to be known as Autodesk Maya.

Maya not just takes prides in its versatile modeler, character animation and visual effects capabilities; it is also strongly popular in video game development. Its node-based architecture helps in creating complex animation and rendering links. Because of its complex functionality, it is quite difficult to learn this. However, Maya tutorials are plenty over the web to help learn comfortably or take guidance.

Maya has also been used in some of the finest animated television shows that time has ever produced. It has a customizable interface which helps in bringing about various high-end visual effects. This is one interesting feature in Maya--its adaptability to third-party software, functioning in the garb of another software. So this precisely explains why Maya is the software of choice in big studios where customized codes are written for production.

With Maya, you are capable of keyframe, nonlinear, and path animation, motion capture animation, skinning, rendering (shading, lighting, and paint effects), constraints, character sets, mental ray rendering, and more. The Unlimited version also helps you to implement cloth, hair, fluid and fur simulation, etc. along with scripting and plug-ins. Maya 3d tutorials are something which you can always fall back on whenever you need guidance or would like to challenge your own understanding of the software. So enjoy being transfixed to this illusion of Maya.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=576551

A Blueprint For Success With Animation And Game Design - 3D Animation and 3D Modeling

One look and it's not hard to tell how much animation and game design play a role in the world of media arts. The number of new technologies all rolling around together in the same pot is what ends up creating the stunning visual effects that leave people wanting more. The only limits there are seem to come with the boundaries of the imagination.

The soaring popularity of video games has a great deal to do with the lifelike animation. Great animation and other elements of game design work together to make the player feel as if he or she is actually in the middle of it all. When this happens, a game is considered to be truly successful.

Rarely does anyone stop and think about all the elements that go into animation and game design. The sleek and finished end product disguises months, if not years, of ground floor concept development all the way to marketing and public relations. Without the individuals behind the project working in cooperation, most concepts would never even get off the floor.

Those who enter the world of animation and gaming often do so because it is their passion. They not only love video games but the many facets of which they can consist. Luckily, there are now many educational options that allow the complete study of this type of media.

As technology continues to evolve, it takes the venues of animation and game design with it. Those who study in this area will not only learn the aspects of such things as CAD and 3D applications, they will continuously update their certifications in the field. A career in gaming and design means being at the forefront, and staying at the forefront, of all the latest technological developments.

Because of the need for high-level skills in 3D modeling or the concepts of game development, entry-level positions to this type of career will require at least a Bachelor's degree. Prospective employers of the gaming world are looking to be the best and want employees who walk in the door with phenomenal skills. Exceptional skills coupled with passion make for the most winning combination.

A Bachelor's degree is what gives students a foundation in the basic elements of both gaming and design along with their practical applications. From developing a story to character design and modeling, this is where many students begin to develop their portfolios. In no time, many find they are able to branch out into various areas of the career path that suits them best.

A Master's degree allows an individual to combine their experience and education to handle the responsibilities of running entire departments. Ensuring the collaboration of different departments is always a necessary aspect of game development. From visual concept development to public relations, each plays a very necessary role in ensuring a game's success.

Those who choose this vocation often do well because their job brings them such a high level of personal fulfillment. It is also a field that is growing by leaps and bounds and has a very solid future. A career that has such a strong foundation in technology can also mean a higher starting salary than other careers.

Animation and game design is an area that is catching on like wildfire. A laid-back field, rarely will one be required to wear a shirt and tie to work. At the same time, it is one of the most competitive occupations, requiring the best in high tech skills. In this vocation, individuals combine their passion and their career and that is the very recipe to their inevitable success.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=558216

3d Studio Max - 3D Animation and 3D Modeling

3d Studio Max is the de facto industry standard animation and modeling software.3D Studio Max is quite expensive so it can be out of the reach of the pockets of a lot of amateurs; however the software is worth every penny to a serious animation professional as nothing comes close for functionality, versatility and sheer features.

Whether done by hand or computer, animation can be a long winded and pain-staking process, in which there are many steps which would need to be executed before the final objectives and finished project have been realized. Before even doing your story boards, you need to create and understand the characters, from their appearance, through to their facial expressions, through to their personality and appearance. Once this understanding of the characters has been established, only then is the animator ready to start the story boards. A time consuming process which must take place before the 3d Studio Max animation stage even begins.

In any animation, a crucial point is the “walk cycle”. The “Walk Cycle” is a cycle of frames showing the subject taking 2 steps from a set perspective, a right foot and a left foot. Over and over again, this is repeated over and over again with the result being that the subject is walking. At this stage, we can have the subject walking through any environment, which is one of the huge advantages of 3d Studio Max over outdated, manual hand animation techniques. Also, with 3D Studio Max, it’s easy to change the perspective without having to redraw everything, drastically cutting down on the work needing to be performed.

Instead of just drawing a picture of the subject doing certain things, with the 3d Studio Max animation program you can create a model of the subject in 3 dimensions, which is almost like having a real actor as you can record the animation from any perspective without having to redraw it; which, when making a full feature, is the perfect technological innovation.

The minus side to 3d animation programs is their glassy, shinny look. There isn’t that sense of individual style like one would get with hand drawn animations and this can mean that there is that there is a similar look no matter which artist designs the animation. 3d Studio Max is great for modeling backgrounds in a feature, but it won’t replace hand drawn subjects fully.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Barnett

How to Set Up A 3D Design Studio Using Only Free Software - 3D animation - 3D Modeling

3D Graphics creations are often perceived as requiring costly software. Well, this is not always the case because the internet is really a place loaded with free goodies waiting to be utilized. With the relevant skill, a designer or artist can produce works (using these free tools) that are comparable to what professional tools can do.

I will show you how to start a professional 3D graphic design studio using only free software. To produce credible 3D graphics, the tools must be able to perform the various functions namely:

1. Modelling

2. Rendering

3. Animation

4. Image editing

5. Texture creation

Well, we need to substitute commercial tools with their free and or open source equivalents.
The following is a reference to the various free 3D and graphics related resources that can be downloaded from the net.

For 3D modelling, rendering and animation there are at least 2 excellent free alternatives. They are Blender 3D and Truespace 3.2. You can get Blender 3D from www.blender3d.com. Truespace 3.2 can be downloaded from www.caligari.com which is the homepage of Truespace's maker.

For purely dedicated 3D modeling, Wing3D is an easy to use yet very powerful tool. You can get this 3D modeling software from www.wings3d.com. What you need to do, is to model your stuffs on this software and then export then to either Blender3D or Truespace. File formats such as 3D Studio (3DS) , Wavefront (OBJ) and VRML (WRL) are all supported by Wings3D and can be used for exporting 3D models (created in Wings3D) to other 3D programs such as Blender3D and Truespace.

For image editing and texture creation, Gimp is a most excellent tool. This is a very powerful image editing tool. It supports layers like most professional image editors. Its many filters are excellent for creating textures and image maps for 3D models. Gimp can be downloaded from www.gimp.org.

Less well-known than Gimp but very delightful to use is Pixia. This is a Japanese software. Fortunately there is an English version. This tool is excellent for painting and is thus useful for creating image maps for 3D models. Pixia can be downloaded from http://park18.wakwak.com/~pixia/.

Well, these are the free equivalents that can perform the work of commercial tools. Commercial software may be more convenient and easier to use, nevertheless these free tools can get the job done too. So, if you are on a tight budget, this may be the route to go.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=445438

How to Make 3D Video Game Models - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

A 3d Model is a three-dimensional object you put into a video game. The most common model is that of the player in the game. But it can also be almost anything else you can imagine. Here is an overview of how you make 3D models for video games.

When you make a video game most of the design is done the same way an architect would design a city or a building. It is all very static. You define the shapes of the objects then you insert textures and colors. But this is just the static world that everything happens inside. The real adventure of a video game comes when the models are inserted into the game. And if you are learning how to make a video game using some of the more common software like Reality Factory you don’t have a whole lot of options for making models. This is where 3D modeling software comes in.

To Make a 3D Model you need some 3D modeling software

There are many different modeling software applications and most of them are very suitable for making models for games. Some of the more popular packages are:

• Maya – A high end 3d modeling package, which is used by professionals and often, used to make movies. It also has a scaled down version which is more affordable

• 3Ds Max – Another high end modeling package that is very popular within the game making industry

• Lightwave – This is a professional package at a reasonable cost. If you are serious about 3d modeling this is a good option

• Blender – This is a free open source software package that has some amazing abilities. If you have no budget this is the way to go.

• Milkshape 3D – Very inexpensive and easy to use 3d modeling package. They have a nice 30-day free trial period which gives you then chance to learn and test before you buy.

How is a 3D model made?

There are a few different paths to making a model for a video game. Here is a generic overview of the process steps.

• You design a skeleton of your model. Think of this as the bones and joints underneath. You won’t see any of this when you play the game but these bones and joints are very necessary because they tell the game how the model moves. Exactly the same way your bones and joints define how you move.

• You design a colorless and texture-less skin around the bones and joints. This is how your model will look in shape.

• You color in the skin to get the exact look of the model. This is the details of the model. You make the final look here by putting in eyes, clothes, or anything else.

• You define how your model will behave. You tell the model what joints will move in what directions. This is a big time saver with modeling software because you just tell it the beginning and ending locations and the software draws in all the middle steps.

• You export the model into a format that video game design software understands. 3D modeling software has this export tool built in and most programs will export to a wide variety of formats for lots of game development software.

Making 3D video game models is not a really hard process and in no time you can make some nice models for your games. But, modeling is a profession that some people devote full time efforts to. If you want to get really good at modeling you are going to have to put in many hours of practice and you are going to have to develop your talents as an artist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Kalif

Computer Animation Takes The Lead - 3D Animation - 3D Modeling

There’s really no stopping the various types of media from going high-tech. Technology used from the broadcast and print media to the multimedia is advancing almost every day. Animation in the movies and television is just one example.

Animation is responsible for the funny, adorable and sometimes tough cartoon characters we love to see on TV and in the movies. Before, it the making of cartoons was just done manually (drawn by hand) but now, computer animation is the latest trend. Walt Disney used to be synonymous to cartoons but today, numerous companies have gotten into the business of animation. The latest buzz is that Disney Animation officers are planning to return the Walt Disney studios in Burbank, California to its original status as an exclusive hand-drawn animation company. “Lilo and Stitch” was Disney’s last hand-drawn and big hit animated film.

Computer animation makes use of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. When used in films, it is referred to as computer generated imagery or imaging (CGI). This digital technology has somehow replaced the stop motion animation of 3D models and frame-by-frame animation of two-dimensional illustrations.

In making 3D animations, objects or models are normally built on the computer monitor and 3D figures are manipulated with a so-called virtual skeleton. For 2D animations, separate drawings and separate transparent layers are used even without a virtual skeleton.

Computer-animated films usually cover animal characters such as in “Finding Nemo,” fantasy characters like “Shrek” and “Monsters, Inc.” as well as humans that are still cartoons such as “The Incredibles.” A more realistic simulation of humans has been attempted via the movie “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” but it needs further improvement.

Other than the U.S., another highly-developed country that has a great fascination for animation is Japan. Anime (short for animation) in Japan became famous because of its unique format of storytelling compared to the country’s live-action industry. Japan is known for its robot anime like the Gundam, Voltes V and Mazinger Z that became classics in the 1980s. The origin of Japanese anime can be traced to the early 20th century when Yamamoto explored the techniques in animation that were being done in Germany, France, Russia and the United States at that time. Anime has also been greatly influenced by the Japanese manga and light novels and covers genres such as action, adventure, children’s stories, drama, comedy, fantasy, horror, science fiction and romance.

Animation companies actually have a staff of creative people who can really draw well. Some of them have also outsourced their services and have put up offices in countries whose citizens are blessed with great talent in drawing and have a passion for animation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Nicosia

3D Racing Games Mania - 3D Animation -3D Modeling - 3D Game

The construction and graphics of computer games have evolved amazingly in the last decade mainly due to the development of better, more powerful computer hardware components that could support the kind of racing games the developers had in mind. Although most of the famous car racing games have been in 3D for years, if you search the worldwide Internet you can find some very funny, very interesting smaller 3D racing games.

A small, funny 3D racing game that you can play by yourself of with multiple players using LAN is a game where you have to race against seven opponents. No cars, no boats, no vehicles of any kind, just you, a couple of maps, the desert or jungle and your six opponents. Among other interesting 3D racing games you will find Freeride Thrash where you race against the computer in a spaceship that takes you flying through tunnels or sliding around twisted tracks. It is a very fun racing game to play and if you try your very best maybe the computer won’t beat you.

Have you ever raced in a barrel? Well, here’s your chance! The list of funny 3D racing games continues with this twenty levels racing game that has you rolling down the highway at amazing speed. The goal is not to touch the sides of the road and crash into as many enemy cars as you can find.

But, in the end, 3D is most appreciated when power vehicles are racing so the Aquadelic 3D power boat racing game designed especially for the 2005 Becherovka Game contest has to be present on this list of 3D racing games. This racing game comes in single player as well as multiplayer versions. In the single player version you race against the computer and only one of the four different power boats is available to you. However, if you win you can unlock the other three. There are three different types of racing in single mode: you can race opponents (no more than three), you can race against the best time of an opponent or you can freestyle. In multiplayer mode this racing game can be played by four players at the most and they can only race or freestyle.

Even though the 3D racing games involving power vehicles are much more popular, there are still some smaller, creative 3D racing games that can be a lot of fun to play.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Rad

3D Animation - 3D Modeling -3Ds Max - Glass Building Modeling - Glass Material

3D Animation - 3D Modeling -3Ds Max - Glass Building Modeling - Glass Material

3D Animation - 3D Modeling -3Ds Max - Glass Building Modeling - Glass Material

3D Animation - 3D Modeling -3Ds Max - Glass Building Modeling - Glass Material

3d Animation - 3d Modeling -Architectural outsourcing

The outsourcing industry worldwide is booming. There are very few Information Technology sectors which are not into outsourcing. The question arises, that when everybody is jumping on the outsourcing bandwagon for obvious benefits, then why not the construction and real estate industry.

One aspect where the real estate industry can immediately benefit is in outsourcing designing of 3d models or renders of their present and future projects. It is widely acknowledged that the 3d representation of a real estate venture creates a stunning impression in the mind of the buyers, if designed appropriately.

Today, architects and builders recruit in-house designers who design 3d models for them. But then most of these people are not 3d specialists, not at least specialists in designing 3d models for real estate ventures. To achieve this purpose one needs the help of civil engineers, architects and designers working in tandem. Also, the cost of outsourcing this work is much less than compared to getting it executed in-house.

Also, to allocate resources to 3d modeling is a problamatic affair for such consultants and companies as their core business is construction and not 3d design.

To tap this opportunity many companies have emerged worldwide who specialize specifically in 3d modeling. For an architect or builder to outsource such work to these specialist companies, is a proposition of significant benefits. Not only it saves them costs but also takes the headache off their shoulders.

Also, the architectural expertise and the design expertise of 3d modeling companies can be combined to create life-like models which would be utilized on the project website, brochures and other sale materials. After all, a real estate venture is not a virtual commodity and folks would like to have a glimpse of the future before they invest.

Many architects have already realized this and a significant amount of work is being outsourced. Its time others realize it too and make a head start.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=88663

architectural outsourcing by amit khemka

3D Modeling - 3Ds Max - House Modeling

3D Modeling - 3Ds Max - House Modeling

5 Ways To Be More Efficient in 3d Studio Max

If you have ever used 3d Studio Max you know that using the software can be challenging. Many problems can arise that interfere with efficiently using the software. Getting used to the graphical user interface, lighting, texturing and rendering all pose their challenges. Even the experienced users can find themselves stuck trying to remember 3d Studio Max’s comprehensive interface or waiting hours for a render. Because of these problems, efficiency can suffer and many users can find themselves taking three or four more steps than needed. Luckily there are ways to become more efficient using 3d Studio Max.

1. Learn hotkeys

This may seem like an obvious one, but using hotkeys are the quickest way to efficiency in 3ds Max. You should learn the hotkeys for anything you consistently do in 3ds Max. The best way to learn a hotkey is to literally stop what you are doing, and actually learn the hotkey. Write it down and keep a cheat sheet near your workstation. Eventually using hotkeys will become second nature to you. For example of the top of my head I know that ALT W will maximize your view port, T, L, F, and P will toggle to top, left, front and perspective view, M will bring up the material browser, and F10 brings up the render scene dialogue box. If you only learn 2 hotkeys though, learn CTRL Z (undo) and CTRL S (save), not only is this good habit, but doing this will immediately save you a lot of time.

2. Save often.

Again, I am stating the obvious but computers crash a lot. Get used to saving often, every 5 minutes. One of the biggest mistakes made is not saving work. Imagine working hours on a model and then suddenly having 3ds Max crash. Now imagine that you never saved your work. You either have to start all over or rely on 3d Studio Max’s autoback feature. Being the good 3d Artists that you are though, you saved your project every 5 minutes. Now you aren’t at the mercy of 3d Studio Max’s autobacking feature and you can continue working on your model.

3. Save Multiple Versions

There are several reasons to save multiple versions of your work. One reason is that 3ds Max files can sometimes get corrupted in the process of saving work. Once this happens, it is impossible to ever open that file again. Another reason is that it is a good way to keep phases of your work. Anytime I am doing a detailed project, I usually have 11 versions of the same project. This is useful if you have messed up and you are too far to go back using undo. You can just simply go back to a former version. If 11 versions seems a bit much for you, can also save 3 different versions and alternate overwriting each version every time you save. Doing this can save yourself a lot of heartache and tears.

4. Make good use of your computers memory

3d Studio max is definitely a powerful program that can handle tons of complex mathematical equations. Learn what you computer can handle. If you have a supercomputer that can handle tons of raytracing and advanced lighting then use it. If you know your computer will crash with too much advanced effects, then try to avoid using those. Not only learn the limitations of your computer but learn to compromise when render time is taking too long. If you can barely tell the difference between a 30 second render and a 3 minute render, then you should probably go with the 30 second render.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

The best way to become more efficient in 3d studio max is to just simply practice. The more you get involved in the program, the more you will learn. For example, the first time you model a human face it may take you 3 weeks. By the fifth time you might be able to do it in 2 hours, because you already know where you are going, 5 steps ahead. Write down anything that might help you in the future. Eventually you will have a lot of information committed to memory through repetition and you will be extremely efficient.

These are just a few of many tips to help increase efficiency in 3ds max. Remember the more you can do to eliminate unnecessary steps, the easy your life will become.

This article was brought to you by www.chrishusein.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Husein

Animation Software

Animation software make ease to a novice to expert animator to make animations. The features are very flexible and user-friendly for animator. The online help guides to the user at any point of time while operating the software. The software should run in a specified computer machine. There are separate software for 2 dimensional (2D) animations and 3 dimensional (3D) animations. There are lots of animation software are available in market. Many open source animation software are widely published and available for a trial use for certain period. If a user likes it for further use can purchase from the builder.

2D Animation Software Features:

Creating Content feature offers intuitive and easy-to-use to animators for your story. In addition to onion-skinning features, a customizable grid and auto gap-closing helps to the animators. Automated lip-sync saves time for creative minds that offers fully automated lip-syncing capabilities.

Building a template Library for organizing, saving and re-using all of your assets and animations with template library is easy to use and can contain all kinds of media files like movies, photo collections, artwork from leading software packages including SWF, AI, PDF, JPEG, PSD, TGA and GIF file formats.

Animating Elements make the animation process as easy as 1-2-3. The transform tool allows the user to animate motion, scaling, rotation and skewing using automatic key frame insertion into the time line.

Scene Layout can be taken only seconds to populate a scene with templates by using drag-and-drop and scene planning tools. Create Camera Moves in a virtual 3D environment to set the action. Drop Shadow feature adds astonishing special effects to scene. Create convincing animation special effects with ease no matter how complicated the animations are.

Publish or compiling creates high quality animation for the Web, PDAs, iPods, cell phones, TV, HDTV and including SWF, AVI, QuickTime, DV Streams, image sequences and more.

Standard Computer System Requirements from 2D Animation software:

For Macintosh the specification are Power Macintosh G5, G4 (Minimum), or Intel® CoreTM processors Mac OS X v10.4.7, 512 MB Ram (or bigger), 256 MB (or more), 120 MB of available hard disk space, 24-bit color display, with 64 MB (Recommended)or 8 MB (Minimum) video RAM, capable of 1024x768 resolution.

For PC System specifications are 800 MHz Intel Pentium III processor (Minimum) with Microsoft Windows XP or 2000, 512 MB Ram (Recommended), 256 MB (or more), 120 MB of available hard disk space, 24-bit color display with 32 MB Video RAM or more, Capable of 1024x768 Resolution.

3D Animation Software Features:

3D Modeler, TrueType font support, Import and modify file formats, Export .3DS files, Built in 3D Object browser, Jointed character editor, Morph targets, Renderer for high quality, production quality images, Create 3D scenes and animations and output .AVI movie files, .JPG and .BMP images, Supports textures, bump maps, soft shadows, spotlights, fog, and much more, Texture support for .BMP, .GIF, and .JPG format files, Scripting language etc.

Standard Computer System Requirements from 3D Animation software:

Windows NT4, Win95, Win98, WinSE, Win2K, or WinXP, OpenGL accelerated graphics card with full ICD support, (ala GeForce), 64 MB memory, 128MB recommended, or 256MB if you use WinXP, 300 MHz Pentium, 5MB disk space.

Some popular animation software:

Ulead Animation, Ulead GIF Animator 5, CoffeeCup Animation Software, CoffeeCup GIF Animator, CoffeeCup Firestarter, Firestarter, Reallusion Animation Software, Effect3D Studio, 3D Max, Toonboom Studio, Macromedia Flash.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shakir_A.

Animation School

If you really love animation and want to make it a career, you've probably considered attending a full time animation school, as well as some alternatives such as online schools or six week crash courses. Some of the animation degrees available include an AS (Associate of Science), BS (Bachelor of Science) and BA (Bachelor of Arts), and most will allow for specialization in certain areas such as game design.

With a computer animation degree, you will be able to advance your skills in 3D modeling, character design, animation as well as developing the content of your game. Once you have these skills, all you need is a bit of creativity to capitalize on this growing industry.

Your choice of institution will probably be influenced by financial and time constraint considerations to some extent, but attending a reputable, well-known, high-quality full time school can pay dividends when it comes time to get a job. If you look on the well-known computer animation studio Pixar's website, you'll see that they list a number of computer graphics and animation schools.

Some major animation studios even provide part time teachers for some of the schools.
Another possible advantage of attending one of these schools is the opportunity to network and apply for internships with these major studios. Having been an intern and performed superbly will give you an edge over applicants who may have similar qualifications but are personally unknown at that studio. Of course, any industry contacts you might make during your internship can prove invaluable toward career advancement.

If you have a natural talent with computer animation, then you should capitalize on that talent by getting a computer animation degree. This degree program will take your previous skills and turn them into talents that employers are seeking. It will also help you build your portfolio to make you more appealing to potential employers. Video game design can be a tough market. Securing a computer animation degree will help you gain a career that will be exciting and rewarding.

Once you have your animation degree, you'll just head on over to Pixar and get a job, right? Unfortunately, it's unlikely to happen that way.So, while it's certainly not no cakewalk to get a good animation job, attending a quality animation school, working as hard as possible while there, and taking a flexible career path can get you off to a great start on your dream career.

3D Animation Magazines

Computer Graphics World
It covers new product announcements, CG news, and stories relating to the many ways that film and game makers are incorporating computer graphics into their medium

Animation Magazine
Their tag-line is “The Business, Technology & Art of Animation” This magazine is similar to CGW in the type of content covered, but a little more wide ranging. Animation Magazine is divided up into sections based on different segments of the industry. The regulars are: Frame-by-Frame (an event calendar), Gaming, Feature Film, Home Entertainment (direct-to-DVD productions), Television, Licensing, VFX, and Opportunities (information for students and job seekers trying to get into the industry

3DWorld
This magazine has been a longtime staple of the 3D animation industry. They focus on how-to articles and the technical aspects of 3D and animation. They cover all the major 3D apps, Maya, XSI, LightWave, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D, and others. Each issue also comes with a CD that generally contains software, models, or source files

HDRI 3D
HDRI 3D is the combining of resources from both Keyframe Magazine and Highend Magaine. The publisher, DMG, decided that they could better serve their customers by doing this and I think that they were right. This is a wonderful resource for the industry. HDRI 3D generally has a feature story and then dedicates the rest of it’s pages to tutorials. They cover a wide range of applications as well as tutorials.

Source :akseezanimation.com

The Animation Book List

Books from Amazon.com

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life
By Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

"Designing Cartoon Characters For Animation"
& "Layout and Design Made Amazingly Simple"
By Brian Lemay

"Animation from Script to Screen "
By Culhane

"How to Draw Batman"
By Ty Templeton

"How to Draw Tarzan"
Walter Foster Publishing

"Animation"
& "How To Animate Film Cartoons"
(also compiled into "Cartoon Animation")
By Preston Blair

Digital Character Animation
By George Maestri

"The Animator's Workbook"
By Tony White

"Principles Of Tradition Animation Applied To 3D Computer Animation"
By John Lasseter

"Timing For Animation"
By Harold Whitaker, John Halas

3D Modeling Software

Commercial Modelers

Maya

ElectricImage Universe

Cinema 4D

Lightwave

3D Studio Max

Form-Z

Freeware/Shareware Modelers

ClayScape 3D

Blender

Wings 3D

Milkshape 3D

TrueSpace

Best Animation Schools

DeVry University
ITT Tech
ITT Tech Online
The Art Institute
Animation & Video Game Design Programs
Game Art & Design Program
Digital Media Arts College
Boca Raton, Florida
Westwood College of Technology - Online
Collins College
3D Training Institute
Ex'pression College for Digital Arts
Westwood Online
Westwood Campus
IADT - Toronto
IADT - Tampa
Brooks College
Long Beach, CA
Platt College
Los Angeles, CA
Illinois Institute of Art
Academy of Art College
The Art Institute of Phoenix
Art Institute International
The Art Institute of California
The Art Institute of California
Animation Mentor
California Design College
Art Center College of Design
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Pratt Institute
San Francisco State University
Savannah College of Art and Design
John Hopkins University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Skidmore College