Volume Two covers character texturing and shading using Photoshop¬, ZBrush, Bodypaint and Maya, as well as environment creation, lighting and the final composite of the print-res image in Photoshop¬. Jester's 2D line- drawing design does not specify material properties, therefore Alex explores different looks for the various components, settling on weathered leather, metal, cloth and skin. By layering, color correcting and painting over photographic textures, Alex arrives at a photoreal result where each component has its own custom color, bump and specular map. With the character complete, the environment is then designed and created on the fly using Maya and Photoshop¬ for some quick paint- overs to guide the direction. Throughout the making of Jester, Alex shares and explains every step of the process, both technical and aesthetic, making this an invaluable resource for both students and professionals.

• Texturing in Photoshop®
• Maya shaders
• Character Lighting
• Rendering with Mental Ray
• Bodypaint/Maya Workflow
• Environment Creation

Chapters: Disk One
1. BodyPaint / Maya Set-up
2. Texturing, Part 1
3. Texturing, Part 2
4. Texturing, Part 3
5. Texturing, Part 4
6. Texturing, Part 5
7. Texturing, Part 6
8. Texturing, Part 7
9. Texturing, Part 8
10. Texturing, Part 9

Chapters: Disk Two
1. Texturing, Part 10
2. Texturing, Part 11
3. Texturing, Part 12
4. The Environment, Part 1
5. The Environment, Part 2
6. The End is Near, Part 1
7. The End is Near, Part 2

• Product Code: AAL04
• ISBN: 1-59762-881-6
• UPC: 805366016838
• Duration: 625 minutes
• Formats: DVD-ROM

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Alex Alvarez

Founder, Director The Gnomon Workshop
Gnomon School of Visual Effects

Alex is founder and director of The Gnomon Workshop and of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood. Having dedicated the last decade to educating students and professional artists around the world, Alex has helped change the face of computer graphics and design education. He has been published in industry magazines, websites and books - plus he has taught courses at several major trade conferences. Alex is president of the Los Angeles Maya Users Group and sits on the Advisory Boards for Highend3D.com and CGsociety. He continues to work on personal and professional projects, recently as a creature development artist on the James Cameron film Avatar. Prior to Gnomon, Alex worked for Alias|Wavefront as a consultant and trainer for studios in the Los Angeles area. Alex is an alumnus of the Art Center College of Design and the University of Pennsylvania.