Encyclopedia of Visual Effects - Apple

Foreword by Ron Brinkman.
An impressive lineup of Hollywood
and independent effects pros have pulled together this
compendium of the coolest and most useful effects
from A to Z (Ambient Occlusion Pass to
z-Depth Effects). The book includes everything from practical,
commercial techniques to breakdowns of shots from blockbuster
films. Readers learn from the artists who created
the light sabers for Star Wars: Episode III,
the 3D environments in The Matrix, the matte
paintings for The Lord of the Rings, and
many more. Coverage includes 3D and 2D CG
integration, modeling, animation, rendering, compositing, rotoscoping, tracking, lighting,
and advanced blue screen keying techniques.
Other key
highlights include:
- Chapters on fundamentals give a
solid base for techniques used throughout the book;
- Focused exercises take readers through practical projects;
- Alphabetical listing of techniques provides a comprehensive
field reference;- First-person accounts let readers learn from
VFX masters.
DVD-ROM including lesson files for 80
hours of training.