Lynda.com – Chad Perkins – Element 3D Essential Training [66 WebRip (FLV)]

Element 3D is a third-party plugin that allows actual 3D models to be created from scratch or exported to Adobe After Effects, and rendered and composited at a high level of quality and impressive speed. Element 3D Essential Training walks you through the entire workflow and feature set. Author Chad Perkins starts with an introductory project to get you comfortable with the overall workflow in Element 3D, including transforming objects, applying materials, and lighting scenes. The course then details how to create 3D text and shapes, apply translucency and reflections, animate objects, and polish your projects with effects like ambient occlusion and motion blur. The course concludes with an advanced project that leverages each of these techniques.

Topics include:

Assigning objects to groups
Adjusting basic object transform properties
Creating 3D objects from text and masks
Working with bevel presets
Creating custom materials
Adding illumination
Creating bumps with normal maps
Using replicator shapes
Animating with the animation engine
Creating a shallow depth of field

About the author: Chad Perkins

Chad Perkins Chad Perkins is an award-winning software trainer, an Adobe Certified Instructor and Certified Expert, and a CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer in Seattle, WA. He is an independent filmmaker, editor, motion graphics designer, musician, consultant, iPhone application developer, and award-winning sound designer. He is also the author of several books, including The After Effects Illusionist (Focal Press). Chad has a blog and podcast with his brother and fellow lynda.com author, Todd Perkins, at www.chadandtoddcast.com. For questions, tips, and humorous musings, follow him on Twitter@chad_perkins.