RenderMan Tutorials

From a reference picture to the finished shader, these videos will show how to choose the shading models and surface parametrizations to use. We will go over the math and physics involved and how to derive a shader implementation. We will address the issues caused by using raytracing as well as animation whithin the shader and support for use of the shader with Maya's particle system.

We'll begin this project by learning how to export simple, static objects as a RIB Archive and learn how to read them in later and render them out. Eventually we will get into animated characters and learn how to render multiple rib archives out for each frame and also how to read them in using the shape's archive controls. We will also learn how to export shaders and textures and how to compress rib files too.

Popular highlights include: Rendering Displacements; Lights and Shadows; Reflections and Refractions; Motion Samples; Bokeh; Caustics; Point Cloud Based Occlusion; Depth of Field Effects; Global Illumination; Color Bleeding; Creative Uses for CSG; Rendering Fur; Sigma Hiding; Curve Rendering; Image Based Lighting; Sub-Surface Scattering; RenderMan Texture Baking; Custom Passes; Custom Shaders.

Popular highlights include: Displacements; ZBrush Displacements; Normal Maps; Camera Motion Blur Settings; Depth of Field Effects; Controlling Reflections with Sets; Global Illumination; Color Bleeding; Image Based Lighting; Sub-Surface Scattering; Pixar's Deep Shadow; Deep Shadows with Maya Fur; Passes and Outputs; Maya Paint Effects and Post Processes; Custom Shaders; RenderMan Overview.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating passes; Removing passes; Layering passes over each other in After Effects; Different ways to tweak the final look using passes.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating an environment light ; Enabling occlusion ; Creating a Render Radiosity pass ; Changing the Render Radiosity pass Shading Rate. To learn more about RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a comprehensive guide to getting started with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Animating the blades of a mixer; Cycling to infinity without using the graph editor; Enabling Motion Blur in RfM; Adding Motion Samples to a motion blurred object. For a complete overview of RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, an in-depth guide to learning production tested techniques and creating cinematic-quality imagery.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding the rendering attributes to curves; Using Shared Geometric Attributes for a more efficient workflow; Using a bump map and a ramp to fake a rounded surface; Adding Ambient Occlusion to a render. Discover a comprehensive resource to learning RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a comprehensive guide to getting started with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Assigning CSG Attributes to objects; Using the Transform Component tool to randomize geometry; CSG Solid Types; Using Ambient Occlusion with Constructive Solid Geometry. Gain a complete understanding of RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a project-based training solution to learning Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating a new Render Layer; Using Render Layer presets; Changing Render Layer blending modes; Common problems with Render Layers and how to fix them. To learn more about RenderMan for Maya check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a complete guide to learning how to create cinematic-quality imagery with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating new Palettes; Making a new shader and changing its look; Exporting the shader out of SLIM; Importing the shader into RenderMan; Changing the Render Settings to allow for transparent object. For more information on RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, an in-depth guide to giving your work a visual edge.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating new lights for a good sub-surface scattering result; Adding the Subsurface scattering attribute to a shader; Modifying the SSS shader for objects of different sizes; Changing the different colors of the SSS effect. For a complete overview of RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, an in-depth guide to learning production tested techniques and creating cinematic-quality imagery.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding motion blur to a scene; Changing the look of the motion blur by modifying the Shutter Angle; Increasing the quality of the motion blur. Gain a complete understanding of RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a project-based training solution to learning Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating an Environment Light; Fixing common problems with Environment lights; Changing Render and Environment settings to create a quick preview image. Discover a comprehensive resource to learning RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a comprehensive guide to getting started with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Generating high quality shadows; Learning how to use the Deep Shadow system; Understanding Depth Map shadows. To learn more about RenderMan for Maya check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a complete guide to learning how to create cinematic-quality imagery.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating a Pond ; Adding Wake to the Pond ; Creating a displacement map from the Pond by changing the Color Input to Z Gradient ; Using an image sequence as a displacement map ; Creating a stronger displacement by adjusting the Alpha Gain on the file node . For more information on RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, an in-depth guide to giving your work a visual edge.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding a displacement map to a shader; Changing the file node for high detail displacements; Setting the Alpha Gain and the Alpha Offset to capture the entire displacement map; Modifying the Shading Rate in the Render settings for high quality renders. To learn more about RenderMan for Maya, check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a comprehensive guide to getting started with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Using different methods for making a matte; Creating a matte using the shaders Matte Opacity Black Hole mode; Adding a Matte Object RenderMan attribute to the geometry. Gain a complete understanding of RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a project-based training solution to learning Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Discovering the difference between the RenderMan renderer and another software renderer; Creating a NURBS sphere and sub-division cube; Exaggerating with tessellations; Rendering a perfectly smooth surface. Discover a comprehensive resource to learning RenderMan for Maya with Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a comprehensive guide to getting started with Pixar's high quality renderer.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding a subdivide at render time attribute to geometry; Differences between subdivision schemes; Using the alpha channel to check object smoothness in renders. To learn more about RenderMan for Maya check out Introduction to RenderMan for Maya, a complete guide to learning how to create cinematic-quality imagery.