We'll start the tutorial by giving you the foundational skills and vocabulary you'll need in order to move around within Softimage, and then we'll jump right into the Modeling section of the tutorial. After completing the Modeling section, you'll get the chance try your hand at Texturing, Rigging, Animation, ICE Dynamics, and finally, Lighting and Rendering your own animation. Our goal is not to weigh you down with technical information, but rather to help you develop good workflow habits and allow you to reach a point where you can be very comfortable using Softimage.

Having a solid understanding of the features of mental ray is a crucial step toward becoming an efficient and productive rendering artist in Softimage. We will begin our tutorial by learning several methods for simulating realistic indirect lighting in Softimage, such as global illumination, final gather, as well as Importons and Irradiance Particles. We will also explore the use of caustics to simulate the light patterns created as light passes through refractive surfaces. In addition, we will also explore Image-based lighting techniques, camera and environment shaders, utilizing render passes and render channels, as well as many other tools and techniques that will allow you start rendering high quality work for a multitude of projects.

Understanding how the various lighting tools in Softimage work and behave is a very important skill for anyone who is getting started with this 3D application. In this series of tutorials, we will discuss the different types of 3D lights found in Softimage, and methods for easily aiming and controlling your lights. We will also explore some of the specialized attributes found in certain light types, we will discuss the different types of shadows available in Softimage, we will see how we can add depth and mood to our scenes though the use of volumetric light rays, as well as many other lighting tools and concepts that will help you establish a solid foundation in Softimage.

We’ll start off by covering what ICE is and what it is used for. We'll then take a look at working in the ICE tree so you learn how to use ICE in your own projects. After that, you’ll learn how to add forces to particle and create compounds. To wrap up this project, we'll go over how to work with Strands and Lagoa. This series of step-by-step videos were developed with artists new to ICE in mind so we will be moving at a steady, easy-to-follow pace making sure you understand terms and basic techniques. To view more Beginner’s Guide courses; visit our library where you'll find the largest collection of free, high-quality CG training videos.

Introducing the Beginner Guide to Animation in Softimage. In this course, we will start off by covering some ways we can view animation in Softimage. We will then take a look at how to create and edit keyframes on the Softimage timeline. After that, you will learn about Softimage's Animation Editor. And to wrap up this project, we will go over how to create a quick renders of your animations with captures. By the end of the course, you will understand essential terms and definitions and build a solid foundation for animating in Softimage.

Introducing the Beginner Guide to Rigging in Softimage. In this tutorial, we will start off by covering the most basic form of rigging, parenting. We will then take a look at how to modify the pivot of an object and how to work with transform groups. After that, you will learn about bones, inverse kinematics, and control objects. And to wrap up this project, we will go over the Softimage enveloping process for skin deformations. By the end of the course, you will understand essential terms and definitions and build a solid foundation for rigging in Softimage.

We will start the tutorial off by explaining what a shading network is, and why is it such a powerful way to work. We will then begin exploring the Material Manager, which is where you will be creating your Softimage shading networks and we will be covering many of the features, the workflows, and the concepts that will allow you to successfully begin creating your own shading networks in Softimage.

We'll begin this project by learning the basic concepts behind ICE such as the main uses of ICE, the basic workflow of ICE and how ICE nodes work together. We'll then learn about the various data types and the importance of context while working in ICE. Once we understand the ideas behind ICE, we will take a few lessons to familiarize ourselves with the Softimage interface. Then we will begin building a particle simulation from the ground up and learn about various ICE nodes and workflows. We'll finish by rendering out an image sequence of our finished particle simulation. This series of lessons was designed to launch someone who has never touched Softimage into being comfortable with the interface and working with ICE. This will allow us to create particle simulations in ICE quickly and easily and begin exploring this powerful platform.

Popular highlights include: In-depth Overview of XSI Interface; Navigation and Tools; Customizing User Experience; Polygon Modeling Workflows; Extruding Faces and Edges; Extracting Geometry; Assigning Materials and Textures; Material Manager; Creating Shader Networks with Render Tree; Texture Layer Editor; UV Projections and Sub-projections; Creating Custom Shelves and Toolbars; Rotoscope Preparation; Lights and Shadow Types; Creating ICE Tree Networks; Applying Dynamic Forces to ICE Particles; Building Particle Volume Shaders for Rendering; Deformers; Path Animation; Parenting Objects; Utilizing the Render Region; Automating Animation with Linked Parameters; Keying Panel to Create and Manipulate Keyframes; Understanding the Operator Stack.

Popular highlights include: Understanding ICE; ICE Framework; Navigation in ICE; Working with ICE Nodes; Types and Contexts; Intrinsic and Dynamic Data; Sharing Data Between ICE Trees; ICE Compounds; ICE Particle Simulations; ICE Rigid Bodies; Using ICE Attributes in Render Tree; Visualizing ICE Data; Previewing ICE Data; Rendering ICE Particles and Meshes; Building Deformers; Building Complex Systems with ICE; Importance of Comments; Learning Best Practices and Workflows; Tips and Tricks.

Popular highlights include: Animation Mixer Overview; Modifying Function Curves in Animation Clips; Non-destructive Animation Workflow; Importing and Exporting Animation Clips; Clip Effect Statements; Compound Clips; Integrating Motion Capture Data; MOTOR Overview; Animation Layers; Warping Animation; Working with Poses; Equalizing Clips; Cycling Clips; Clip Transitions; Freezing Clips; Utilizing Static Poses; Understanding Non-linear Animation.

Popular highlights include: CDK Overview; Biped Guide Rigging; Quadruped Guide Rigging; Hierarchy from Guide; Roll Divisions and Skins; Shadow Rigs; Creating Synoptics; Quaternion and Skeleton Spines; Tail Controls; Arms, Hands, and Fingers; Legs and Feet; Torso and Head; Springs; Adding Stretch to Biped Arms; Adding Additional Controls; Biped Motion Tracks, Tags and Steps; Creating Custom CDK Commands; Pose Constraints; Symmetry Constraints; Creating a Multi-legged Guide Rig; Building Animation Expressions.

Popular highlights include: XSI Rigging Tools Overview; Organizing Scenes; Working with the Schematic; Parenting Objects; Using Groups; 2D and 3D Bone Chain System; IK Capabilities; FK Capabilities; Chain Properties; Repositioning Bones; Choosing Workable Rotation Orders; Position Constraints; Orientation Constraints; Direction Constraints; Pose Constraints; Controlling SRT Parameters; Chain Up Vector Operators; Mesh Deformation Overview; Envelopes; Enveloping Techniques; Resetting Envelopes; Understanding Operator Stack; Editing Envelopes; Weight Paint Panel; Redistributing Weights; Weight Editor; Blending Envelope Weights; Mirroring Envelopes; Working with Shapes; Modeling Shapes with Tweak Component Tool; Secondary Shape Modeling for Corrective Shapes; Setting up Driven Key Relationships; Working with Character Key Sets; Organizing Animation Data.

Popular highlights include: Overview of Modeling Tools in XSI; Overview of Geometry Types; Polygon Modeling Workflow; Using Rotoscopes as Modeling Reference; Optimizing Geometry; Mirroring Geometry; Working with Curves, Surfaces, and Trims; Lofting Curves to Create Geometry; Adding Edge Resolution; Scene Organization Techniques; Principles of Creating Clean Topology; Creating Custom Toolbars and Shelves; Edge-loop Selections; Strategically Adding Resolution; Removing Resolution; Merging Multiple Pieces of Geometry; Lofting Surfaces; Bridging and Welding Components; Splitting Parallel Edge-loops; Re-routing Geometry Flow; Generating Symmetrical Geometry; Reusing and Re-purposing Geometry; Modeling with Deformers; Extruding Geometry Along Curves; Edge Creasing; Naming and Organizing Assets; Interactively Adding Edges Around Objects; Building High-res Geometry with Low-res Cages.

Popular highlights include: Overview of XSI Animation Tools; Understanding Non-linear Animation; Manipulating Keyframes from Timeline; Overview of Animation Editor; Using Animation Mixer; Animation Preferences; Frame Rate Preferences; Copying and Pasting Animation; Fine-tuning animation; Editing Keyframes; Dope Sheet; Region Tool; Utilizing Expressions; Using Edit Key Tool; Editing Slope Handles; Controlling Function Curves; Utilizing Snapshots; Automating with Cycle Tools; Animating Seamless Cycles; Plotting Function Curve Cycles; Ghosting Animation; Path Animation; Layering Animation; Plotting Parameters; Optimizing Keyframe Data; Transitioning Animation Clips; Animating with Constraints; Linking Parameters; Parameter-driven Relationships; Real-time Previews of Sequences.

Popular highlights include: Overview of Light Types in XSI; Using Depth Map Shadows; Utilizing Raytrace Shadows; Decay Rates of Light; Area Lights for Accurate Shadows; Creating Custom Light Intensity Curves; Controlling Render Statistics for Geometry; Creating Volumetric Lighting Effects; Building Shaders to Simulate Visible Light Sources; Adding Environment Fog to Scenes; Simulating Realistic Camera Effects with Lens Flare; Altering Object Behavior in Render; Inclusive and Exclusive Lighting; Creating Gobos and Projectors; Practical Lighting Exercises and Scenarios.

Popular highlights include: Setting Up Rotoscopes; Working with Different Surface Meshes; Polygon Modeling Techniques; Extruding Faces & Edges; Extracting Geometry; Assigning Materials & Textures; Working with Texture Layer Editor; Creating & Modifying UVs with Texture Projections; Utilizing Deformers; Parenting Objects into Animation-friendly Hierarchy; Optimizing Workflow with Keying Panel; Automatic Movement with Path Animation; Setting and Modifying Keyframes with Animation Editor; Understanding the Material Manager; Efficiently UV Mapping; Exploring Various Light and Shadow Types; Applying Rendering Techniques; Developing Shader Networks in Render Tree; Creating Smoke Effects with Particles.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Learning how to select objects; Setting a select mode that is comfortable; Using different select modes. Gain a complete understanding of lighting in Maya with Introduction to Lighting in XSI, an essential guide to learning time-saving techniques for adding greater realism when rendering.

The Schematic view is a visual explorer that displays the items and their relationships to each other in the scene. Try using the Schematic view to see your scene's complex object connections. Topics covered in this tutorial: Understanding the Schematic view and how to navigate it; Setting up bookmarks in the Schematic view; Links in the Schematic view. For a complete understanding of modeling in XSI check out Introduction to Modeling XSI, an in-depth guide to modeling tools and workflow.

Moving between XSI and Maya doesn?t have to be difficult. This series of free video tutorials are designed to make the transition as seamless as possible. Topics covered in this lesson: Opening the Keying Panel; Key and Mark parameters in the Keying Panel; Using the Keyable Parameters Editor; Displaying more keyable parameters. For additional information on XSI, watch our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

Maya's shelf is a great way to gather all the tools you require in one easy-to-access place. This feature is also present in XSI, and is just as useful. Creating a shelf lets you decide which tools are at your fingertips for a faster workflow. Topics covered in this tutorial: Turning on the main shelf in XSI; Removing buttons from the shelf in XSI; Adding buttons using the Customize Toolbar panel. Gain a complete understanding of lighting in Maya with Introduction to Lighting in XSI, an essential guide to learning time-saving techniques for adding greater realism when rendering.

The equivalent of Maya's Attribute Editor is XSI's Property Editor. You can use the Property editor to change the objects in your scene. In Maya the editable values are called attributes, but in XSI they are called parameters. Experiment with using the Property Editor to change your object's parameters! Topics covered in this lesson: The Property Editor in XSI; How to re-access and lock the property editor. Tips / Tricks: When executing commands from the menu, you can hold Ctrl to stop the property editor from popping up. For an extensive overview of XSI, view our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

Transitioning into XSI from Maya can be a daunting process if the camera movements are unfamiliar. Alternate Mouse Mapping in XSI makes it easy to retain your camera controls from Maya. Topics covered in this tutorial: Turning on Alternate Mouse mapping; Mapping the Alt key as a Camera Navigation tool. To learn more about XSI check out Introduction to Character Development Kit in XSI, a complete guide to building customized character rigs with CDK.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Groups in Maya; Creating transform groups in XSI; Removing transform groups in XSI. To learn more about animation in XSI check out Introduction to Animation in XSI, a detailed guide to learning the essentials of animation and creative approaches.

When a primitive object is created in Maya, it automatically gets assigned UVs. However, in XSI the UVs have to be created manually. UVs tell XSI where a texture should be applied to, so they are an important part of the texturing process. Topics covered in this tutorial: Generating UVs in XSI; Using Projections; Creating and modifying Textures Support. For a detailed guide to rigging in XSI check out Introduction to Rigging in XSI, a complete resource to learning flexible rigging methods, various rigging and character setup tools, and the essentials of building animator-friendly controls.

Moving between Maya and XSI doesn't have to be difficult. This series of free video tutorials is designed to make the transition as simple as possible. Topics included in this lesson: How to access the Render Tree; Adding shader nodes; Making shader connections; Using the Render Region tool with the Render Tree. To learn the entire process of making a cool snowmobile in XSI, watch our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

This tool fully renders the objects in the scene directly into the camera view, allowing you to quickly preview the final render. Try using the Render Region when you are creating materials or tweaking your render settings. Topics covered in this tutorial: Learning how to use the IPR tool in Maya; Using Render Region tool in XSI; Applying bump maps in XSI. To learn more about animation in XSI check out Introduction to Animation in XSI, an essential to learning the essentials of animation and creative approaches.

Modules are groups of similar commands. For example, all of the modeling commands are under the modeling module. Try learning the shortcut keys of each module for a faster workflow inside XSI. Topics covered in this tutorial: Accessing different modules in Maya and XSI; Using the Shortcut keys to switch between the modules; Mnemonics for XSI's modules and their shortcuts. To learn more about animation in XSI check out Introduction to Animation in XSI, an essential to learning the essentials of animation and creative approaches.

The Selection Explorer gives us access to any object's history, operator stack, and many other properties that control how that object behaves in the scene. Any operation done to an object is stored in the object?s operator stack. While the operation is in the stack, you can go back and edit the settings of that operator. Quick access to any level of the operator stack gives us a great amount of flexibility while working in XSI. Try changing old operations of your models through the Selection Explorer! For more information on XSI, watch our Introduction to XSI 7 training.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Basics of Clusters; Naming a cluster; Applying deformers and materials to a cluster. To learn more about XSI check out Introduction to Character Development Kit in XSI, a complete guide to building customized character rigs with CDK.

If you are familiar with Maya shortcuts, you can use many of your familiar keyboard shortcuts within XSI, for a faster workflow. Topics covered in this video: How to enable QWERTY interaction; The shortcut similarities; How to add Keying Panel/Layer control. Note: Maya uses a 'sticky mode' which involves the tap / release of keys to activate (and stick to) a specific tool. XSI has sticky and supra keys. With supra mode, a key held down will have its tool only be activated for the duration its being held down - when released the previous tool will be reactivated. More in-depth information on XSI can be seen in our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

With it, we can easily check out the different objects in our scene and manipulate them as well. Topics covered in this video: Opening the Explorer; The Explorer's visual cues; The scope of the Explorer. More in-depth information on XSI can be found in our Introduction to XSI 6 training. Throughout 62 lessons running over 7 hours of project-based instruction, new XSI users will learn the entire process of modeling, texturing, lighting, animation, and rendering within XSI.

Having quick access to commands is an easy way to create a faster workflow. Remember that you can use the Context menu whenever you need to run a command! Topics covered in this video: Using Maya's Hotbox; Using the context menu in XSI to access relevant commands. For a comprehensive overview of XSI, watch our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Moving assets back and forth between scenes; Understanding Container nodes; Using assets for multiple scenes; Exporting and importing models. To learn more about animation in XSI check out Introduction to Animation in XSI, a detailed guide to learning the essentials of animation and creative approaches.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Nudging moves selected objects by very small amounts ; Using the Nudge tool to move objects by selecting them and holding down the Shift key and tapping Home (Left), End (Right), Page Up (Up) or Page Down (Down).. More information on XSI check out Introduction to XSI 7, a complete introductory guide to learning the fundamentals of modeling, texturing, lighting, animating, rigging, rendering, and a production-proven workflow to ICE.

XSI 5 has introduced new UI changes such as a more refined main menu and the ability to tear off any menu in the interface. If you're coming in from an older version of XSI, be sure to view this lesson to brush up on these changes. Topics covered in this lesson: The New Main Menu Bar; Module Menus; Tearing Menus; The VM Menu. For a complete overview of XSI, and to build a unique snowmobile, watch our Introduction to XSI 6 training.

XSI comes equipped with the powerful Animation Editor, its version of Maya's Graph Editor. Practice using the Animation Editor to become a better animator. Topics covered in this tutorial: Laying keyframes; Accessing the Animation Editor; Tweaking keys; The default Select tool (Y key) is a multipurpose way of selecting / shift / tweaking keyframes and their handles.. For a complete understanding of animation in Maya check out Introduction to Animation Mixer in XSI, an introductory guide to learning non-linear animation.

Using palettes is a practical way of distinguishing objects in a cluttered scene. This technique is useful when you are modeling. Having the reference mesh in Wireframe mode - while the main mesh stays Shaded - makes it easier to see both models. Try using different coloring and display options to better view your scene. Topics covered in this tutorial: Accessing the Palettes toolbar; Changing wire colors of meshes by using color chips; Setting a specific object's display properties (like shaded and textured). For a complete understanding of animation in Maya check out Introduction to Animation Mixer in XSI, an introductory guide to learning non-linear animation.