We will begin by learning about some of the different map types that we can use in our shading networks, such as bump maps, displacement maps, as well as transparency and opacity maps. We will also learn how to layer and composite multiple textures together within our shading networks, we will learn how to interactively mix and combine multiple materials on the same object, we will learn how shader compounds can be used to organize our Render Tree networks, and many additional topics that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Softimage Render Tree. If this is your first time working with materials and textures in Softimage, we highly recommend viewing our 'Beginner's Guide to Shading Networks in Softimage' before attempting to go through this course. This Beginner's Guide will teach foundational workflows and terminology that are important for you to understand before attempting to view this tutorial.

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.

We will be exploring topics such as creating bump-mapping effects, using the Sprite node to add transparency maps to Softimage particles, rendering complex displacement effects using the Vector Displacement Map node, and using the Camera Map node to render 3D objects directly over a live-action background, just to name a few of the nodes we will be exploring.

When trying to create highly realistic, lifelike characters, the importance of the eyes is often understated. In fact, the eyes are one of the most important aspects to consider when creating characters that truly look and feel alive. During this course, we will learn how to create highly realistic eye textures from scratch using Photoshop, and in a way that gives us a high degree of flexibility and control over the textures' color variations and other details. Once the texturing has been completed, we will jump into Softimage, where we will discuss shading and rendering techniques that can give the eye a highly realistic final look. Along the way we will be exploring many additional tips, tricks, and workflows that you will be able to use both in Photoshop and in Softimage to help create more believable, realistic eyes for your characters.

In this series of lessons, we will utilize Softimage's UV Unfold feature to save a tremendous amount of time on projects requiring complex UV layout. To demonstrate, we will be using UV Unfold to create a complete UV layout on an entire character. We will get started by unfolding the UVs on the head, defining UV cut lines along the neck, and unfolding the UVs into a self-contained UV island. From there, we will see how we can very easily create additional unwrapped UV islands for our character's torso, as well as the hands and feet. With this series of lessons, we will see how the UV Unfold tool can make quick work of complex UV layout tasks, allowing us to quickly move past the UV phase, and dedicate more time to the texturing process.

Popular highlights include: Modeling with Blueprint References; Establishing Automotive Line Flow; Building Volume with Curves; Shaping Geometry to Avoid Dents; Generating Curves from Geometry; Modeling Contoured Panels; Re-directing Edge Flow; Adding Scoops to Curved Surfaces; Re-paramaterizing Curves; Converting Geometry Types; Mirroring Detail; Merging and Extracting Geometry; Welding Points and Edges; Creating Fitted Panels; Creating Complex Body Details; UV Mapping Techniques; mental ray Materials; Building Car Paint Shaders; Creating Brushed Metal Effects; Overcoming Modeling Challenges; mental ray Lighting Setup; Adding Tire Tread with Bump Maps; Final Gather for Indirect Lighting.

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: Working with Real-time Shaders; Setting up Models and Skinned Models; Using XSI FX Shader Presets; Using SAS Bindings; Writing Vertex and Pixel Shaders; Constant and Texture Shading; Lambertian Diffuse Shading Model; Blinn-Phong Shading Model; Using Normal Maps; Render to Texture; Drawing with Sprite Batch; Using Pixel Shaders for Post Effects; Problem-solving Approaches; Shader Analysis; Working with Textures and Clusters; Publishing XNA Models from XSI; Consolidation Techniques; Creating Animation Clips; Fine-tuning looping animation; Gaussian Blur; Shadow Projection; Programming and Choosing Techniques; Edit/Delete Message.

Popular highlights include: Emitting Photons from Light Sources; Fine-tuning Global Illumination Results; Smoothing Global Illumination Results with Final Gather; Using Architectural Materials in XSI; Overriding Photon Properties; Adding Realism with Ambient Occlusion; Utilizing Multi-bounce Final Gather as GI Alternative; Outputting Images to 32-bit .EXR Format; Modifying Geometry for Optimal Global Illumination; Setting up Render Passes in XSI; BSP Memory Optimization Techniques; Using Custom XSI Shaders; Compositing Rendered Passes in External App; Adjusting Exposure Settings.

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.

Popular highlights include: Overview of UVs in XSI; Planar Mapping; Cylindrical Mapping; Spherical Mapping; Unique UVs; UV Projections; Subprojections; Adjusting UVs with Texture Editor; Separating UVs; Healing UVs; Island Heal Tool; Mirroring UV Islands; Matching UVs; Relaxing UV Islands; Contour Stretch UV Projections; Transferring UV Data; UV Stamps.

Popular highlights include: Render Tree Overview; Bump Map Generators; Displacement Maps; Texture Projections; Mix Nodes; Advanced Texture Placement; Volumetric Effects with Light Shaders; Layering Textures; Ambient Occlusion Shader; Material Editor.