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Review of the Video of
Softimage|XSI: Mastering Materials |
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Grubsrof Imagination Studios has produced a set of
videos hosted by Ed Harriss |
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Next-generation animation package Softimage|XSI,
which succeeded Softimage 3D, was released in May 2000. The latest
version, 1.5, shipped on 29 December. As the product matures, so does the
range of support materials available for it. There is a raft of Web-based
tutorials and community Web sites, but because XSI is such a new product,
the range of published training material is still thin on the
ground.
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Mastering Materials is a two-VHS tape set giving a
complete introduction to using materials and textures within XSI. Included
is a CD-ROM with all the scenes and textures used in the projects shown.
Although the tapes are aimed at beginner to intermediate level, some of
the new methods in XSI, particularly the node-based paradigm of the render
tree are so different that even for the advanced user, revisiting
fundamentals can be an invaluable exercise.
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The tapes are divided into three sections:
Interface basics, Migration from Softimage 3.x to XSI and Projects. The
first section describes all the interface elements likely to be used when
texturing and shows the commands necessary for getting the manipulation
and display settings correct for the look you want. This section also
crosses over into some more general areas such as viewports, and the
explanations are concise and very informative.
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Section two is a reference tool for the existing
Softimage user. It shows function-by-function what a command is in 3.x and
then how to achieve the same in XSI. For a prior user of Softimage
confronted with an unfamiliar interface this section is a godsend. As a
menu command is accessed, the camera zooms into the action area so that
the command and its placement in the interface are clearly shown.
Obviously this limits the viewer to what is achievable in Softimage|3D but
this is addressed in the next section.
The projects in section three focus exclusively on how to achieve
results in XSI and there are 19 of them to work through. They demonstrate
most basic texturing tasks and on completion you will have gained a
grounding of the processes involved in XSI. They range in complexity from
simply assigning materials and textures through displacement and dirt
maps, texture blending and using bitmap images to control texture and
material parameters.
The render tree is confusing at first but is a very powerful material
and texturing tool. In order to see and use these advances, it is
necessary to complete the projects which are explained in a friendly and
helpful manner. This is where the tapes really succeed. Reading manual
sets has always been a chore, and having the commands demonstrated on
screen is a much more powerful way of gaining knowledge, enabling you to
visualise both where commands are and in what order to execute
them. |
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3D World Verdict: 4/5
Pros: · Handy for users that are transitioning from Softimage
3D to Softimage|XSI · Section two provides a solid reference tool · Render
tree well-explained
Cons: · New methods in XSI might prove confusing
By Rob Moodie |
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