This week The Gnomon Workshop announces the release of a new Mental Ray DVD by Gnomon Workshop veteran instructor Matt Hartle. In this new title Matt discusses and demonstrates the steps he takes to produce a finished visual effects shot using Maya, Mental Ray and After Effects. With the benefit of his many years of production and teaching experience, Matt focuses on the techniques needed to get the project done fast and efficiently.

”Matt’s new DVD will reveal to you his true area of expertise,” says Alex Alvarez, Director of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. ”His thorough break down and explanation of his process, from modeling to compositing, will greatly enhance your ability to use Maya, Mental Ray and a compositing package effectively.”


DVD Description:

Mental Ray Production Practices with Matt Hartle

In this lecture, Matt Hartle will lead you through the steps necessary to produce a finished visual effects shot from conception to the final composited rendering. Along the way we will examine modeling, texturing, animation, lighting and rendering using Mental Ray. We will then composite the rendered layers in After Effects, using a 3D composition with a camera exported from Maya. By bringing in the camera from Maya we will be able to integrate photographed elements with our rendered elements to create a final composite. Render layers from our Maya scene will include beauty, ambient occlusion, particles, ground fog and color alpha among others.

Instructor Bio:

Matt Hartle is currently 3D Director at DEVA Studios. Matt has been in the theatrical advertising and visual effects industry for over eleven years. During that time he has contributed to many projects including dozens of film trailers such as 10,000 B.C., Wanted, Beowulf, Forbidden Kingdom, the Harry Potter franchise, Iron Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Charlotte’s Web to name a few. He has also led teams that created such memorable studio logos as Sony Pictures Animation, JC 23, and many iterations of the Warner Brothers logo. Matt has taught at various institutes for animation and visual effects including the Academy of Art, San Francisco and the Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood. Matt studied Illustration at Art Center College.

Since 2000, The Gnomon Workshop has provided artists and students with the educational resources they need to succeed as artists in the entertainment industries. Whether they’re interested in design, modeling, effects, animation, storytelling or matte painting, these DVDs provide a valuable educational resource for students around the world. The Gnomon Workshop is the sister company of the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, which provides professional caliber visual effects instruction to students and professionals in Los Angeles, California.