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cmiVFX Launches a New Houdini Training Video for the new cmiDirect short video initiative
Watch High Definition Training Videos For The Visual Effects Industry Instantly From Anywhere In The World.

Curitiba, PR, Brazil August 27th, 2009 — cmiVFX | cmiStudios launches a brand new video for SideFX Houdini application. This new videos belong to cmiDirect. Why "direct"? The videos are DIRECT to the point and focus on one topic at the time. This will enable artists all over the world to have access to the information they need immediately without sorting through longer feature length videos. These videos explain all the information you need in depth and to the topics extent. We will also be including discount bundles of our videos in the future to help save additional money. When it comes to high end CG and VFX training, there is only once choice... cmiVFX!

SideFX Houdini - Refractive Materials and Caustics
http://cmivfx.com/SideFX_Houdini_Tra...s/default.aspx

SETTING UP
Knowing how to setup the scene is a very critical step to get good refractions and reflections, then after that caustics, so first you will learn how and why to setup the scene the way it is, and how to define the interior and exterior of your surfaces.

MATERIALS
Understanding the creation of refractive materials for the water and the glass objects are the soul of a proper caustic effect, so you`ll learn it and assign them to their corresponding objects.

PHOTONS
Photons in real life are the main actor behind all the lights we see and interact with. To be able to create caustics first of all, photons have to be shot into the scene. here you will learn how to shoot the photons into the scene and how to visualize them.

OPTIMIZATIONS
Now that the photons are in the scene, in this part other textures and materials will be assigned, then those photons will be used to create caustics either by using the Micropolygon, raytracing or the PBR engine. then optimization and improvements techniques will be discussed.

This video is available today at the cmiVFX store. cmiVFX Video Player Online Store http://cmivfx.com/store/Browse.aspx?Category=11

About the Author:
Georges Nakhle is 25 years old, lebanese, and has a masters degree in mechanical engineering. he has a wide artistic and scientific knowledge, he began his art steps with traditional painting and sculpting then gained a diploma in dramatic monologue (acting -singing), he has worked as a writer and perfomer in radio and TV. combining arts and science led him to CG, so he mastered many tools including Maya and Houdini among others, he's also a programmer so he's currently working for Dassault Systemes in Paris-France and he had also worked in combination between Dassault-Systemes and Mental Images the makers of mental-ray. He is very picky about the details and he believes that every small detail contributes to the finished product.

About cmiVFX
cmiVFX is the leader in High Definition Video Training for the Visual Effects Community. To test drive the new cmiVFX TVOD © system, visit http://www.cmivfx.com/cmi_vod.html For additional information about cmiVFX, visit www.cmivfx.com.
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