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Dear Video Toaster Users, The third-annual Video Toaster & LightWave 3D Training event in Hawaii is fast approaching! This year's specialty classes will be taught by professional instructors returning to the islands from Amblin Imaging, John Gross, Grant Boucher, and John Parenteau. The courses will focus on LightWave 3D, and the nine sessions are planned so that you will be able to make optimal use of your time while in beautiful Hawaii. It's a great way to mix business with pleasure! Call Avid Media Group today at 1-800-322-2843 for more information. Below is some info on the classes, check out the Nov. issue of VTU for a list and also info on the 1995 VTU Expo in Hollywood, Nov. 1 – 4. Don't delay as space is limited and it's gonna be great. Thanks! All The Best, Tom Patrick Editor Video Toaster User Magazine VIDEO TOASTER & LIGHTWAVE 3D TRAINING SEMINARS in HAWAII Thursday, December 14 8:30am – 10:30am LightWave & Modeler Essentials John Gross From flying logos to broadcast television, LightWave 3D's Modeler is able to create simple text objects or complex spaceships. This beginner's class will introduce you to the basic operations required for getting started in the program. The basic modeling tools will be demonstrated and easy-to-follow techniques for creating great objects will be covered. 11:00am – 1:00pm Organic Modeling Grant Boucher Copy Nature in LightWave! Re-Creating what Mother Nature did long ago will be taught in this course. Using the Modeler to create landscapes, trees, and other organic objects will be covered. Along with surfaces, lighting and other "cheats" needed to complete the effect in LightWave. 2:30pm – 4:30pm Character Animation – Beginnings John Parenteau Move through the basics of learning to create an animated character. This first session will discuss the various methods to construct a functional model including the pros and cons of jointed objects versus single skin, setting up hierarchy, proper bone functions and more. Friday, December 15 8:30am – 10:30am Advanced LightWave & Modeler-Open Forum Q & A John Gross Now is your chance to get your questions answered and those tricky problems solved. This class is an open forum for advanced LightWave 3D users. We will cover some advanced LightWave/Modeler tips and tricks. Feel free to bring examples of your work (on 1/2" VHS) demonstrating problems with which you need help. 11:00am – 1:00pm Advanced Displacement Mapping Grant Boucher Displacement mapping, though often overlooked, has a great number of useful and interesting applications. Learn how to make rippling water, wind blown rain, flags and capes, particle system cheats for plankton and stars, and more! This class will also include extensive Q & A, so bring your questions and be ready to learn! 2:30pm – 4:30pm Character Animation – Motion John Parenteau Now that you've learned to create and setup your character, this class will discuss the intricacies of motion, and the pros and cons of animation in LightWave. Learn how to analyze both simple and complex human motion then apply this to your model. You'll learn how to make the feet stick (!) and much more… Saturday, December 16 8:30am – 10:30am Lighting & Camera Angles – Production Workshop John Parenteau The ultimate goal of the digital cinematographer is understanding a real-world camera and lighting design, and having the ability to re-create this in the computer. This seminar will cover lighting with practical lights and how to create different moods with the camera. You will then learn how to take these techniques and re-create them with the computer tools at hand. 11:00am – 1:00pm 3D Compositing for Video John Gross Add reality to your animations. In this seminar John will show you techniques for seamlessly blending video with your animation to produce exceptional layered effects. The class will include discussion of Digital Image Compositing with LightWave 3D. 2:30pm – 4:30pm Real-World Special Effects Grant Boucher Learn how to do broadcast special effects like the professionals in seaQuest DSV and Star Trek: Voyager. Explosions, Compositing, and Lighting Techniques including soft-edged ray-traced shadows, proper use of depth of field, and shadow alpha will be covered in depth, with extensive Q & A throughout. Toaster Training in Paradise taught by the Experts at Amblin Imaging creators of seaQuest. Only $489 for a full pass to all nine classes – or – $90 per class Also, special discounted hotel rooms and airfare. Call for details. Call Avid Media Group today at 1-800-322-2843 for information on our special block of rooms (just $90/night), and group discounts on airfare (up to 10% off full coach fares)! Thanks and we'll see YOU there!