Videohive

screenshot from website VIDEOHIVE

There are dozens upon dozens of royalty free image websites varying in price depending on what size image you purchase, usage and these can be a great time-saver to a designer. Thumbnail sized images from IstockPhoto run you about $3, which is easy enough to pass along to the client. But what if your needs are for stock footage video? Pricing on that can get costly and your project budget may not be able to afford background video to dress it up-that is, unless you go to Videohive. Video file pricing starts at $1 with a variety of animated stock footage, motion graphics DVD menus and project files-even free video files for those who sign up for their blog. Loopable backgrounds and working files for AE users to tweak a project to include their personal editing in a motion graphic title, this site is a time-saver as well as a money-saver. Bookmark this site as a great reference for stock video.

ZBrush 3.5

Pixologic continues to refine one of the most valuable tools for sculpting, painting and rendering in 3d with the release of Zbrush version 3.5. The earlier version of Zbrush were leaders in the field of modeling with the usage of Zspheres, often imitated with other programs (i.e. 3D Studio Max's metaballs) as well as the 2.5D process for creating work.

2.5D can be described as the bridge between 2D and 3D art, allowing the artist to create work with 3D characteristics like lighting, textures and shadows while maintaining a base model which can be accessed to change the model pose, structure, etc. Output can be used to create stunning images from Zbrush, or mesh models and maps can be exported for use in other 3d animating/rendering programs. I utilize Zbrush to create figures and organic shapes to be taken into programs like Bryce or 3D Studio Max for final work. The thing I appreciate the most about Zbrush is it's ease of use. The interface takes very little time to get used to and you find yourself doodling for hours in this program while being fascinated with its abilities. The learning curve on this program grows with your interest in it being the perfect match to drive you to want to learn it. So often I try various modeling programs that leave me frustrated and telling myself I can do this or that process easier in another program. Zbrush just leaves me wanting more from it-and it delivers!