Autodesk 3ds max Master award

June 13, 2012 in Production, Publications, Training

I am honored to be named Autodesk Master!! Thanks so much to everyone that voted. This is such an amazing award to win. What makes it so special is that you must be nominated by your peers the vote in by the CG community. Thanks again to everyone, I really appreciate your support!

Please check out the Meet the Masters page to see all the Autodesk Masters this year and my Q&A with Autodesk.
http://area.autodesk.com/3dec2011

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Substance Bitmap 2 Material Demo

March 13, 2012 in Product Design & Demos, Slide, Training

I worked with the guys over at Allegorithmic to create this Bitmap2Material demo video. Check it out!

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Ornatrix and Vray hair rendering

March 13, 2012 in Product Design, Product Design & Demos, Slide, Training

Created this video to show how to render Orntrix hair with Vray in 3ds max using the latest free updates for Ornatrix and Vray.

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State Sets Video Training

October 30, 2011 in Product Design, Product Design & Demos, Slide, Training

Here is a quick video on State Sets in the latest 3ds max subscription drop. If you haven’t seen it yet… Check it out :)

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3d World Animated Pivot Article

October 12, 2011 in Publications, Training

Have a look at a tutorial I contributed to 3D World magazine issue 147 on animated pivot points on 3ds Max 2012.

Here is the video tutorial that goes along with it :)

tdw147 qa 3dsmax
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Siggraph 2011 Phoenix FD Demos

October 12, 2011 in Product Design & Demos, Training

Chaos Group has been kind enough to post my Phoenix FD demo from the Siggraph 2011 show floor on their YouTube channel. Take a peek.

Fluid Dynamics in 3ds Max with PHOENIX FD - Presented by Michael McCarthy
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Fluid Dynamics Master Class at EUE 2011

May 4, 2011 in Product Design & Demos, Training

My Fluid Dynamics Master Class has been announced at EUE 2011!

Fluid Dynamics in 3ds max with Phoenix FD: Learn how to create complex fire, smoke, and liquid simulations in 3ds max using Chaos Group’s Phoenix FD. Some topics covered will be:
  • Liquid simulation with foam and splashes
  • Rendering liquids with Vray implicit surfaces
  • Igniting objects with dynamically created maps
  • Referencing concurrent simulations for layered complexity in smoke, fire, and liquid simulations
Get up to speed with the latest in fluid dynamics and explore the flexibility of creating and rendering fluids inside 3ds max.

Please have a look at the sessions overview page to see all the great classes that will be given at EUE this year:

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New Phoenix FD Training Videos

May 4, 2011 in Product Design & Demos, Training, Uncategorized

Chaos Group has released 6 new Training videos I created for them on Phoenix FD. Please check them out!

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3d Artist Magazine Article on Skin Morph

May 4, 2011 in Publications, Training

I contributed an article on creating better skinning using Skin Morph in Issue 27 of 3D Artist Magazine. Hope everyone enjoys it :)

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3d World Underwater Lighting and Tron Effects

May 4, 2011 in Publications, Training

I have two new articles and videos in the latest this issue of 3D world magazine. The first is on under water lighting and the other on creating a Tron like glow effect in 3ds max. Please have a look:)

Light an underwater scene in 3ds Max
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Create a Tron-style render in 3ds Max
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New Phoenix Demo Video

May 4, 2011 in Product Design & Demos, Training

Chaos Group has released a new demo video I created for them to show the features and abilities of Phoenix FD. Please check it out!

Phoenix FD 1.20 - General Overview by Michael McCarthy
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3d World Magazine 140 Exterior Lighting Article

April 12, 2011 in Publications, Training

I have a couple articles in the latest this issue of 3D world magazine. One is on basic exterior lighting and the other on motion graphics FX in 3ds max. Take a peek :)

Light an exterior scene in 3ds Max
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Autodesk User Group Meeting at Neoscape

January 19, 2011 in Training


I gave a presentation of Slate material workflow and character muscle setups in 3ds max for the January AAUGA meeting at Neoscape. Neoscape is always a wonderful place to give a talk with a wonderful group of animators and 3ds max enthusiasts.

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3D World Magazine Article on Emitting Particles From a Surface

November 10, 2010 in Publications, Training

3D World Magazine has published an article I wrote in the latest December issue, on emitting particle from a surface. Here is the link to 3D Worlds website and the latest issue

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3D World Review of my latest training DVD

November 10, 2010 in Publications, Training

3D World magazine has given a fantastic review my 3ds max training DVD: “Autodesk 3ds Max 2011 – CAT, Slate, Viewport Canvas, Rendering, and More”

They give the DVD an 8/10 and say “It‘s well-put together with all the necessary files you‘d expect. McCarthy‘s commentary is good – it doesn‘t drag, it stays interesting and relevant.” Here is the link to the full review

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Autodesk 3ds Max 2011 – CAT, Slate, Viewport Canvas, Rendering, and More

September 16, 2010 in Training

In this DVD, Instructor Michael McCarthy goes in depth with some of the most important new features in 3ds Max 2011. Michael starts off with an extensive overview of “CAT” and then goes through creating a custom CAT Rig from scratch and even goes into great detail with using CAT Muscles. Next Michael goes into great detail with the new Slate Material Editor and ends up creating a custom Shader for a Character. Another exciting feature covered is the new Viewport Canvas tools to texture a character head. Other topics on the DVD include rendering with Quicksilver, Rendering out Surface Maps, and more.

This DVD is perfect for those who want to get up to speed fast with many new features in 3ds Max 2011 and how to use them in production.

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Siggraph 2010 Master Class

September 16, 2010 in Product Design & Demos, Training

I was honored to present the only 3ds max based Siggraph Master class this year entitled “Node Based Material Creation Using the New Slate Material Editor in 3ds max 2011.? The title is a mouth full but it was a very cool class. It is available for free on The Area.

Siggraph2010MasterClass

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EUE Demo Character

September 16, 2010 in Training

Here is a quick demo of the rig I showed in my EUE 2010 Master Class this year.

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Lip Service Siggraph 2010 Demo

September 15, 2010 in Product Design & Demos, Training

At Siggraph this year, I did some demos for Joe Alter’s Lip Service for Maya. This is a great tool for sculpting and animating characters right inside Maya. There will be some great demo videos to come so stay tuned.

BoothDemo3

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CAT How To videos

September 5, 2010 in Training

I created this set of 14 training videos on CAT for Autodesk. They are done in 3ds max 2010 and show all the basics of CAT including bipeds, quadrupeds, animation, and muscles.

http://www.autodesk.com/us/3dsmax/CAT-how-to-movies/index.html

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3D World 139 Lighting and FX Articles

April 12, 2010 in Publications, Training

I have a couple articles in this issue of 3d World. One on lighting an interior and a Q&A on motion graphics effects. Check them out :)

Light an interior scene in 3ds Max (1 of 2)
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Light an interior scene in 3ds Max (2 of 2)
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Animate tubes for motion graphics in 3ds Max
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3D World Motion Graphics Article

March 13, 2010 in Publications, Training

I contributed an article to 3D World Magazine issue 151 on complex bevels for motion graphics in 3ds max. Take a peek if you get a chance!

They were kind enough to post the video I included as well!

Create perfect complex bevels in 3ds Max
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3D World Magazine Articles on Lighting and Cloth Simulation

February 7, 2010 in Publications, Training

I contributed two different articles to the latest 3D World Magazine. One is a QA on creating cloth streamers for a piñata. The second is the first part of a series on lighting. Both have videos on the disk so check it out!

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