"The bar keeps getting higher for Maya artists to create human characters that look more, well, human. Autodesk Maya 2012 has the sophisticated tools to make realistic characters, but human artists still need to know how to harness them to get results that audiences believe.Maya Studio Projects: Photorealistic Characters is an all-projects book that shows you how to use Maya 2012's tools to make realistic characters that are ready for professional-level films, videos, and games. Start with a skeleton to create a character; build a facial rig; create different hair styles; use Maya's Fur to create swarthy facial hair such as a beard; experiment with textures and nParticles; fashion your character's shirt and bomber jacket using Maya's nCloth; and understand the process of Performance Capture.Projects serve as a guide for readers to complete their own version. Each project comes with starter, intermediate, and final Maya scene files to validate results, as well as real-world videos for reference.The projects are ideal for professionals already in the field who want to enhance their skill set and also for advanced students who are getting ready to break into the field"--

"A concise, focused study aid to accompany VCP for vSphere 4 Study Guide As organizations seek to cut infrastructure costs, virtualization has become a lucrative specialty for IT professionals. VCP is the leading virtualization certification, and this book is designed to work hand-in-hand with the VCP for vSphere 4 Study Guide to better prepare VMware pros for the comprehensive exam. Filled with review information, it helps you deepen your understanding of vSphere, the first cloud operating system. Virtualization skills are much in demand, and VMware professionals become more marketable when they achieve VCP certification; this review guide works with other learning tools to increase vSphere knowledge and confidence Offers invaluable help for last-minute review Covers planning, installing, and upgrading ESX/ESXi; configuring ESX/ESXi networking and storage; installing and configuring vCenter Server; deploying and managing virtual machines and vApps; managing compliance; establishing service levels; and basic troubleshooting CD includes two practice exams, flashcards, and a searchable glossary of key terms. This highly focused Sybex review guide is the perfect study companion to VCP for vSphere 4 Study Guide, helping you achieve VCP certification, increased confidence, and better job opportunities."--