Step-by-step instructions for creating today's hottest digital visual effects Build your VFX arsenal with quick-access, step-by-step instruction on how to create today's hottest digital VFX shots. This essential toolkit provides techniques for creating effects seen in movies such as 300, Spiderman 3, Predator and others, with lessons on how-to:splatter blood or digitally lop someone's arm offcreate a scene with actors running from an explosioncreate the "twin effect" (same actor, same location, 2 performances)produce space-ship dog fightsOrganized in a "cookbook" style, this allows you to reference a certain effect in the index and immediately access concise instructions to create that effect. Techniques are demonstrated in each of the most popular software tools- After Effects, Final Cut Studio, Shake, Photoshop, and Combustion are all covered. Brilliant, 4-color presentation provides inspiration and stimulating visual guidance to the lessons presented, while the companion DVD contains project media files enabling you to put concepts learned into immediate practice.Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included.