Visual Effects Resources and Links

There are many websites with information on computer graphics, visual effects, and film. Below are some of the ones I have found most useful. I recommend browsing each of the sites for useful information and updates on the industry.

Computer Graphics
www.cgchannel.com
www.highend3d.com
http://cgw.pennnet.com/home.cfm
http://www.siggraph.org/
http://www.insidecg.com/
 
Visual Effects
 www.vfxpro.com
www.cinefex.com
http://www.vfxhq.com/Not updated anymore, but valuable as a reference on feature film work.
http://www.kascope.com/cgibook/cgibookinfo.htm
http://www.visualeffects.net/
 
Artist Websites:
 www.goodbrush.com
www.ghull.com
www.matherart.com
www.louiskatz.com
www.watersketch.com
www.cameronneilson.com
www.derekmonster.com
www.ryanchurch.com
www.sydmead.com
 
Film
www.imdb.comthe most comprehensive database on film
www.aintitcoolnews.comreviews and gossip
www.rottentomatoes.comreviews
 
Compositing
Brinkmann, Ron. The Art and Science of Digital Compositing. Morgan Kaufmann, 1999.Provides a very solid coverage of compositing techniques, assembling visual effects for film, and the technical foundations of digital image processing and compositing.
Kelly, Doug. Digital Compositing in Depth. The Coriolis Group, 2000. A very large book, and is full of tutorials and examples of different compositing techniques.

Texturing
www.imageafter.com
http://www.mayang.com/textures/
http://textures.forrest.cz/
http://www.animax.it/animax/frame1.html
http://www.cgsd.com/texture/sample.html
http://art.net/%7Ejeremy/photo/public_texture/index.html
http://www.bladestextures.com/textures_vol_1/textures_volume_1_samples.htm
http://www.absolutecross.com/graphics/textures/
http://www.meshmen.com/kvarntorp/textures.html
http://www.radcyberzine.com/xglobe/
 
Best Companies
www.ilm.com
www.pixar.com
www.gkr.com
www.d2.com
www.pixar.com
www.escfx.com
www.theorphanage.com
 
Software
Maya
www.alias.comthe owners and developers of Maya
www.blackorb.comMaya tutorials galore
www.thegnomonworkshop.comVisual FX School specializing in the education of using Maya. They have several DVDs with good instructors. Many people in the industry have purchased the Gnomon DVDs.
www.trinity3d.commore Maya educational tools
www.blackorb.comMaya tutorials galore
XSI
www.softimage.comSoftimage’s official web site that has news, tutorials, samples work, and downloads
www.JonCrow.comMore sets of XSI tutorials
http://roger.rosa.free.fr/start.htmlXSI tutorials, downloadabale files, news, and discussion forms
Mental Ray
www.mentalimages.comThe developer of Mental Ray
www.edharris.comThe best collection on the web of tutorials on Mental Ray rendering using XSI. Ed Harris also sells instructional videos about rendering in XSI.
3D Studio Max
 www.discreet.comthe current owners and developers of 3D Studio Max
http://www.webreference.com/3d/tutorials on 3D Studio Max gathered on a weekly basis
http://www.maxhelp.com/content/tutorials/listing_tutorials.htmcollection of Max Tutorials
Lightwave
www.newtek.comthe creators and developers of Lightwave
www.flay.coma large Lightwave site with news, art, tutorials, and links to other resources.
http://www.debevec.org/HDRShop/
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere
www.adobe.comSimply the best tools for vector graphics, 2d photo manipulation, compositing, and video

Several of the links I pulled from www.3drender.com