Matte Painting Books/DVDs

[Ross Forster]

Yeah, I can personally vouch for all those books listed. Some really great material there to read.

Those Dusso DVD's I have yet to look at, though I should be getting them soon enough. Yanick Dusseault's work is expectional, and being Gnomon content I have high expectations for these newly released titles.

I bought the Dusso DVDs the day they came out. I must admit, I was a bit dissapointed.
The technical quality of the DVDs is good. No doubt. Dusso is a fantastic artist. No doubt.
I was just a bit disapointed because they weren't really tutorial DVDs. They basically showed Dusso doing his work. He works in Photoshop and many times I found myself thinking "What brush settings is he using?", "Did he just start that on a new layer?", "Did he just turn that layer to Overlay mode?" etc. He worked fast and barely explained what he was doing at all. If you like to watch people to work these 2 DVDs are for you. If you are hoping these 2 DVD's will give you hints, tips, tricks about how to approach digital matte painting, then you will be sadly dissapointed. I have found free tutorials online that were far more infromative and useful that both these DVDs combined.
That being said, I am glad I bought these DVDs because I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night until I did. Now that I have seen them I will sell them on E-bay and hopefuly break almost even.

Cheers.[/b]

[Ross Forster]

I'll probably still find myself getting these, even if it is just for inspiration, but thanks for the heads up.

[lightwell]

I am glad I bought these DVDs because I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night until I did.[/b]

I agreed with that and that they weren't in fact tutorials but I won't be putting mine on e-bay. I had already got one of the James Clyne DVD's so I knew what to expect. I tend to look at them more as a priveliged "look over the shoulder". Not quite a tutorial but absolutely inspiring nonetheless.

JM

[graphmac]

I'm getting the Dusso DVDs ASAP, surely by watching the video you can work out what brushes he uses? Photoshop is after all a bit WYSIWYG.
As long as it shows the brush strokes you can see how it works.
As for layers and that. You paint the furthest objects first!
++ use a top layer with all the flat colours you want to use, this is especially useful for switching between brush and colour picker (press alt in brush mode)

Again seeing how he goes form start to finish should enable anyone who's already pretty good to get better. I just want to see the understanding photographic lighting and composition sections. Seeing his initial paintings and concepts would be extremely useful.

[Novalism]

can somebody plz explain
how comes that on amazon.com

i have the invisible art book at 29$ (bargain price)
and the same book at 75$
???

is this a fake one or what do i need to think of it?
help is appriciated

[homer]

Novalism,
The Soft cover is cheaper than the Hardcover.

[Novalism]

The Invisible Art by Mark Cotta Vaz, Craig Barron (Hardcover - November 2002)
Books: See all 98,885 items (Rate this item)
Buy new: $75.00 Used & new from $25.00 Usually ships in 24 hours


The Invisible Art [BARGAIN PRICE] by Mark Cotta Vaz, Craig Barron (Hardcover - November 2002)
Books: See all 98,885 items (Rate this item)
Buy new: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours


i kno it is ... the softcover version is 27.17

The Invisible Art: The Legends of Movie Matte Painting by Mark Cotta Vaz, Craig Barron (Paperback)
Books: See all 98,885 items (Rate this item)
Buy new: $27.17 Used & new from $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours

[jmesias]

graphmac:!! let us know how that works out!! if you can figure out the brush(es) and thechniques, I can put up a still from the dvd so you can enligthen us!! and make your own tutorial: "learning how to understand Dusso's Dvd's". Totally agree with Jim Malone.. not tutorials!!! Let's see what Gnomon tells me about my unsatisfied customer email I sent to 'em. Let's hope they have a return policy :(
A book I am looking forward to is New Masters of Photoshop, where Seung Ho Henrik Holmberg supposedly teaches to paint that image on the link http://www.friendsofed.com/newmasters/p ... index.html (http://www.friendsofed.com/newmasters/photoshop/content/sh/index.html)

"The finished hand-painted image of the Guilin City. Learn how to recreate it in Seung Ho's tutorial. "

Really looking forward to it, hope it doesn't dissapoint me like Gnomon!! :evil: Hey, a question, does the Invisible Art actually teach hands on technical stuff?? anyone have some feedback on it?
Thx

[cbarron]

Hi jmesias-

“The Invisible Art: the Legends of Movie Matte Painting” is not very technical or a “how to” book but a history of traditional matte artists and how the craft was re-invented by the digital age. A century’s worth of fascinating stories that recaptures a rich era through the remembrances of artists and cameraman who created the artform. We also showcase many fine “before” and “after” examples of now-rare matte paintings.

-Craig

[lightwell]

Hi jmesias-

“The Invisible Art: the Legends of Movie Matte Painting” is not very technical or a “how to” book but a history of traditional matte artists and how the craft was re-invented by the digital age. A century’s worth of fascinating stories that recaptures a rich era through the remembrances of artists and cameraman who created the artform. We also showcase many fine “before” and “after” examples of now-rare matte paintings.

-Craig

Craig,

Its also a great book, inspired me!

Thanks

Jim

[jmesias]

Hi jmesias-

“The Invisible Art: the Legends of Movie Matte Painting” is not very technical or a “how to” book but a history of traditional matte artists and how the craft was re-invented by the digital age. A century’s worth of fascinating stories that recaptures a rich era through the remembrances of artists and cameraman who created the artform. We also showcase many fine “before” and “after” examples of now-rare matte paintings.

-Craig

Thanks for the feedback Craig!!! Do you know of a technical book to teach about brushes, gradients and all that??

[cbarron]

Sorry I don't.

-Craig

[cameo]

Hi jmesias-

“The Invisible Art: the Legends of Movie Matte Painting” is not very technical or a “how to” book but a history of traditional matte artists and how the craft was re-invented by the digital age. A century’s worth of fascinating stories that recaptures a rich era through the remembrances of artists and cameraman who created the artform. We also showcase many fine “before” and “after” examples of now-rare matte paintings.

-Craig


Nearing the finish line reading the book and its a work of art in itself! So many great images, quotes and background on matte painting. As lightwell says, very inspirational stuff.

Any plans to do any future books on matte painting Craig? With invisble art explaining the history etc you could maybe look at an entire volume on digital matte painting, with it being so resurgent in the last ten years. I felt like there was a taste in invisible art but I definately think theres room for more!

Incidentally has anyone got or read 'Ellenshaw under glass'? Im thinking of buying it, interested in anyones opinions.

[Boof]

I have it and personally really like it, but it is more about Peter Ellenshaw's life and his matte paintings. Some great concept sketches that you normally wouldn't find. I found the candor that it was written in really insightful, plus he's got some great stories about Pop Day too!

-Eric