Be a privileged insider in the use of cutting edge technologies for e-learning

AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE ON VIRTUAL SETS

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TEN Competence Grup de Tecnologies Interactives IP-Racine    Universitat Pompeu Fabra Brainstorm
eStudio

Virtual Sets are widely used today by TV stations for news, quizzes, sports events, music contests, making it possible to reuse a green screen set for a range of different programs, thus reducing costs and providing extra flexibility.
Special venues such as elections, with real time visualization of data, make particularly effective use of this kind of software.
In film production the use of this real time technology in the previsualization of visual effects shot on green screen is increasing rapidly. The trend started a few years ago on high budget Hollywood productions, but with the reduction of costs in technology it is now spreading even to the shooting of commercials. This technology gives the director, and optionally the actors, real time feedback of their interaction with computer generated objects and effects.
Following this course you will learn how to create a virtual set, using one of the best tools in the world: Brainstorm eStudio. Even better, you can take the course for free and from your own home or workplace! With your input, we will be able to further develop our e-learning platform, making more contents available to the community.

Course details

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a test bed for a new online training platform

  • Limited amount of students
  • Completely free
  • Online training, from your home or workplace computer, with the schedule that best suits your needs
  • An introduction to Brainstorm eStudio, a professional application which is leader in the virtual set market
  • Learn how the professionals use this product to create TV shows
  • This software has been extensively used in most of major TV channels around the world for virtual set broadcasting, specials for elections, and lately in visual effects movie previsualization
  • Course contents are in English
  • Start date for requests to join the course: OPEN NOW!
  • Duration of the course: 6 weeks, self paced

Course methodology

The Virtual Sets classroom is made up of 2 online sites: the forum and this lesson player. The role of each of these sites is explained below:

  • The Forum: The forum is used by the students to discuss each lesson and its related materials, and the teachers respond promptly to queries and concerns posted on the forum. Students regularly check the forum to read the questions raised by others and the responses which they stimulate. Some conversations may involve many students interacting with each other, especially when all of these students share the same concern.
  • The Lesson-Player: The lesson-player is the site where all the learning materials are published. The player manages your progress through the lessons one step at a time. Lessons contain exercises and assessment tests. There is also an evalutaion at the end of each section.

Course Contents

The course provides an introduction to Brainstorm eStudio v11 platform, and the basic scope of the tools. By following the lessons, you will learn how to:

VirtualSets
  • Create a simple scenario in Brainstorm's eStudio

    • navigate through the inteface and how to use primitives and attributes

    • apply different tools inside eStudio for different broadcast needs: news tickers, weather forecast, live data, etc.

    • create states

  • Build a final virtual set, using lighting, textures and events

    • Advanced features like text effects and list management

    • How to import geometry from 3D Studio Max

    • How to import movies with alpha channel

The introductory course will be free during this limited period of trialling the e-learning platform

Technical requirements

A computer capable of smoothly executing 3DS MAX and similar graphic applications, typically a PC with:

  • P4 or similar processor
  • 1 GB of RAM minimum
  • NVIDIA, ATI or intel 950 graphic card or similar with OpenGL hardware acceleration
  • 3 button mouse
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP
  • Internet Broadband access (ADSL, DSL or Cable)

Personal requirements

  • You must be at least 18 year old to enroll this course
  • There is a need of proficiency in English to understand and complete the contents and evaluations of the course
  • Experience using 3D products is highly recommended (3DS Max -preferred-, Houdini, Lightwave, Maya, XSI)
  • Experience using web technology - blogs, browsers, chats, email

APPLY now!

Send an email with your Resumé to virtualsets@upf.edu