Blender is a powerful open source modeling and animation tool available for free on all major platforms, and while it is capable of producing work of quality close to that of 3D Studio Max and Maya, the amount sources available to teach you how to do so is nowhere close to those available for the commercial applications. Recently though, a free PDF book surfaced the Internet featuring an introduction to all the basics of Blender with chapters on the interface, viewports, creating and editing objects, lighting, cameras, materials, textures, rendering, raytracing, nurbs, modifers, particle systems, interactions, armatures, soft bodies, springs, and many other topics as well. You can download the book written by James Chronister for free from this page.

[via DownloadSquad]

Ballistic Publishing recently announced the release of Exotique, a digital character showcase collection featuring the work of 113 artists from 37 countries. The book will ship in two editions, the standard edition and the special edition, the latter which is now available for pre-order for $99 to be shipped at the end of November.

You can read more info at Ballistic Publishing official website.

[via CGNetworks]

No, this is not the Omani come back for Pixel Literature, Digital Oman is a bilingual quarterly publication covering various aspects of the world of information technology and communication. The magazine seems to target the geek businessman rather than the average consumer as focuses more on the commercial impact of technology rather than the actual specs of it. The actual Omani contribution to the content of the magazine is relatively modest in quantity, but is clearly of worthy quality. You can read the whole of the two issues at the official website of the magazine at this link.

Adab Al Pixel (Pixel Literature) should be the first Arabic magazine that specialises in digital arts and photography when it comes out this fall. The magazine will feature interviews, reviews, and tutorials on all the various aspects of digital arts and photography. The Saudi magazine seems to be created mainly by the same people that run lifejourney.com.sa, a Saudi creative community whom had a major feature in the past that was titled “Carnival of the Pixel Literature” which involved a relatively big competition at which the member Nasser at our forum has participated.

Make sure you register for your copy of the first issue of Adab Al Pixel, it is completely free and will not be available for sale in any bookshop. The magazine should be released this fall.

More info could be found at the official website of Adab Al Pixel.

Balasitic Publishing announced that it is accepting entries for its new book (EXOTIQUE). The book will showcase the finest character creations. There will be sections for 2D painted characters, as well as 3D models.
The entry deadline will be on Monday, October 3rd 2005.

For more information: Ballistic Publishing
[via: CGNetworks.com]

Yes! It is released. d’artiste includes a step by step tutorials on 3D character modeling written by the leaders of this industry. The book also showcases the astonishing work and models of these masters. The book includes tutorials for Hair Modeling, Skin Shading, and Creature Modeling.

[via ballisticpublishing.com]
For more information: d’artiste: Character Modeling Book

(The Art of Rigging) is a new book from CGToolkit that teaches the techniques used by professional technical directors using Alias Maya. The book is designed to help professionals as well as beginners; hence the book is divided into chapters that increase in difficulty. Also included with the book is a DVD training course with video lectures that help you experiment what you read and learn the power of Maya’s embedded language or (MEL)
The Art of Rigging Volume One will go on sale at www.cgtoolkit.com for US$59.99

[Via CGNetworks.com]
For more information: CGToolkit