Autodesk Application Engineer Ken LaRue will take you through 10 hours of training to make sure you know not only how to use Maya Composite but more importantly is knowing how to use the program as efficiently as possible. Seldom do you get the opportunity to learn a software program such as Maya Composite from a power users and someone who helped create and design that software. You'll start as a new user and end a master user.

Intro to Maya Composite’s UI
First we focused on the User Interface in Maya Composite. Learning to utilize the artistic UI is critical in taking full advantage of Maya Composite’s toolset. From the custom preset task layouts to the gate UI we cover it all.

Intro to Maya Composite’s workflow
Ken LaRue will walk you through the workflow from import to rendering. Start by creating your composition and understanding the preferences for the compositions. You will learn how to use workflow features such as context points, bookmarks and browsers to increase your speed and efficiency while creating amazing end renders.

Playback and Media Cache
Maya Composite utilizes a disc playback system called the media cache, to really be efficient in the software understanding how this works is critical. Ken LaRue explains every aspect of using it properly and covers the all the options and preferences for the multiple players you can have.

Composting and the Schematic View
You will learn not only how to work in the schematic view but Ken LaRue will teach you hot keys that are not even documented. You’ll learn about grouping nodes and visual grouping. As you build your comp you’ll learn about bread and butter compositing tools, alpha tools, color correction, the master keyer, 2D transforms, tracking and stabilizing. You will composite live action footage with CG renders and how to use mixed resolution files.

Expression and Keyframes
You’ll learn how to use expressions even if you don’t know anything about scripting Ken LaRue will show you how anyone can take advantage of this powerful feature in Maya Composite. You will also learn everything there is to know about creating and editing keyframes and traditional animation.

Presets, Marcos and Pixel Masking
You’ll learn how to create presets and marcos plus how to use the pick list as a storage area for your presets, macro and custom tools sets. You’ll learn about the masking tools and what is called Pixel Masking to isolate and control what pixels of an incoming image are affected by the tools.

Finish and Render
Ken LaRue discusses the universal filtering and cropping options. Then you’ll complete your composition and render the end result. You’ll learn about multiple outputs, rendering preferences and presets.

Project Workflow
Maya Composite was built from the technology of Toxik. One of Toxik’s powerful features was the “Project Workflow”. This feature and workflow is still in Maya Composite it is just turn off by default. You’ll learn how to use this workflow so you can determine which workflow works best for you and your facility

Link Images and Versioning
Maya Composite has a very powerful versioning system that allows multiple artist to be linked to other artist compositions so the artist can work together and receive updates of new versions. Ken LaRue explains and teaches you how to take full advantage of this feature even if you are collaborating with yourself. (which might be illegal in some states)

LUT’s and Display Pass Through
If you are working with cineon files or High Definition Open EXR files you’ll want to use LUT’s (look up tables) or Remap color tools to view and work on your files. You’ll learn about 1D LUT’s and 3D LUT’s and how to use the 3D conversion LUT’s and the 3D display LUT’s.

Maya to Maya Composite
One of the most powerful features of having Maya and Maya Composite is the Pre-Comp workflow. This Pre-Comp workflow uses the render pass and the render layers in Maya, In Maya you create a pre-comp file that is then imported into Maya Composite. The composition is created in Maya Composite automatically and you can easily import updated renders layers and passes.