Course Overview
10h 03m | 67 Videos | 74730 Views | 
All Levels Comprehensive Silhouette Training: Putting Other Visual Effects Tools in the Shade
This is an excellent post production tool for visual effects professionals and graphic art designers. Silhouette uses a stereoscopic workflow to create accolade winning rotoscope as well as non destructive paint, matting, keying, warping, morphing and 2D-3D conversion tools. Established over years through inputs by those functioning to ensure its operational efficiency, this classic visual effects tool is perfect for handling challenging shots. As visual effects artists have designed this tool, they have a deep understanding of what it takes to get the job done right on time and at the correct price. Its node based workflow and stereoscopic editing and viewing make for classic visual effects. Image cropping for enhanced performance and command line rendering as well as scripting and actions. Open color IO color management and accelerated animation engine make for a very effective tool to fashion visual graphics. Multiprocessing support as well as proxy management for massive image sizes is also an added advantage of Silhouette.
Silhouette training has the added advantage of in that it is compatible with multiple file formats including DPX, IFF, JPEG, Cineon, OpenEXR, SGI/RGB, PNG, TARGA, TIFF and QuickTime. Exporting Autodesk, Discreet, gMask, Eyeon Fusion, Nuke and Shake are some of the advantages of using Silhouette. You can import commotion, elastic reality and Shake 4.x SSF shapes. Interchange should be masked with after effects using the export-import plugin for the mask interchange. This classic graphics tool is compatible with Linux, Windows and Macintosh. Due to different computer components present, it is recommended to download, install and evaluate Silhouette on a machine that can run it on prior to purchase.
Prerequisites for Comprehensive Silhouette Training
Macintosh is a system on which Silhouette works best. It is optimal on I GB of available disk space for caching as well as temporary files ensures operability of Silhouette remains optimal, with display of 1336 X768 resolution for stereo and 1280 x 800 for mono. Three button mouse is needed as well.
For a Windows system, dual core intel processor with resolution 1336×768 resolution for stereo, 1280 by 800 resolution for mono is needed. If it’s a Linux system, dual core intel or AMD processor is required and it is tested of 64 bit Linux with 2.6 kernel and GLIBC 2.4 or more such as CentOS 5.4. The other specifications are the same with plug ins, adobe after effects and recommended graphics card of certain resolution and capabilities. For learning a visual effects software such as Silhouette, you also need to have some basic understanding of programming languages and computer operations to initiate superior graphics effects.
Who Should Learn Silhouette?
Crop node crops the image and session to a user defined size which is useful when one works within a smaller region of the larger image to use less memory and process faster. This facilitates creation of visual effects. With paint effects that can create a marvelous impact, the designer edition offers wide range of sketch pen options not prevalent in case of standard software. There are also ways to place the sketch design in such a way that it looks like pencil, scribble, charcoal and so on.
One of the biggest advantages of learning Silhouette ( the designer edition) is the rhinestone feature. Using the click of a button, design can be turned into rhinestone patterns- something which is not easy with standard software. Eraser tool options are simply awesome in the Designer edition. Rather than a single circle eraser, one can pick the shape as well as size of the eraser and use it to come up with cool designs and patterns.
Design can be open or become a closed shape providing twice as many design options through manipulation of the eraser. Akin to the eraser tool, knife tool can can be expanded in Designer Edition. Options in the Designer Edition are endless. The shear tools let you design angles in different vertical or horizontal orientation. There is a sign filled with colors and you want to rearrange for easy cutting? This can be selected by fill color or line color in one lick. It is handy and effective on the whole. Improved rulers and grids ensure that you can change the size of the boxes to obtain exact design measurement. The boxes can be broken down into quarters and eights or smaller/larger depending upon preferences. Ruler tool provides the exact measurement and is more precise in a ruler than standard Studio edition. Nesting is where the Designer Edition of Silhouette scores over all other visual effect tools. If users highlight and click on the nesting tool, program movement and alignment is possible over a least surface area. Transfer Properties tool ensures that you can highlight the shape and use the eyedroppers to click on property that should be duplicated. Designer edition taps the ability to fill, shapes with photos through the my pattern function.
And finally, Perhaps one of the largest benefits of the DE or Designer Edition is its capability to let users import and export SVG files. The Designer Edition clearly offers many benefits to users, making it the premier choice for graphic artists, illustrators and animators.. Silhouette Studio Designer Edition contains all the same functionality as Silhouette Studio plus the associated designer features such as ability to cut open and manipulate .svg files.
Rhinestone tools can be used to create patterns and designs and tools can be sketches to convert designs into styles of sketched art. Creative knife of the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition also allows professionals to clip designs using separate patterns and enhanced eraser to body designs with accuracy and precision. There is a built in ruler and guide line for correct alignment and drawing as well.
Features of Silhouette
Silhouette Studio software has the following software features and benefits. It can import numerous file format and operate through a printer for print and cut technology. Digital content can also be exclusively downloaded and organized as well as undergo optimization library collection of images as well as cut font files installed within the computer.
Text can be manipulated through word and letter wrap, alignment justification and letter spacing control as well as fit to text paths. Images can be drawn in printing and cutting formats including free hand drawing tool, polygons and curved lines, circles, squares and rounded rectangles.
There is also free hand drawing tool for resizing images to exact specification and ungroup or group line sets for manipulation. Edit and manipulate points of image and text using this freehand tool. Images can be welded together and mat effects can be created using shadowing.
Images can be arranged with the following abilities- transforming, rotating, aligning, replicating and modifying. Line types can be manipulated for differing cutting action and print as well as cut images can be created by filling images with customized colors, pattern fills and gradients. Silhouette also has unlimited undo and redo actions. The Studio file format is a proprietary software which comprises vector art for line and color/gradients for prints or cuts. Silhouette can open various types of vector file formats in ready to cut mode.
The Silhouette Studio software is also perfect for importing vector and raster file formats for tracing images to create cut lines for print as well as cutting images. Additional file types which can be imported include jpg, png, bmp, gif, wmf and more. Files can be opened and imported, and Silhouette Studio can also be used for accessing fonts. Silhouette Studio also permits users to create their images to cut with the Silhouette software and simple line drawing functions are factored into the Silhouette software. Simple line drawing functions are built into Silhouette software and features of these file types can mostly be imported using this software.
Silhouette Studio software has close to fifty remade designs that connect power on the electronic cutting tool. The shapes are preloaded to differ between Silhouette electronic cutting tools and additional content can be accessed through the online store.
Silhouette Standard editing tools are for basic cut/copy/paste/redo/undo actions prevalent in different types of programs. There area also zooming tools to view parts of the document from a close or far perspective. Silhouette Studio tools include drawing, library and store, image manipulation and cutting as well as drawing tools.
Orientation
Landscape is the default orientation whenever new documents are opened. Portrait orientation is an optional orientation that can be used for utilizing Page Tools. Though a document is in portrait orientation, it can be sent to Silhouette with right hand of screen matching the material. Page tools also influence how the page can be used. Rotate view is essential for rotating the workspace on the screen for a varied perspective.
Zooming and viewing tools are also there whereby you can get a closer look at smaller or larger images depending upon ease of working with. Zooming tools include Zoom in, Zoom out, Selection Zoom, Drag Zoom and Fit to Page and well as preferences.
Interface and Animation
This is essential for helping smooth jagged lines as they are fashioned and viewed. Off setting will product edged and enhance drawing speed. Button sizing and user interface allows for larger or smaller display preferences for different screen resolution sizes. You can even control the speed of the animating action like images being moved on undo or redo actions or zooming inside or outside. Animation can also be turned off to instant. Background coloring preference allows the determination of the color of the interactive workspace areas.
Grouping and ungrouping are the actions used for creating invaluable tools for manipulation and adjustment of images. Any 2 sets of lines can be grouped together to fix in relative positions even if moved through the group option. To enhance usage of group option two or more images can be selected and clicked on the group icon along the lower portion of the software screen. Any image with more than one line set can be ungrouped so image parts can be treated with independence and manipulated, resized, removed and rotated.
Concept of compound paths is vital to understand which certain attributes will be applied across different identical situations. printing and cutting images are the only point when compound paths are a concern. Compound paths can be ungrouped to move varied image parts around yet action of ungrouping will release the compound path and make it a non compound image. Images can be moved away by selection and dragging across the screen with the mouse to the location desired. Selected images can be moved using the Move options. Objects can also be rotated as per the required angle. Selected images appear with green handle bar and can be rotated using the mouse.
Objects may be sized as per the measurement required. Images can be tailor made to any desired size and quality of cuts may vary based on whether you have to make the shape bigger or smaller. Options will resize selected images using the scale menu and dimensions can be specified. Lock aspect ratio can also be added or removed. Snap to grid option enables forcing of image to confirm to grid measurements and divisions. From isometric to square grids and mirroring horizontally and vertically or left to right. Image order can also be changed and selected and moved backward depending upon the needs.
Replication is necessary at times. Copy pasting and duplicating the image allows numerous copies that can be created without copy pasting manually. Options are there to create copies next to one another as nearly as possible for maximization of cutting area. Option to replicate is there towards the left, right, above or below.
There are also welding and modifying options. Overlapping images can be altered in numerous ways and modify menu allows selection of weld or non welded image depending upon needs. There are options to leave only the part that is overlapping or remove it. Tracing options can also be employed to trace imported external images for creating cut lines. Once the external image you own is opened in terms of tracing options, the trace area then has to be selected. Trace provides traced line contour across different parts of the previewed area. Library features are there in Silhouette Studio to categorize downloaded and user conceived images for quick reference and the online store to access fresh content for users to download. Library is where preloaded and purchased contents can be accessed, sorted and undergo categorization.
From library images to tracing, modifying, zooming and manipulation images, the application of Silhouette Studio ensures that visual effects are professional, not amateur. Silhouette Designer Edition is an even bigger improvement for users compared to Silhouette Studio.
But the difference between these packages is less incremental and more categorical. Compared to other visual effects tools and software packages, Silhouette Studio is the perfect choice for those who want to access basic visual effects software and toolkit. What are the advantages of this software package?
- Efficiency- With the Silhouette Studio, you can create images using sophisticated graphics and drawing tools as well as promotion of efficiency and productivity during the production as well as post production stage. Efficiency is the number one advantage of using Silhouette Studio.
- Practicality- Silhouette Studio Basic has the important tools for resizing, manipulating, changing and impacting the images in new and different ways. Practicality and ease of application are the leading reasons why professionals prefer this software package.
- Aesthetics- Silhouette Studio also creates designer graphics which are superior in every way. They can improve the style and features of the images and create an effect which is near impossible to replicate.
- Creativity- This is the leading reason why graphics professionals and visual effects artists are the number one users of this toolkit. Creativity is possible through manipulation and creation of images that are rich in detail, complex in movement and detailed in complexity.
The advantages of software like Silhouette Studio Designer Edition are even more. The advantages of the use of this designer edition are simply visible in terms of the value added features it has. It is easier to multiply and manipulate images through the software and graphics can be rotated, resized, removed or added depending upon needs and requirements that are there.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Silhouette Studio as well as Silhouette Designer Edition offer a vast profusion of choices and special effects for visual designers and graphics artists. This makes it essentially an easy system through which images can be created, manipulated and used to make animation livelier and more life like.
Animators, graphics designers, visual effects professionals are only some category of industry experts who can make a difference using Silhouette. Professionals from different categories such as information technology and the marketing sector would also benefit from training in this graphics program. Students who want to carve out a career for themselves using this graphics software tool can also benefit from Silhouette. All in all, this visual effects tool serves as a framework for sophisticated animations and illustrations which would breathe life into any production.
| Where do our learners come from? |
| Professionals from around the world have benefited from eduCBA’s Comprehensive Silhouette Training courses. Some of the top places that our learners come from include New York, Dubai, San Francisco, Bay Area, New Jersey, Houston, Seattle, Toronto, London, Berlin, UAE, Chicago, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Gurgaon among many. |
