Hot Software Tips How-Tos
How To: Create skydomes in the Unreal engine and incorporate it into Papervision
Skydomes are effects you can use when mapping an outdoor level or map area to simulate the open sky. This tutorial shows you how to create a sky dome using the Unreal Development Kit and then incorporate that sky dome into your Papervision 3D project.
How To: Control a Collada file and animate it in Away 3D Lite
Take an object you've already created as a Collada file, like a die, and then use Away 3D Lite to control the animation! This tutorial shows you how you can use Flash to create this animated effect and roll dice!
How To: Use Fruity Loops 9 to create custom button sounds in Flash
Stop using the same button sounds everyone else uses! Create your own custom button sounds with Fruity Loops Studio 9, then incorporate them into your Flash buttons using Action Script 3 and Adobe Flash CS3 (or any other version of Creative Studios).
How To: Design your own first-person shooter game using free software
Looking to create your own mod or write a game to round out your design portfolio? By using the free Reality Factory software, you can create levels, weapons, monsters and everything else that goes into writing a video game. This tutorials shows you how to create an FPS game using this freeware.
How To: Model hard surfaces or inorganic surfaces for 3-D models using Modo 401 3D
This tutorial shows you how to use the 3-D modeling software Modo 401 3D to create hard or inorganic surfaces for your models. Using an eight sided cylinder as the base example, you're shown various techniques to create hard surfaces for your models.
How To: Familiarize yourself with the various tools available in Silo 3D
Take a visual tour of the 3-D modeling and animation software Silo 3-D! This video shows you the various tools at your disposal when using this program, as well as showing you how to access the various features and functions for your own projects.
How To: Use MPEG Streamclip to transcode video for use in Premiere Pro
Use content taken from a variety of different sources or file types and transcode them so you can begin working with them in Premiere Pro. This tutorial shows you how to use a software program called MPEG Streamclip to achieve this on a Mac computer.
How To: Build a low-poly arcade machine for background in Modo 401 3D
Starting from scratch, this tutorial for the 3-D modeling software Modo 401 3D shows you how to create low-resolution, low-poly background pieces that nevertheless look professional and polished for your setting. Use multiple instances to populate a background easily and quickly.
How To: Install your software in bulk to set up a new computer
Tired of having to install multiple files every time you set up a new computer? This tutorial shows you how Ninite.com to set up a free installer so you can install all your free software applications at once (like web browsers, iTunes, GIMP, etc), instead of having to do it one by one.
How To: Turn particles into surface geomtery using 3-D modeling software Houdini 10
Trying to animate a 3-D object, like a roll of paper towels, unspooling? This tutorial shows you how to use Houdini 10 so you can turn particles or points on your grid into surface geometry so you can turn it into the right kind of animation.
How To: Make a screen saver for your DVDs using Windows Live Movie Maker
Take a few photos and still images, then use Windows Movie Maker to turn them into a screen saver style loop. This tutorials hows you how to use Movie Maker so you can burn your own short movie onto DVD.
How To: Sync your files and access data from multiple computers using Dropbox
Dropbox is a program (free at the basic level) which will allow you to access important files from multiple files. Just drop your chosen files into the Dropbox folder, and you'll be able to use and access these files from synced computers. You can even add music to iTunes remotely!
How To: Organize vocabulary words and study terms with Keep Your Word for Mac
Keep Your Word is an innovative and simple Mac application which will let the user keep track of different words - useful for anyone whose area of study gives them a lot of vocabulary words or glossary terms to keep memorized.
How To: Collect and organize web information with Yojimbo for the Mac
Yojimbo is a great Mac program which allows the the user to collect bookmarks, notes and entire webpages and assemble it into a single document. This tutorial shows you how to get it and then takes you on a visual tour of the program.
How To: Use iFlash on your Mac computer to make flashcards as study aids
Looking for some good study programs? iFlash, an application available for Mac users, allows you to create flash cards, which you can sort by semester, year or subject. Then, export your cards to your iPhone or iPod Touch to study on the go!
How To: Create your own animated .GIF image from a movie file with Gif Builder
Make your own small .gif animations on a Mac! This tutorial shows you how to use GifBuilder Carbon to take small movie clips and render them into your own .gif animations! This will work for any movie file except Windows Media Player formats.
How To: Install and run video editing software Eyeon Fusion on a Mac OS X
Even though Eyeon Fusion has been designed to run on a PC, you can still get it to run well on a Mac. If your computer is already Intel-based, you can use Bootcamp to set up a partition and run Eyeon there. Alternatively, you can parallelize your desktop and use this to run Eyeon Fusion.
How To: Extract content or split videos into smaller segments with free Virtual Dub
If you only want to take a clip a few minutes long from a larger movie, or split a movie into smaller segments, you can use the freeware Virtual Dub video editing program to accomplish this task (just make sure the file you're working with is already in .avi format).
How To: Update your version of HDRI Light Kit Pro and take a visual tour
Light Kit Pro just updated to version 1.5, and this video takes you on a visual tour of the new updates, such as a bounce card to use when adjusting light, so you can get the most out of your Light Kit photo editing software.
How To: Become a pirate TV producer and broadcast your own station
Start with a UHF or wireless TV transmitter (which you can easily get cheaply off Ebay or an electronics store), then pick what channel you want to broadcast to. Make your own news station, music show or anything else and start broadcasting!
How To: Create an in-depth composited image using Eyeon Fusion
Take a look at a single film shot, from start to finish, and watch this tutorial which teaches you some in-depth advanced compositing and special effects to use on your film clips and movies. This tutorial is aimed at users of Eyreon Fusion video editing and sfx software.
How To: Replicate the camera shake effect using video editing software
Create your own realistic looking custom camera shake effect! Camera shake makes the film look like the cameraman is unsteady, an effect which can be used to create a documentary or a more "in the moment" feel for your film project. Rather than using the premade node in Eyreon Fusion, this tutorial shows you how to create your own.
How To: Modify the mesh interactivity of your projects in Away 3D
Set up your Flash-based meshes in Away 3D to be responsive to user clicks. This particular tutorial will display the name of the image when the user clicks on it, and you're also taught how to use the ctrl+rollover command to navigate the program.
How To: Get started using Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition
In this clip, you'll learn how to get started using Symantec's Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition on your Microsoft Windows PC. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this helpful how-to can present a complete overview of the app in just over five minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Use a stylus pen and graphics tablet when working with Mudbox 2009
This tutorial shows you how a stylus pen and graphics tablet (such as the Wacom tablet) can be used to interface with the various features and functions of Mudbox 2009. Use your pen and tablet to create 3-D imagery and models in Mudbox 2009!
How To: Create and import custom 3-D mesh models using Mudbox 2009
There are a variety of programs you can use to create any sort of 3-D image. As long as you can export as an .obj file, you can create and import custom mesh models from programs like Maya or SketchUp using Mudbox 2009.
How To: Make use of the advanced video editing and special effects feature in Wax 2.0
This tutorial goes over a few of the advanced features offered in the special effects and video editing software WAX 2.0. Specifically, you'll learn how to add particle effects (like snow) and create a picture warp for transitions to add to your films and projects.
How To: Manage your professional photography business using Canon Studio Solutions
For a professional photographer in the market for good business management software, Canon offers the Studio solutions package. This tutorial series outlines all the various functions and features of Studio Solutions, such as order processing, client files and managing your various photos for each product. Manage your professional photography business using Canon Studio Solutions - Part 1 of 8.
How To: Download alternatives to Adobe Photoshop completely free and legal
Looking for freeware alternatives to Photoshop? If you don't need all the bells and whistles of a huge program like Photoshop, this video shows you where to get free photo editing software with good developer support, like Paint.net, FotoFlexer or the GIMP.
How To: Make your own suite of Adobe Creative Suite alternatives
Adobe Creative Suite is an expansive (and expensive!) array of programs for graphic artists of all kinds. However, you can assemble your own suite of completely free programs, like the GIMP, paint.net, Synfig, Komposer, PrimoPDF, InkScape, Scribus and Jahshaka - all freeware alternatives to Adobe programs.
How To: Create a company file in QuickBooks Pro 2010
In this clip, you'll learn how to create and set up a company file QuickBooks Pro 2010. Whether you're new to Intuit's popular business accounting application or just looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. Take a look.
How To: Export your film from iMovie and start a soundtrack in Garageband on Mac OSX
So now that you've finished editing your movie together, it's time to put a sound track together for it. One option is creating a soundtrack in Garageband. In this video you will learn how to export your film from iMovie in the correct format, start up Garageband and insert it into the right type of session in Garageband to start creating your soundtrack for your film.
How To: Create hip hop samples using FL Studio
Be your own DJ or MC! This tutorial starts with a clip of Jay-Z, and demonstrates how you can create a hip hop sample with this clip using the music editing software FL Studio. An advanced tutorial for users already familiar with the software!
How To: Make your text follow a path when using GIMP
Ever wanted to replicate the effect of writing text in a circle or other shape? You can set up a path for your text to follow using the GIMP free image software. This tutorial shows you a straightforward technique to achieve this effect.
How To: Create the StarCraft II logo from scratch in Blender 2.5
Create your own version of the logo for your favorite RTS game! Starting from a new, blank document, this tutorial walks you through the processes and techniques which go into replicating the logo for the fastest selling strategy game in the world!
How To: Create a polar panorama effect using the GIMP image editor
Polar panorama has images radiating out from the center of the picture. Starting with a regular panoramic image, this tutorial shows you how to use the free GIMP image editing software to create this 'polar panorama' effect for your next project.
How To: How to use ramp parameters and profile curves using Houdini
This tutorial aimed at users of the Houdini software demonstrates several techniques - it shows the user how to use ramp parameters, how to work with profile curves and the proper way to apply texture coordinates to a polygon or nurbs curve. How to use ramp parameters and profile curves using Houdini.
How To: Work with zdepth, create a depth of field and add a fog effect in Houdini
This tutorial for the Houdini user shows you the correct method for creating a zdepth pass in your project, as well as a few techniques you can use to create a fake depth of field effect and use the compositor to add fog. Work with zdepth, create a depth of field and add a fog effect in Houdini.
How To: Mantra micropolygon works when rendering with Houdini software
Perfect your mantra with this tutorial. Going over one of the functions available with the Houdini software program, this delves into the intricacies of using the Mantra micropolygon renderer. There are various controls you can use when working with Mantra, and this tutorial also goes over all of them. Mantra micropolygon works when rendering with Houdini software.
How To: Work with smoke and liquid effects in the Houdini software
It can be difficult to get smoke and liquid just right when working with 3-D imaging software. This tutorial shows you the various ways you can use Houdini to make smoke come from a moving object, and work with the various permutations of fluids in your project. Work with smoke and liquid effects in the Houdini software.