the fxphd deans blog

So I have a confession. One of the best parts of our job here at fxphd is to do stuff that we have just wanted to do for years but never had a client or a budget or a project that allowed it. One such thing is cloud tanks. I just like cloud tanks. So this week we started our first tests with them. Some — not all — but some of this work will be in next term’s fxphd courses and some will appear in Jan 09.

Now I need your help dear fxreaders. We have to work out how to do layers in the water, an old school technique of having different levels of density to the water by having salt layers. The theory is something to do with having different mixes of salt water in a still tank and then this acts as a buffer for the expanding cloud tank primary - in our case liquid latex. I know out there some of your will know of a DVD extra or an article or book that explains this, for me googling salt water cloud tank inversion did not get me much - I did find this on the Raider of the Lost Ark site:
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Over the years at fxguide and simply in my professional life, I really enjoyed seeking out information and educating myself about visual effects and motion graphics design. I guess that’s one of the things about being so into what one does for a living — finding that kind of research fun.

But I have to say, the scope of things I track has broadened considerably in the years since we started fxphd. While I’m still doing production in vfx and graphics, I’ve added a whole new range of subjects related to the web and desktop to my daily bookmarks folder. How to make a site more Google friendly, php programming, web site design, technology behind torrents, and more. One example is screen capture software…..
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Ok I know this sounds like a line but….

We are just finishing the term at fxphd and at the end of the month we announce the Oct 08 term. It is about now that I start to get really worried about the matching what we have done in the past at fxphd. Do we have anything ? Do we have enough ? I start to get twitchy and the then down right nervous. I mean … do we have it - in terms of new courses and cool stuff?

But not for next term ! - No NEXT term is looking mind expandingly cool - it is for the term AFTER next. I swear this is true: I live with this fear of how will we come up with cool new stuff to blow everyone’s mind… but not for next term - we have been working on those courses for months,…
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I got bored a while ago with my stable of standard podcasts and sources. There is nothing wrong with the normal set of podcasts on my ipod, but after a while… well you know. I had fallen into a trap of not having time to go off the beaten track and do some exploring - so I did.

Maybe you have some other great stuff you’d like to share? In which case I’d love to hear it but here is my criteria:
- professional or related to the industry
- not aimed at the college humour crowd.
- not stupid or involving cats

I wanted stuff that informed me and illuminated me on some area I did not know…

This is what I came up with…
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As we get to the end of the successful July08 term, we’ll be closing registration for the term later this week. If you’re interested in one of the offerings we’ve got going this term, this may be your last chance in a while to take the course. Check the curriculum grid to see when and/or if a particular course is planned for a repeat.

Jeff Heusser was in Chicago this weekend and he took advantage of the travel to drop by the fxphd loft and record a segment for this term’s smoke course being taught by Chris Kreynus. We’ve wanted to get Jeff included into some of our classes, and covering an introduction to logarithmic workflow was a great opportunity to do so. Meanwhile, I’m packing up for visiting Europe this week in anticipation of the IBC convention in Amsterdam. We’ll be doing several fxguidetv eps from there next week as well has holding an fxphd meetup. Back to packing….