The following sections provide a summary of the software and other materials you'll find on the DVD.
The example files used in the tutorials throughout the book are included in the " Chapter Example Files" directory. Within this directory are separate subdirectories for each chapter. Supplemental files such as models and images are also included in these directories. Animated scenes include a rendered AVI file of the animation. For each tutorial, the resulting example after all steps are completed has the word "final" in the filename. Using these final examples, you can compare the results to your own work.
The following applications are on the DVD:
Adobe Reader: Adobe's PDF reader.
After Effects: An advanced compositing tool with a wide array of special effects.
Photoshop CS2: The standard image editing package used by digital studios around the globe.
Illustrator CS2: A vector-based drawing package for producing illustrations.
Premiere Pro: A video-editing powerhouse.
Trial, demo, or evaluation versions are usually limited either by time or functionality (such as being unable to save projects). Some trial versions are very sensitive to system date changes. If you alter your computer's date, the programs will "time out" and will no longer be functional.
All the text for the book is included on the DVD in PDF format along with Adobe Reader. Using the electronic version of the book, you can search the text. You'll also be able to see the book's figures in color.
Viewpoint Datalabs and Zygote Media have provided sample 3D models. Many of these models were used in the tutorials, and you can find the complete set of models in the "3D Models" directory.