Week One: Topology
In week one, Bryan will demonstrate the core principles of facial topology using his own examples. Students will gain an understanding as to what edge loops are important to have for ease of blend shape creation, as well as gain insight into facial anatomy. We will also look at some examples of bad topology and the problems it can cause. The first and most important shape; the neutral shape will be discussed. Bryan will also provide a head mesh that students will be able to use for the class if they so choose. Students can also choose to create their own head meshes using the principles of topology demonstrated in this week's videos. Students will also see videos of Bryan sculpting a head using the head mesh he will supply to the class.

• Follow wrinkles
• Flow with muscle direction
• Hold up to smoothing
• Appear symmetrical
• Bad topology and the problems it causes
• Neutral shape - the most important shape.
• Important Mudbox settings.
• Demonstration of changing supplied head into new character - Base level

Assignment: Students will begin to create a head (either from scratch or from the head mesh provided) that will ultimately be used to create blend shapes going forward.

Week Two: Tools of the trade
Not too familiar with Mudbox? Not to worry, this week Bryan will go over some of his preferred settings for tools he uses most frequently in Mudbox. Bryan will demonstrate completing the head started in week one. Tips and tricks of how to create high frequency details like skin pores and wrinkles will also be demonstrated. We will also look at the power of layer masks and how they can help us sculpt heads quicker.

• Demonstration of changing supplied head into new character - Higher levels
• High Frequency details
• Sculpting tools in Mudbox - discussing things to watch out for as well as some favorite settings.
• Mirroring shapes
• Masking layers, applying mask to layer

Assignment: Students will continue working on their heads.

Week Three: Setting up scene for blend shape creation
Now we take a look at how to prepare a scene for blend shape creation. We identify things that need to be considered before blend shape creation begins so that we don't run into problems later in the blend shape creation process. Learn what base displacement maps are, and what they should not be. We take a look at a script that helps us get the best base displacements. Extract, and clean up base displacement maps.

• No shapes until head is complete
• Base displacement maps
• Smooth compensate
• Extraction
• Dealing with base displacement artefacts
• Preparing scene for shape creation

Assignment: Students will complete their head.

Week Four: Shape Sculpting Practices I
Now that we have a scene that is all ready for blend shape creation, we take a look at the meat of blend shapes. We will look at some great resources you can use to learn more about shapes even beyond this workshop, and also take a look at samples from face research that many of the leading studios in the industry use as a basis for their blend shape sets. Motion is key to shapes, so we will go over some commonly overlooked motion that is included in face shapes. We will also look at how we can use Mudbox to scrub our shapes to see the motion as we create them. Watch video demonstrations of how to use Mudbox to create the illusion of flesh sliding across bones, and skin rolling as shapes are dialed in. We will also take a look at a plug in for Maya that can also be used to help create these complex movements in our shapes.

• Useful resources
• FACS and good reference
• Base level first highest level last
• Motion is key
• Sliding flesh - bones don’t deform
• Be observant!
• Rolling Skin - how to achieve it
• Scrubbing your shape

Assignment: Students will prepare their completed head for blend shape creation.

Week Five: Shape Sculpting Practices II
In week five, we take a look at sculpting blend shapes at high levels of subdivision. We identify a little known feature of Mudbox that allows us to check the motion of a blend shape fluidly even when the head is has MILLIONS of polys! A Mudbox script and Photoshop actions are given to the students to accomplish this. Learn about muscle isolation and clever ways to use Mudbox's import as a layer feature to accomplish blend shape tasks. We also take a look at combination shapes and compare them to splitting shapes. A video demonstration of creating a "Scrunch" shape will be available and another video will demonstrate how to use Mudbox to split the "Scrunch" shape into 8 separate blend shapes that all work together perfectly!

• What a blend shape really is
• Muscle isolation
• Delta to base layer or not
• Shrinkage!
• Combination shapes vs. splitting shapes
• Scrunch shape
• Scrunch shape diced up

Assignment: Students will decide on at least 2 blend shapes to create and begin their first blend shape.

Week Six: Action Unit One: Inner Brow Raiser & Action Unit Two: Outer Brow Raiser
Now that we have a firm understanding of shape creation in Mudbox sit back and watch Bryan create the Inner Brow Raiser and Outer brow raiser shapes. Surprised? Worried? The head Bryan created in weeks 1 and 2 will be. The blend shapes created this week will help identify the differences of combination shapes and split shapes.

• Demonstration of sculpting Inner Brow Raiser.
• Demonstration of sculpting Outer Brow Raiser

Assignment: Students will either continue on first shape or begin a second shape.

Week Seven: Action Unit One & Two Combination, Action Unit Four: Brow Lowerer
This week we continue on with shape creation. Video demonstrations of Bryan sculpting the Brow lowerer will help his character get some attitude. Additional video demonstrations of the combination shape, Full brow raiser will be available.

• Demonstration of sculpting combination shape for action units 1 & 2
• Demonstration of sculpting brow lowerer

Assignment: Students continue on shape work

Week Eight: Action Unit One & Four Combination
By now you shouldn’t be confused at all about blend shape creation in Mudbox, but a video demonstration of Bryan sculpting the Inner brow raiser and brow lowerer combination shape will leave his character looking confused. We will finish with a look at how we can transfer blend shapes from one head to another so that we can work smarter and faster!

• Demonstration of sculpting combination shape for action units 1 & 4
• Transferring shapes from one head to another

Assignment: Students complete their shape work

Level of Ability
Although this workshop is aimed at the intermediate student, beginners are welcome to participate. You will need a good understanding of 3D, Photoshop, and have basic Mudbox skills. This is an intense workshop aimed at students who are able to commit to at least ten hours a week to this class while being mentored by a master artist.

Hardware and Software Requirements
Students must have Mudbox 2009, Photoshop (CS3 Extended or higher preferred but not required), A broadband connection will be needed for downloading the weekly video lessons.

Students will also need to have the use of a small portable mirror.

A broadband connection will be needed for downloading the weekly video lessons.

Some of the sample scenes are hardware heavy, so its recommended to have a minimum of 2 GB of RAM.

Other Requirements
Students need to be familiar with web navigation and browsing, as well as email.

Students need to be familiar with using a bulletin board system (such as CGTalk.com) as well as how to upload attachments to postings for review.