Master the art of using combustion to combine digital elements such as a 3ds max rendering with video footage or stills! The newest addition to our Ground Rules Series, this how-to manual is one of the first resources available for computer artists and animators who want to learn how to make optimal use of combustion- a powerful Macintosh- and Windows-based desktop solution from Discreet that provides a unified paint, animation, and 3D composition environment in which cutting-edge graphics and compelling visual effects can be created. Step-by-step tutorials based on real-world applications of combustion take center stage in this book, acquainting beginner through intermediate users with 90% of the features of the combustion software while introducing professional 2D and 3D compositing and painting techniques. Fast-paced and thoroughly engaging, these tutorials provide a swift and effective means of gaining first-hand insights into the combustion interface and workflow. Because the tutorials are based on real-world applications, all new skills gained as a result of working through this book are directly relevant to the needs of technically-savvy computer artists and animators working in today's highly sophisticated post-production and 3D animation environments.