Training Discovery

Learn how to digitally extend a set with After Effects. Lee Lanier shows how to remove a tricky green screen with the KEYLIGHT plugin and a custom luma matte, motion track a new background with appropriate parallax, digitally dress a set with static artwork, fabricate shadows, and relight the footage to create a realistic result.

VFX Techniques introduces common yet critical visual effects techniques that are used in film and television shows on a regular basis. This installment shows how to simulate a large crowd by combining live-action footage of a small group of people, 3D renders, and Adobe Photoshop artwork—transforming an otherwise empty building into a rapt audience. Author Lee Lanier uses After Effects to set up image sequences, apply motion tracking to match the motion of the original camera, and key green-screen footage. Finally, you'll learn how to make all the elements cohesive with color correction and lighting techniques.

A default computing environment for each of your allocated resources is automatically set up for you when your XSEDE account is created. It provides access to the default compilers, directories, and software you will need to use XSEDE resources efficiently. Eventually, you may find that the default environment doesn't meet your specific usage requirements. When that happens, you may customize your environment by configuring various settings and creating shortcuts for accomplishing tasks you perform regularly.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to customize your XSEDE computing environment using UNIX commands and the Modules package.

Note: This course was previously offered on CI-Tutor.

In this course, author Bill Weinman shows how to architect PostgreSQL databases and integrate them into web applications using PHP. The course covers the basics of creating tables, storing data with data types, and working with expressions, operators, and strings. The course also explores the differences between the PDO and pgsql interfaces and demonstrates managing a database in PHP.

What do great companies have in common? Great customer service. Discover how to chart your team on a course that focuses on the customer, with three no-nonsense tips. Jeff Toister discusses how to set a direction, create mile markers, and course correct when things get off track.

Learn how to quit your job—the right way. Although it can be nerve-wracking to hand in your notice, it's important to leave on the best possible terms to keep your reputation and relationships intact. In this short training course, Aimee Bateman shows you how to prepare to resign, how to write a resignation letter, and how to conduct yourself during your last few weeks. She also reviews the dos and don'ts of quitting, and explains what happens during the exit interview. With these tips, you will be able to gracefully leave your current job and embark on the next stage of your career.

Veteran After Effects user Chris Meyer shares real-world production and workflow advice as he demonstrates the newest features in Adobe After Effects CC. Chris reviews the streamlined connection to MAXON CINEMA 4D and the Refine Edge tool for creating mattes around hair and other partially transparent areas, and reveals how to get more accurate tracks and stabilizations with Reverse Stabilization and ground planes. He also reviews the upgraded Warp Stabilizer and 3D Camera Tracker and important new usability features such as layer snapping.

The September 2013 update brought the new Rigid Mask Tracker, as well as additional ways to scale up footage cleanly, while the highlight of the December 2013 update was the ability to convert parametric shape layers to Bézier paths, and Bézier paths into shape layers. The NAB 2014 update shows off important new integration with Adobe Premiere Pro and Typekit, as well major updates to effects. Smaller yet still important new and enhanced features in each release are also touched on throughout. As always, Chris doesn't just show you where these new features are, but how to apply them to your own projects, along with preferred working practices and potential gotchas.

Note: This course was created and produced by Chris and Trish Meyer. We are honored to host this content in our library.

Determine the ROI for learning. Discover how to evaluate whether learning objectives are being met in your organization. In this course, Jeff Toister explores several popular models for determining the effectiveness of a class or training course, and provides a framework for applying these models. This includes creating an evaluation strategy, collecting assessment data, and making recommendations for improvements. The Kirkpatrick Model, the Phillips ROI Methodology, and Brinkerhoff's Success Case Method are discussed in depth, as well as alternative approaches such as predictive analytics. These tools will give you the data to validate your current training strategy or recommend data-driven improvements that are tailored to the way your participants are actually learning.

Check the exercise files for sample evaluation plans, reports, checklists, and worksheets that you can use to evaluate your own employee development program.

Lynda.com is a PMI Registered Education Provider. This course qualifies for professional development units (PDUs). To view the activity and PDU details for this course, click here.

The PMI Registered Education Provider logo is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Create and share interactive reports and presentations on the fly with Sway, the new Microsoft Office app. Oliver Schinkten provides your first look at Sway. Learn what it is, where to access it, and how to start building your own Sways—presentations, tutorials, newsletters, stories, and more—from content you have stored locally or online. Plus, explore how to use Sway's unique interactive format to collaborate on projects and share them with others.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is a globally recognized certification that validates your ability to audit, control, and monitor information systems. In this course, Michael Lester provides a high-level overview of the CISA certification exam. This course kicks off the CISA Cert Prep series, which covers each exam domain in greater detail. Here, Michael introduces you to the exam, provides exam tips and practice questions, and shares what to do after you've taken the test.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is the platform of choice for Windows virtualization. RDS provides secure access to corporate data and applications as well as desktop access from the cloud. It's ideal for remote teams as well as companies that don't need computers on site. This course includes guidance for manually deploying RDS in Azure, the Microsoft cloud computing solution. Instructor Sharon Bennett reviews the deployment options—including session-based and virtual desktop deployments—and then reviews the basics of an RDS template deployment. She shows how to configure an environment complete with servers, users, and security. Finally, discover how to test your solution by creating client session collections to run remote apps or desktops.

Planning projects, assigning tasks, tracking progress, and releasing results can all be managed in Jira, the popular and collaborative software for development teams. In this course, Robert Anthony shares his expertise as he guides you through the fundamentals of using Jira. Robert shows you how to create tickets, locate issues assigned to you and others, use advanced search, customize dashboards, run reports, and set up workflow boards to organize work. In addition, he facilitates several challenges and solutions so you can practice what you learn as you follow along.

Millennials—individuals between the ages of 18–35—are the largest buying segment in the economy. In this course, learn what this generation actually values, and how to leverage proven marketing strategies to effectively target this powerful audience. Millennial marketing expert Chelsea Krost kicks off the course by explaining who millennials are and debunking common millennial stereotypes. Chelsea offers specific tactics that you can use to optimize your organization's digital and social presence, and shares strategies for upping your content marketing efforts to inspire and engage consumers. To wrap up, she covers influencer marketing—including how to find the right influencer for your business—and goes over fundamental social media marketing concepts.

No matter your role, seniority level, or industry, work can sometimes get awkward. In this course, Elizabeth and Lisa McLeod help you navigate those tricky situations. Learn the principles and behaviors to employ in a variety of awkward situations, from coworkers who take credit for your work to office breakups. Throughout this practical course, Elizabeth and Lisa share scenarios of common situations and demonstrate how to handle them with grace and authenticity.

Retail success starts and ends with your sales team. A consistent and positive sales approach keeps the business steady and customers happy. This course is all about building the foundations for success. Instructor Noah Fleming looks at how to deliver and maintain a powerful customer experience, mitigate the factors that impact retail sales, and adopt selling strategies used by the best companies in the world. Find out to increase the average order size with bundling and options, and dive deep into customer loyalty: understanding the true value of a customer. Noah also helps you understand when and when not to discount—and how to avoid the number one retail sales mistake.

Great songs often come to us in bits and pieces. A perfect verse pops into our head like a gift, but we struggle to come up with a chorus or second verse that feels right. In this course, learn practical songwriting techniques that can help you look at your tune through a different lens—and, in turn, take your song to unexpected new places. Professional musician Julian Velard shows how to play with melody, form, and chords to gain a fresh perspective when a tune has you stuck. Along the way, Julian demonstrates each technique by playing musical examples.

Part of virtual reality is generating real-time 3D graphics. This can be done with JavaFX. This course discusses the benefits of JavaFX and then gets you started using it to create graphics. First, learn how to create charts and UI elements. Then, discover how 3D shapes can be defined and generated. Once you have your 3D graphics, you're ready for controlling the camera and lighting. Last, find out how to apply shape materials and then interact with 3D scenes.

Earning a CompTIA A+ certification validates you've obtained the foundational knowledge and skills needed for a career in IT. This six-course series is designed to both equip you as a technician for your role in IT support, and prepare you for taking the 220-901 exam.

The CompTIA A+ 220-901 exam is comprised of six key parts. The fourth, peripherals, is covered by this course. Instructor Mike Meyers explains how to manage monitors and display technologies, including how to work with connectors and ports like VGA and DVI. He also shows you how to maintain printers and multifunction devices, both as independent devices and as devices connected and configured to a computer.

Note: The six courses designed for the CompTIA A+ (220-901) exam preparation include core processing, core hardware, peripherals and building a PC, displays and printers, networking, and laptops and mobile devices.

We are now a CompTIA Content Publishing Partner. As such, we are able to offer CompTIA exam vouchers at a 10% discount. For more information on how to obtain this discount, please download these PDF instructions.

Earning the CompTIA Server+ certification signals to potential employers that you have a robust understanding of server management. In this course, Ed Liberman prepares you for the storage portion of the CompTIA Server+ (SK0-004) exam. Here, Ed dives into the topic of server storage. He covers primary storage technologies, RAID, and storage capacity planning.

Reimagine your living room with Adobe Photoshop. William Everhart shows you how to take an image of your existing living room and get a rough idea of what it will look like with different wallpaper, flooring, window treatments, and even furniture and fixtures. Whether you are a professional designer or just a homeowner looking to update the look of your home, you'll find the techniques you'll need here to design your new space, from picking paint chips to lighting.

Tooltips can greatly improve the usability of your web site by providing direction and cues to visitors. In this course, Chris Converse shows how to convert text or graphics into a mouse-sensitive tooltip. The tutorials demonstrate how to write the necessary HTML and activate the tooltip with jQuery, as well as add positioning and effects.

Learn to create content that is expandable with a single click. This technique is very popular for providing more on-demand information, such as FAQs, biographies, or additional product information. In this course, Chris Converse shows how to create the HTML, CSS, and jQuery code needed for an expandable content panel that hides and shows content at the user's request. Learn how to inject additional markup, style the different panel elements, set trigger states, and animate the panel to reveal the hidden content.