Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1474486
12 cgw j u ly • a u g u s t • s e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 2 e d u c a t i o n s p o t l i g h t Academy of Art University Launches rLAB Remote Studio Access A cademy of Art University has announced the launch of rLAB, a cutting-edge technology solution that enables students to access the same powerful machines used by artists at major animation and visual effects studios, accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Using Teradici Cloud Access Soware to connect with an on-campus workstation, students are able to remotely access the Academy's advanced, studio-grade computers for programs in An- imation and VFX, running complex VFX soware, and carrying out multi-computer renders. All that is needed is an internet connec- tion and students can transform any device they own — whether they have a low-end PC, laptop, or Chromebook — into a high-end graphics workstation packed with soware. Using rLAB, students can remotely access the workstation's pro- grams, licenses, RAM, and network hard drives at any time and from anywhere in the world, just as if they were on-site. They also have access to the Academy's tech support team via Zoom, who are able to monitor the campus lab machines and resolve any issues that may arise. The Academy's curriculum of specialized tracks encompasses every department in the studio pipeline —Concept Art, Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Look Development, Lighting, Effects, and Compositing — and prepares students for work in top Animation and VFX studios. Oen students coming straight out of school lack the practical real-world experience to handle the demands of production — this includes working on a team and under a deadline. For this reason, the Academy has developed StudioX, a series of advanced level classes that emulate a production environment with faculty mentorship. In these classes, the students work on real shows with real deadlines, encountering the real challenges that come up in the course of mak- ing a film. The students learn to collaborate as a team, how to work well under pressure, and how to creatively solve problems. With instructors bringing decades of studio experience, world-class facilities accessible from anywhere in the world, and hands-on experience through the StudioX program, students gradu- ate with the knowledge, tools, and experience they will need to work at the best studios, and a demo reel to prove it. ¢ SCAD Opens State-of-the-Art Extended Reality Stage C ombining technical mastery with artistic sensibility, stu- dents become architects of the imagination in the SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) School of Creative Technology as they pioneer immersive realities and award-winning attractions, video games, and mobile apps. With a detailed curric- ulum that prepares students for careers, the school offers degrees in immersive reality, interactive design and game development, and themed entertainment design. SCAD School of Animation and Motion students deliver captivat- ing moments across multiple platforms. From illuminating fantas- tical realms and characters to expertly integrating motion media in virtual studio environments and public spaces, animation, motion media design, and VFX, students develop the acumen, creativity, and dexterity necessary to launch their creative careers. In Fall 2021, SCAD opened a state-of-the art extended reality (XR) stage for virtual productions. SCAD students are the first in the world to enroll in classes where they are learning to create content on a XR stage. XR combines camera tracking and real-time rendering to create an immersive virtual environment, visible live on set and shot directly in camera. The stage utilizes the Unreal Engine and a Disguise XR workflow to generate photorealistic environ- ments on a large LED wall display, plus a cutting-edge stYpe RedSpy