On Dan Ablan’s Linked In page, a colleague from
NASA Ames Research wrote: “His work has reliably exceeded all expectations, and has focused on satisfying the customer without concern for changes requested along the way. He is a professional: technically and as a businessman.” Throughout a 20-year career in the digital arts, Dan’s clients have claimed similar sentiments. Dan has the ability to take a complex program explain it in simple terms, be it 3D modeling and animation software, photography applications, or Photoshop. His knack for finding a common denominator with people he works with and trains, transcends to the subjects he teaches.
Dan Ablan is president of AGA Digital Studios, Inc., a 3D animation and visual effects company in the Chicago area. AGA Digital has produced 3D visuals for broadcast, corporate, and medical clients since 1994, as well as photography services. Dan is the author of the best selling international LightWave 3D books from New Riders Publishing, LightWave Power Guide (v5.0), Inside LightWave 3D (v5.5), Inside LightWave , LightWave 6.5 Effects Magic, Inside LightWave 7, Inside LightWave 8, and co-author of LightWave 8 Killer Tips. He also is the author of [digital] Cinematography & Directing, and served as technical editor for [digital] Lighting & Rendering. Dan was also a contributor to After Effects 5.5 Magic. His latest books are Inside LightWave v9, The Official Luxology modo 201 Guide, Digital Photography for 3D Imaging and Animation, and The Official Luxology modo 301 Guide. Photoshop CS4 Studio Techniques marks Dan’s 13th book.
Dan is also the founder of 3D Garage.com, a website dedicated to high quality video training. He also has written columns and articles for LightWave Pro magazine, Video Toaster User magazine, 3D Design magazine, 3D World magazine, and Computer Graphics World while also serving as Editor-in-Chief of Keyframe Magazine (now HDRI 3D magazine) for two years. Dan has been teaching workshops since 1995 across the country on 3D and digital imaging, and recently started a Chicago based, two-day one-on-one personal Photography & Photoshop workshop. Some of the companies Dan has trained include Reebok, Fox Television, ABC-TV, CBS-TV, WTTW PBS Chicago, Lockheed Martin, and many others.
An active member of the Professional Photographers Association of America, Dan is always looking for new and exciting opportunities to capture that perfect image. Visit Dan’s main site at www.danablan.com to see what new things he’s up to, and view his photography at www.danablan.com.
