VFX Artist Rusty Hazelden has released his first volume of "The Art of Renderman"

https://gumroad.com/rustyhazelden






full chapter  list here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLhpS_PlWwViZAbc2924SFjZQJvk25JBYn&v=D0PmsO3Tzc4

Arnold 5.1 Denoiser overview from atdsk

There are 2 new deNoisers added to Arnold 5.1
Technical Specialist Roland Reyer does an overview of using both, and their pros and cons.

• nVidia Optix denoiser
• superfast
• interactive
• un-stable
• runs on nVidia GPU hardware
• Arnold batch denoiser
• slower
• non-interactive
• stable !
• runs in batch mode
• runs on software

Renderer QuickStart from Create 3D characters

This looks like a really great intro into rendering from Create 3D Characters.  Not only does it have tutorials for Arnold, RenderMan, and RedShift, but it also includes an amazing "Pleased Dragon" sculpt to light, but it's all FREE. 

 I've seen a few of Create 3D's offerings before, and they are all really good and easy to follow. 

here is the link to their quickstart page:  http://create3dcharacters.com/maya-renderer-quick-start-2018/

Denoiser in V-ray 3.4 for Maya

Chaos group added a new post-process denoiser that you can run post or during your v-ray renders in V-Ray 3.4

go here for all the latest updates:
http://www.chaosgroup.com/en/2/vray_maya.html