Does anyone know anything about making impresive lookin art folios on CDs?
You could make it an interactive CDrom, which runs either as an Autorun file or set up a website type system.
To make the Autorun system that starts when the Cd is loaded, you might need a CDrom publishing type program. I think the website type system with links to files on the CDrom, would be easier to do.
Sonix.
Ok thanks. You wouldn’t happen to know of any CD rom Publishing programs would you?
I do have one, but I can’t remeber the name of it I’m afraid. It’s one of those things I got 'cos it might be useful one day, but I have not needed to use it yet.
Try a search in google.
Sonix.
What i usually do is build a webpage to house the animations and stills etc…, then burn it to CD, its an easy way to interface your stuff.
One thing iv noticed about 3D grads animations for their portfolios is, that they include close up 360 degree shots of their models and sets, both textured and un-textured. They will first play the animation they built, and then include all of the close ups and stuff. Then your credits and contact information at the end. This does lend to show your work in more detail, and makes your presentation look more professional.
I will have to start doing this myself, and build a good portfolio meself soon i think… 
Hope that helps…
Matt
Blend on, and blend well!!!
basicly what bapsis said is very accurate.
quicktime VR type objects are good for the 360 degree versions of objects.
as for autorun cds they are sometimes a bit hard to make.
first off the autorun comands for Windows, Mac, and Linux are all different so it won’t work the same on everyones computer.
as i did for my portfolio when applying for design school, i put the index.html in the lowest level of the cd. i think i called it click me.html or somthing similar.
i had a folder organised and dedicated to files that could be viewed without a web browser (if so needed), i then had a seperate folder for the web page related stuff.
i supplyed videos that i made in both a better quality DivX file and also a quicktime MOV file. potentially these days its also nice to offer WMV which is currently one of the best quality lossy codecs.
to be more professional its advised that it functions in all forseeable circumstances. its not a good look to have somthing only work on your setup or a very limited setup.
if you do want to use an autorun feature, i sugest its done in conjuction with the webpage, e.g the autoloader opens the webpage.
also look into finding out how to do it on macintosh and doing it for both windows and mac, (many pros use macs, many use windows)
functionality is a big one. form is very important as well and should include creative flare, but if it doesn’t function then time has been wasted.
easily navigatable and logical is good.
since its on CD you can add very high quality movies and renders because 700Mb is a lot to fill
i got accepted into our countrys most prestigious and longest running design schools (aka massey university of art and design)
i don’t know whether it was to do with my cd or what but basicly its a good way to present things IMO.
if you are using your portfolio for a single source or are only planning on ever having one portfolio then i sugest have a cd only as a backup to a traditional portfolio.
a cd has one floor.
people need to be on a computer to see it and its not hands on.
its good pratice to have a book of high quality printouts of your work for people to see hands on. cds can be given out as a take home version and enhancement.
good luck.
Alltaken
Those are very helpful suggestions.
I’d really like to see the blender web plugin revitaized. It would be great open source for a cd browser version
Most definatly, the web plug-in is something we want to keep, and could be usefull for presentations. Also, if you are physically there with your portfolio, like at an interview, know that Blender can be run directly from a CD. So, just copy the folder that contains all the blender stuff (already installed on HD), and then just burn it onto CD. You could show not only your models this way, but i bet most of the ppl would have never seen Blender before, and how fast you can work it!!!
Matt
Blend on, and blend well!!!
I’ve done that before… it’s a great feeling to see their eyes shoot wide open when they realize that you’re showing all that great work in the application being run right off the CD.
of course not forgetting it will need to be done for each OS on the same cd and a shortcut to the executables put on the lowest level on the cd.
e.g. blender MAC, blender Win. etc…
also another VERY VERY effective way to do a presentation on CD is a powerpoint file.
first thing is.
A) they are like a webpage/pdf meaning you can click on somthing and go to another page. you can basicly set up your own webpage in one.
B) they can call software to open a file (unlike webpages which don’t do this for security reasons). so you can link to a blend file with an image and then have it automatically fire up the blender program on the cd and open the file 
(nice huh??0
C) they can be packed to only one file, or can be set out like a website in file structure
D) they are mainly cross browser compatible. its a tool used by nearly all teachers /lecturers at my uni and they use both macs and PC’s
that might give you another idea
Alltaken
That’s a great help people
Thanks heaps