Digimation Announces 2010 Software Releases

Digimation®, a leading provider of 3D content, software, and custom services to the entertainment and defense industry, today announced the release of SpeedTree 4.2 and V-Ray 1.5 Service Pack 3a both of which are available at www.digimation.com. These releases have been updated to support 3ds Max 2010 and 3ds Max Design 2010.

SpeedTree 4.2 is compatible with 3ds Max and Design 2010 with 32-bit and 64-bit support and is used to create realistic low polygon trees, exceptionally realistic forests, and animated trees in no time with this easy and resource-friendly software. New features in version 4.2 include previews for trees, wind simulation, and mesh export support. For more product information, click here.

V-Ray 1.5 Service Pack 3a is compatible with 3ds Max and Design 2010 with 32-bit and 64-bit support. New and improved features include linear workflow, mesh-based lights, direct light materials, fog environmental effect, vector displacement, mesh import proxy, max arch and design materials support, region rendering directly in VFB, as well as reducing irradiance map flicker, physical cam override, render elements work in transparency, DRR improvements, and new SSS material for faster rendering. For more product information, click here.

About Digimation
Digimation is a world leader in the 3D industry with products and services designed to accelerate the development, and enhance the quality of visual communication, training, and entertainment in the commercial and defense sectors. For more information about the company's award-winning products and services, please visit www.digimation.com. Information on the company's products and services for the defense industry can be found at defense.digimation.com.

Open Effects Association Formed At NAB 2009

NAB (May 20, 2009) - Seven companies joined forces at NAB last month to launch The Open Effects Association. This non-profit, UK-based company aims to develop and promote open standards across the visual effects community. Founding members are Assimilate, Autodesk®, Digieffects, FilmLight, The Foundry, GenArts® and RE:Vision Effects. These companies have helped artists create ground-breaking VFX shots on just about everything that hits cinema screens.

The Association’s initial focus is to improve the OFX image processing plug-in standard launched by The Foundry in 2004. The goal for the OpenFX API is to reduce the level of development and support required for plug-ins across different compositing and editing host platforms. The OpenFX API has, to date, been adopted by:

Assimilate® SCRATCH®
Autodesk® Toxik™ software
FilmLight’s Baselight
GenArts® Sapphire® plug-ins
The Foundry’s Nuke compositor and Tinder, Keylight and Furnace plug-ins
RE:Vision Effects’ ReelSmart™ Motion Blur and DE:Noise plug-ins
Digital Vision’s FilmMaster
Grass Valley’s Bones
Eyeon Fusion
Avid DS
Photron’s Primatte Keyer


The Association hopes that as a new, independent organization, it will encourage increasingly open communication and collaboration between hosts and plug-in developers and establish a uniform specification to benefit everyone involved, starting with the artists.

Bruno Nicoletti, Chief Technical Officer at The Foundry and main creator of the original OpenFX API comments: “It was always The Foundry’s aim to make life easier for everyone. I’m reinvigorated by the formation of this new independent body, delighted to have been appointed to the board and am looking forward to collaborating with the other members and encouraging uptake of OpenFX API as a standard.”

Gary Oberbrunner, Chief Scientist, Vice President of Engineering at GenArts and newly appointed Director of the OFX Association adds, “GenArts Sapphire has a well-earned reputation for supporting a wide range of host platforms. We’ve been supportive of the OpenFX premise since its inception, and Sapphire runs on all major OpenFX hosts. We at GenArts are excited about the OFX Association, and we believe this new approach will enable the industry to advance our common goals more quickly.”

New Training Academy for Colorists Launches

Los Angeles, London, Sydney (May 20, 2009) The International Colorist Academy (ICA) has officially launched, providing training for colorists by colorists. Founded by renowned colorists with over 60 years of combined color correction and training experience, Kevin Shaw, Rich Montez and Warren Eagles, the ICA fills a need for “hands on” interactive colorist training.

ICA offers colorists a wide variety of technique-based courses, from basic color theory, digital intermediate and film workflows, telecine and lab, client interaction, speaking the language of DP’s, looks and styles, and covers a broad range of manufacturer color grading systems. Courses can be customized and structured to meet specific needs, and geared toward on-site or open class training. ICA’s pooled international knowledge covers all grading applications including; short-form, commercial, long-form, and DI.

As post production workflows shift and the tools used for color correction continue to change, colorists require the personal training that books and DVD’s just simply cannot provide. A key goal of ICA is to provide colorists and those wishing to become colorists with real-world experience to help them excel in their field.

Co-founders Kevin, Rich and Warren will continue their freelance colorist activities alongside the ICA courses, providing genuine ‘real-life’ technique-based colorist training.

About International Colorist Academy (ICA)
The International Colorist Academy (ICA) provides a range of training courses geared towards colorists and post production facilities. Courses are delivered by independent colorists located around the world and range from basic color theory, digital intermediate and film workflows, telecine and lab, client interaction, speaking the language of DP’s, looks and styles, and cover a broad range of manufacturer color grading systems.
For more information please visit: www.icolorist.com/

USA Today's Extensive Article on Up, Pixar's Past, Present and Future

USA Today is running a rich feature on Up including sections dedicated to Pixar’s past and future and an interactive timeline.

The main article starts off with a story about a couple who bond over Pixar movies. It’s a sweet tale of how the two lovebirds mark special occasions with these special movies. In the first few sections you’ll find USA Today’s non-spoilerific synopsis of the film with quotes from viewers weaved in, as well as a response to the Wall Street naysayers.

In the next section, the author takes Lasseter’s famous quote, "Quality is the best business plan", to the next level! This part of the article highlights the directors that make Pixar what it is and the new directors which will redefine the studio with their upcoming projects. Rejoining the 3D Revolution basically goes over how Pixar’s been making "3D" films all along, but that we only got to see them in 2D… until now. Restocking the Talent Pool talks about the new directors coming onto the scene. Last but not least there’s Repairing the Gender Gap which is a response to the recent question coming up around the ‘net: where are Pixar’s female leads? This section focuses on Brenda Chapman and her upcoming Pixar fairy tale which is "driven" by Merida "as opposed to having things happen to her. And there is no waiting for a prince."

Also of note is the interactive feature that chronicles each of Pixar’s 10 film. Laden with quotes from the directors and a clip of their favorite scene from their films, this is a fun way of anticipating the next installment in the Pixar canon. You can find that piece right here.

"The Dog & The Cat" teaser trailer on HD

I like to inform, that Eskiz Studio's teaser trailer of a new armenian 3d animation movie, based on tale of Hovhannes Tumanyan "The Dog & The Cat" is now available in 1080p HD resolution on http://vimeo.com/4788836

Sorry that is without subtitles, becouse it's for armenian region yet...

For more information: www.dogcat3d.com , www.eskizstudio.com , sosoyans.blogspot.com