New exporters offer artists, designers and engineers immediate access to real-time 3D workflow and rendering.

StudioGPU MachStudio Pro now offers free exporters for Google SketchUp Pro and McNeel Rhino 3D modeling and animation software. With these new exporters, 3D assets from SketchUp Pro 7 and Rhino 4 can easily be transferred into MachStudio Pro, where users can create and manipulate lights, materials and HDR cameras in a real-time non-linear environment to achieve cinematic-quality results.

MachStudio Pro is real-time 3D shot finaling and compositing package that harnesses the power of today’s massively parallel processing units in off-the-shelf professional graphics accelerators, changing the equation of time versus quality in the production pipeline. Frames that typically take hours to render can now be rendered in seconds and sub-seconds, eliminating the need for expensive render farms.

Visit StudioGPU and AMD (#2417) at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans, August 4-6 to see the advanced workflow benefits of MachStudio Pro on the latest AMD ATI 3D workstation graphics accelerators.

MachStudio Pro allows artists to easily create, manage and interact with complex lighting, caustics, cameras, shaders, materials, ambient occlusion, and color grading. Powered by a real-time rendering engine, MachStudio Pro software fits into the creative pipeline after all 3D models are produced to streamline lighting, cameras, materials, compositing and finishing capabilities.

MachStudio Pro ships with an AMD ATI FireGL V8650 3D-workstation graphics accelerator card featuring 2GB onboard graphics memory and a parallel processing Unified Shader architecture. Supporting a wide range of industries—from computer-aided design (CAD) visualization and 3D animation to top-quality film and broadcast projects— MachStudio Pro offers seamless interoperability with leading professional 3D modeling, animation, and CAD software packages.

Download the new Google SketchUp Pro 7 and Rhino 4 exporters and tutorials at
MachStudio Pro supports Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista, and comes standard with an AMD ATI FireGL V8650 3D workstation graphics accelerator card. MachStudio Pro has an introductory price of US$4,999, which includes a full year of technical support and product maintenance updates. Education and volume licensing is also available.

Related links:
StudioGPU
Download exporters

Comic Con: Tron: Legacy Title Image And Amazing Concept Art

The first big panel of Comic Con, Walt Disney’s 3D presentation in Hall H, has just finished. If you were following Katey’s Live Blog then you know that Tron 2 finally has a title. It’s called Tron: Legacy and Disney has just sent us the first ever title treatment for the film.

Official Synopsis- Tron: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Watch the movie’s title float about the game grid in high-res below:



UPDATE! In addition to the title image, Katey has started sending in some really incredible concept art shown at the panel for Tron: Legacy. Take a look:



















Keep checking back, we'll be updating this page throughout the day with more incredible Tron: Legacy images as we get them.

Autodesk @ SIGGRAPH

Autodesk will be pumping at SIGGRAPH 2009 with several events such as Tech Talks and presentations on approaching film and game projects '9' and 'Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning'. They will also offer the first full Virtual SIGGRAPH. This is an online event that has free MasterClasses, live video streaming from the Autodesk booth presentations (#2201) and others attractions as well. Hewlett Packard and Intel are assisting, as well as NVIDIA, Fusion I/O and Wacom, so it's sure to be huge.

Below is a list of just some of the interesting presentations set to go:

Computer Animation Festival, Urban Planning Talks
When: Tuesday, August 4, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. CDT
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, rooms 271-273
What: Chaired by Autodesk's Doug Eberhart, the Urban Planning Talks will feature four presentations from influential urban planning professionals, including Paul
Patnode from the Environmental Simulation Center, Kevin Gilson from Parsons Brinckerhoff, Gay Knipper from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and Susan Piedmont-Palladino from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

'Fun with Maya' Tech Talk
When: Wednesday, August 5, 1 p.m. -2:30 p.m. CDT
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall
What: Explore some of the more surprising behaviors of Autodesk Maya software dynamics with one of its creators, scientist, Duncan Brinsmead. Brinsmead will reveal inside tricks on using nParticles, nCloth and Paint Effects. Examples include crashing satellites, midway rides, plasma balls, pouring liquids, lava lamps, Martian moons, flying hordes of arrows, dynamic snakes and slimy worms. As a bonus, he will also teach a technique for creating reflection-based fractals in the mental ray renderer. This talk will have useful content for advanced Maya users, but it is also suitable for anyone with an interest in CG.

Project Showcase
When: August 4-6 during SIGGRAPH show hours
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Autodesk booth #2201
What: Representatives from Sony Pictures Imageworks, Starz Animation, Psyop/Mass Market and Mythic Entertainment, an EA Studio, will offer daily presentations at the Autodesk booth. The talks will highlight how Autodesk's Digital Entertainment Creation solutions have to been used to create recently released and upcoming entertainment projects: 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' '9', 'Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning' and various commercials, such as Absolut 'Dissection,' Sprint 'Speedway' and the Computer Animation Festival opening animation." One-time bonus tracks on "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 'The Spine' will also be offered by representatives from Frantic Films and Chris Landreth, respectively.

Sponsorships and Local Outreach
Autodesk is supporting several SIGGRAPH events, including FJORG!, GameJam!, The Studio activities and the SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer session. Autodesk's Jennifer Goldfinch will participate in a panel discussion at the Student Volunteer session - along with representatives from Microsoft, Digital Domain, EA and ILM - offering students job-finding tips and industry insight.

Product Demonstrations, Client Presentations and the "Fun with Maya" Tech Talk
The product demonstrations and client presentations offered at Autodesk's SIGGRAPH booth will be streamed live to the Virtual SIGGRAPH event site. Visitors can view the content live or watch scheduled reruns. Duncan Brinsmead's "Fun with Maya" Tech Talk will also be recorded and posted on the Virtual SIGGRAPH site.

Apple today released updates to its professional video and audio editing applications: Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio -

Apple today released updates to its professional video and audio editing applications: Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio.

The revised Final Cut Studio brings over 100 new features to the application suite including new versions of nearly every component application and is priced at $999, a $300 discount over the previous version.

Apple today announced a significant update to Final Cut Studio with more than 100 new features and new versions of Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color and Compressor. Final Cut Studio features Final Cut Pro 7 which expands Apple's ProRes codec family to support virtually any workflow and includes Easy Export for one step output to a variety of formats and iChat Theater support for real-time collaboration. Motion 4 includes enhanced tools such as 3D shadows, reflections and depth of field for stunning motion graphics and visual effects, and Soundtrack Pro 3 features new multitrack audio tools to streamline audio post production. Color 1.5 includes better Final Cut Pro integration and support for full color resolution, and Compressor 3.5 adds new features that make it easy to set up and customize your export options. At $999, the new Final Cut Studio is $300 less than the previous release and is also available as an upgrade for just $299.

Apple also introduced Final Cut Server 1.5, offering a number of new features for Apple's media management companion to Final Cut Pro. The new version includes unlimited licenses for $999, and existing Final Cut Server users can upgrade for $299.

The updated Logic Studio package brings significant revisions to Apple's flagship audio application suite, bringing major changes to Logic Pro and MainStage and incorporating over 200 new features.

Apple today unveiled the next version of Logic Studio with major upgrades to Logic Pro and MainStage and more than 200 new features that simplify complex tasks. Logic Pro 9 features new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins that provide realistic virtual guitar amps and stompbox effects to create amazing custom guitar rigs. A new set of Flex Time tools allow Logic users to manipulate the timing and tempo of audio quickly and easily. MainStage 2, Apple's live performance application, includes the new Playback and Loopback plug-ins to provide backing tracks and creative, real-time loop recording for performing on stage. Logic Studio also includes the new Soundtrack Pro 3, with new multitrack audio tools for video production, and Compressor 3.5 for encoding in a variety of formats.

Logic Studio is priced at $499, and existing users can upgrade for $199. Apple will also be releasing an updated version of Logic Express, a slimmed-down version of Logic targeted at GarageBand users looking for additional tools, in August for $199.

Luxology and Pixologic collaborate on an innovative new workflow for modo and ZBrush -

One of the core functions of ZBrush has always been to provide artists the ability to create in an environment that allows for complete freedom of expression. The lack of technical barriers that make working within ZBrush feel like real world sculpting and painting is why so many have created such ground breaking work.



more at:http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/features/GoZBrush/

Limited edition prints of stunning Dominance War artwork now available.

more at:http://www.dominancewar.com/2009/publicity/leewiart_sale_09.html

SIGGRAPH Basics and Cheat Sheets

The Basics
Below is your dandy daily cheat sheet for some don’t-miss events and super cool things to check out at SIGGRAPH. It’s time to chill in the Big Easy. But first, the basics.

If you don’t have a hotel reservation, the SIGGRAPH site has special rates, but you could also Google up any number of low-cost bed and breakfasts nearby. It’s off-season in New Orleans. Lonely Planet, for example, lists 135 hotels and hostels online starting at only US$40 a night.

The convention and the Computer Animation Festival are both at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center right down on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, 11 miles west of the city.

Once there, ride the SIGGRAPH shuttles from your SIGGRAPH hotel. Or, take local transportation. You can buy “VisiTour” passes for unlimited public transit rides at Got It on the 3rd floor in the Riverwalk Marketplace next to the Convention Center. (Check the NOTRA website for routes and info.) You could also rent a bicycle at Bicycle Michael’s, near the French Quarter, where you should spend at least a little time jazzing up your visit with good eats, drinks, and dancing.

At the Convention Center, register on Sunday from 1 to 7pm, Monday 7:30 to 6pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 to 6pm, or Friday 8 to 3:30pm.

The price you pay:
Prices below are the max – the full prices for non-members.

(Check the web site for deep discounts given to SIGGRAPH members, especially those currently unemployed, and for students.)

Full Conference Access: Admission to everything – the Reception, the Computer Animation Festival, papers, panels. You get it all, plus the Conference DVD: US$1,025 early, US$1,125 at the door.

Full One-Day Access: US$355 now, US$445 at the door. Includes everything except the Reception, conference DVD, and Computer Animation Festival. You can add the CAF for $50 for one day, or get a special US$100 rate for all days.

Computer Animation Festival (CAF) Pass: Screenings, Panel Discussions, Awards Ceremony, the Hall of History, the Stereo 3D conference, Evening Theater, and more. $200 anytime ($175 with full Basic conference pass; $100 with Full conference one-day pass.

One-Day CAF Pass: $50 (includes the Evening Theater)

Basic Pass: Art galleries, Birds of a Feather, Exhibition & Exhibitor Tech Talks, Fast-Forward Papers, Keynote Speakers, FJORG!, Game Jam!, Job Fair, International Resources, New Tech Demos, Posters, the Studio, Contests & Competitions, Performances & Special Events, and Community Activities. $125 now, $150 at the door.

Basic One-Day Pass: $45

BR’s DANDY DAILY SCHEDULE
Skewed toward entertainment, but with a bit of geek, music, and other stuff peppering the stew.

Print it out. Put it in your Pocket.

EVERY NIGHT
Evening Theater – The Electronic Theater is back with a new name. Watch the Computer Animation Festival’s juried and curated reels plus lagniappe! A live demo of outstanding real-time interactive games and other apps every night. 6:30-9:00. La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom. (Full, CAF)

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY
Sandbox - Last year’s separate symposium for gamers is a main part of the conference now. Explore a workshop area with instructors for game design, play games from the Realtime part of the Computer Animation Festival, and be inspired by an exhibit of innovative design and development. Room 334, Lobby. (Basic, Full)

The (gorilla) Studio – Artists, designers, scientists, technicians, professionals and novices mix it up in a digital kitchen filled with 2D, 3D, and 4D tools and toys. Draw, composite, model, scan, print, film, capture motion, stop motion, interact, and make music. Rooms 343-345. (Full, Basic)

Art Galleries - Eleven artists from 10 countries mix bits with biology to create singing strands of hair, touchy clouds and other fantastic forms and environments in BioLogic. Rooms 352-355. And, amazing structures that rival those we marveled at last year in Generative Fabrication. Rooms 356-357. (Full, Basic)

-- Art Gallery Panel: Thursday, 10:30-12:15. Room 265-266.

Emerging Technology – Wear a display, play with a baby robot and glowing voxels, cook graphic food, touch the digital world and feel it touch you back. Rooms 337 to 351. (Full, Basic)

Information Aesthetics Showcase – It’s all about data, seeing data, seeing what’s in data, seeing what it all means. Science, Informatics, Medicine. Rooms 274-277. (Full, Basic)

-- Panel: Monday, 3:45-5:30. Auditorium B.

Contests and Competitions – Teams of animators, game designers, research scientists, and anyone else can amp up their adrenalin and show off their skill sets. SIGGRAPH even has a contest for people who collect business cards. To play, look for the Contests & Competition tab on the website. If you just want to watch, the geeks are in Rooms 265-266, the animators and gamers are in Rooms 255-257, the young researchers’ posters are in the hallways, and the card collectors are everywhere.

-- Fjorg & Game Jam Judging & Awards: Thursday, 6:00-8:00. Hall E1-2 (Full, CAF, Basic)

-- SpeedLab Presentations: Friday, 1:45-3:30, Auditorium B (Full, Basic)

-- Research Challenge Results: Tuesday, 1:45-3:30, Rooms 265-266. (Full, Basic)

New web-based application generates free realistic 3D avatars and clones for Virtual Worlds, Games and Animations.

Evolver, has just completed a two month public alpha cycle to launch a fully functioning website where visitors can create and export 3D avatars and clones in a matter of minutes using simple slider and selection functions offering a wide range of creative latitude.

Evolver may look like just another site for generating lo-res 3D avatars, but you can also generate great looking customized 3D characters, and purchase them for export into 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage (pretty much any off-the-shelf pro 3D app) as high res models that are fully rigged for character animation ?for only US$39.

With an additional $30, it's possible to purchase setups for facial animation as well. Pros might like these for background characters, previz etc.

Evolver has developed a coupon code to make available to CGSociety readers for 50% off on the cost of purchasing an Evolver model for 48 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 & 23 (Pacific US time): CGSRATE.

Evolver delivers 3D characters designed for a broad range of uses. The site’s simplicity and user friendly interface makes it easy for anyone to dive in and create a 3D avatar or clone quickly and for free, exportable for use in any destination including virtual worlds, social networks, animations and more. More advanced 3D artists can save hours of production time by generating original Evolver characters and exporting high resolution models fully rigged for animation, for a small fraction of the cost of creating comparable models from scratch.

With Evolver, a near-infinite assortment of men, women, children and creatures can be created by combining and morphing physical attributes derived from a “virtual gene pool” of pre-built characters. Features from these pre-built characters can be blended and tweaked in a number of ways to create a totally unique character in Evolver each time. Facial features, including overall face, eyes, ears, mouth, chin, nose and cheeks, and physical attributes including overall body, arms, shoulders, chest, stomach, hips and legs, can be customized along with skin tone, eye color and hair. Alternately, upload a headshot photo that meets a simple set of specifications into Evolver to create a custom 3D clone of yourself or anyone else. The user can then make subtle or major changes to the “clone” avatar by tweaking the facial and physical attributes. Evolver also includes a complete library of clothing options to give each character an individual style.

“We had a fantastic response to our alpha phase, where visitors to the site were able to build avatars and clones but the ‘transport’ functionality of Evolver wasn’t yet live. Today’s launch enables a complete pipeline for the user – from Avatar creation and customization, through to automatic transport to a number of fun and interesting applications”, said Evolver CEO, Brian Nilles. “We are also working with dozens of new partners to be added as transport destinations in the near term. These destinations include a number of popular virtual worlds and web 3D platforms with the ability to insert Evolver characters into everything from virtual training, to social networking, gaming, virtual business meetings, mobile media, professional 3D animation and more.”

Upon launch, Evolver models will be instantly transportable for free to virtual worlds, and exported with animations, as GIF files, or wallpaper to post on over 26 social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace or Blogger. Specifically optimized versions of 3D avatars or clones can also be purchased for use in many popular online games and virtual worlds. Pro users and hobbyists can also custom tweak Evolver model source data to export to off-the-shelf 3D applications such as Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya and Softimage for further customization. These characters can be transported automatically into a vast range of third party applications due to the proprietary process in which Evolver generates a custom animation “rig” for each Evolver Avatar.

Getting started in Evolver is easy; quickly generate characters and clones, email them to friends, put them into short video clips provided on the site and export them into your favorite social networking site for free. Professional artists and hobbyists can also create custom models very easily for use in 3D animation projects, virtual worlds, online games and more. These models are production-ready and rigged for full body and facial animation. Models for professional use can be exported for an introductory price of US$39 rigged for full body animation; an additional US$30 (introductory pricing) for facial blendshapes is available as an option as well.

Evolver is the flagship product of Darwin Dimensions Inc., the first solution to bring together complex 3D modeling, consumer ease of use, and fully interoperable avatars. Evolver provides a central portal to design, manage and transport digital avatars that can be deployed in virtual worlds, online games, social networks and professional animation and pre-visualization projects. A highly customizable licensed version of Evolver is also available as an integrated site-specific avatar generator designed specifically for the target application and its customers.

Related links:
Evolver