Autodesk Reduces Pricing for Maya Unlimited

+ Autodesk, Inc. has announced reduced pricing for Autodesk Maya Unlimited 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software -- the tool of choice for designers and artists working in film, television and games. Autodesk also announced Maya 2008 Extension 2 software, which provides enhanced creative control over polygon modeling and UV texturing, as well as significant improvements to the Maya Muscle toolset. Maya was recently inducted into the Game Developer Front Line Award Hall of Fame for its outstanding contribution to the game development industry."The reduced price of Autodesk Maya 2008 Unlimited makes its extensive toolset more accessible to new users and existing facilities that want to expand their Maya-based pipelines," said Marc Petit, senior vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "More artists can now take advantage of the software's professional tools and advanced workflows to meet demands for captivating content created on shorter deadlines and tighter budgets." Maya Unlimited contains every thing offered in Maya Complete software, plus innovations such as Maya Fluid Effects, Maya nCloth, Maya Hair, Maya Fur, and Maya Live.

Pricing for Autodesk Maya Complete remains unchanged.The Autodesk suggested retail price of a new license of Maya Unlimited, Standalone has been reduced from US$6,995* to US$4,995*. The Autodesk suggested retail price of a new license of Maya Unlimited, Network has been reduced from US$8,345* to US$6,245*. Maya Complete 2008 customers can now cross-grade to Maya Unlimited 2008 at the reduced Autodesk suggested retail price of US $2,995*. All price changes are effective as of Feb. 18, 2008. For more information, please visit www.autodesk.com/maya

Autodesk Launches 3ds Max 2009

+ At its annual World PressDays event, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced two new versions of its Autodesk 3ds Max modeling, animation and rendering software -- the leading asset creation tool for game development. The company launched Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 software for entertainment professionals, and debuted 3ds Max Design 2009 software, a tailored 3D application for architects, designers and visualization specialists. Both versions of the software offer new rendering capabilities, improved interoperability with industry-standard products including Revit software, as well as additional time-saving animation and mapping workflow tools. 3ds Max Design 2009 further provides lighting simulation and analysis technology.
New Feature Highlights
Key features in Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 include the new Reveal rendering toolset, which streamlines iterative workflows; and the ProMaterials material library for simulating real-world surfaces. The release also delivers numerous biped enhancements and new UV editing tools. Improved OBJ and Autodesk FBX file formats import and export vastly enhance interoperability with Autodesk Mudbox, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Motion Builder software programs and other third-party applications. In addition, Recognize, a new scene-loading technology, significantly improves the inter-application workflow with Revit Architecture 2009."Autodesk 3ds Max has never failed to deliver; now it's even stronger with specialized versions," said Technical Director Yunus "Light" Balcioglu. "3dsMax 2009 offers great new features that allow me to be more productive and creative. The new biped improvements make it easy to build quadrupeds, Reveal rendering lets me iterate faster, and reworked OBJ import makes it easier than ever to jump between 3ds Max and Mudbox".3ds Max Design 2009 includes all features offered in Autodesk 3ds Max 2009, with the exception of the software development toolkit (SDK). The SDK is aset of development tools used in the entertainment markets to integrate software into a production pipeline and develop in-house tools to be used in conjunction with the application. 3ds Max Design also includes Exposure technology for simulating and analyzing sun, sky, and artificial lighting to assist with LEED 8.1 certification."At SHoP Architects we rely on computer-aided design technology not only toproduce innovative architectural forms, but also to create new efficiencies and cost-savings in the design and construction process," said David Fano,designer at SHoP Architects. "Autodesk 3ds Max Design will help us further this pursuit. The newly enhanced daylight simulation tools and improvements to the rendering workflow will allow us to iterate more freely and create better quality work faster. Also, the FBX-based interoperability with Revit will give us a continuous digital workflow by leveraging our Building Information Model for advanced visualization in 3ds Max during all stages of design."For more information about 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009, visit: www.worldpressdays08.com. Product availability will vary by country. Details and purchasing options are expected to be accessible starting March25, 2008, at: www.autodesk.com/purchaseoptions.

Boomer Labs - Sound Trax for 3dsMax 9

+ Sound Trax has updated Sound Trax plugin, now compatible with 3ds Max 9 version. Sound Trax can manipulate multiple tracks of audio files within 3ds max. This functionality is invaluable when timing animation to a musical score, or for lip-synching multiple characters. Add as many .wav files in as many formats as you need. Boomer Labs is pleased to deliver this capability for 3ds max 6, 7, 8 and 9 (both 32bit and x64bit). Some of Sound Trax features includes;
- Add up to 100 audio tracks
- Animate the volume of each track
- Normalize the output audio
- Support PCM and compressed audio in AVI and WAV files with up to 6 output channels
- Backwards Playback (“Ping Pong” mode)
- Export audio to a WAV file or add it to an existing AVI
- Accurately play back audio at 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2 and 4 times speed to match viewport play rate
- Render audio to match playback speed
- Manage multiple sound effect directories
- Support audio playback during motion capture
- Use a greatly improved audio interface (including 4 fixes to 3ds max audio bugs)
- Extend MaxScript Support with 46 scriptable audio commands
For more information and demo download, please - Click Here!

3ds Max Plug-in OceanWaves

+ A very useful plugin for 3d studio max, developed by Charles Hollemeersch. plugin adds a new geometry object which generates a statistically generated ocean wave surface. The plugin allows you to set parameters like wind direction and strength, required detailing to control the appearance of the sea surface. The plug-in uses “Tessendorf” method, the same method used to generate the ocean surface in movies like “Titanic”.... Do check H2Ocean demo, a Master’s Thesis project of Charles Hollemeersch, in which the same method is used to generate the ocean surface.

3ds Max Plug-in : OceanWaves link

Dynamic Graphics Design Competition

+ Dynamic Graphics Magazine has announced Call For Entries for Dynamic Graphics Re:Design competition. Send your project redesigns for the Dynamic Graphics magazine Re:Design competition and win the chance to see them in print. The Winners of contest will be published in Dynamic Graphics Magazine's December/January issue, available at the news stand on December 1, 2007.

Dynamic Graphics Re:Design Competition

TREE STORM 5.9 Plugin for 3DS Max9

+ Onyx Tree Storm Ver. 5.9 is available for 3ds Max 9 (32-bit + 64-bit). Tree Strom plugin for 3ds max is well known for its speed of genrating trees 3d models directly into the scene. The new TREE STORM 5.9 plugin for 3DS Max9 is a breakthrough product - originally developed and produced in 1998 - is the first 4D modeler for trees ever developed. This plugin enables you to model trees created with OnyxTREE BROADLEAF, OnyxTREE CONIFER, and OnyxPALM generators or TREE CLASSIC generator directly into Max and animate the trees on the wind. There are TREE STORM 5.9 for 3ds Max9 (32-bit + 64-bit) and TREE STORM 5.6 for Max8/7/6. Although their is no trail or demo version availble for download but students and academic institutions can buy Academic License at a specially reduced price.

Tree Storm For 3ds Max

Digital-Tutors Released : The Artist's Guide to MEL®

Latest training provides an artist-driven approach to learning and incorporating MEL for an array of creative uses.
+ Oklahoma City, OK - (June 2007) - Digital-Tutors, an Autodesk® Authorized Publisher, today announced the availability of 'The Artist's Guide to MEL' - the latest release in a growing library of interactive training for emerging digital artists using AutoDesk's Maya 8.5, the award-winning 3D modeling, animation, effects and rendering solution used in feature films and next-generation games. ‘The Artist's Guide to MEL’ delivers 4 hours of project-based training and an artist-driven approach learning how to gain greater flexibility and automation in any workflow. Artists both new and experienced with MEL will learn time-saving scripting techniques and processes for automating workflows, creating custom user interfaces, and building custom tools for a multitude of practical uses.

"Leaving one's comfort zone is undoubtedly
difficult, so we have taken an artist-friendly approach to explaining, teaching,
and demonstrating MEL," said Sunder Iyer, director of R&D for
Digital-Tutors. "Once artists learn how to extend their skill-sets and
incorporate scripting languages such as MEL for automation and flexibility, they
can truly focus on creativity and ultimately learning how to more effectively
use their craft in any setting," added Iyer.

Highlights from ‘The Artist's Guide to MEL’ include: creating if/for loops, storing scripts as procedures, sourcing and executing, multi-line MEL scripts, opening external applications with MEL, building custom marking menus, variable naming conventions, understanding variable types, building an incremental save script, concatenate strings and integers, getting attributes into variables, using if statements, creating expressions with expression editor, creating ScriptNodes, accessing array contents, building user interfaces, building custom tools, using match and substitute strings, and additional lessons developed to teach artists creative uses for Maya MELscripts. For more information, please visit - Digital-tutors website

ColorCorrect v3.4.x for 3ds Max

+ Cuneyt Ozdas has released new version of 3ds Max Script - "ColorCorrect" with 64 bit support for Max 9. The ColorCorrect v3.4.78 is also available for 3ds Max 4 to 3ds Max 9 (32 bit). For Script download and more info, please - click here

Coroflot Magazine | Issue One

+ Coroflot a career and design community site for creative professionals has announced the First Issue of Coroflot Magazine. It is a bi-monthly publication featuring the work of Coroflot members, each issue revolving around a different theme within the arena of creative work. We start it off here with the work of 9 members. If you are interested in participating in the next issue, send an email to "magazine -at- coroflot.com" with a link to your Coroflot portfolio. Coroflot hosts individual creative portfolios and a database of job and project openings. The thriving community that visits the site daily represents a cross-section of the global design industry-working designers, design managers, internal and external hiring professionals, business managers of design and 3d design firms, marketing and product management professionals, students, and educators. The site covers cross-discipline design, with Industrial Design, Interaction Design and Graphic Design the three most popular categories.
Related Links:
Download Coroflot Magazine - First Issue (.pdf)
Coroflot website - Link

Autodesk Viz 2008

- Autodesk the world's leading design software and digital content company has announced the Release of Autodesk's Viz 2008 for 3d design professionals. The Viz 2008 is a 3D visualization software purpose-built for architects, technical designers, and visualization specialists. With powerful and easy-to-use tools for 3d modeling, animation, lighting, and rendering, Autodesk® VIZ software helps architects and designers visualize concepts and propel projects. With the creation of rich, visually informed contexts for their ideas, architects and designers can test theories and resolve issues, as well as create stunning marketing presentations. The ideal companion to Autodesk® AutoCAD®, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit® software, VIZ enables the creation of intuitive, efficient, realistic experiences for you and your clients...........viz 2008 features!!

finalRender Stage-1 R2 and finalToon™ For 3ds Max 9 Released

- cebas Computer, maker of finalRender has released finalRender Stage-1 R2 and finalToon™ for 3ds Max 9.
finalRender Stage-1 R2 (Press)
Cebas boast that the release of finalRender Stage-1 R2 marks the new begining in the next generation rendering solution. The R2 new features includes; 3ds max 9 32 and 64 bit Support, AQMC GI Engine, Flicker Free GI, Acceleration Engine (MSP), fR-Physical Sky, fR-Skin and many more performance features.
finalToon™ for 3ds Max 9 (more info)
All users that purchased finalToon™ within the last 2 months will get this update for free. This update will give previous finalToon™ owners the ability to install and use finalToon in 3ds Max 9, both 32 and 64 bit. You must already own and have licensed finalToon™ to purchase this update.finalToon™ is a full blown True Line Renderer (TLR), with unparalleled line quality and rendering speed. Cartoon or line rendering scenes that take a long time to render within 3ds max, are lightning fast in finalToon™. Suddenly, you can render real fat outlines of an object without the wait and inaccurate dirty look of a shader based solution. finalToon, being a TLR (true line renderer) doesn't mean that finalToon™ has to replace your favorite renderer to do shading or other special effects. finalToon is implemented as a true 3ds max "Render Effect", and so you can enjoy all the great benefits of such an implementation. finalToon perfectly supports finalRender® with all the advanced options, including GI rendering for cartoon style objects! finalToon™ demo video are also available.

3D Ripper DX

- 3D Ripper DX is a handy Universal 3d model and Texture map ripper tool. 3D Ripper DX can be used for various purposes, such as;
- capture all geometry, textures and shaders, rendered during single frame;
- import captured geometry into 3D Studio Max or Maya;
- see what exactly has been drawn by each individual draw call;
- see renderstate, textures, vertex streams, index stream, vertex declaration, vertex and pixel shaders (including HLSL source code if available) of each individual draw call. 3D Ripper DX supports only DirectX 9.0 applications. OpenGL, older versions of DirectX and software renderers are not supported. Import plugin should work with 3DS Max versions 5.0-9.0.
3D Ripper DX

Download 3ds Max 9 Service Pack 1

- Autodesk has released 3ds Max 9 Sp1 and its now available for free download. Service Pack 1 includes a number of fixes for Autodesk 3ds Max 9 across several functional areas, including 3d Animation, Backburner, Batch Rendering, Biped, Editable Poly, Editable Mesh, Hair, Materials, Maxscript, mental ray, Reactor, Render to Texture, SDK and UV Unwrap.
Download 3ds Max 9.0 SP1

Luxology modo 203 Released

Tags: 3d software . modo
- Luxology® LLC a 3d software developer has announced immediate availability of its next-generation 3d software, modo 203. With enhancements to UV editing tools, faster rendering speed and a new DXF translator plug-in, modo 203 offers significant performance and workflow improvements to its worldwide base of modo customers, and provides one of the fastest paths to creating high-quality 3D content for game development, design visualization, film visual effects, video production and graphic arts. Registered users of modo 202 will get this update free of cost and a free demo version is also available for download.............modo 203!!

VRay Tutorials

- Two very useful and handy Vray Tutorials for creating photorealistic architectural rendering using 3ds Max.
Post production in architecture:
In Hi-end architectural visualization there are types of rendering style. In one of them, the major aim is to achive as best as possible render directly from 3d software, but second is based on post production.......Tutorial link!!

V-RAY TUTORIAL - Studio Lighting Explained:
Great tutorial published by CGIndia about V-Ray Studio Lighting, especially for the guys who want to get photoreal. In this V-Ray + 3ds Max tutorial, Kádas Géza explains in step by step method of lighting the interior scene. Geza with the help this tutorial explains the various stages involved, in the creation of photorealistic 3d Rendering............Tutorial Link!!

V-Ray

- CGIndia has published an article about the history of V-Ray render, and what’s the future is all about. Snippet: Chaos Group's Rendering plug-in VRay has come a long way since it was first released as beta at the end of the year 2000. V-Ray introduced rendering with global illumination with unmatched speed and ease of set up. Although popular, little is known about the history of this amazingly versatile product...........V-Ray!!

Google SketchUp Pro 6 Released ***

- Great News,.... Google has released both SketchUp 6 (free) and SketchUp Pro 6, which is available as a free upgrade to all SketchUp Users who have purchased any of SketchUp earlier version (2 to 5). Google SketchUp Pro 6 is powerful, intuitive 3D modeling software that allows designers and planners to explore, communicate and present complex design concepts. The simple, robust toolset and intelligent drawing system make it easy to create and modify models, while the import/export capability gives you the flexibility and functionality required in a professional workflow. And now, with SketchUp Pro’s LayOut feature, you can integrate 3D models with 2D elements like photographs, artwork, text, title blocks – even handwritten notes – to create compelling interactive presentations. LayOut (beta) also enables you to output large-format, high-resolution documents. In a single program, SketchUp Pro 6 combines high-quality 2D design tools with the ability to manipulate dimensionally accurate 3D models with CAD-like precision and scale. For more information please visit this link - Google SketchUp Pro 6