Pixologic, Inc. will be unveiling its ZBrush version 1.5 at the upcoming MacWorld Expo 2002 (July 17-19, 2002, Booth #1446) and SIGGRAPH (July 23-25, 2002, Booth #5048). ZBrush is a 2D and 3D image creation and processing application, powered by a real-time rendering engine. Based on proprietary "Pixol" rendering technology, ZBrush enables artists to paint with color, material, texture and depth as well as manipulate the canvas and sculpt and texture 3D models.

Side Effects Software is making its animation software more accessible to users with the launch of the Houdini Apprentice Program. This program includes the Houdini Apprentice Edition, a non-commercial version of the latest Houdini family of products. Apprentice users can run the complete family of products which includes Houdini Master, a full-featured animation and effects package, Houdini Select, an entry-level 3D module, and Houdini Halo, a stand-alone compositor.

3D product developer Immersion Corporation has announced its MicroScribe Connections for Maya software, a new digitizing plug-in designed to streamline workflow and increase design performance and productivity, will be available beginning July 22, 2002. MicroScribe Connections for Maya is the first in a new series of plug-ins from Immersion. According to the company, these plug-ins will allow animators, game developers and industrial designers who use both Maya and MicroScribe to digitize and render 3D models, animated characters and digital content easily.

pmG Worldwide LLC has spent the last two years refining and redesigning its LightWave plug-in project: messiah 1.5 into messiah:animate, its new stand alone animation software. This new version has the ability to run alone or connect to 3D Studio Max, Maya and LightWave. messiah: animate has added new technologies and enhancements including messiah:compose, pmG's non-linear animation editor.

Phoenix Tools and Areté
Entertainment recently released Psunami 1.0, a plug-in for
Softimage|XSI v. 2.X that allows photo-realistic animation of wave
surfaces including all the tools for simulating and visualizing a
variety of water surfaces. The company is currently in an advanced
development phase of its volumetric cloud/smoke effect Psyclone for
Softimage|XSI. By adding Psyclone to Softimage|XSI, the user can
create evolving cloud/smoke simulations, including fly-through and

Digital content creation systems provider BOXX
Technologies is now featuring the AMD Athlon MP processor 2100+ with
QuantiSpeed architecture and Smart MP technology in its 3DBOXX R1
series of workstations and the RenderBOXX R series of rendering
systems. Available in dual processor configurations running Microsoft
Windows 2000 or Linux, the 3DBOXX R series includes enhanced system
architecture and accelerated graphics capabilities, and utilizes the
new NVIDIA Quadro4 XGL graphics adapters with NVIEW multidisplay

A Web-slinging superhero, fire-breathing dragons and bite-sized chocolate with a hard candy shell.
What do these things have in common? They were all created using
Houdini 3D animation software. Side Effects Software, developer of
the Houdini family of software, will be presenting visual effects
artists from Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPIDER-MAN), Walt Disney
Feature Animation (REIGN OF FIRE) and Rhinoceros Visual Effects
(commercials for M&M's) at its annual Houdini meeting in San Antonio,

3D and multimedia software company Electric Rain, Inc. has
announced a software bundling program allowing people who purchase
its 3D-vector graphics tool, Swift 3D, to have the option of
receiving a discount on Macromedia Flash MX. Electric Rain Swift 3D
is a 3D application for creating low-bandwidth vector animations for
use with Macromedia Flash. Using Electric Rain's proprietary RAViX II
vector rendering engine, Swift 3D files are exported in the SWF file
format, which then import seamlessly into Macromedia Flash. "Swift 3D

HP is once again
providing technology to another big animation studio. After recently
announcing a three-year, multi-million dollar technology strategic
alliance with DreamWorks, designed to "revolutionize animation
production," HP has announced that Walt Disney Feature Animation has
selected HP's Linux-based workstations and servers as components for
its next-generation digital animation production pipeline. Walt
Disney Feature Animation and HP have been working together for the

In his big light saber
duel, Yoda battles Count Dooku like a live-action character, yet he's
all 3D. So how'd they do it? Well, Softimage Co.'s character
animation and effects software, SOFTIMAGE|3D, was used by ILM to
create many of STAR WARS: EPISODE II "ATTACK OF THE CLONES" stunning
visual effects and characters, including Yoda, the Kaminoans and
Dexter Jettster. SOFTIMAGE|3D was used to animate over 80 creatures
and give the CG figures believable expressions and movements. "We

DigiCel, Inc. has released
a new version of its 2D animation software FlipBook, with improved
support for digital video capture and stop motion animation. Version
3.5 features widespread support for digital video capture via
FireWire. A digital video camera and a FireWire port is all users
need to capture high quality digital images directly into FlipBook
for pencil test and stop motion animation. DigiCel FlipBook also has
the ability to rotate images 180 degrees during the capture process

Discreet's plasma, a professional animation software for creating 3D content for the Web, is now available. plasma software allows animators to work directly in a 3D space to create high-quality visuals for Web services such as instant messaging, greeting cards and interactive games. plasma features integration with Discreet's 3D and Macromedia's authoring tools including Macromedia Flash MX and Macromedia Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio, making the creation of 2D and 3D Web elements easier. plasma is available now for a suggested retail price of US$650.

The recent release of Macromedia Flash MX contained new features and templates for creating content for Internet-enabled devices. Macromedia has now released its Flash Player 5 for the Nokia 9200 Communicator Series. The Nokia Communicator Series handsets are integrated devices that combine a wireless telephone with a high-resolution color display and multimedia capabilities.

Once again, a popular 3D-animation software is being made available at a reduced price. In April 2002, Alias|Wavefront discounted its Maya 3D animation software packages and now Softimage Co. has halved the price of its 3D character animation and effects software. SOFTIMAGE|3D v. 4.0 is now available for US$1,495. According to Softimage, this action is in response to the increasing demand for animation and effects content for use in areas such as graphic and architectural design, manufacturing, government/military, scientific/medical and the location-based entertainment markets.

Animation Toolworks has introduced its new MultiReel option to the LunchBox Sync, the electronic audio-video device for animators. The MultiReel option offers at least 18 separate storage areas, or reels, with each one giving the user as much storage as the standard LunchBox Sync. In addition, each reel is protected from editing any other reels, making MultiReel a good option for multiple shots or scenes, demo reels or separate animation projects. The LunchBox Sync with the MultiReel option can store over 120 minutes of video and over 1000 minutes of audio.

HP's Linux-based technology played a major role in the production of DreamWorks' latest animated film SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON. According to HP, placing Linux in the hands of traditional animators allowed for the seamless blend of 2D and 3D animation, a format that DreamWorks is calling "tradigital" animation. During the making of the film, HP engineers worked closely with DreamWorks to enhance the functionality of Linux to power ToonShooter, DreamWorks' proprietary 2D animation software.

Toon Boom has released an upgrade to their Toon Boom Studio 2D animation solution for the Web. Like Version 1, the Toon Boom Studio V2 camera tool allows the user to approach the project cinematically, choreographing a production within the computer in a virtual 3D environment. Other upgrades in V2 include enhanced lip-synching tools and compatibility with Macromedia Flash MX, with a swf importer and the Toon Boom Studio Importer for Macromedia Flash MX.

Kaydara Inc. has announced the upcoming release of Motionbuilder 4.0, a new generation of its real-time 3D character animation software previously named FiLMBOX animation. Featuring a new drag-and-drop workflow, Motionbuilder 4.0 builds on the FiLMBOX foundation by enhancing various tools as well as introducing new character animation features for increased productivity. New feature highlights in Motionbuilder include automatic character rigging, a powerful real-time lip-sync tool, real-time display and native support for Kaydara's FBX file interchange.

Spider-Man is getting the 3D treatment on the page as well as the big screen. A series of comic books from Marvel Comics entitled SPIDER-MAN: QUALITY OF LIFE, with artwork created in 3D CGI, have recently hit the shelves. For Spidey's transformation from 2D to 3D character, animators at Blue Dream Studios used 3D Studio Max on a 3DBOXX S3 dual 2.2GHz Intel Xeon workstation with an NVIDIA 900 XGL graphics card.

Side Effects Software has announced the upcoming version 5.5 release of their Houdini 3D software. Currently in beta testing, Houdini 5.5 includes a host of new features including VOPs, a powerful, interactive node-based shader and effects builder. Houdini 5.5 also features an expanded Shader Gallery, a new compositor, a drag-and-drop interface, simplified installation and keying, and enhanced character and animation tools.