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ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 4.3 - JUNE 1999
Technology
SGI Creates Galaxy. SGI's Silicon Graphics(R) Onyx2(TM) visual workstation
will be used to produce and project the world's first scientifically accurate
3D atlas of the Milky Way Galaxy at the new Hayden Planetarium as part of
the American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center for Earth and Space in
New York City, which opens in 2000. As the centerpiece of the Hayden's 68-foot
"virtual dome" Space Theater, Silicon Graphics Onyx2 will manipulate
massive scientific datasets containing billions of stars -- 100,000 times
larger than that of any other planetarium. The resulting 3D star map will
also include close-ups of individual nebula, modeled from Hubble Telescope
images, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for viewers, and further blurring
the line between simulation and reality. SGI is working closely with Trimension
Systems Ltd., the system integrator for all aspects of the computer system,
display system and show automation technology. Aechelon Technology is developing
C-Galaxy, the image-generation software used to traverse star and astronomical
databases in real time. Aechelon's video playback control software permits
the merging of fully rendered sequences into the real-time traversal for flexible
show programming.
Nendo & Liveart Release Se Workshop. Nichimen Graphics, Inc., a
manufacturer of technology for the 3D content creation market, and Viewpoint(R)
Digital, Inc., creator and publisher of a 3D digital content library, have
released Nendo(TM) & LiveArt(TM) SE Workshop, a combined graphics software
package that provides 3D modeling and rendering tools for $99 (suggested retail
price).
The Workshop consists of Nendo v. 1.1, Nichimen's 3D modeling and 3D paint
software, and Viewpoint's LiveArt SE software, with the innovative LiveStyles(TM)
interactive artistic rendering engine and a 3D model library in DirectX format.
The 3D object libraries are optimized for real-time interactive modeling and
rendering, and can be imported into Nendo and LiveArt SE for easy customization.
Two configurations of the product are available: a web-based version with
50 models for immediate download and a CD-ROM version with 250 additional
models. "Joining Nendo and LiveArt SE means that users will be able to
easily visualize their ideas like a professional artist would, without using
a complex and costly software package," said Brendan Kavanagh, Nichimen's
senior marketing manager. Nendo, which means "clay" in Japanese,
is a hit among professional 3D artists and beginners alike for its ease-of-use
and versatility. With Nendo, 3D objects can quickly be created for use in
model libraries, games, print material, web sites, visual simulation and architectural
applications. LiveArt SE is a special edition of Viewpoint's LiveArt interactive
illustration software. Created specifically for use with Nendo, LiveArt SE
is powered by the LiveStyles rendering engine, which allows users to render
models interactively in more than 30 artistic styles such as 'granita,' 'toon,'
'pointist,' 'silhouetta' and 'blokprint.' The LiveStyles renderer makes it
simple and fast for users to orient, stylize, light, color and customize 3D
objects and to create personalized, high-quality graphics. LiveArt imagery
and examples are available on the web at www.viewpoint.com/liveart. The Nendo
& LiveArt SE Workshop with 50 3D models may be purchased online for $99
using a credit card, and downloaded from the Nichimen Graphics web site at
www.nichimen.com or the Viewpoint web site at www.viewpoint.com/liveart. Users
may opt to receive the Workshop on CD-ROM with an extended library of 250
additional 3D models for $129. The minimum system requirements for using Nendo
& LiveArt SE Workshop include a 166 MHz Pentium-class processor and Microsoft
Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT, 32 MB of memory and a graphics card
capable of displaying 16-bit color.
Side FX Releases Houdini 3.0. 3D software company Side Effects Software
has started to ship version 3 of their flag ship product, Houdini. The software,
which is used by visual effects companies such as Digital Domain, DreamWorks
SKG, Rhythm & Hues and Sony Pictures Imageworks, marks a breakthrough
in realtime/interactive animation and modeling. The new version will support
an enhanced version of Pixar's subdivision surface technology, which caused
quite a stir in the industry when Geri's Game was released. Subdivision
surfaces will be fully integrated into Houdini's toolset, and users will be
able to convert NURBS surfaces to subdivision surfaces easily. Also, version
3 will boast new realtime interactivity features. Users will not only be able
to interact with elements in an animation playing in realtime, but they will
be able to "choreograph, record, layer and edit motion in a procedural
and non-linear fashion," explained Paul Salvini, Director of Research
and Development at Side Effects Software. Houdini has always been a well-respected
force in visual effects and digital character animation, and no doubt this
new version will bring more power to animators, and more fantastic imagery
to our TV and cinema screens. The new version is now shipping. More information
is available at www.sdefx.com.
Note: Readers may contact any Animation World Magazine contributor by sending an e-mail to editor@awn.com.