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NVIDIA and DAZ Team Up on CG Christmas Book

Artists at DAZ Prods., a developer of professional-quality 3D software and models, have applied state-of-the-art graphics technology from NVIDIA Corp. to the process of illustrating a new book for the holiday season.

Produced by DAZ and written by the company's president, Dan Farr, MR. FINNEGAN'S GIVING CHEST is an illustrated story about the joy of giving. Renowned actor Dick Van Dyke portrays Mr. Finnegan, a kind-hearted toymaker who helps a young girl understand the true meaning of Christmas. MR. FINNEGAN'S GIVING CHEST is being released today and can be previewed and ordered at www.givingchest.com. It will also be available for purchase in various stores, including Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble, on Nov. 15.

In the book's introduction, Van Dyke writes: "I have always felt that a great story can only be better with great imagery.... So, when I was given the chance to help create this children's Christmas story, I was thrilled. I realized it was an opportunity to merge my love of storytelling, computer art and Christmas."

To bring 3D CG images to a book project, however, DAZ had to overcome a unique set of challenges, such as fine-tuning images for print. The company turned to NVIDIA for help. The combination of NVIDIA GeForce graphics technologies and DAZ|Studio 3D software streamlined the creative process for the project and saved tens of thousands of dollars.

Farr commented: "NVIDIA made all the difference in creating the illustrations for MR. FINNEGAN'S GIVING CHEST. Not only were we able to manipulate huge scenes containing millions of polygons in realtime within DAZ|Studio's OpenGL viewport, but we also had the option for fast-time OpenGL rendering at higher quality."

Chris Creek, DAZ art director, added, "The NVIDIA realtime performance meant that we could tweak facial features, adjust lighting and add textures. It gave us a very broad toolset as artists."

Key to the success of the project is the affordability of the platform, which runs on PCs. Using DAZ|Studio 3D software and NVIDIA graphics technologies, a wider spectrum of artists can now access a new medium for bringing story visuals to life.

Founded in 2000, DAZ Prods. Inc. (www.daz3d.com), located in Draper, Utah, is a market leader in 3D software and digital content creation. DAZ also develops powerful software applications that support its content, including Mimic, a lip-synching application, and Bryce, a 3D environment package. DAZ|Studio, the company's first free 3D figure posing and animation software package, demonstrates the company's commitment to expand and grow the 3D marketplace by offering free software and 3D content at affordable prices. DAZ's products have been used in many professional productions, television shows and print publications such as X-MEN 2, SPIDER-MAN, AVERAGE JOE, 48 HOURS, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, POPULAR SCIENCE and the History Channel.

NVIDIA Corp. (www.nvidia.com) is a worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies. The company creates innovative, industry-changing products for computing, consumer electronics and mobile devices. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has offices throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

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