Ascension and Kaydara have teamed to create a new low-cost animation workstation called Animation Star, which combines the best motion-capture hardware and software. The product will launch at the annual SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Convention in Los Angeles on August 10, 2004. Ascension will demonstrate its new technology in Booth 1918 at the LA Convention Center.
Animation Star includes a Pentium 4 class computer, which acts as the server box for a new Ascension motion-capture tracker and a full-feature version of Kaydara MOCAP 5 software. Communication with an animator's graphics computer is handled via a high speed Ethernet interface over which models can be imported into the motion-capture environment for animation purposes. When done, motion files can be exported in the FBX file format for final rendering and compositing. Import and export capability for most popular 3D softwares including Alias Maya, Discreet 3D Studio MAX, NewTek Lightwave and Softimage 3D/XSI are supported.
Pricing for Animation Star starts at under $25,000. Special Show discounts are in effect.
Burlington, Vermont-based Ascension is a 3D software company. For more information, visit www.ascension-tech.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
