Tagged With: Software

The software division of award-winning visual effects studio Frantic Films will be demonstrating an array of new software products at SIGGRAPH 2007. Along with a new version of Deadline, the company's popular render farm solution, Frantic Films will unveil several new developments at Booth #1720 throughout the conference, Aug. 7-9, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

These new solutions designed for visual effects and animationProfessionals include:

A new version of Autodesk.Maya Personal Learning Edition (PLE) software is now available for download in English and Japanese at www.autodesk.com/maya-trial. Based on Maya Complete 8.5 software, this Maya PLE provides free access to Maya 3D animation, modeling and rendering software for non-commercial use by students, industry professionals and others interested in learning the application.

Softimage has released Alienbrain 8 software starting at $495 and offering accelerated and scalable solutions that meet the needs of growing global collaborative networks. Alienbrain is an asset management system that enables CG artists to visually track, control versions, manage and share any kind of digital document: from 3D game assets and models to complex visualization files.

We begin the New Year at VFXWORLD with Alain Bielik's report on CASINO ROYALE and how Peerless Camera provided seamless work for 007's first assignment, which has been shortlisted for a VFX Oscar. Meanwhile, Ed Harriss reviews XSI 6 and breaks down the latest flagship software from Softimage with his usual passion and expertise.

Bill DesowitzEditor

Skymatter Ltd. announced the first public release of its highly anticipated sculpting software, Mudbox. After two years of production testing with several of the largest film and game companies, Mudbox is now available for purchase.

Luxologys modo won a MACUSER Maxine editorial award for the best 3D/Animation Software of the Year at last weeks MacExpo conference in London. Awarded by MACUSER, one of the U.K.s leading Macintosh magazines, the Maxine award was presented on Oct. 26 at a ceremony held at The Hurlingham Club, an elegant and historical estate in Fulham, England.

Autodesk 3ds Max 9 modeling, rendering and animation software is now shipping. The latest release of the 3D software provides dramatic improvements in display performance and complexity management required by next-generation production pipelines. It also includes significant rendering enhancements for architectural professionals. From the greatly expanded boundaries of the first-ever 64-bit release of 3ds Max to the newly integrated hair-styling interface, 3ds Max artists have more options, better performance, and greater flexibility than ever before.

Autodesks 3ds Max and Maya were used extensively on this season's line-up of films. Using 3ds Max and Maya, digital artists created sophisticated 3D content for the live-action films TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY and WORLD TRADE CENTER, and also shaped the 3D-animated EVERYONE'S HERO and THE ANT BULLY.