Luxology Modo Summer training special

Until August 30th Luxology are offering all of the Modo downloadable training videos at 50% off.

modo Training Videos

 

Learn modo with innovative projects

 

Learning modo with the included on-line documentation is really just a starting point. Luxology has brought together a diverse collection of learning materials in video form that modo users can work with individually or in a classroom setting. These videos are step-by-step screen capture movies of carefully designed projects to help you learn to use modo for a specific industry or for specific result. Relevant content is included. It’s like having a modo instructor helping you achieve the results you want. Save 50% on selected Training Videos between now and August 30th.

 

Get started with modo 501 and the training videos at the Motion Media online Shop.

The Foundry MARI 1.3 now available

MARI 1.3 is a creative texture-painting tool that can handle extreme projects. MARI was developed at Weta Digital to handle the massively complex, highly detailed look development work demanded of the texture department by projects such as DISTRICT 9, THE LOVELY BONES, and AVATAR.

WHAT'S NEW IN MARI 1.3?

• Ptex - Per-Face Texture Mapping


• Displacement Preview *


• Snapshots


• Environment Mapping


• Tiled textures

Complete details and video at the Foundry!

Update 2 for AutoCAD/LT 2011

Autodesk has released Update 2 for AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011. 32-bit and 64-bit versions of this update can be found at the following links:

AutoCAD 2011 Update 2
AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 2

This update is only for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT and cannot be applied to vertical products that are based on AutoCAD 2011.

Important: Before installing Update 2, you must install Update 1.1 for for your respective product. Update 2 does not include the fixes from Update 1.1 so both updates must be installed separately. If you have already installed Update 1.1, you can proceed with installing Update 2. The previous updates can be found at the following links:

AutoCAD 2011 Update 1.1
AutoCAD LT 2011 Update 1.1

Before installing Update 2, I strongly recommend you review the associated readme file for installation instructions, deployment notes, and details about the primary issues that are resolved by Update 2.

Autodesk Mudbox 2012 Service Pack 1 Released

Service Pack 1

Mudbox 2012 Service Pack 1 addresses stability issues, performance issues with the Freeze brush, interaction issues with Wacom® tablets, and other fixes across several areas including the Grab tool and file import/export operations.

Be sure to delete your Mudbox Settings before install (find them in your ......DocumentsMudbox12-x64settings directory for WIN 64)

Grab it here:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=17019428&linkID=11937426

Release Notes (with bug fix list):

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/mudbox_2012_sp1_release_notes.pdf

- Craig Barr on the Autodesk Area |The MudRoom

NVIDIA Customer Spotlights

If you weren’t able to make it to NAB last month, you wouldn't have made it to the NVIDIA booth.

Please check out these handy video vignettes that summarize some of the on-air graphics, film/video editing, color correction, and 3D video processing solutions they are providing.

There were several solutions for the broadcasting, video/film production, and digital content creation communities, all utilizing NVIDIA Quadro GPU technology. - CGSociety CGNews

Read the complete story and see the client videos at CGSociety CGNews

Quadro Graphics cards available at the Motion Media online Shop.

recoil Rigid-body Dynamics Plug-in for modo 501

The new recoil Plug-in from Eric Soulvie lets you perform rigid-body dynamics simulations right inside of modo. Now objects can collide, fall, slip and slide automatically within your modo scenes.

Full details and video demonstrations of Recoil here.

Get modo 501 at the Motion Media online Shop.

Meet Eric Soulvie

Creator of the recoil Rigid-body Dynamics Plug-in for modo 501

Eric Soulvie is an experienced 3D tools programmer based in Seattle, Washington. Eric has worked for Foundation Imaging (Roughnecks), ESC (The Matrix 2, 3), Blizzard Entertainment, Weta Digital (Avatar, Jumper, et. al. ) and many other production houses. Eric was also one of the original programmers on modo and used the modo Plug-in SDK to create the recoil Plug-in.



 

 

Autodesk Maya 2012 Hot Fix 1

 

 



 

Maya 2012 Hotfix 1 includes enhancements to Python scripting with the new Maya Python API 2.0. This new API performs better and faster, offering programmers a more idiomatic experience of Python. The new Python API is similar in structure to the original Python API, making transition easy. To offer the most flexibility, programmers can use both Python APIs in code, respectively, to extend and customize Maya.

For supporting documentation, see www.autodesk.com/developmaya.

In addition, Maya 2012 Hotfix 1 also includes an updated DMM™ (Digital Molecular Matter) plug-in for Maya from Pixelux Entertainment™ that lets you solve up to 2500 tetrahedrals. On Mac OSX and Linux systems, DMM now supports performance improving multithreading. The update also includes the following fixes:

• DMM no longer stops unexpectedly on Linux systems.


• The DMM shelf item no longer disappears after a Maya session is restored.


• Issues with Passive Regions has been fixed on all platforms.

Get the Hot fix 1 for Maya 2012!

Purchase Maya 2012 at the Motion Media online shop.

Pixologic Sneakpeak of ZBrush 4R2

In this thread I will share with you some information regarding the exciting features that are planned to be included in the next ZBrush update.

The next update will be ZBrush 4R2 (ZBrush 4 Release 2) - it will be a free upgrade to all registered users.

ZBrush 4R2 is currently in development, when we reach beta-testing phases I will be able to post information regarding its release date.

To get the Z4R2 preview rolling, I'll start with a sneak-peak of the next update to the BPR renderer.

Best Preview Render

The BPR renderer in the next version has been updated to a full 32-bits floating-points HDR pipeline.

BPR in Z4R2 is capable of rendering high quality images while utilizing improved materials, lights, and environment mapping. - Pixolator

Read the full thread of the sneak peak here

Get  Zbrush at the Motion Media Online shop!

Autodesk 2012 Product Launch

 



 

 

 

 

On April 20, 2011, Autodesk will host a live virtual event, showcasing the entire line of 2012 Autodesk products.

Accelerate your film, television, or game projects. Find new ways of exploring, refining, and presenting your ideas. Discover a range of world-class new creative tools.

It all starts when you Register for the Autodesk Virtual Event.

Date: April 20, 2011

Time: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm PT

See how the new Autodesk Digital Entertainment Creation (DEC) solutions – including the comprehensive Entertainment Creation Suites – can help you create and deliver your most innovative work. You’ll have the chance to hear how leading Autodesk customers such as LOOK Effects, Eidos-Montréal, and SWAY Studio use Autodesk Digital Entertainment Solutions to take their work to the next level.

At the Autodesk Virtual Event, you attend sessions right from your desktop. These presentations will help you:

• Position yourself for your next big opportunity


• Explore the tools used by leading artists and animators


• Take advantage of hardware advances to finish projects faster

Don’t miss this chance to learn how Autodesk Digital Entertainment Creation solutions can help you bring your best ideas to life.

Get the NEW Autodesk Media & Entertainment 2012 products at the Motion Media Online shop.

Chaos Group Customer Success Story :: Method - Halo: Reach "Deliver Hope"

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Chaos Group gives us another customer spotlight. This time its Method Studios and their work on Halo:Reach"Deliver Hope" .

click the link above to read the full interview.

"Here at Method we have been using V-Ray for Maya since the beginning of its development. It has had huge success in house for feature and commercial work large and small. Having multiple renderer support inhouse it's a head to head vs match to final only the best images."

Scott Metzger, VFX Artist at Method Studios

Based in Los Angeles, with locations in New York and London, Method Studios is a leading post production facility providing a full range of visual effects services including conceptual design, look development, on-set supervision, 3D animation/CGI, matte painting, compositing and finishing.

Get V-Ray for 3ds Max or Maya at the Motion Media online shop!

Chaos Group Customer Success Story :: Blur Studio

Chaos Group gave us a spotlight on BLUR STUDIO and their use of V-Ray.

If you missed it click the link above.

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With the coming of the E3 Expo in June, we  went back in awe of the visually stunning work from BLUR and interview with Kevin Margo CG Supervisor at Blur Studio.

"V-Ray is a supremely brilliant rendering engine with mind bending approaches to visualizing 3 dimensional form that encourages philosophic ontological discussions about the nature and observation of reality itself."

We at Motion Media can't wait to see what  BLUR is working on for this year's E3 Expo!

BLUR STUDIO has been creating award-winning visual effects, animation and design, applying its creative skills across various mediums. We produce 3D character animation, motion design and visual effects for feature films and television, game cinematics & trailers, large format films, location-based entertainment, commercials and integrated media. Located in Venice, California, we combine the passion and excitement from our directors, animators, designers, concept artists, and writers with our clients into a collaborative creative approach that results in compelling visuals and storytelling.

Order your V-Ray for 3ds Max or Maya at our online shop!

Package Design and Construction Kit for modo 501

 

 

Luxology releases a  new PACK Kit for modo, you can quickly create bags, wrappers, boxes, bottles, cans, cartons, tubes, tubs, and non-destructively develop new packaging concepts.



 

Popcorn family image by Gene Dupont.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the core of PACK is a collection of more than 200 presets, images and assemblies, which together form a large library of packages and components such as container seals that can be modified and brought together to both visualize existing packaging and to create totally new package designs.



 

Customize your packaging with pre-built container seals like these.

 

The new PACK Kit is one more great reason to use modo! Get modo 501 at our online Shop.



 

 

More detailed information and videos of the pack in action here.

 

 

 

cebas Visual Technology and Cyber Radiance Enter Hair Farm cooperation

cebas Visual Technology Inc. announces an initiative for close cooperation with Cyber Radiance to enhance the speed and effectiveness of their core software products, finalRender and Hair Farm. The latter is now available from the cebas website.

The two independent software developers intend to optimize their respective offerings through their new partnership. This will ensure that these industry leading tools will work hand-in-hand to get the best possible performance for their customers.



Rendering made with finalRender and Hair Farm
cebas CEO Edwin Braun stated: “It’ll be great to optimize both systems for our current and future user base. Hair Farm is an amazing product and we are happy and proud to promote it in the future.”

“finalRender is an extremely powerful rendering system for using Hair Farm and I’m excited to integrate our products more closely," said Dr. Cem Yuksel, creator of Hair Farm. "It will yield optimal performance and enhanced workflow for all 3ds Max users. Most importantly, it will help us extend the capabilities of our solutions and go beyond the limitations of today's technology.”

This agreement marks the second such software development deal, after cebas announced the cooperation with Sitni Sati and their leading CG fluid dynamics simulation system, FumeFX, last year.

The announcement clearly shows the commitment by cebas to offer the most efficient and best rendering solutions to its customer base. By covering and enhancing complex rendering effects, such as fire, smoke and now hair, finalRender strengthens its position as the number one choice for serious motion picture and game production professionals.

While Hair Farm users agree that it is undoubtedly the best hair rendering software for CG professionals, the announcement affirms that Cyber Radiance is determined to go beyond this achievement and continue improving its ultimate hair solution with new ground-breaking technologies.

*  *  *

About Hair Farm

Hair Farmwas designed and developed by Dr. Cem Yuksel. When he first started developing Hair Farm, the available CG technologies for modeling, animating, and rendering hair were very limited and under-developed. Therefore, Dr. Yuksel began developing various novel technologies required for a solid hair modeling, animation, and rendering software. After six years of R&D, the last piece of the puzzle was solved with his invention of hair meshes, as first presented at SIGGRAPH Asia 2009.

Hair Farm is not just another tool for producing hair for virtual characters. It is a completely new design that combines state-of-the-art technologies with an artist-friendly user interface and flexible workflow. Within a year of its release, hundreds of studios and artists have begun using Hair Farm for their projects, such as the upcoming motion picture "Sucker Punch" (rel. March 25, 2011).

Contact

Cem Yuksel, Founder & CEO
Cyber Radiance LLC
cem@cyberradiance.com
www.cyberradiance.com

What’s New in Autodesk Softimage 2012

Autodesk Softimage 2012

Autodesk^® Softimage^® 2012 software delivers innovative new creative toolsets; enhanced interoperability with Autodesk® Entertainment Creation Suite Premium products; and new tools that embrace recent technology trends.

Follow the link for more information on Softimage 2012 and the new New features video.

What’s New in Autodesk Maya 2012

Autodesk Maya 2012

Autodesk^® Maya^® 2012 software delivers powerful new toolsets for previsualization and games prototyping; offers extended simulation capabilities; and better pipeline integration.

Follow the link for more information on Maya 2012 and the new New features video.

What's New in Autodesk 3ds Max 2012

Autodesk 3ds Max 2012

Autodesk^® 3ds Max^® 2012 3D animation software delivers inspiring new creative toolsets, enhanced iterative workflows, and an accelerated graphics core that together help significantly increase overall productivity.

Follow the link for more information on 3ds Max 2012 and the new New features video.

Luxology Releases modo 501 SP1

modo 501 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is now available as a free download from Luxology.

The SP1 release is mainly of benefit to those using modo 501 in 64-bit mode on Mac OS X, but there are targeted small improvements/fixes for all modo users as detailed here.  Luxology recommends that you use modo 501 SP1 going forward.

modo 501 users can get the new release by accessing the Check for Updates option in the Help menu of modo 501. Or simply sign into your Account and access the new modo 501 update in the Registered Products section.

You may purchase modo at our online store or give us a call!

Motion Media: 310. 450-4000