Create the Next Autodesk 3ds Max Design Box Cover

Autodesk and CG Architect have announced a competition to design the cover art and splash screen art of the new version of 3ds Max Design.

So you want to be a hero?

Here’s your chance. Submit a scene or design you’ve created using Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2012 or Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2012 software, and it could be featured on the next version of3ds Max Design box cover and splash screen.

Not only will the winning submission be seen by thousands of 3ds Max Design users on a daily basis, to the winning designer will also receive a 3DBOXX 8550 XTREME Quad GPU Workstation (with 4 Nvidia GPUs; 1 Quadro and 3 Tesla), plus US$5,000 in cash. Runners-up will receive an NVIDIA® Quadro® 5000.

Autodesk is looking for inventive concepts or renderings of architectural design, mechanical or industrial/product designs like buildings, bridges, vehicles, furniture, and consumer products. Entries will be judged on imagination, innovation, and ingenious use of the max logo, not production quality (See the rotating images at the top of this page for reference). Winners will have the opportunity to work with the Autodesk production team to complete final production renderings.

Get the 30 Day Trial software for 3ds Max Here and 3ds Max Design Here.

Submit your designs from Friday, September 9, 2011 to Sunday, October 31, 2011.

Official Contest Rules | Prizes | Submit Here | Judges

 

XoliulShader 2 for 3ds Max Now Available!

Laurens Corijn and Robbert-Jan Brems have released their updated XoliulShader 2.0 for 3ds Max.

Check out the shaders real-time viewport capabilities below.



Download XoliulShader 2.0 at the official XoliulShader 2 website and also check out the gallery section of the Highres viewport captures showcasing XoliulShader.

3ds max Subscription Advantage Pack 2012: Adobe AE interop, render passes, Activeshade Iray

Courtesy of Ken Pimentel's awesome "Maxed Out' blog! Ken gives us the update on the new advantage pack for 3ds Max 2012! The advatage packs are available to subscription customers only - so contact us to make sure you are current if you aren't already!

Here's the brief overview.
Render Passes/State Sets
We're introducing something called "State Sets" to perform the work of render passes
State Sets in 3ds Max 2012

Render Pass System
Segment your scene for downstream compositing more easily with an entirely new render pass system.

Adobe After Effects Interoperability (Yay!)
3ds Max artists whose creative toolsets include Adobe® After Effects® software can now enjoy a level of interoperability that sets a new standard for 2D/3D data exchange.

ActiveShade Interactive iray Rendering
Experience a truly iterative creative process for finalizing renderings, with new ActiveShade support for the iray® renderer from mental images®.

Enhanced Interoperability with Adobe Photoshop

.NET Exposure of the 3ds Max SDK
Effectively leverage .NET enabled languages (such as C#, F#, IronPython, IronRuby, and Visual Basic .NET)

Reprogramming your New or Existing V-Ray Dongle

The V-Ray licensing system is not an automated setup.

There are some steps required to obtain your license,  before V-Ray can render out those beautiful images.

You should have already received your Chaos Group account login information and hardware lock (Dongle) from your Motion Media account representative.
Download your V-Ray version for either 3ds Max, or  Maya.
Install the software and also the WibuKey drivers.
Right then lets head over to the V-Ray licensing video for the complete steps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiMDvsKutP0

Once complete you will receive a file with the extension *.RTU within 24 hours.
Unzip the *.RTU file to your desktop.

Close the V-Ray licensing service,  if it is running. You can do this either by right-clicking
the V-Ray license service icon in the Task Bar and selecting Exit,  or if it is running as a
service - from the Control panel > Administrative tools > Services applet.
Double click the *.RTU file to reprogram the V-Ray dongle, and restart the V-Ray service.

Ready set Render!

Sitni Sati Updates plug-ins for 3ds max 2012

Sitni Sati updates FumeFX 2.1c and AfterBurn 4.0d for use with 3ds Max 2012.

Current customers can download the updates from their Members login below.

http://www.afterworks.com/MEMBERS

Get your FumeFX and AfterBurn plugins at the Motion Media online shop.

 

Cebas Free Trials of finalRender 3.5 SE and finalToon 3.5 for 3ds Max 2012

 

 

 

cebas Visual Technology Inc. is making the latest version of its industry leading 3D rendering software, finalRender 3.5 SE, available in a free, unlimited-use trial version for the newest release of 3ds Max for immediate download from the cebas website.

The trial version of finalRender™ SE for 3ds Max (2010 - 2012, both 32- and 64-bit) is fully featured and includes all modules of its highest end version, as well as the industry leading non-photo-realistic rendering system finalToon™ 3.5.

Except for the watermarked render output, all aspects of the trial version are identical to the full license, including its complete feature set, as well as the software's blazing rendering speed.

Get finalRender for 3ds Max at the Motion Media online shop!

Chaos Group Phoenix FD in Action! New Videos by Michael McCarthy

A series of short videos show simulation of water, smoke and more using the Phoenix FD plug-in.

Phoenix Fluid Dynamics combines a grid based simulator with outstanding rendering capabilities that accurately reproduce fluid behavior. It’s the solution to rendering waves breaking along a shore, a lit candle, or an explosive cloud of smoke – just to name a few. The plug-in’s many features, which can imitate processes like pressure decay, thermal radiation cooling and mass-temperature dependence, have been captured in a series of videos created by VFX Technical Director and Autodesk Certified Instructor Michael McCarthy.

 

McCarthy, whose background includes work in the broadcast, feature film and gaming industry, introduces Phoenix FD with a set of tutorials that walk you through the basics of flames, fluid maps and liquids. He then demonstrates examples of possible simulations in sixteen short video clips. Such simulations include the liquid simulation of a fountain, liquid fuel to flames, and particle flow from an explosion.

To watch all McCarthy’s videos and receive updates on Phoenix FD, please register here

Get Phoenix FD for 3ds Max 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.

Autodesk 2012 Product Keys

Autodesk 2012 Product Keys
We are getting numerous calls asking for these as they aren't listed on the end-user's subscription account - so here you go!

3ds Max 2012: 128D1
3ds Max Design 2012: 495D1
3ds Max Entertainment Creation Suite 2012: 661D1
3ds Max Entertaiment Suite Premium 2012: 774D1
------------------------
Autocad LT 2012: 057D1
Autocad 2012: 001D1
Autocad for Mac 2012: 777D1
-----------------------
Autodesk Design Suite Ultimate 2012: 769D1
Autodesk Design Suite Advanced 2012: 769D1
Autodesk Design Suite Premium 2012: 768D1
Autodesk Deisgn Suite Standard 2012: 767D1
-----------------------
Maya 2012: 657D1
Maya Entertainment Creation Suite 2012: 660D1
Maya Entertianment Suuite Premium 2012: 775D1
------------------------
Mental Ray 2012: 718D1
------------------------
Motionbuilder 2012: 727D1
------------------------
Mudbox 2012: 498D1
------------------------
Softimage 2012: 590D1

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!

Autodesk Special Media Event Webcast March 21 -TODAY!

 

 

Learn about Autodesk’s new products for the design, engineering, and entertainment industries by joining Senior Vice President Amar Hanspal for Autodesk’s 2012 Product Launch webcast.

Date and time: Monday, March 21, 2:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM EDT

Action: Register in advance at www.autodesk.com/webcast.

Looking for a seat of Autodesk Media & Entertainment products? You can  Click Here to Purchase.

 

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

3ds Max, Motion Builder Kinect Workflow and Kinect SDK

 

Louis is a Technical Specialist in 3D Animation and Visual Effects for Autodesk.

 

 

Louis Marcoux from Autodesk gives us a rundown of 3ds Max and Motion Builder in an animation pipeline.

Part 5 goes into the use of the Kinect unit and Motion Builder with the tools from http://www.brekel.com.

Read and watch the videos here.

Things are looking promising since my initial Kinect post last year.

Hopefully with the release of  the Kinect SDK from Microsoft this Spring Motion Capture on your favorite animation program will become ubiquitous.

More information on the Microsoft Kinect SDK announcement at the official Microsoft blog .

 

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.

Autodesk at GDC 2011

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is  here!

GDC will be held at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA from February 28th thru March 4th 2011.

Autodesk will be attending the show floor at GDC and have posted their Theater schedule .

View the Autodesk GDC 2011 theater schedule

If you can't make it the show floor, Autodesk will also be streaming their theatre online.

Autodesk GDC information and online theater

Game Developers Conference

Autodesk Game developers tools

Sneak Peek at XBR Graphics in action

Shane Griffith Product Manager for 3ds Max & 3ds Max Design of Autodesk, Inc.
Gives us a Sneak Peek of the XBR Graphics in action within 3ds Max.

Head on over to Shane's blog at the link to watch all the videos and more information here.

Looking for a seat of 3ds Max? You can  Click Here to Purchase.

3ds Max and Microsoft Kinect Motion Capture

In 2009, Microsoft gave us a sneak peak of development of the Kinect unit under the name "Project Natal"

Quote: Wikipedia

” Kinect for Xbox 360, or simply Kinect (originally known by the code name Project Natal),[7] is a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game platform, and may later be supported by PCs via Windows 8.[8] Based around a webcam-style add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller, through a natural user interface using gestures and spoken commands.[9] The project is aimed at broadening the Xbox 360's audience beyond its typical gamer base.[10] Kinect competes with the Wii Remote with Wii MotionPlus and PlayStation Move & PlayStation Eye motion control systems for the Wii and PlayStation 3 home consoles, respectively."



The introduction in 2009 looked promising for our industry and I spoke to others who thought the same thing.

Could Natal be used to capture motion for the 3D industry, and be used for character animation?

Recently Kinect was released and the community started to experiment with it under windows with open source drivers.

You can read a bit of the history on the drivers and hacking here at Asim Mittals blog.

He also gives a step by step setup of the unit under windows.

Here is a video of real-time motion capture with a custom 3D interface application.

MikuMikuDance with OpenNI

Here is the first known video of Real-time motion in 3dsmax using biped.

Kinect and 3dsmax

It’s just the arms, but it’s a step forward in Development for the Kinect unit and Motion Capture for everyone!

Resources:
OpenNI
OpenNI Google groups
OpenKinect project

Autodesk 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design 2011 Hotfix 4 Now Available for Customers

An update for Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2011 software and Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2011 software is currently available on the Autodesk website. This hotfix helps resolve issues with the following features: the 3ds Max® Character Animation Toolkit, Autodesk® FBX® interoperability, Autodesk® Materials, and mental ray® software. It improves the overall operation of the 3ds Max software products.

For more information on issues resolved in this hotfix, please visit the Shane Griffith's Blog on the AREA

cebas releases finalRender 3.5 and 3.5 SE

New Features Deliver 3D-Stereo Camera, Ultra-Fast Global Illumination Engine and More

“We have brought out a new release for our industry leading tool finalRender much faster than usual,” said cebas CEO Edwin Braun. “Our users asked us to make new features available as we develop them so they can put them into production immediately. cebas has responded by releasing a ‘.5’ version as a major release for the first time in our 20-year history. ”

Link for More Information

Amazing Video made with 3ds Max & Vray

If you haven't already seen this, it is a must see for any aspiring or current visual effects artist. The work here is absolutely amazing, and all done by one person.  It just goes to show that you don't need an entire studio to create something incredible.  The software he used in this is 3ds Max, Vray, After Effects and Premiere Pro.  Enjoy.

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.