The tutorial covers: A custom shader in Mari that replicates our in-game physically based shader nearly identically. Paint diffuse, normal, specular, and roughness to describe any type of material simultaneously by using shared mask layers. Everything gets baked down to one material draw call.
Adjusting the brightness of the paint’s roughness map on the fire hydrant will transition through mips in the specular cubemap, effectively “blurring” the reflection. This can be seen more clearly on the example using the chrome sphere. Using the mask of rust as an input to the bump channel, painting rust will also affect the final normal map.
The Foundry showcased its new demo reel at NAB 2013 and it was pretty amazing. There is a lot of great work in there from our clients like Prime Focus, Hinge Digital, Framestore, Look Effects and more.
Red 5 is one of our favorite customers and they just released this awesome video about what it’s like to work for them. Looks like fun to me. Apply Here.
Autodesk has posted sneak peek videos of possible new features coming to 3ds Max, Maya, and Softimage 2014.
These videos are a technology preview. Autodesk wishes to caution you that these previews reflect technology research, and that actual events or results could differ materially from the preview. Also, these previews are not intended to be a promise or guarantee of future delivery of products, services or features but merely reflect technology research, which may change. Purchasing decisions should not be made based upon reliance on this preview. Autodesk does not assume any obligation to update any statements we make to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date of this technology preview.
This is a very cool animation done in Cinema 4D by Paul Clements. He has a masterful use of C4D and the mograph module. Following the video there is a breakdown as well as a few tutorials of how he did it. It seems that Cinema 4D is becoming more and more powerful. Do you use Cinema 4D?
Chaos Group has announced the open beta for V-Ray 1.6 for Sketchup. This massive upgrade to V-Ray for SketchUp includes a series of new feature introductions that enhance visualization workflow and render quality (V-Ray RT®, V-Ray Dome Light), and streamline scene complexity (V-Ray Proxy).
Release News: mocha v3.2 public beta Imagineer Systems is happy to be releasing a public beta version of mocha Pro and mocha AE v3.2. This new point release includes significant features and fixes for all users.
The Foundry and Luxology announced a free Modo 701 15 Day trial and a 30 Day production trial that is $25. I suggest you head over to the Luxology site and get started as soon as you can. Plus, if you haven’t already, take the 701 Feature Tour, now with new videos.
Krakatoa for Maya – An Introduction – Come learn about the renderer used to create content for movie hits like Avatar, The Avengers, Transformers 3, Harry Potter 8 and Oblivion, as well as the upcoming Star Trek – Into Darkness, Man of Steel, After Earth, and more!
MAXON, leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today revealed the first step in its strategic alliance with Adobe Systems Incorporated, aimed at delivering a new level of integration between its powerful 3D application CINEMA 4D, and Adobe® After Effects®. The recently revealed next release of Adobe’s industry-leading software will include two MAXON technologies directly within the new Adobe After Effects: CINEWARE and CINEMA 4D Lite.
An open letter to Ang Lee from Compositor Phillip Broste regarding the state of the VFX industry and Mr. Lee’s lack of acknowledgement to the artists who created the VFX in “Life of Pi”. I definitely recommend the read.
Thinkbox Software today announced the release of Krakatoa MY, the high-volume particle renderer for Autodesk Maya 3D software running on Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
The Hollywood Reporter posted an article about Technicolor and Autodesk partnering in the development of a new color grading and compositing tool. Steve Scott, the pioneering colorist and head of Technicolor, is leading the charge on this new venture and believes that together they can create a single procedural finishing system that would offer tools from both disciplines – color grading and compositing.
The famous “Animators Survival Kit” written by Richard Williams is coming soon to the iPad. The price and exact date of release have not yet been determined, but the publisher, Faber and Faber, has indicated that it will be roughly timed with Williams’ 80th birthday next month.
Krakatoa for Maya – An Introduction – Come learn about the renderer used to create content for movie hits like Avatar, The Avengers, Transformers 3, Harry Potter 8 and Oblivion, as well as the upcoming Star Trek – Into Darkness, Man of Steel, After Earth, and more!
MODO 701 is coming soon. Be one of the first to discover what’s new and improved during our ‘MODO 701 Feature Tour’ webcast on March 25th at 10AM (PST). Sign up today.
Deep Compositing allows artists to work with ‘deep images’ containing multiple opacity or colour samples per pixel. This allows rendering of CGI elements without predetermined holdout mattes, avoiding the need for re-renders when content changes.
Want to go to Siggraph 2012 but don’t want to pay for it? We’ll let Motion Media help you out. We are giving you a free Exhibits only pass for this years event in Los Angeles. All you have to do is fill in the form below and a link and code will be sent directly to you.
PipelineFX is offering a one-day workshop geared toward artists and new users of Qube! at Siggraph 2012. This workshop focuses on submitting, managing and troubleshooting render jobs as well as best practices for maximum render throughput.
Release News: mocha v3.2 public beta Imagineer Systems is happy to be releasing a public beta version of mocha Pro and mocha AE v3.2. This new point release includes significant features and fixes for all users.
The SynthEyes 3-D tracking application completes a triple-header with the introduction of its Linux version by developer Andersson Technologies LLC, joining the existing Windows and Mac OS X versions.
Extension 2 for Autodesk® Maya® 2013 software is now available on the Autodesk Subscription Center. Extension 2 helps artists and studios with increased stability, usability, and performance.
Matrox is pleased to announce that Matrox MXO2 Dock is now available. The Matrox MXO2 Dock thunderbolt Accessory for Matrox MXO2 I/O Devices Delivers Convenience and Connectivity for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Users
FREE 69 PAGE eBOOK! This step by step guide will walk you through the creative world of ZBrush from the basics to sculpting, painting and on to finishing off your art with ZBrush's powerful render engine.