This brand new major release of MODO includes significant improvements to the modelling, sculpting, animation, effects and rendering workflows. Plus, it continues to add value with a number of new features.
MODO 701 highlights
Procedural particle engine with an easy to use pre-set workflow
Audio playback and a sound channel modifier, bringing animations to life
Schematic improvements, reducing scene graph complexity
Procedural Layers - A powerful procedural engine is built into the heart of the layer stack; offering fluid, GPU accelerated real time procedural noises, patterns, projections and more. Procedural layers mean artists can easily create the look they want, seamlessly blending procedural and painted detail with the same toolkit.
Mask groups - In MARI 2.0, rather than a single mask per layer, each layer’s mask is a full layer stack in its own right. Artists can use blending, groups, adjustments and procedurals in their masks for a much more flexible, and non-destructive, workflow.
Shared layers - We don’t think artists should have to waste time keeping track of how and where they have reused layers and masks. MARI 2.0 introduces a unique layer concept, shared layers, to ensure that artists can spend more time painting. A shared layer is one that appears multiple times in the same stack, or is shared between stacks, and is automatically and instantly updated wherever it is used.
Streamlined layer view – With powerful grouping, tagging and filtering options, the layer view in MARI 2.0 means even highly complex stacks are easy to navigate and control.
The Foundry have released MARI 1.6
The latest version of their production proven 3D digital paint tool, designed from the ground up so artists can spend more time being creative and less time managing technical issues.
MARI 1.6 brings AMD graphics card support, flowmap tools and more..
WHAT’S NEW IN MARI 1 .6?
AMD graphics card support Radeon HD 7850, HD 7950 and FirePro W7000, W8000 and W9000 have been officially tested and added to the Tested Graphics Cards list.
Vector Paint and Vector Inspector tools give you the ability to create flow and normal maps to specify the direction of paint flow on a model, and to monitor changes easily with the inspector.
Vector paint blending modes help create flow and normal maps with the specialised Vector Paint tool.
Vector shading modules assist in creating flow and normal maps by setting the vector field information, displaying flow visualisation.
New brush cursor options mean the brush cursor for the Paint tool can be changed to display an outline of the currently selected brush.
Projection Cube and Projection Sphere shader modules allow you to project cube map or spherical texture files onto geometry for a faster workflow.
New options in the Hue filter and the Diffuse HSV shader module allow you to specify desaturation calculations based on HSV or HSL values.
Vue 11 xStream and Vue 11 Infinite are expected to ship November 2012. Customers who purchased Vue 10.5 xStream or Infinite within 30 days of the release of Vue 11 will receive Vue 11 at no cost as part of the Free 30 Day Maintenance included with all new purchases.
- Boundless grid with complete control over boundaries.
- Added support for Field3D file format.
- Changing the Effector’s name will automatically update its name inside the FumeFX UI.
- Continue from cache in a bigger grid.
- Volume emission with Object Source.
- MXS command ffxSilent – no Message box will show up (like Stop/Continue, etc).
- Multiple Scattering for PreviewWindow
- Multiple Scattering option to cast and receive, so if you have a scene with many grids and want to avoid MS computation overhead, this should be handy.
- Ability to imprint various info to the Preview Window output.
- From the Obj/Src rollout, right click on object/src to select it in the viewport that will automatically enable PinUI option. Multi selection is also possible,
- Paths will show inside the Asset Manager
- Pin UI will keep the UI opened even if FumeFX is deselected. You can position lights and objects and GPU PW will update as well.
- Preview Window has a new menu option “Lock to Viewport”, so you can work on the scene setup in various viewports and PW will always display the chosen one.
- FumeFX Gravity parameter can have negative value
- Sim Loop Mode option to reset sim at the beginning of each loop.
- Added tooltips to output paths text boxes, so that users can see very long paths.
- Added support for picking groups of nodes from Scene Selection window. Works with:
- objects list
- illumination lights list
- object source objects list
- particle source particle list
- Added support for changing parameters for FumeFX deflector objects for all group members if grouping button is enabled (‘G’)
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.
