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Future 3ds max previews

Mark Kauffman — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:12:01 GMT

Ken Pimental of Autodesk has posted several demo videos of future 3ds max technology up on the Area. You can find them here:

http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/ken

Check out the first 4 in the list. Plus, you will see a link to the XBR briefing. Good stuff Maynard!

Unreal Engine 3 Released for free!

Tom — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:21:15 GMT

[url=http://www.udk.com]www.udk.com
[/url]
Fully functional and featured 3D game engine. Should really light the fire under DX Studio, Unity and Torque!

Autodesk 3ds Max Certification now available

Glen Loyd — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:39:10 GMT

Recently Autodesk has opened up certification to 3ds Max users with the Associate and Professional certification levels in Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2010. To find out more about the exams and to download an Exam Guide, visit:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=13880556&linkID=10381717

Autodesk Acquires Dynamite VSP and Dynamite SIM Visualization Software Products

Mark Kauffman — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:21:31 GMT

Ken Pimental at Autodesk alerted me to this development early this morning. Whoot!

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=14301754&siteID=123112&linkID=11299251

I think it's a great thing. Now, whether this will be released as a standalone product under the Autodesk banner or as a subscription drop for 3ds Max is a good question. Either way, I'm a happy camper.

I had the opportunity to talk with Bruce Harfield of 3am Solutions during AU in Las Vegas last month. VSP 4 is the bomb and Bruce was able to educate me on many of the features, new and existing, and how it can really help when doing highways and other such transit projects. Those guys are wicked smart and have developed a great set of tools.

Yea for us!

Alaskan Way Viaduct Earthquake animation released

Glen Loyd — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:17:56 GMT

An impressive piece of work on a very sensitive issue.

Animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos_uIKwC-c

Local News: http://www.king5.com/home/WSDOT-animation-shows-Viaduct-destruction-65978777.html

WSDOT reluctantly released this due to the nature and potential fear it could cause but was required to under public disclosure act at the request of citizens. Several non-authorized versions are appearing on YouTube with "added effects."

Kudos to those who worked on it. Great work! :D

interesting licensing lawsuit

SJohnson — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:21:42 GMT

interesting case involving software licensing vs. software ownership (and Autodesk, specifically)

[url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1557653/software-owned-licensed]http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1557653/software-owned-licensed[/url]

essentially the court is saying that once you buy the software, you do have the right to sell it and transfer ownership. This is completely the opposite of how Autodesk (and I'm sure most of the other big software players) would like it to be.

SJ

V-Ray 1.50 SP4 and V-Ray RT 1.50 SP1 for Autodesk 3ds Max are released

Glen Loyd — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:42:36 GMT

The newest builds of V-Ray 1.50 SP4 and V-Ray RT 1.50 SP1
support both 32-bit and 64-bit OS were released today.

V-Ray 1.50 Service Pack 4

Added New Feature in V-Ray 1.50 SP4 is V-Ray Ambient Light.

It includes several modified features:

- Improved multithreading on multi-core machines
- Ability to specify gizmo falloff for VRayEnvironmentFog
- Ability to use arbitrary meshes as gizmos for VRayEnvironmentFog
- Option to exclude the background from VRayEnvironmentFog
- Added CIE sky models to the VRaySun and VRaySky
- It is now possible to submit DR servers list for DR through backburner
- Added option to not use area speculars in the VRayIES light
- Added Kelvin temperature settings for the color of VRayLights
- VFB history is now turned off when 3ds Max is in slave mode
- Output .vrimg and split channel paths are listed in the Asset Tracker
- GI cache files (irradiance maps, light cache etc) are listed in the Asset Tracker

V-Ray RT 1.50 Service Pack 1

It includes the following new features:

- Support for the HSL/HSV controls of the ColorCorrect texture (as well as the map slots)
- Support for the "Additional bump" slot of the Normal bump texture
- Some gamma workflows did not work well with the ActiveShade
- Option to stop updating the ActiveShade window after a certain fixed amount of time
- Support for region rendering in the ActiveShade window
- The override material options from the standard V-Ray renderer to work properly
- Support for environment override in VRayMtl
- An option to manually restart V-Ray RT, without having to close & reopen the activeshade window/viewport
- Option to pause the RT
- Support for opacity maps of standard materials
- Support for VRayEdgesTex in bump slot
- Ability to directly export to a .vrscene from MaxScript without starting the ActiveShade (through the vrayExportRTScene() command)
- Access to the ActiveShade bitmap from MaxScript (through the vrayGetRTBitmap() command)
- Support for paletted PNG textures
- Consider the "Hidden lights" switch from the standard V-Ray
- Support for IFL file format for textures
- Support the Shell Material in V-Ray RT

This is a free upgrade for current V-Ray and V-Ray RT users.

Great Earthquake Simulation

Glen Loyd — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:03:19 GMT

This animation was created by Newlands & Company visualization group. Nicely done guys!

http://baybridgeinfo.org/

Balfour Beatty to buy Parsons Brinckerhoff

Glen Loyd — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:48:29 GMT

The news just broke this morning to PB employees that UK based Balfour Beatty has offered to buy Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. for $626 million. For the most part, PB employees will see no real affect to their daily jobs as Balfour Beatty CEO Ian Tyler says that "I'm absolutely clear that we need to maintain the brand, the values, the culture, and the processes of Parsons Brinckerhoff as a complete entity." PB would remain intact as a wholly owned subsidiary of Balfour Beatty. Pretty much nothing will change for the near future.

So, what does this potentially mean for pbviz.com? For the next few years we plan to continue to grow our little community. Although I've done a little research, I have yet to discover a visualization group within the 41,000 employee company. Must keep searching!

I'll keep you all posted as we hear more.

http://enr.ecnext.com/coms2/article_bmco090917BalfourBeatt

Disney and Pixar features through 2012

Michael Sparrow — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:24:09 GMT

http://prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-08-2008/0004789174&EDATE=

[quote]NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios
unveiled a diverse and ambitious slate of 10 new animated feature
films from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios to be released 
through the year 2012 at a New York press conference held today by 
(BAD WORD) Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, 
chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.[/quote]

Infrastructure Stimulus and Viz

Glen Loyd — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:33:49 GMT

Just a guess, but I'll bet a majority of the pbviz.com community is a little nervous about how current economic conditions and its effect on the Civil and architecture industries, and ultimately, the design visualization support we provide (that provides us our living). I've heard (and experienced) groups cutting back on staff and hours. No one wants to see more staffing adjustments.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert on the situation and I'm still researching what I can about it. Maybe soem of this will ease your fears a little, or maybe not. Here's what I've found out so far:

As you probably know, this is historically a slow time of year (Christmas to Valentine's Day) where projects slowly start hitting the ground. Our teams (PB) have even noticed a reduction in pursuits, although they seem to be picking up in the last week. My guess is that most DOTs and transit agencies are waiting to see what kind of financial assistance the Infrastructure Stimulus will bring to the table. Obama would like to have a bill ready to sign by mid February. Cross your fingers.

So what's the Infrastructure Stimulus plan all about? Obama's plan to follow suit with Roosevelt's "New Deal" seems like it could have positive impacts for our industry. The exact dollar amount of the stimulus has yet to be determined, but the idea is to jumpstart the backlog of projects that have primarily been under basic maintenance for the several decades. Most of these projects are not considered "shovel ready" and will most likely take some time to get started. Those of you who have been around the industry know this and wouldn't expect anything different (the only exception that I've seen was the quick turnaround of the I-35 bridge replacement in Minneapolis). Experts say that small projects have the best chance of funding with the quickest result in getting money back to taxpayers (and the economy) through jobs created with the projects.

Interestingly enough, the US isn't the only country planning a recovery plan like this. China is reported to have a $586 billion spending package earmarked for new housing, roads, railways, airports, and to rebuild the devestated areas of the earthquake last May (USA Today).

So, what can we do in the meantime? Now is the time to be proactive and market your groups or self. I've been trying to focus interenally to PB with a soft-sell approach. I'll send recent sample work to my contacts in those areas. For example: I just wrapped up a bridge project in New York, so I'll send the final renderings/animations to other structural engineers across the country that I know or have worked with before. They like to keep tabs on similar projects that the company is working on and it saves them a request down the road to use sample work to submit with Qual Statements. Even if marketing is not your forte, it's better than just hanging out at pbviz.com waiting for projects to come to you. The approach can be a simple "Hey, thought you'd be interested in seeing this..." Out of sight, out of mind is very prevelant, so stay in sight.

If you find yourself with no work and don't have something to keep you busy, perhaps you can try expanding the portfolio to include renewable energy type projects. That market will continue to be moving forward and your company may see the benefit of moving into or assisting in it.

Feel free to add your comments, but please try not to use this as a political soapbox.

The work will come so hang in there!

Autodesk Signs Agreement to Acquire Softimage

Mark Kauffman — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:13:58 GMT

I'm sure many of you have heard about this, but I am posting some links regarding this story from several sources, including Autodesk.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=12022457&siteID=123112

http://www.fxguide.com/article505.html

http://community.softimage.com/showpost.php?p=13603&postcount=86

http://area.autodesk.com/index.php/blogs_ken/blog_detail/autodesk_acquires_softimage_choose_your_passion/

Many people have posted negative feedback in the various forums over the past few days with one big concern that Autodesk will absorb Softimage and kill off XSI. To date, I am unaware of any applications that Autodesk has purchased and has summarily "killed off". In fact, this same issue came up during the acquisition of Alias.

To Autodesk's credit, many companies they have purchased has been more or less rescued from the financial scrapheap, Alias and Sofimage included. While we might all disagree on the results, many good things have come as a result of these acquisitions. In my opinion, it is the IP (intellectual property) that Autodesk really wanted form Softimage. I would image that CAT will find it's way into 3dsmax and that ICE might work its way into the 3D/Systems product line at some point. Also, I'm quite sure that XSI will continue for many years to come. Everybody thought that 3dsmax or Maya would be axed or that a new product would arise. I cannot speak for Autodesk here, but I think that we will all win in the end (by we I mean Autodesk application users).

All this being said, I wanted also to post an amusing YouTube video regarding this issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR7UWImpG54

Obviously, somebody has a ton of time on their hands. In any case, it's pretty funny.

Commments?

Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art

Mitch_R — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:45:54 GMT

This is a very interesting article that needs to be read (even if it is alittle long).

[url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3605]http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3605[/url]

Autodesk announces plans to purchase Microsoft

pbviz — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:56:27 GMT

With the general releases of its 2008 products, Autodesk surprised the industry with it's announcement of plans to purchase Microsoft.

"It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone with our recent track record." said CEO Carl Bass during a Monday evening news conference. "Microsoft was the obvious hurdle we needed to overcome. It will also place Autodesk directly in the gaming market with full access to Xbox and their game development satellites."

The deal will also help spin out the proposed Autodesk OS later this fall. New features will include "CADmail" that will allow users to send layer files to each other without have to go through the former Outlook.

Although negotiations are nearly complete, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates has been relatively quiet about the deal. Apparently out of the country, Mr. Gates has not responded to the media.

If you believe this, I have some beach front property in Montana for sale. APRIL FOOLS!!!

Vray RT

Tom — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:27:50 GMT

Not quite Real-time, but pretty darn fast!
This will be a fantastic addition to our toolbox!

[url]http://vray.info/news/n0233.asp[/url]

:D Me wants!!

Another Autodesk acquisition

Michael Sparrow — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:08:41 GMT

[quote]

Autodesk signs definitive agreement to acquire Kynogon, maker of Kynapse—the leading game AI middleware.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 19, 2008 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kynogon SA, the privately held maker of Kynapse artificial intelligence middleware. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.[/quote]

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=10792202

http://www.kynogon.com/

3DS Max 2009 Release Announced

Glen Loyd — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:58:20 GMT

For those of you who have been waiting for the latest version of Max (of even the current) you will be happy to know that it will be available for purchase this spring.

According to the press release, the biggest thing you will see with the new release is the availability of two different Max products: 3ds Max 2009 (regular) and the debut of 3ds Max Design 2009 (for architects and viz specialists).

The new features included in 3ds Max 2009 include a new Reveal toolset, ProMaterials material library, new biped enhancements, improved OBJ and FBX import/export abilities, and Recognize; a new interapplication opperability with Revit .

3ds Max Design 2009 will include include an SDK for pipeline integration, and Exposure techology for LEED 8.1 certified lighting

For more on the 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009, see the press release from Autodesk at:

http://pressreleases.autodesk.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=383%3C%2Ftd%3E

Did nvidia buy mental images??

Michael Sparrow — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:59:12 GMT

Now, I'm not sure if this is new but its the first I've heard of it...

[quote]mental images®, founded in 1986, is the recognized leader and de facto industry standard for visualization software for the entertainment, computer-aided design, scientific visualization, architecture, and other industries that require sophisticated images. The company's core product is the Academy Award®-winning photorealistic rendering software mental ray® which runs on a wide variety of platforms ranging from networks of workstations to parallel supercomputers, producing images of unsurpassed realism... [/quote]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/mental_images.html

Autodesk University 2007

Mark Kauffman — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:27:15 GMT

Greetings from Sin City!

I write this from my luxury suite at the Venetian in lovely Las Vegas. It’s a nice day here and I’m pumped for AU 2007. This is my second year here and the first as a speaker. They are looking at close to 10,000 attendees this year and my initial inspection confirms this. Not only is there another entire floor utilized, but the exhibits are in a larger hall. Way more Design Viz with a dedicated Autodesk Media & Entertainment booth!

I’ll keep you all posted on my experiences here as well as any interesting products, technologies, and industry news. The registration “kits” offer a sweet shoulder bag, much nicer than last year’s fair. It’s made of a much tougher material and can carry your laptop quite easily.

This should be fun as a whole heaping helping of PB’ers will be there from all over the world, 36 so far. Hope to see some of you here!

End of an Era

Glen Loyd — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:25:45 GMT

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Doug Eberhard, he is one of the pioneers of digital visualization and founder of 4D Imaging, a small visualization company that was purchased by PB in 1991. Doug has always been a forward thinker (sometimes decades ahead) and great at envisioning uses for cutting edge technology in the visualization industry.

Over the past few years Doug has developed strong ties with Autodesk while promoting the work of PB's internal visualization skills. He has been the keynote speaker for several Autodesk engagements showing the latest and greatest of what Autodesk products can do and how the clients are benefiting.

Just recently, Doug took a position with Autodesk to become the evangelist for their newest product Metropolis, to be unveiled at this year's AU, with his official start being at AU. His enthuiasm, charisma, and vision will certainly be a great fit with Autodesk.

Best of luck Doug!

Autodesk 3DS Max 2008 Release

Glen Loyd — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:37:55 GMT

In case you haven't heard yet, the newest version of Autodesk 3DS Max is just a couple weeks away. Due to release in October, 2007, this release has focused on improved viewport performance on large scene files, new UI options, Review toolset and enhancements in complex workflows. Also noted in the new naming convention with this release. Gone is the old version numbering system. The new naming convention paralles with the other Autodesk products. For a list of detailed features for Max 2008:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=8108755

Adobe Buzzword?

Christopher Leone — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:06:37 GMT

This is interesting, looks like Adobe is following Google's lead in producing an online multi-user word processing application(s).

I think this could be a great tool especially for folks in different offices, being able to work on the same document at the same time, with the ability to chat or leave comments is a powerful and productive way to collaborate.

On a separate note Google also released it newest "Office" application, "Powerpoint". It's a bit limiting but is has the basics, the biggest missing feature is it's video ability, there simply isn't any.

[url]http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071001-adobe-to-acquire-new-buzzword.html[/url]

New version of Autodesk Maya already??

TKaihea — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:29:32 GMT

I think there is a new version of Maya. That was pretty quick. They only released 8.5 not too long ago -

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7635167

Should be pretty cool.

Autodesk to acquire Skymatter

TKaihea — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:42:16 GMT

I didn't know where to stick the General 3D applications news and this was the closest.

Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Skymatter, Makers of Mudbox 3D Brush-based Modeling Software -

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=9931455&siteID=123112

It's going to be pretty cool if Autodesk acquire Mudbox. Imagine the possibilities.

Anark 4 Release

Glen Loyd — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:45:26 GMT

Has anyone heard when the official launch date for Anark 4 is to be? The web site has no information regarding that.