Sumitomo 3M has previewed an optical film capable of bringing naked-eye 3D to small- and medium-size LCD panels without requiring the viewer to wear special glasses, according to Tech-On. The technology, demonstrated at FPD International 2009, is claimed to retain spatial resolution and enables quick switching between 2D and 3D content.
e-on software has announced its upcoming Vue 8 product line consisting of CG Professionals, 3D Artists and 3D Enthusiasts software packages. Vue 8 for CG Professionals consists of the Infinite and xStream app, and delivers tools creating realistic digital natural environments. With Vue 8 for 3D Atrists users receive Vue 8 Esprit, Studio and Complete, which enables developing of 3D digital nature scenery and landscapes, and has the new Vue 8 Studio software packing features that resemble what’s found in Vue 7 Pro Studio. Lastly, Vue 8 for 3D Enthusiasts includes Vue 8 Pioneer & T-Packs and Frontier software, allowing for science nature creation.
Google has updated its modeling software, releasing SketchUp 7.1. The 3D modeling software is based on an edges-and-faces approach, where faces are 2D objects formed by edges, which are lines or boundaries. Two-dimensional formations can be push-pulled by a mouse into 3D formations, with AutoCAD and 3ds Max support in the Pro version.
Developers working with Khronos Group are currently testing a new standard, WebGL, that aims to bring hardware-accelerated 3D graphics to a wide range of browsers without requiring a dedicated plug-in. The system is based on the Canvas element within HTML5, but adds the ability for OpenGL functionality to be accessible using JavaScript.
Smith Micro has released a new version of its 3D character art and animation software, Poser 8. The application is designed for both professional and recreational use, and enables designers to develop and customize animations using 3D figures such as humans and animals, along with 3D objects and scene elements. Poser 8 delivers an improved user interface for simpler navigation and includes a user configurable work environment, as well as over 1GB of new content, some of which consists of eight new ready-to-pose 3D human characters, that all have different body types and ethnicities.
Apple has been granted patents for 3D movie browser technology and responsive avatars. The first patent relates to three-dimensional movie browsing or editing, with a focus on Final Cut Pro. It also relates to other Apple technologies like the iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV and software like iTunes and QuickTime. The most common example of the 3D browser is Apple's Cover Flow. An interesting side note reveals the author, Kevin Quennesson, has since left Apple to help build the Cooliris 3D Wall. The report also notes a second patent report for what's commonly known as Apple's Magic Wand Patent, which relates to a 3D remote control for Apple TV.
Luxology has launched modo 401 , the next generation of its 3D content creation software. The new update focuses on enhancing rendering and animation. Rendering enhancements include caustics, dispersion, blurry refraction, volumetric lighting and deep shadows. modo 401 adds instance replicators which allow dense amounts of surface detail like rivets, trees and barnacles to be rendered with trillion polygon detail. There is also light linking, stereoscopic rendering and support for multiple environments that provide precise control over scene lighting. Version 401 can render on up to 32 cores across a network of 50 workstations.
DAZ 3D has released a new version of its flagship software, DAZ Studio 3. The application is used to design 3D models and features pre-rendered virtual animals, props, vehicles, people and environments. The application can also add lighting and shading to models. The update supports 64-bit systems, COLLADA import and export functions, figure mixing, and animation keyframe editing.
Boris FX has released a new Boris Continuum unit, 3D Objects. The package is compatible with Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Final Cut Express, and consists of 5 filters that generate 3D animations for video and film. The unit includes Extruded Text that uses AE masks for defining custom bevels, extrusion, and text on path, as well as a Type-On-Text feature that animates 3D text. 3D Objects also features Extruded EPS for importing Adobe Illustrator layered vector logos and graphics, retaining the original file's 3D material presets.
Spatial View has released a new program, Wazabee 3DeeInterlacer and the complementary Wazabee 3DeeInterlacing SDK. The program is designed to be used with Wazadee 3DeeShell for creating 3D games, applications, and videos for the iPhone. The 3DeeInterlacing SDK utilizes a runtime feature that allows games and application to run in 3D when using the 3DeeShell. The 3DeeInterlacer generates licenses and enables content to be exported to 3DeeShell-enabled iPhones.
Luxology is now previewing modo 401, the next major revision of its 3D software, at the SolidWorks World 2009 show in Orlando, FL (booth #1207). Along with the announced SolidWorks importer, initially a Windows-only feature, the software will also feature updated capabilities for modeling fur, volumetric lighting and replication. Fur technology allows users to build hair or fur from fiber models that can also be built as grass, roots or tinsel. Controls are provided for the texture, displacement and various attributes of the fibers.
AutoDesSys has released a free public beta of its NURBS modeling and drawing program, Bonzai 3D. The software is designed to allow users to quickly sketch ideas, while maintaining the capability to produce accurate and complex models that can be rendered, manufactured, or used in construction drawings. Classic modeling tools are provided, with real-time Booleans and NURBS curves and surfaces. Rendering of shadows, transparencies and textures is handled by OpenGL.
Punch Software (Booth No. 3526 N) has released Home and Landscape Design Studio for the Mac at the Macworld Expo . The software offers a QuickStart system to help users design a home quickly, a Going Green service with information to help build an energy efficient home, and a new object library for more realistic 3D modeling. The software is geared to help users save time and money when building a home.
Autodesk has released Mac OS X versions of its 2D and 3D design software Toxik, Mudbox and Autodesk ImageModeler. Company officials tell MacNN the Mac is making great gains in the creative community, spurring demand for more titles to complement its venerable 3D Modeling software Maya and photo-panorama creator Stitcher Unlimited.
The Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has developed a color electronic holography technology that can project captured images of moving subjects under normal lighting conditions and reproduce them. Instead of a laser or darkroom, the technology relies on a video camera with a fly-eye lens and a number of integrated microlenses. The same lens is used to later display the 3D images.
E-on software has released the latest additions to its Vue 7 line of software for 3D environment creation, Vue 7 xStream and Vue 7 Infinite. Vue 7 xStream is now fully integrated as a plug-in within a host application, allowing users to create and edit 3D environments without switching between programs. The single license permits owners to use the program in all of the compatible applications installed on the system, including 3ds Max, Maya, LightWave, Cinema4D and XSI. Vue 7 Infinite offers 3D animation and rendering tools in a standalone product.
At the opening of the CEATEC show in Japan, Panasonic held demonstrations of its 3D HD system built around its 103-inch plasma display. The setup also relied on a standard Blu-ray disc player and battery-powered 3D glasses to produce three-dimensional moving images. Panasonic claims this is the first system using a plasma display and producing true-to-life 3D images, which, the company says, are on par in terms of image quality with Hollywood-produced 3D movies.
In SIGGRAPH news, DAZ 3D has announced its ARENA Real-Time Mocap plug-in for DAZ Studio, bringing motion capture to the 3D animation tool. Also at SIGGRAPH, Andersson Technologies' camera tracking software SynthEyes 2008 has been upgraded for 8-core compatibility.
Electric Rain has released a Universal Binary of Swift 3D 5.0 and also added performance gains to the 3D-rendering application. Swift 3D imports and renders Flash content and exports Flash 3D content via Papervision3D export. Version 5.0 adds low-level changes that triple rendering speeds for vector and raster renders on Intel chips. The update also speeds rendering and increases compatibility for Power PC chips. Swift 3D 5.0 adds new rendering textures, views and animations, while upgrading the user interface. It requires Mac OS X 10.2 an above, with minimum requirements of a 400MHz processor and 128MB RAM. Swift 3D 5.0 is available now for $250 with a 15-percent discount available through the month of August with the promotional code SUMMER2008.
Maxon on Tuesday unveiled Cinema 4D Release 11, a major update to its 3D animation suite, introducing an enhanced lighting engine, animation tools, and improved render speeds, among other features. In addition to the aforementioned inclusions, Cinema 4D now offers enhanced compatibility with other industry software, such as the COLLADA file format, and the CineMan Renderman accompaniment. The updated sweet also comes with BodyPaint 3D Release 4, which now includes WACOM tablet support.
e-on software today is previewed Vue 7 at Siggraph in Los Angeles. Vue is a 3D-environment solution, which creates, animates, renders and integrates natural 3D visuals, working with Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage XSI, Maxon Cinema 4D and Newtek LightWave. Vue 7 will feature a third-generation of Vue's EcoSystem technology (for creating nature-based visuals) and Spectral 2 atmospheric engine. Also new is Vue 7's SolidGrowth 4 HD, a new indoor Radiosity engine.
Informatix Software says its Piranesi "3D Painting Technology" tool now works with Luxology's Modo 302. Piranesi gives a hand-rendered look to 3D sculptures, models and images created in Modo 302. Informatix has developed a free EPix plug-in using the Modo SDK, so files can be exported to Piranesi. Luxology says Piranesi is a "good match" with Modo, and welcomed the move. Both applications run on Macs or Windows PCs.
LightWork Design has announced LightWorks 7.9 will debut at next month's SIGGRAPH computer graphics exhibition. The company is also promising a new progressive rendering technology and an update to its LightWorks Studio Edition. LightWorks is a 3D graphics rendering toolset. Version 7.9 adds Ambient Occlusion, which adds ambient lighting features for 3D images. New to v7.9 are Complex Reflective Shaders for generating realistic material effects, including reflectance shaders like Glossy Reflections, Frosted Glass, Enhanced Car Paint and others. There are extended CgFX material effects added to v7.9, as well as refinements to Specular Final Gather that provide faster rendering.
DAZ 3D on Wednesday unveiled the Human Data Acquisition Center, featuring extra textures, bodies, and poses for users of the Victoria 4 Elite model. The HDAC permits users to obtain high-resolution textures that are taken with a proprietary lighting/camera system to ensure that inappropriate shadows are eliminated. Users also have access to a complete set of scan data for body and joint shapes, as well as a collection of scanned poses. Victoria 4 Elite is available for a special price of $75.
Dauger Research has introduced Atom in a Box for the iPhone, a 3D real-time volumetric raytracing iPhone application that visually presents quantum orbitals of a hydrogen atom. Using the iPhone's multitouch interface and accelerometer, the user can reorient and interact visually with the atomic orbital. The software is even able to show the "flow" of the electron around the orbital by presenting the time-evolving phase of the wavefunction as color. Atom in a box is available for $10 at the iPhone Apps Store, for both the iPhone and iPod touch. It requires the iPhone 2.0 software update and is also available as a Mac OS X application.
Bunkspeed has released HyperShot 1.5, an upgrade to its 3D-rendering visualization software. The new version provides performance enhancements that allow interaction between HyperShot and all major 3D solid and surface modeling products. It also adds more realistic photographs rendered faster from 3D models. The software requires an Intel Mac and is available now for $200 (web version - 800x450 realtime resolution), $1000 (HD version - 1920x1080 realtime resolution) and $3500 (Pro version - unlimited realtime resolution).
Ashlar-Vellum is preparing updates to its line of CAD software tools and 3D-tool Grasshopper is progressing towards the Mac platform. Ashlar-Vellum has announced Graphite v8 SP1 Beta, which has new features, and it is about to release Cobalt, Xenon and Argon v8 for PowerPC-based Macs according to Architosh. Also, Grasshopper is coming to Mac OS X, although it may have problems with Microsoft .Net incompatibilities.
A updated rendering application and a new 3D plug-in for Google Sketchup have been announced, according to Architosh, a site for Mac-based architects and CAD/3D professionals. IMSI/Design has unveiled IDX Renditioner, a plug-in for photo-realistic rendering in SketchUp. Architosh is also reporting the release of Maxwell Render 1.7, bringing new features and improved realism to that company’s rendering software.
Kinemac has announced Kinemac 1.6.6 , a bug-fix release of its 3D real-time animation software for Mac OS X. The company says anyone can create professional-level 3-D animations using its software. Kinemac plays animations in real-time in full screen mode, and can export to QuickTime or to a series of still images. The software is designed with TV advertising, movie trailers, video clips and scrolling messages in mind, and retails for $300. It requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher and a graphic card with 128MB VRAM or better.
LightWork Design has taken the wraps of what it says is a "game-changing" rendering solution for developers of 3D design software. The company claims LightWorks SE has the “easiest to use toolkit ever,” and includes pre-configured content settings to simplify complex rendering projects. LightWork says it uses an industry-based approach so the product can be tailored to individual customers.
Braid Art Labs has updated its Groboto 3D imaging software to tease users with a “sneak preview” of the upcoming version 3.0. The company says it will roll out “limited implementations” of several version 3 features in the coming weeks to preview the new release. The software offers intelligent, algorithmic drawing tools called ‘Bots’ that create unique geometric forms ranging from organic, to abstract, to architectural. Bot behaviors, drawing shapes, and textures are adjustable in real-time and users can create and save unlimited Bot variations. The first teaser includes a revamped style editor that adds graphical and paint effects to final rendering, including outline effects, spatial lighting gradients and depth-of-field simulation.
Side Effects Software has released a public beta of Houdini 9.5, its node-based 3D animation software that allows artists to collaborate from different platforms. Houdini has been used in the production of a number of major Hollywood films, including The Chronicles of Narnia, and all three Spider-Man movies, but until now was only available for Windows and Linux. The Mac version requires a 64-bit Intel Mac running Leopard, and is set for final release on July 15.
Spectasia from MATT Services brings fighter pilot technology to the Mac OS Finder to provide intuitive file and folder navigation. The company says it's unique "ergonomic retrieval" 3D layout makes desktop icons easier to spot, increasing productivity. This "Head Up Display" is said to be similar to the screens used in advanced fighter jets and provides a "clearly distinguishable angle-of-view and also depth location for every item."
DAZ Productions has released the full edition of its DAZ Studio 3D Bridge for Photoshop plug-in after a beta period earlier this year. Compatible with Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3, this new plug-in allows DAZ Studio users to automatically apply 3D imagery and artwork to any Photoshop project. The DAZ Studio 3D Bridge for Photoshop allow users to view 3D scenes as Photoshop layers, change objects and figures simultaneously, render directly into Photoshop, import, export and modify image maps and textures onto 3D models in Photoshop, composite 2D and 3D content seamlessly and access DAZ's full library of quality 3D content
Smith Micro on Tuesday announced Poser Pro, which it says is designed for professional content creators within studio and production environments. The software offers advanced features that include scene-hosting plug-ins for popular 3D environments, as well as a 64-bit render engine, COLLADA support and advanced network rendering. Poser Pro offers 3D character design and animation tools that help artists integrate custom and pre-built characters into professional projects and production pipelines; it lets artists fine-tune light, shadow, color and detail on figures, and ships with distributable 3D characters that are specially designed to provide a starting point for scene development, thereby saving production time.
DAZ 3D has released DAZ Hexagon 2.5, the newest version of its popular 3D polygonal and subdivision modeling software. The new release offers a sculpted primitive tool allowing users to model and import 3D objects into Second Life, enhanced UV-mapping and freehand brush modeling, and ambient occlusion. The tool's freehand brush modeling capabilities provide displacement brushes to refine 3D models by smoothing, pinching, and inflating the geometry and adding high-resolution details. A complete UV-mapping module including UV-Unwrap enables 3D artists to easily apply UV-maps on 3D objects. New 3D paint tools allows users to choose from a large choice of predefined textures and apply textures using brushes and imported textures.
For most people, a mouse or trackpad is all they need to choose commands or navigate their way around a user interface. However, for anyone involved in computer-aided design (CAD), architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), geographic information systems (GIS), or any other application that offers a 3D interface, an ordinary mouse or trackpad may be too clumsy to use, requiring multiple clicks just to do a simple task. For those who need a more intuitive way to navigate through 3D interfaces, 3dconnexion offers a mouse specifically designed for laptops, called the SpaceNavigator.
3Dconnexion today unveiled the SpaceNavigator for Notebooks, a new addition to its 3D mouse product line, ideal for mobile 3D professionals. Weighing in at half the weight of its standard SpaceNavigator mouse – around 240 grams – the notebook model gives users a refined cap design to provide more immersive and natural interactions with 3D workspaces. The ruggedly designed SpaceNavigator for Noteooks is available for $130 at many online retailers.
Architosh reports that the Windows-based 3D software package, Houdini, is coming to the Mac OS X platform and Houdini for Mac Beta has been announced. The company is looking for beta testers and to get their Mac version in the hands of as many 3D professionals as possible. The developer says "With the recent redesign of the Houdini user-interface (UI), the program has become much more artist-friendly, claims the company, making it a great fit for the Mac. Apple's switch to Intel processors has also been a factor in developing a native Mac version."
Luxology has announced a modo 302, the newest version of its 3D content creation software. Free for registered modo 301 customers, modo 302 adds new natural lighting capabilities, additional layered Photoshop file support, an animation Track View, new modeling tools and numerous other enhancements. Luxology is also making available the first version of the modo File I/O software development kit (SDK), which allows developers to import or export data directly from modo. modo combines a real-time subdivision surface modeling engine with an artist-focused set of tools.
Demicron recently announced support for the Mac platform by unveiling WireFusion 5 for Mac, its architectural and industrial design software for small and medium sized design firms. According to Architosh,WireFusion allows designers to create realtime 3D visualizations using content imported from Maya, Lightwave 3D or any other application that can export to VRML or X3D file formats. WireFusion 5 is available for $1500 for a standard professional license.
In an unusual turn, Apple has patented a technology for simulated 3D projection, filings from the US Patent and Trademark Office show. Originally submitted in September of 2006, the patent revolves around a screen with an "angularly-responsive" reflective surface, working in tandem with a projector and a secondary device, described as a "3D imager." This component is key, as it is used to gauge the position of observers relative to the screen. As a person shifts their perspective, the system reacts, presenting separate images for left and right eyes.
Cheetah3D 4.5, a new version of the 3D modelling, rendering and animation solution for Apple Mac OS X, was released today. It improves the MacOS X 10.5 (Leopard) compatibility and should solve the last minor problems. The new release also mproves the memory efficiency of the render manager. Now only active render jobs are kept in RAM and finished render jobs are swapped to the hard disk. This also allows the render manager to recover the results of finished rendering jobs if Cheetah3D should crash. In addition, the PDF import has been improved to allow an even better workflow between Illustrator and other applications.
Artlantis has unveiled a preview of Artlantis 2, detailing the 3D rendering application for quick and easy creation of high-quality real-time still images and animations. The software is designed for ease of use with an intuitive interface, boasting full radiosity with global illumination and real sky simulation capability. Artlantis 2 features automatic light adjustment to dynamically balance lighting levels in scenes from dawn to sunset (pricing was unavailable, and a release date is pending).
SeeFile today plans to unveil SeeFile 4.0 at a press release during Macworld. The Web server software enables companies to share media files, and boasts one-click installation with approval features alongside 3D, flash, and RAW support. SeeFile 4 works with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard to offer one step installation with an embedded PostGres SQL database, and includes a new approval workflow designed to increase productivity as well as customer usage. SeeFile is priced from $500-$5,000, while complete bundled server systems running on a Mac mini server (1TB of storage) start at $1,500.
Punch! Software has released ViaCAD Pro for Mac and PC. The news CAD software expands the ViaCAD family and delivers highly functional, low-cost 2D/3D design product for sophisticated, precise, general-purpose design. Positioned as a step up from its $100 entry-level solution, the Pro version gives designers the power to push beyond the boundaries of traditional curve, surface, and solid modeling by including deformation and warping technology which can bend, stretch, twist, and deform NURB bodies independent of design history. Additionally, ViaCAD provides sophisticated modeling features such as: associative NURBS-based surface creation and editing; history & feature based solid modeling, and constant and variable radius blending and chamfering.
Cheetah3D 4.4, a new version of the 3D modelling, rendering and animation solution for Apple Mac OS X, was released today. It improves the MacOS X 10.5 (Leopard) compatibility and should solve the last minor problems. Furthermore Cheetah3D improves binding a skeleton to a mesh. Now it is possible to bind single joints to a mesh which don't build a bone with another joint. Other new features include enhanced OpenGL preview, replaced Sparkle Autoupdate function with new "Check update" function, fixed shear bug, fixed bug in FBX embedded texture export, fixed bug when importing textures, fixed caustic photon number bug and many other small bug fixes and enhancements.
In brief: MacNN has reviewed Need for Speed Carbon as well as AKVIS Chameleon 5, Apple's MacBook took one of the top three sales spots during Amazon.com's holiday season, and 'Toon Santa' is offering free 3D models of Apple's iPhone, iPod, and iMac. MacNN has reviewed Need for Speed Carbon ($40, shown at right), an arcade-style street and canyon racing game that features music from popular artists like electro-clash Ladytron and Australia-based Wolfmother.
Freeverse today released Hordes of Orcs, a new 3D 'tower defense' strategy game featuring wave after wave of successively stronger orcs. Players strive to defend a human village from hungry orcs using walls and lethal towers as they emanate from what the elders call "The Glowing Portal of Really Bad Things That We Should Have Bricked-Up a Long Time Ago." The game is priced at $25, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
Electric Rain today released Swift 3D 5.0 for Mac and Windows systems, enabling users to export to the Papervision3D file format. Papervision3D is an open source 3D engine for Flash that leverages ActionScript 3.0 and the Flash 9 player to draw true 3D and allow for real-time user interaction. Swift 3D 5.0 is priced at $250, with upgrades from previous users available from $80. The application requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.
