Electric Rain's Swift 3D plug-in for 3ds Max, designed to render 3D scenes as high-quality, low-bandwidth vector or raster Adobe Flash animations, has been updated to V4. Powered by the RAViX 4 vector rendering technology, Swift 3D MAX offers superior integration with Flash and unrivaled vector, raster, video, and real-time Flash 3D output. This release introduces support for 3ds Max 2010 in both 32- and 64-bit versions, as well as support for new export file types, including Flash CS5 new .FLA and .XFL; Silverlight and WPF XAML export; Papervision 3D v2 & Collada .DAE; QuickTime MOV, AVI, & FLV; and more. Swift 3D MAX v4 retails for $295 US, with upgrades priced at $149 US. The trial version was not available at press time. [source]

German audio software veterans Native Instruments announced ALICIA'S KEYS, a new software instrument that recreates Alicia Keys' personal grand piano with outstanding authenticity and playability. Developed in close collaboration with the Grammy-winning artist, the software is used as the primary instrument on her new album and on the current world tour. Designed as a comprehensive digital recreation of Alicia Key's own custom Yamaha "C3 Neo" grand piano, and based on Native Instruments' KONTAKT 4 sampler platform, ALICIA'S KEYS was meticulously recorded in Alicia's personal studio by her engineer Ann Mincieli and renowned sampling expert Thomas Scarbee over the course of two years, using vintage microphones and high-end outboard studio gear. The instrument utilizes 17 GB of high-resolution samples with 12 discrete velocity layers per note, and sophisticated emulation of crucial sonic aspects like key release, sustain pedal functionality and sympathetic resonance. For more information, watch the exclusive Alicia Keys video, and listen to the sound samples. ALICIA'S KEYS will be available as a stand-alone application, and as a VST, Audio Units, and RTAS (Pro Tools 7 or higher) plug-in running on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. It's slated for release in April 2010 for a suggested retail price of $119 US / 99 EUR. [source]

Wacom introduced Cintiq 21UX, its newly-redesigned interactive pen display delivering state-of-the-art pen performance and innovative ergonomics in a color-accurate LCD display. Designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of professional photographers, designers, artists and animators, the new Cintiq 21UX comes with new pen performance, offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity; rear-mounted Touch Strips that are ideally placed for fingertip access while working; all-black color scheme; customizable, application-specific ExpressKeys; and a patented stand that allows to recline the pen display at any angle between 10 degrees and 65 degrees to match the users ideal working posture. In addition to reclining, the Cintiq 21UX can be rotated up to 180 degrees in either direction or removed from its stand for use on a table top. The new Cintiq 21UX (DTK-2100) priced at $1999 US is intended to begin shipping in the United States, Canada and the majority of Latin America countries in late March or early April. Consult your local electronics retailer or visit wacom.com for the most current information. [source]

Matrox Video Products Group started shipping Matrox Convert DVI, an SD/HD-SDI scan converter with high-end features priced under $1000 US. Matrox Convert DVI lets broadcasters easily and economically take the computer-based content to air and is ideal for creating broadcast video from computer applications such as Skype, YouTube, Google Earth, video games, and web browser sessions, as well as citizen journalists' mobile phone videos (more). For initial configuration, Matrox Convert DVI needs a Windows-based workstation. Priced at $995 US (649 GBP, 799 EUR) not including local taxes, Matrox Convert DVI is now available through a worldwide network of authorized dealers. [source]

Native Instruments has introduced SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYS, a new set of software instruments that provide highly expressive and authentic renditions of the most legendary electric pianos, for use in KONTAKT 4 and the free KONTAKT PLAYER (as a stand-alone application or as VST, Audio Units and as RTAS plug-ins). SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYS features the most revered electric pianos of the 60s and 70s, dubbed MARK I, A-200, CLAVINET and PIANET, all based on carefully recorded 24-bit sample material. The instruments utilize up to 16 velocity layers per key as well as special "Horizontal Release Technology" to recreate the complex dynamic behavior of each instrument with maximum precision and authenticity. Each instrument also offers an integrated multi-effect section with up to 10 classic effect types, including phaser, chorus, reverb and various other effect types, which add further depth and variety to the vintage electric piano tones. SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYS is available in DVD format in the NI Online Shop for $169 US / 149 EUR. The individual instruments are available for download purchase for $79 US / 69 EUR. [source]

At the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters show (from April 10-15, 2010 in Las Vegas), digital media content production tools developer Vizrt will showcase Viz Trio One-Box - the latest version of its Viz Trio real-time 3D graphics and animation system. Viz Trio allows artists and operators to deliver creative and visually complex graphical presentations that enhance live sports, news, and specials. Viz Trio previously required two standard desktop PCs to operate - one for Trio client and one for its powerful companion renderer Viz Engine. With Viz Trio One-Box, Viz Trio as well as the latest Viz Engine, runs on a single PC with two graphics cards on-board. Viz Trio One-Box will be the standard configuration for all future Viz Trio systems. [source]

Adobe Photoshop, the leading image creation and manipulation software that redefined creativity in the digital age, turned 20! For more information, see the "Photoshop 20th Anniversary" documentary where the founders of Adobe Photoshop - John Knoll, Thomas Knoll, Russell Brown, and Steve Guttman - tell the story of how it all begun. Over its 20-year history, Photoshop has evolved significantly from a simple original display program to a wildly popular application that has over 10 million users worldwide. With each release, Adobe has introduced technological innovations that defy the impossible. Layers, introduced in Photoshop 3.0, gave designers the ability to create complex compositions easier than ever before. The Healing Brush, another groundbreaking feature introduced in Photoshop 7.0, allowed users to retouch images by seamlessly removing blemishes and wrinkles, while preserving lighting and texture. Photoshop tools like crop, eraser, blur and dodge and burn have become part of the creative vernacular worldwide... [source]

Belgian audio software developer Image Line Software unveiled Drumaxx, a percussion modeling instrument that gives total control of 16 physically modeled drums. Drumaxx includes 130 drumkits, 900 drum patches, 200 drum patterns, integrated effects, MIDI learn functionality, integrated Stepsequencer with trigger-key playback, an more. The plug-in is compatible with VSTi 2.4 (Windows / Mac OS X), Audio Units (Mac OS X) and FL Studio native formats. Drumaxx is currently launched with the pay what you think it's worth system, and until the 31st of March you can pay a minimum of 9 EUR to cover our costs. Download the unlockable demo from the Drumaxx Web page to see it in action. [source]

Ken Pimentel, director of Visual Communication Solutions within Autodesk's Media & Entertainment division, and author of the 'Maxed Out' blog, published several 'sneak peek' videos demonstrating developments that are part of Autodesk's 3ds Max Excalibur initiative (more). Available videos: Faster, simpler, easier UI: Caddies, Object painting in 3ds Max?, What could have created this video? (Quicksilver rendering). [source]

Pixologic, makers of the popular 3D sculpting and painting software ZBrush, presents UV Master. UV Master is a plug-in for ZBrush 3.2 (Mac OS) and ZBrush 3.5R3 (Windows) designed to help create high quality and artist-friendly UV maps. UV Master will unwrap UVs in a way that's easily understood by the human eye and without texture distortion, it's fast, and produces clean results. See a video and feature list on zbrushcentral.com. UV Master is available free of charge for all registered ZBrush users. [source]