RayFire Tool for 3ds Max updated to v1.45
[permalink] 02.07.2009
Mir Vadim released a new version of RayFire Tool, a 3ds Max (9, 2008, 2009 and 2010) plug-in that "gives you the ability to shoot, destroy, demolish, wreck, break down, wreak havoc, blow up, burst, detonate, explode and do other similar things you have always dreamed of to do in Max." Version 1.45 adds several bug fixes and new features, e.g. Glue (allows you to glue objects together and break connection between them during simulation); Deformable / Pointcached objects support; Bake Group tool (explode group and bake animation for objects in a group) and more. Mir Vadim's Video Tutorials page hosts two new videos demonstrating the Glue and Deformable Objects functionality... Free for registered users or $285 US for new customers. [source]
www.mirvadim.com

Genetica 3.5 revealed
[permalink] 02.07.2009
Spiral Graphics Inc. has revealed Genetica 3.5, a new version of its Windows-only seamless texture, animation, and HDRI environment map editor. Version 3.5 adds texture synthesis to its arsenal of features. This technology, which creates seamless textures from photographic sources, allows artists to achieve photorealistic results easily, while still affording them a vast range of creative options for controlling the texture generation process. The entire process is non-destructive, allowing artists to tweak any past decision and see the result in seconds. Other new capabilities include texture bombing, and an innovative way to remove unwanted perspective and distortion from texture photos. See this page for more information on new features. The upgrade also introduces a reworked multi-core rendering engine that will bring significant speed improvements. Genetica 3.5 is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2009 as a free update to licensed users of Genetica 3.0. It can also be pre-ordered now for a 25% discount. [source]
www.spiralgraphics.biz

REFLECT 2.0 with new RealIR Engine
[permalink] 02.07.2009
German audio plug-in developer VirSyn Software Synthesizer released REFLECT 2.0, an updated version of its algorithmic reverb effect. Version 2.0 comes with a new RealIR Engine using direct convolution of the critical early reflections without compromising the flexibility of the algorithmic reverb tail generation. The resulting density and smoothness rivals those of the most expensive hardware reverbs. REFLECT is also able to import reflections from impulse response files, create surround reverbs and features an easy-to-use interface and a 4-band equalizer. Compatible with VST 3 / 2.4, Audio Units and RTAS hosts Windows and Mac OS X platforms. The download version (minus the Syncrosoft Dongle) costs 169 EUR, fully working demo version is available here (requires registration and the aforementioned dongle). [source]
www.virsyn.de

Mozilla releases Firefox 3.5
[permalink] 02.07.2009
Mozilla, a public-benefit organization dedicated to promoting choice and innovation on the Internet, released Firefox 3.5, a major update to its popular, free and Open Source Web browser. Coming one year after the launch of the critically acclaimed Firefox 3, Firefox 3.5 introduces cutting-edge features, as well as new support for a wide variety of Web standards. It delivers radically improved JavaScript performance, a new Private Browsing mode, native support for open video and audio, and Location Aware Browsing. The newest version of Firefox is more than two times faster than Firefox 3 and ten times faster than Firefox 2 on complex websites (more). Mozilla Firefox 3.5 is available now for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X operating systems as a free download. [source]
www.mozilla.com

MU.LAB updated to v2.6
[permalink] 30.06.2009
MU.LAB, a user-friendly music creation application for Windows and Mac OS X, has been updated to version 2.6. It feattures numerous fixes and new features, including the "MIDI Input Targets" panel a multi-channel MIDI keyboard workflow, as well as new Note Modifier and Event Channel Splitter plug-ins. MU.LAB comes in 2 flavors - MU.LAB Free (free to everyone, with 6 track limit and 16-bit mix-down only) and MU.LAB Unlimited (49 EUR with free updates for one year). [source]
www.mutools.com

UAD platform: 30,000 users worldwide!
[permalink] 30.06.2009
Universal Audio, manufacturer of hardware and software for the music industry, announced that its UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform has surpassed 30,000 users worldwide. This makes UAD the second-largest audio plug-in processing platform in the world (second only to Digidesign's TDM). Universal Audio is also expanding its award-winning UAD platform to laptop users with the release of the UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop, a compact ExpressCard-based DSP Accelerator, now shipping worldwide at an MSRP of $499 US. Like all UAD-2 hardware, the SOLO/Laptop supports VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats on both Mac and PC. [source]
www.uaudio.com

Toon Boom Studio 5 with stop-motion tools
[permalink] 26.06.2009
Toon Boom Animation Inc. released Toon Boom Studio 5 - now completely rebranded and positioned as the multi-technique animation software for learning and creating animation. With its new stop-motion animation capability, Studio 5 is the ideal tool for becoming familiar with the main styles of animation, including stop-motion, traditional, digital, cut-out and rotoscoping or combining them for greater creativity. In addition, its simplified user interface makes it ideal for hobbyists, educators and students, to discover the various methods of animation creation and unleash their creative potential (more). Toon Boom Studio for Mac OS X and for Windows XP Vista / Tablet PC platforms is ready to ship now from the Toon Boom Store. at a special launch price of $349.99 US, instead of $399.99 (valid until July 8, 2009). Customers who purchased Toon Boom Studio as of May 1, 2009, will receive a version 5 key by email. [source]
www.toonboom.com

mocha shape for Final Cut
[permalink] 26.06.2009
Imagineer Systems announced mocha shape for Final Cut, a plug-in designed to import rotoscoping shape data into Final Cut. mocha shape enables Final Cut Pro users to easily import multi-layer shape data with variable, per point edge feathering. This new development significantly saves render time and improves the workflow between Imagineer's mocha family of desktop VFX products and Final Cut Pro. The Company also announced a series of new product updates to its entire mocha family of desktop planar tracking tools, as well as to motor, its desktop roto station: mocha for Final Cut v2 (now exports to mocha shape for Final Cut), mocha v1.5 (now exports roto shapes to mocha shape for Final Cut and mocha shape for After Effects) and motor v1.5 (exports roto shapes to mocha shape for Final Cut and mocha shape for After Effects). All aforementioned applications are available immediately and are priced as follows: mocha shape for Final Cut: $99 US; mocha for Final Cut v2: $199 US; mocha v1.5 (full version): $995 US; and motor v1.5: $495. [source]
www.imagineersystems.com

Maya breathes life into "Little Krishna"
[permalink] 24.06.2009
Autodesk announced that one of India's leading animation studios - BIG Animation, a Reliance ADAG Company - used Autodesk Maya software to animate the magical worlds of the new "Little Krishna" animated series. The company relied on the Autodesk Smoke and Autodesk Flame systems for finishing and final output of the 13-episode program. "Little Krishna" is a joint production between The India Heritage Foundation and BIG Animation, and marks the first time that Nick International (Nickelodeon) has acquired a series produced in India. "Maya software's flexible architecture enabled us to overcome the challenges posed by large amounts of facial animation, secondary cloth and jewelry animation, and complex particle and environmental simulations such as water, fire and tornadoes," explained Ashish SK, CEO of BIG Animation. "We used Maya nCloth for clothing and the new Maya Muscle system for character rigging. The Geometry Point Cache system also helped reduce time and errors, and allowed lighting artists to work with files that already had surface data incorporated into animations. Python scripting opened up a new level of interactivity, letting us script and develop our own crowd simulation tools." BIG Animation completed the series in three and a half years. In this time, the team grew from 45 to 280 people. The series debuted on the Nick Channel in May 2009 and is currently one of the two top-rated children's programs in India. [source]
www.autodesk.com

Adobe publishes new book on After Effects and Flash
[permalink] 24.06.2009
Adobe Press published free sample chapters from its recently released book 'After Effects for Flash - Flash for After Effects: Dynamic Animation and Video with Adobe After Effects CS4 and Adobe Flash CS4 Professional' (ISBN-10: 0-321-60607-8, $49.49 US) by Richard Harrington and Marcus Geduld. Read the chapters to learn about: Searchable Video in Flash (excerpt), After Effects Essentials for Flash Users and Flash Essentials for After Effects Users. [source]
www.adobepress.com