Nuke 5.1v2 released
[permalink] 11.09.2008
High-end video-compositing system Nuke, now developed by British VFX plug-in experts The Foundry, has reached version 5.1v2. New features include a Personal Learning Edition (PLE), native support of 64-bit Windows and Linux systems, FBX compatibility, an extended bicubic card providing more control over shape, as well as improved DPX I/O, updated QuickTime export, tiled OFX support to speed up render time, and numerous bug fixes. Nuke 5.1 is available now and is featured on The Foundry stand at IBC 2008. Download the PLE version (for Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X) here.
Also announced were redesigned Tinderbox 1, 2 & 3 plug-in sets for Nuke (now containing over 60 plug-ins in total), and brand new Ocula for Nuke, filters designed to make compositing in stereo easier. [source]
www.thefoundry.co.uk

Lustre 2009 with stereoscopic tools and workflow enhancements
[permalink] 09.09.2008
Autodesk announced the Autodesk Lustre 2009, new version of company's 2K/4K digital color grading and color correction system and Autodesk Incinerator 2009, the real-time system accelerator for Lustre. Running on a new high-performance platform, Lustre 2009 offers numerous features that improve the color grading workflow, including: stereoscopic grading; intuitive project management; integrated audio input, output and playback; multi-layer timeline shot prioritization; timeline A/C mode sorting; customizable sensitivity settings for the Autodesk Control Surface; and enhanced interoperability with the Autodesk Flame, Inferno, Flint and Smoke visual effects and finishing systems (more; Lustre Brochure; Workflow Brochure).
Autodesk Incinerator 2009 offers the same creative toolset as Lustre, with enhanced performance that is made possible through state-of-the-art parallel processing technology enabling real-time color grading for the most demanding digital-intermediate feature film projects. Autodesk anticipates that Lustre 2009 will be available in October 2008 for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Microsoft Windows XP operating systems and that Incinerator 2009 will be available simultaneously for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. [source]
www.autodesk.com

Final Effects Complete 5 Sparks now available
[permalink] 09.09.2008
Boris FX released Final Effects Complete 5 Sparks, a FEC 5 version that is compatible with 64-bit Linux-based Autodesk Flint, Flame, Inferno, and Smoke visual effects systems. The set contains 100+ filters including specialized particle systems for rain, snow, and hair effects; eye-catching effects such as Mr. Mercury, Mr. Smoothie, and Ball Action; auto-animated transitions such as Glass Wipe, Blur Dissolve, and Light Wipe; and many organic warps and distortions (see the full Filter Gallery). Available immediately through the Boris FX worldwide reseller channel and direct from the Boris FX Web for an MSRP of $1995 US. The first 50 customers to purchase the package will receive a 50% discount, paying just $997.50 US. Customers may test-drive FEC 5 Sparks by downloading a 60-day Trial Version from borisfx.com (requires registration). [source]
www.borisfx.com

Lensfeed for After Effects v1.02
[permalink] 09.09.2008
German visual effects plug-in developer frischluft.com updated its Lensfeed application, designed to show a camera's live preview inside After Effects. Version 1.02 features internal restructuring, float color support and better multithreading optimization. Lensfeed for After Effects is currently Windows-only, and costs $199 US. Its demonstration version can be downloaded at this location. [source]
www.frischluft.com/

Adobe CS4 coming on September 23rd?
[permalink] 09.09.2008
Adobe.com Web site informed that Creative Suite 4 announcement will happen on 23rd of September, 2008. Register here to see the broadcast (at 1 pm Eastern time). A bit more news on the upcoming version of Photoshop (and CS4 technologies in general) can be seen in this Photoshop World presentation (showing GPU accelerated effects; real-time canvas rotation and brush resizing; anaglyph stereo imaging; 3D painting; and content-aware image resizing.) [source]
www.adobe.com

Universal Audio revamps its UAD line
[permalink] 05.09.2008
Pro-audio software and hardware specialist Universal Audio announced the UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins & PCIe DSP Accelerator Card for DAWs. The UAD-2 is the successor to the award-winning UAD-1 platform, and offers scalable DSP power via 3 different types of cards (Solo, Duo or Quad) which can be mixed or matched in any combination up to 4 cards. UAD-2 is 2.5x (Solo), 5x (Duo) and 10x (Quad) faster compared to its predecessor and is now shipping in 9 different hardware/software bundles ranging in street price from $499 US (UAD-2 SOLO) to $1999 US (UAD-2 Nevana 128). [source]
www.uaudio.com

AKVIS Enhancer 9.5 supports EXIF metadata
[permalink] 05.09.2008
AKVIS Software Inc. released a version 9.5 of its photo-manipulation application AKVIS Enhancer. The software is designed to improve detail in underexposed, overexposed, and mid tone areas of a photo, and its latest version adds support for EXIF metadata... It can be run stand-alone or as a plug-in within Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements applications on Windows and Mac OS X systems. V9.5 is a free upgrade for all registered users. If you do not own a license, you can test drive it for a period of 10 days. [source]
www.akvis.com

NewTek redesigns its LightWave 3D web site
[permalink] 05.09.2008
NewTek announced a redesigned version of its LightWave 3D web site, which now includes all new LightWave v9.5 content and imagery, including SIGGRAPH 2008 video demonstrations, and all-CSS, multi-browser accessibility. [source]
www.newtek.com

ZBrush 3.12 for Mac Intel announced!
[permalink] 05.09.2008
Pixologic, Inc. announced the Mac OS X / Intel version of its digital sculpting application ZBrush 3. According to this announcement, ZBrush 3.12 for Mac OS X will ship on Monday, September 29, 2008 for a price of $595 US! All registered users of the current version, including those who purchase between now and the release of ZBrush 3.12, will receive the new version as a free upgrade (register here). [source]
www.zbrush.com

Sapphire plug-ins join the OpenFX family
[permalink] 05.09.2008
GenArts, Inc. announced the immediate availability of Sapphire Plug-ins for OFX products. More than 200 award-winning Sapphire effects are now available to users of a growing list of popular post-production platforms supporting the OpenFX standard, including products from Autodesk, The Foundry, eyeon, FilmLight, Digital Vision and Assimilate. Sapphire Plug-ins v1 for OFX products includes the full range of effects, features and functionality already standard for other supported hosts including v2 for After Effects and Compatible products, v2 for Apple FxPlug and v4 for Autodesk systems. Support for floating licenses and background render nodes is also included. The suite supports 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows and Linux systems, as well as Mac OS X workstations with Intel & PowerPC CPUs. Prices for Nuke, Toxik, and Fusion are $1995 US, $2495 US, or $295 US for node-locked, floating, or render licenses respectively, and prices for Baselight, Film Master, and Scratch are $3995 US, $4995 US, or $595 US for the same license options. A free trial of the software is available on-line at genarts.com. [source]
www.genarts.com