DOF PRO v4.0.28
[permalink] 19.02.2009
Richard Rosenman Advertising and Design released an updated version of its Photoshop-compliant, Windows-only depth of field simulator DOF PRO. DOF PRO can use a specified depth map to derive an accurate DOF effect as well as facilitate the creation of an arbitrary depth map out of photographs via its powerful gradient features. For the creation of 'Bokeh' effects, DOF PRO also takes into consideration many real-world parameters, like lens size, subject distance, aperture shape, lens curvature, film grain, spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, lens asymmetry, transparency, light refraction, motion blur and more. Version 4.0.28 adds multithreading, realistic spherical and chromatic lenticular aberrations, sophisticated "Cat's Eye" aperture lens implementation, hundreds of new code fixes, improvements and updates, and other new features. DOF PRO costs $99.99 US per license, its free demo version (which is unable to apply the filter to your images) can be downloaded here. [source]
www.dofpro.com

RE:Vision Effects adds Final Cut Express support for DE:Noise FxPlug
[permalink] 09.02.2009
RE:Vision Effects expanded support of its DE:Noise FxPlug plug-in set for FCP and Motion to include Final Cut Express. DE:Noise removes excessive noise and artifacts in one easy-to-use tool combining proprietary motion estimation (optical flow) techniques with feature-sensitive, edge-preserving spatial filtering methods to reduce the visual impact of various problems such as: noisy video, excessive film grain, pre-filtering noisy green screens before keying, ray-tracing sampling artifacts, dust and many other defects. DE:Noise FxPlug v1.1 is available as an FxPlug plug-in for Final Cut Express 4.0.1, Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, Motion 3.0.1 and up. Version 1.1 also fixes some issues with non-full alpha layers and interlaced footage (more). DOwnload the update here. DE:Noise (FxPlug version) is priced at $149.95 US. [source]
www.revisionfx.com

Waves with Pro Tools 8 support
[permalink] 04.02.2009
Audio plug-in developer Waves updated its entire V6 product line to support Pro Tools 8. This includes support for Waves Surround plug-ins under PT LE and PT Complete Production Toolkit. Get the new V6.0.8 installers here (Waves Account login required.) [source]
www.wavesupport.net

QuarkXPress 8.02 updater
[permalink] 03.02.2009
Quark Inc. released the QuarkXPress 8.02 update, available immediately to existing customers for download and as a free 60-day demo. The release improves the installation experience, adds user interface localization for five additional languages, and addresses the most important issues reported by customers (more). In addition, this release adds support for the latest updates from Pantone - PANTONE Goe color libraries. [source]
www.quark.com

Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 reaches Release Candidate status
[permalink] 02.02.2009
Adobe released RC versions of its upcoming Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 and Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 5.3 applications. You can download both new releases from Adobe Labs Web site (direct downloads: Lightroom 2.3 RC for Mac OS X [67MB]; Lightroom 2.3 RC for Windows [131MB]; Camera Raw 5.3 plug-in for Mac OS [43MB]; Camera Raw 5.3 for Windows [75MB].) Lightroom 2.3 addresses several bugs and provide additional camera raw support (Nikon D3X and Olympus E-30.) [source]
labs.adobe.com

Nuke reaches version 5.1v3
[permalink] 02.02.2009
The Foundry updated its high-end video-compositing suite Nuke. Version 5.1v3 is a maintenance release to increase rendering performance (more). Existing customers on support and maintenance contracts will not need a license key to run this update (download the update here, including the new Personal Learning Edition.) Also released were Furnace 4.1v2, Keylight 2.1v3 and Ocula 1.0v2 plug-ins for Nuke. These are maintenance releases fixing an instability bug on Mac OS X and Linux64 due to a FLEXlm library. [source]
www.thefoundry.co.uk

Autodesk updates Mudbox 2009
[permalink] 29.01.2009
Autodesk updated its digital sculpting application Mudbox 2009. Service Pack 1 includes expanded graphics cards support, new memory management for multiple textures, merge and reorder 3D paint layers, non-filtered texture display, and full ambient occlusion texture baking. For more information on new features, see the Readme PDF, as well as What's New and Release Notes on-line documents. The update is available free of charge to all registered users (direct downloads: Windows 64-bit [160MB], and Windows 32-bit [155MB].) [source]
www.autodesk.com

The Foundry returns to Autodesk Sparks development
[permalink] 28.01.2009
The Foundry announced that, under an exclusive arrangement with Autodesk, it can once again offer support on its Autodesk Sparks range. The Foundry had previously been winding down support and development for plug-ins on Autodesk System products following Autodesk's termination of their Authorised Developer Network programme membership at the end of 2008 (more). Thus, the Autodesk Plug-In price reduction will continue until February 14 when prices will revert to normal. All products purchased during the price-cut will be fully supported. [source]
www.thefoundry.co.uk

Flatiron for 3ds Max updated to v1.01
[permalink] 22.01.2009
Recently released (more) Flatiron 1.0 plug-in for Autodesk 3ds Max has been updated to v1.01. Flatiron is a texture baking plug-in capable of handling multiple objects at once producing a high quality UV map thanks to the 3d-io's proven UV-unwrapping Unwrella Technology. It features automatic functionality, optimal packing of UV chunks; previewing using 'Add Shell Material' or in-place 'Overwrite material' modes, and more. Version 1.01 fixes some known issues and adds "the option to add the map with a composite texture map into the selected map slot to utilize the powerful features of the new composite map in 3ds max 2009." For more information, watch the 'Capabilities and Workflow' video or download the software here (automatically activated Trial license is limited to texture resolution of 1024 x 1024 and can only be started 30 times.) Available for 3ds Max 9 - 2009 (32- and 64-bit version) at an MSRP of 199 EUR ex. VAT. [source]
www.3d-plugin.com

ShaderFX for Max reaches v3.0
[permalink] 22.01.2009
Lumonix released an updated version 3 of its ShaderFX plug-in for 3ds Max. Shader FX is a full-featured real-time shader editor for 3ds Max allowing artists with no previous programming experience to build complex HLSL or CgFX shaders for use in Max's viewport and in external game engines. Version 3.0 adds several bug fixes as well as new features: Maya CgFX export support; Shadow node (enables shadows for all materials); Vertex Shader support; optimized schematic performance; improved Text/Label/Font quality Collapsed nodes can now show a bitmap; and more. It is a free upgrade for existing license owners (more) with full licenses costing $249 US. A limited demo version (8 nodes only, shader layout saving disabled) can be requested here. Lumonix has also posted several introduction videos to YouTube. [source]
www.lumonix.biz