Adobe updated its video editing software Premiere Pro for Windows and Mac OS X systems. Version CS5 5.0.2 enhances the Mercury Playback Engine's support for Windows-based NVIDIA GPU cards, adds XD-CAM HD export, Broadcast WAV support, and improves RED workflow with support for the RED Rocket card and latest Color Science. Updates: Premiere Pro CS5 5.0.2 update for retail DVD - Windows / Mac OS X; Premiere Pro CS5 5.0.2 update for electronic downloads - Windows / Mac OS X. [source]

Prime Focus Software, the R&D arm of Prime Focus, announces the release of Krakatoa 1.6, the company's production-proven volumetric particle rendering, manipulation and management toolkit for 3ds Max that creates believable natural phenomena like dust, smoke, silt, ocean surface foam, plasma and even solid objects. Version 1.6 features improved performance; a dedicated Shadow Generator, compatible with other 3ds Max renderers; advanced FumeFX conversion to particles workflow and support for FumeFX 2.0 and Thinking Particles 4; support for dedicated render elements that utilize the 3ds Max Render Elements management system; and more. The price of one standard bundle of Krakatoa including one workstation and two render nodes is listed at $995 US plus $248.75 US for the first year of support and upgrades. An evaluation version can be downloaded from this location. [source]

Propellerhead Software released for sale worldwide the biggest overhaul to its Record - Reason music creation application family to date. These highly anticipated upgrades introduce new instruments, effects, sequencing, sounds, patches and more for composing, beatmaking, loop-mangling, vocal treatment, songwriting, remixing and music production. For more information on new features, watch the following video demos: Introducing Kong Drum Designer (Reason); Dr. REX octuples into Dr. Octo Rex Loop Player (Reason); New Neptune Pitch Adjuster and Voice Synth Device (Record); Block based pattern sequencing mode (Reason, Record); Expanded Factory Sound Bank with Signature patches (Reason); Live sampling (Reason)... All full versions and upgrades are available now (Propellerhead's online store), full versions of Reason are 305 EUR / $349 US; Record costs 279 EUR / $299 US, bundle of both is 405 EUR / $449 US. Record 1.5 Upgrade is offered free of charge, while Reason 5 Upgrade from any version is priced at 99 EUR / $129 US. Record for Reason Owners Sidegrade (includes Reason 5 upgrade) costs 149 EUR / $169 US. Updates and demo version are available here. [source]

Adobe released several updates to its Acrobat Pro, Acrobat 3D, and Adobe Reader applications. The updates "address critical security vulnerabilities while providing more overall stability." New versions: Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 Pro Extended f. Windows; Adobe Acrobat 3D 8.2.4 f. Windows; Adobe Reader 8.2.4 f. Windows; Adobe Reader 8.2.4 f. Mac OS X Intel; Adobe Reader 8.2.4 f. Mac OS X; Adobe Acrobat 8.2.4 Professional and Standard f. Windows; Adobe Acrobat 8.2.4 Professional f. Mac OS X; Adobe Reader 9.3.4 f. Windows; Adobe Reader MUI 9.3.4 f. Windows; Adobe Reader 9.3.4 f. Unix; Adobe Reader 9.3.4 f. Mac OS X Intel; Adobe Reader 9.3.4 f. Mac OS X; Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 Pro f. Mac OS X. [source]

New update for Adobe's flagship DTP software InDesign provides key fixes in the areas of Documents, Export Graphics, Text, UI, PDF Export, and Architecture. For a full list of resolved issues, read the Adobe InDesign CS5 7.0.2 Release Notes. Downloads: InDesign CS5 7.0.2 for Windows; InDesign CS5 7.0.2 for Mac OS X; InCopy CS5 7.0.2 for Windows; InCopy CS5 7.0.2 for Mac OS X. [source]

Adobe released an update to its flagship vector illustration software Illustrator CS5. Version 15.0.1 fixes out of memory problems specific to Macs with RAM exceeding 4 GB, including failure of shortcut keys, rulers, or file open operations; Glyph Panel issues; crashes occurring at launch or quit; and various other problems. Visit following links for downloads of: Windows version; Mac OS X version. [source]

Pixologic, Inc. released the long-awaited fourth version of ZBrush, company's flagship digital sculpting and painting software for Windows and Mac OS X systems. For more information on features, read our previous announcements. All current ZBrush license holders are entitled to a free upgrade to ZBrush 4.0, regardless of when they purchased ZBrush. In addition to the usual backup CD option, Pixologic is also offering a limited 10th Anniversary Special Edition package of ZBrush 4.0 and - for a limited period (till 9th Sept., 2010) - Pixologic is offering ZBrush 4.0 downloadable licenses with optional Special Edition packaging at the existing purchase price of $595 US per license. After that date, regular pricing incl. Special Edition packaging will be $699 US per license. [source]

Prime Focus Software, the R&D arm of Prime Focus studio, announced the release of Deadline 4.1, the latest version of its easy-to-use administration and rendering toolkit for Windows, Linux and Mac OSX-based render farms. This release features several new features and performance enhancements, including speed improvements; enhanced interface; simplified power management configuration, as well as new software support (After Effects CS5, Arnold Standalone, LightWave 3D 10, RVIO, and RealFlow 5). Deadline Software is available for a list price starting at $140 US per render node for the first 25 licenses, prices drop per unit with increased volume. Prime Focus Software also released Deadline Mobile, a free download from the App Store on iPhone or at iTunes Store. Deadline Mobile is compatible with Deadline 4.1 and lets users remotely monitor Deadline jobs from anywhere. [source]

British visual effects software developer The Foundry released new versions of its compositing system NUKE and OCULA plug-in. NUKE 6.1 adds many new features and enhancements: Ulitimatte keyer; enhanced 3D and Roto & Paint systems; FBX export of cameras, point clouds, lights, axis, geometry; RED 3.1 codec support; OpenFX 1.2 support; and more. Mac OS X support will be added with NUKE 6.1v2, slated for release in the upcoming weeks.

The Foundry also announced a new release of OCULA - their unique collection of NUKE plug-ins that address common problems experienced with stereoscopic imagery in post production. OCULA 2.1 delivers significant improvements to workflow and robustness: better ColourMatcher, allowing for the reliable correction of serious localised colour differences introduced by the polarising effects in mirror and prism rigs; DisparityGenerator now generates higher-quality disparity maps; the VerticalAligner tool, used for the correction of misaligned plates, can now also correct existing 3D camera solves at the same time as performing the image correction and the Solver tool; and more. [source]

The popular Open Source 3D software Blender has been updated to version 2.53 Beta. This first official 2.5 beta build brings faster and more stable sculpting functionality, and a lot of bug fixes... Download the new version here. Read our previous article for more information on new 2.5 features. [source]