The newest version of RayFire will support an interesting “Stick to Mouse” feature that will make it much simpler to distribute and destroy fragments. The new demo video shows interactively spreading a fractured object across a street, and then interactively flinging pieces against objects watching them shatter realistically.
A new plugin for Autodesk SoftImage adds in some much improved simulation and physics simulation support. Created by Exocortex Technologies, the Momentum Software v3 adds fracturing, quality rendering, and offline plot support.
The new fracture engine was developed from the ground up by well-known DCC developer Helge Mathee. It is designed around providing Softimage artists with full control over where and when objects will fracture. The fracturing engine supports dynamic collision-based fracturing, static user-specified pre-fracturing, real-time shatter filtering as well as self-shattering. The process of fracturing as well as the results are both controlled and queryable via Softimage ICE (Interactive Creative Environment) nodes.
The results are impressive. Check out their demo trailer below.
Exocortex Momentum 3.0 Release Trailer from helge mathee on Vimeo.
via GraphicSpeak » Exocortex updates Momentum multi-physics engine for Softimage.
Russian company YUVsoft has a new After Effects plugin that can analyze video footage to create dynamic depth maps, making 2D to 3D conversion faster and more accurate.
YUVsoft’s Depth from Motion uses multiparameter projective transformations to analyse camera motion ensuring that zoom, scene rotation and camera pans are correctly processed.Slow motion scenes are automatically detected the process continue to work flawlessly.
The first picture above is from a 2D input sequence. The second one shows the final depth map created from camera motion during the shot. To reach that result, several steps are needed. The first step is to estimate motion from the first four frames and to use the obtained motion vectors to compute the camera motion parameters.
The plugin will be demonstrated at IBC later this week (Booth 11.F74).
Over on YouTube, you can see some great videos of the new RayFire. In particular, they have some fantastic examples of the new Dynamic feature in action.
Cinema4D users may want to check out the latest version of the Solidchamfer plugin which adds a new feature or two and generally improves the whole process.
I’m working on the next version of my Solidchamfer plugin, and I’d like to show you some of my progress. The most important new feature is a “subdivision” option, which allow you to get smooth rounded edges on your objects, without using hypernurbs.
If you’ve upgraded to the new 3dsMax 2012, you might want to try out this great plugin that helps build image-based lighting maps.
IBL Optimizer V1 allows you to use Images Based Lighting at 3dsmax2012 to composite real HDRI´s with Computer generated Objects.
A wealth of options and some impressive results..
Announced back at SIGGRAPH, E-On software has just released Carbon Scatter for 3dsMax. Combining their digital nature systems with instancing plugins, you can now create massive populations in your scenes with just a few button clicks.
Carbon Scatter is the easiest and most straightforward solution for creating complex and detailed populations using the native instancing technologies of 3ds Max. Versions of Carbon Scatter for Maya and Cinema4D* will be available shortly (an Open Beta will be released in the coming weeks).Carbon Scatter integrates e-on’s patented EcoSystem™ algorithms directly inside the end user’s favorite 3D application, allowing the population of native scenes with millions of instances and rendering them with the user’s renderer of choice.*Versions for Softimage and LightWave are under consideration.
Key features include automated “smart” scattering, painting, and many ecosystem controls. It’s available for Windows systems now for $195 to $395, depending on features.
Get the full details, after the break.
Read more…
Stereoscopic Camera Rig in Nuke from torsten neuendorf on Vimeo.
Over on Vimeo, Torsten Neuendorf has posted a video of his new stereoscopic camera rig for Nuke. The gizmo is available for download at his site dumbledorf.co.uk.
A pair of new plugins from AR-Media allow you to view your Sketchup & 3dsModels in Augmented Reality space. In addition to simply viewing the models, they’ve added some impressive Object Occluding technology that I’ld like to know more. You use their plugins to convert your models or scenes into their proprietary format, and then you just need their freely available ‘ARMedia Player’ to view the models.
The bundle provides users with an advanced visualization functionality which serves two main purposes in the design life cycle:
- Help to study and analyze virtual prototypes in real environments
- Communicate 3D projects immersively and astonishingly
All you need to make AR-media™ Plugin work is a personal computer, a webcam and a printed code attached to the software. A wide range of Head Mounted Displays, including the Vuzix® CamAR, eMagin, i-glasses™ are also supported.
For folks in product design this could be a great tool. You can download trial versions of the plugins from their site. See the demonstration video below.
A new version of the already fantastic “BonesPro” skin tool for 3dsmax is out, adding in new skin weight painting features and smoothing functions. All around faster, it now also has a nice new MAXscript interface, making it perfect for integration into professional customized pipelines. A short list of some of the new features:
Full details after the break.
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