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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.
Graphics exocortex, physics, plugin, softimage
Autodesk has a big announcement today, the new Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2012, including new versions of 3dsMax, Maya, Mudbox, and more! The new version a new multi-threaded graphics core, part of the “Project Excalibur” initiative . This gives you not only better performance, but better visuals during interactivity making the whole suite easier to use and faster to get to your desired objective.
“The first time I loaded a scene in 3ds Max 2012 I could see the soft lighting and shadows right in the viewport. This had the biggest impact on me. I suddenly felt more productive; like the barriers to my creativity were falling away,” said Stephen Lebed, 3ds Max beta tester and visual effects supervisor at MECHnology.
3dsMax will be available in April, with 3dsMax Design later this month. Get the full press releases for these products after the break.
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Graphics 3dsmax, autodesk, maya, softimage, software
Remember that amazing video of the ‘Lagoa Multiphysics’ engine from a few months back, showing the dirt cascading down the cliff? It’s now made it into some of the latest Autodesk packages, and Autodesk just announced it’s now available in Autodesk Fotimage as part of the 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack.
“ICE affords developers greater speed and agility when it comes to creating custom effects. It is also fully multi-threaded making it unique among simulation capabilities integrated into other 3D animation applications,” said Stig Gruman, Autodesk vice president Digital Entertainment. “We’re tremendously proud that Thiago Costa seized the potential of ICE to design such an incredibly realistic simulation framework – one that also allows multiple physics solvers to operate at the same time in the same scene and even to interact.”
Thiago Costa participated in some of the first beta tests for Softimage ICE and began developing Lagoa Materials multiphysics simulation framework soon thereafter. He spent close to two years developing Lagoa before presenting it to Autodesk. “I had a solid pool of testers on my beta program, but once it was ready I wanted to make Lagoa available to the broader 3D community. Autodesk is an ideal partner to help me do that,” said Thiago. “ICE is revolutionary in many ways. It is an excellent platform to develop this framework because it’s the fastest, most flexible system I know. Developing a powerful multiphysics framework was relatively easy and extraordinarily fast using ICE.”
Subscription members can go download it now, or you can buy the advantage pack for $2995. Full release after the break.
Lagoa Multiphysics 1.0 – Teaser from Thiago Costa on Vimeo.
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Graphics autodesk, lagoa, softimage, software
If you’ve tried out Autodesk’s 3ds Max Design 2011 or Softimage 2011, then you may have come across the promotional ‘Craft Director Studio’ tools available on the installation DVD. While only a promotional demonstration, the full toolkit offers a wide variety of tools aimed at creation of cinematics with built-in cameras and vehicle rigs. If you’re got a qualifying copy of 3dsMax or Softimage, then you can upgrade to the full version for only $3000, down from the usual $4,970.
Used by widely recognized gaming and visual effects companies including Pixar, Digital Dimension, Electronic Arts and NAMCO BANDAI, the complete CDS suite includes nine specialized virtual cameras and seven vehicle tools that increase interactive control and simulation, and provides the ability to enhance cinematics through a modular, configurable system that replicates a specific rig’s animation within a given project. 3D artists may literally “drive” a vehicle, or “direct” a camera within the creative environment, garnering a more realistic effect in less time.
Full details and instructions after the break.
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Graphics 3dsmax, craft director studio, softimage, software
Autodesk and NVidia have once again collaborated to bring NVidia CUDA acceleration and PhysX physics simulation to the Autodesk Softimage 3D modeling and animation suite.
“By integrating CUDA and PhysX technologies into the new release of Softimage, Autodesk has opened up a new world of creative options for content creation professionals,” said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. “With Quadro professional graphics, artists using Softimage can now achieve a higher level of realism, by adding physical simulations to their work.”
Primarily these new features are targeted towards users working in game development scenarios, offering improved interactivity and realistic effects. Full press release after the break.
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Graphics autodesk, cuda, nvidia, physx, softimage
Autodesk has released pretty much everything in the 2011 suite this week. We’ve already told you about Maya & 3dsMax, and now Mudbox, MotionBuilder, and Softimage have all seen updates. From Autodesk’s website, for Mudbox2011:
Autodesk® Mudbox® 2011 digital sculpting and texture painting software includes the following new and enhanced features:
- Deform and pose models quickly and easily to change their design, access occluded regions, present them for approval, or prepare them for map extraction.
- Selectively edit and manipulate existing paint and photo-based layers with new image adjustment brushes.
- Transfer models and scene information between Mudbox 2011 and Maya 2011with a single click.
- Extract maps using a new Vector Displacement method and represent displacements that do not simply follow the normal: for example, forms with appendages, undercuts, folds and bulges.
- Import and export multiple layers in PSD files to leverage the Adobe® PhotoShop® toolset on more demanding projects.
for Softimage 2011:
Autodesk® Softimage® 2011 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, rendering software includes the following new and enhanced features:
- The Rendering Sandbox shader authoring environment automatically hosts external shaders and renderers without requiring custom UI or tools.
- ICE kinematics enable you to drive the movement and behaviors of characters and scene elements.
- Automatic Face Robot® Lip Synching functionality enables the instant generation of facial animation based on an audio file.
- A selection of up to 100 new ICE compounds enables you to create a wide range of effects.
- A selection of up to 100 new mental ray® shaders, including .mi and .mip production shaders, enables enhanced creativity.
- Check out the Automatic Lip Syncing for Face Robot video on Mark Schoennagel‘s Planet Softimage blog.
and for MotionBuilder2011:
Autodesk® MotionBuilder® 2011 3D character animation software includes the following new and enhanced features:
- NVIDIA® PhysX® plug-in enables better creation of rag-doll simulations.
- Improved animation layers match the behavior of those in Maya 2009 and higher, and offer better interoperability.
- Skinned characters play back faster by using the computing power of the GPU.
- Updated native Autodesk® FBX® 2011 format support helps eliminate extra translation steps.
All three products are expected to be available in April 2010.
Graphics autodesk, motionbuilder, mudbox, softimage, software
Autodesk has named the recipients of their prestigious Masters awards for 2009, handing out 15 awards to 3ds Max, Softimage, and Maya experts.
Over the past few months we’ve asked you, as a member of the 3D Community, to nominate talented artists for Autodesk Maya® Master, 3ds Max® Master, and Softimage® awards for 2009.
All of the talented people nominated were recognized as exceptional people doing exceptional things with—and for—3D CG through the work they produce, through mentoring, and for their contribution to advancing the Autodesk tools they use. Then we asked you, 3ds Max, Maya, and Softimage artists, to vote—and vote you did—by the thousands.
Congratulations to all the winners!
via The Area :: Autodesk Masters :: Autodesk® Masters 2009.
Graphics 3dsmax, autodesk, maya, softimage
For the first time in the show’s historic 40-year run, Sesame Street will feature a computer-generated and animated character in “Abby Cadabby”.
“Until now, Sesame Street used exclusively hand-driven Muppets. We went the CG route with ‘Abby’s Flying Fairy School’ so that we could bring to life all the wonderful physical action our writers envisaged — such as underwater scenes,” explained Carol-Lynn Parente, executive producer at Sesame Workshop. “As well, the CG format allowed us to produce many online game options for SesameStreet.org, extending the broadcast experience.”
SpeakeasyFX got the gig to create “Abby”,a nd her with Autodesk Softimage and the “Interactive Creative Environment” to generate the magic effects.
“We feel fortunate to have collaborated with SpeakeasyFX on ‘Abby’s Flying Fairy School’,” added Sesame Workshop’s Parente. “They developed the digital characters with fantastic furry detail. Doing the series in CG, using Softimage software, provided the freedom to showcase different types of storytelling, while preserving what viewers of all ages love about ‘Sesame Street’.”
Catch a glimpse of Abby after the break.
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Graphics autodesk, softimage, speakeasyfx, television, vfx
A fun animation from Douglas Lassance and Jonathan Vuillemin, produced by The Mill in 2008. Done mostly with XSI Softimage, it’s a fun depiction of the futuristic cut-throat world of package delivery between UPS & FedEx.
See the video after the break.
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Graphics animation, softimage, the mill, xsi
Here’s today’s Pixels:
VizWorld.com 
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