If you’ve been on the fence about buying Lightroom for quickly editing and touching-up photos, wonder no more as you can go download and try out the new Adobe Lightroom 4 beta for free. In addition to the usual enhancements and bugfixes, the new version offers DSLR video support for the first time.
One very interesting change to Lightroom 4 is much better support for video. DSLR video is now supported right in the application. You can playback video, trim the in-and-out points, easily export a still frame and—this is the biggie—do some actual color correction on video using some of Lightroom’s tools. It doesn’t look like it’s a full-blown color grading application (Adobe has Speedgrade for that now!) but it looks like a quick way to make a color correction and export that to a new video file or send it to a supported service like Facebook or Flickr.
Just head on over to the Adobe Lightroom site to download it and try it out. Post your findings in the comments below!
The newest version of HDR Light Studio is out, adding in support for Collada and a fancy new light-blending system. Lest you think they’re just adding features for the sake of feature bloat, check out this quote:
“Usually, when you’re updating software, you’re disappointed by a lot of features that are totally useless. But with HDR Light Studio v3.0, the team is really listening to what the users are saying,” explains Piotr Kolus, Lead 3D artist at Ars Thanea. “All the new options are boosting your lighting process. From simple changes to advanced new features – all of them are more useful than I expected.”
One of the biggest features in this version is the new light-blending system that enables a dodge-and-burn type effect for HDR backgrounds, allowing seamless and fast editing of HDR backgrounds and custom falloff curves opening new worlds of possibilities.
EnSight users now have a new tool to try with their Mac Customers: EnLiten EXE’s for Windows can now be run on Mac’s without needing X thanks to a native Mac Application. It’s available now for free from the Mac App Store.
EnLiten is a 3D viewer for scenes created by EnSight. EnSight visualizes data from scientific and engineering simulations such as fluid dynamics, structural analysis, and vehicle crashworthiness and occupant safety.
Indie software company Kickstand is trying to take their popular skin manipulation tools “Stretchmesh” and make it an open-source community project, hoping it will help with some of the delays in bringing it to new software packages. However, before they’ll do it they want $15k to help maintain it and prove that people really want it. They’ve started a project on IndieGoGo to raise the funds, which currently sits at only $450 donated.
So, if you’ve found Stretchmesh to be useful, maybe you should consider adding some into it so help bring it to the new 2012 products (and beyond). If you’re not familiar with it, check out their demo videos below.
My Favorite visualization tool ParaView has just hit v3.12, adding in new client-server communication code, better plugin support, and (what I think is the neatest feature) Streaming Visuals.
ParaView 3.12.0 includes updates to the streaming framework at Los Alamos National Lab (LANL). The multi-resolution streaming view now automatically adjusts resolution to match the projected image size. Moreover, VTK filters can now modify meta-information, so they can modify the data while still allowing the streaming framework to cull and prioritize pieces.
I’ve been watching this feature steadily for the last 2 years or so, and I’m so excited that it’s finally come to the main distribution! Go download it now!
Cinedeck has just announced a new version of their Cinedeck EX system that adds in support for their new Cinedeck Controller software, offering remote control of up to 24 different Cinedeck units simultaneously and new playback and archive management features.
“Users already enjoy the experience of using, and interacting with, Cinedeck EX, and their feedback has resulted in the new Cinedeck EX v2.5 software version containing a host of enhanced features,” said Cinedeck CEO Alan Hoff. “These new features focus on usability and performance improvements to optimize the fundamental operation of Cinedeck EX where it matters most – in production. With the new v2.5 version available now, current and new customers will enjoy the Cinedeck EX experience even more.”
Maintenance customers can get it now, free of charge. New customers will have to shell out $8,00 for it. Get the full release after the break.
The Topogun mesh re-topologization and map baking tool is about to hit version 2.0 for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX. Max Underground has a nice look at the beta, showing what you can expect in the full release when it comes out.
Topogun offers almost a full pipeline for retopologization and map baking, with the exception of UV creation tools (which might not be a minor issue for some users). You can also use Topogun 2.0 for retopologizing your concept sculpt and then use subdivision tools to create a hi-res, wrapped mesh that captures the details automatically and then continue sculpting on the cleaned up hi-res mesh in your sculpting application.
Enrico Bertini has the latest in his “Data Visualization Beginner’s Toolkit”, and I love his new 3 Golden Rules of Viz Tools, particularly #1.
Rule #1: No tool will turn you into a pro. I think I stressed this point already in the past but it’s worth going over it again. Given the rapid development of visualization technology you might be tempted to adopt the latest technology thinking that it will turn you into a pro. This is not the case. There is no tool that can make you a pro, unless you develop your theoretical and design skills accordingly and organically. A visualization designer is a great designer regardless the tool of choice. It’s basically the same as photography. The last digital reflex may take crisper shots but it won’t turn you into the next Ansel Adams.
With so many tools coming out on the market these days trying to cash in on the popularity of infographics and sexy data vis, it’s important to realize that the real successes don’t come from the Software, but from the Designer.
Autodesk is bringing another nice app to the iPad, this time bring some nice deformable 3d modeling to the popular device. Called “123D Sculpt”, it’s a very stripped down version of something like Mudbox, letting you use multitouch interactions with models for a more tactile and intuitive experience.
You can look at the video above for some examples, although the author of SolidSmack took it for a test drive and found it fun but not terribly useful.
After having a chance to play with 123D Sculpt a little more, I’ve gotta say, it’s a lot of fun, but there are some disappointing factors. For one, you can’t import or export models. Also, the crease tools can really mash up that mesh and cause some weird effects. The smooth tool repairs it a little. On small object (the lizard) you can’t get the brush small enough to make detailed edits to the geometry. There is very noticeable lag when using the image-rub tool (I had one crash) and switching between some of the tools. Besides those four things, the UI is incredible.
Smith Micro has just announced availability of Poser 9 and Poser Pro 2012 for PreOrder, with full availability on September 20th. In addition, they’re launching a contest called the “Iron Render Master Championship” on their website where users can go vote for one of 4 images each created by master poser artists, with the winner being chose for the Poser Pro 2012 box coverart.
“For over 15 years Poser has consistently been one of the most flexible and intuitive programs available for artists working in the 3D industry,” said Brian Haberlin, award-winning comic book artist whose innovative technique has been highlighted in popular titles including Spawn, X-Men, Daredevil, Spiderman and Aria. “Poser automates what were once pain-staking design functions so that I can focus on the creative side of bringing my characters to life.”
New features include subsurface scattering, OpenGL rendering, and new weighted rigging. Get the full details after the break.
If you’ve been on the fence about buying Lightroom for quickly editing and touching-up photos, wonder no more as you can go download and try out the new Adobe Lightroom 4 beta for free. In addition to the usual enhancements and bugfixes, the new version offers DSLR video support for the first time.
The newest version of HDR Light Studio is out, adding in support for Collada and a fancy new light-blending system. Lest you think they’re just adding features for the sake of feature bloat, check out this quote:
Indie software company Kickstand is trying to take their popular skin manipulation tools “Stretchmesh” and make it an open-source community project, hoping it will help with some of the delays in bringing it to new software packages. However, before they’ll do it they want $15k to help maintain it and prove that people really want it. They’ve started
My Favorite visualization tool ParaView has just hit v3.12, adding in new client-server communication code, better plugin support, and (what I think is the neatest feature) Streaming Visuals.
Cinedeck has just announced a new version of their Cinedeck EX system that adds in support for their new Cinedeck Controller software, offering remote control of up to 24 different Cinedeck units simultaneously and new playback and archive management features.
The Topogun mesh re-topologization and map baking tool is about to hit version 2.0 for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX. Max Underground has a nice look at the beta, showing what you can expect in the full release when it comes out.
Enrico Bertini has the latest in his “Data Visualization Beginner’s Toolkit”, and I love his new 3 Golden Rules of Viz Tools, particularly #1.
Smith Micro has just announced availability of Poser 9 and Poser Pro 2012 for PreOrder, with full availability on September 20th. In addition, they’re launching a contest called the “Iron Render Master Championship” on their website where users can go vote for one of 4 images each created by master poser artists, with the winner being chose for the Poser Pro 2012 box coverart.
VizWorld.com 
Comments