Anime Studio 8.1 Becomes the World’s First Animation Software to Support Wacom Multi-Touch Tablets

Link via Smith Micro

ALISO VIEJO, CA – Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI) Productivity and Graphics Group and Wacom Americas today announced a partnership to bring the ease of multi-touch functionality to animators and digital artists everywhere. The first in a series of exclusive releases with Wacom, Anime Studio customers can now use finger gestures on Bamboo Multi-Touch tablets with a special upgrade to Anime Studio 8.1. The Anime Studio 8.1 update includes over 30 new features, performance enhancements and integrated user feedback.

Anime Studio Debut 8 is available at an academic discount price of $29.95.

Anime Studio Pro 8 is available at an academic discount price of $84.95.

Wacom Bamboo Tablets available from Creation Engine.

Interview with Daniel Tal, author of “Google SketchUp for Site Design”

Link via Examiner.com

n 2007, author and registered landscape architect Daniel Tal published his first book, “Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture,” which has become a key reference point for site designers using the program to create digital models. In addition to his work as an author and a project manager in the architectural and landscape design industry, he teaches SketchUp workshops across the country and online, and teaches an annual class at the University of Maryland. Daniel is currently working on a second book, “Rendering In Google SketchUp,” due to be published in 2012.

Google SketchUp 8 is free.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is available at a student discount price of $49.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is free for instructors.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 Lab licenses are available at a school discount price of $15.

ZBrush 4R2b has been released!

Via Pixologic

ZBrush 4R2 hair

Greetings!

ZBrush 4R2b has been released!

We are pleased to offer Hair, Fur and Fiber capabilities amongst other features. The new FiberMesh will enable quick and intuitive creation of hair and other fibrous materials. The FiberMesh function will generate fully sculptable Polymesh 3d objects. This means your fur and fibers will behave as sculptable geometry when using any of ZBrush’s 3D sculpting brushes.

Users will benefit from having control over density ranges where meshes are concerned. Polygon numbers will span a wide range from minute to millions, all the while retaining exportability. These features will be joined by our developments to the BPR (Best Preview Render) system. The added functionality in the BPR system, will see users benefit from the ability to have even more control in the creation of highly detailed final rendered images.

Visit ZBrush 4R2b features pages: http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/features/zbrush4r2b/overview/

Please take a moment to view the ZBrushCentral.com post here
:

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?165512-*****-ZBrush-4R2b-Launched!-*****

ZBrush 4R2 is available at an academic discount price of $449.95

UnderWater Realm pre-viz with iClone5 Pro and Mocap Kinect-Ready Device

Link via Vimeo.com

UWR Week 48 – Pre-Viz from Realm Pictures on Vimeo.

iClone5 Pro Bundled with Mocap Kinect-Ready Device Plug-In is available at an academic discount price of $199.95

$60 off select Adobe Student & Teacher Editions!

Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium Student & Teacher Edition Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium Student & Teacher Edition
On sale for $389! (List Price: $1,899)
$60 off normal academic price . Offer good through 2/4/2012.
Also on sale:
CS5.5 Web Premium Student & Teacher Edition $389
CS5.5 Production Premium Student & Teacher Edition $389
CS5.5 Master Collection Student & Teacher Edition $839
Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Comparison

Spotlights – FxGuide Interviews Whiskytree on Thor

Link via e-on software

Thor e-on software Whiskytree

With credits on such films as Thor, Captain America, TRON: Legacy, Terminator: Salvation and several others since its inception in 2007, Whiskytree has developed an enviable reputation in the field of created environments. One of the tools making up Whiskytree’s arsenal in order to create natural landscapes and fantastical environments is Vue.


Vue from e-on software is available at an academic discount price from Creation Engine.

CINEMA 4D R13 Character Rigging & Animation Tutorial

Link via YouTube

 

Download the tutorial files:
http://maxonuk.com/tutorials/rigging_assets.zip

Brian Horgan – http://www.graphite9.com/ – shows how to use CINEMA 4D Studio R13 to: rig a simple character using the new Character Builder; paint weights on the character; create a simple walk cycle for the rigged character using the new CMotion system in R13; pipe deformations using the Pose Morph tag – an extremely useful technique often overlooked in CINEMA 4D. Also, what to look out for to create a walk that looks appealing.

Brian presented this CINEMA 4D Studio R13 tutorial at the MAXON Training Day held in London on October 17, 2011.

Download the tutorial files:
http://maxonuk.com/tutorials/rigging_assets.zip

Please note that the Alan character may not be used for any commercial purposes.

CINEMA 4D R13 Studio Perpetual License is available at an educational discount price $279.95

The strengths of autism shine in 3D

Link via The Official Google SketchUp Blog

iStar SketchUp

About 8 years ago, the SketchUp team started receiving some pretty intriguing calls: parents of children on the autism spectrum were calling to let us know how SketchUp was changing their kids’ lives. People with autism tend to be unusually strong visual and spatial thinkers, and it became clear that SketchUp plays to those strengths. With that bit of information (and help from the Autism Society of Boulder County), we launched Project Spectrum with a single goal: connecting the autism community with SketchUp.

For some children on the spectrum, especially those who are nonverbal, SketchUp serves as a way to communicate allowing them to share their thoughts through images. Other kids learn life skills that help them to achieve educational and career goals they might not have even aspired to before SketchUp. It seems SketchUp builds self-esteem since these children are able to model circles (and squares) around their neurotypical peers.

It was these anecdotes that inspired Cheryl Wright, Associate Professor in Family & Consumer Studies, at the University of Utah, to study the SketchUp/autism connection in detail. Cheryl and her team have hosted several SketchUp camps, called project iSTAR, for dozens of children with autism.

Google SketchUp 8 is free.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is available at a student discount price of $49.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is free for instructors.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 Lab licenses are available at a school discount price of $15.

Using Photoshop to create an Avatar Inspired Matte Painting of Pandora

Link via CG.CreativeFan

Pandora Photoshop

The artworks from Avatar and the visual effects from the film were largely considered some of the highest quality and innovative artworks seen in film up until that point, perhaps rivaled only by Star Wars in terms of their ingenuity and use of new techniques for visual effects. The world of Pandora has inspired many artworks and imaginative interpretations.

In this tutorial, Stas Lobachev will walk you through his creation of “Pandora Afterdark”, a digital matte painting that received a Golden Award and 2nd place in a pre-release competition hosted by CGTalk.ru. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how to develop a concept sketch, work with lighting and color, use references and develop a meaningful artwork with a strong composition and clear message.

Photoshop CS5 Extended Student & Teacher Edition is available for $195.95

Photoshop CS5 Extended Education/Nonprofit Edition is available for $295.95

Create a custom snowglobe of your house with SketchUp

Link via qLab

SketchUp Snowglobe

3) build a cg model of your house.

i tried a handful of the “automatic” systems to build models. microsoft’s photosynth, autodesk’s 123D catch, a couple lesser known programs. none of them worked well enough to produce a final model – they did well for 75% of the model, but then horribly mutilated the last 25%.

in the end i went with google’s sketchup – its photo match tools are great for building models from photos of buildings.

see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSuDoX8SPtU

Google SketchUp 8 is free.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is available at a student discount price of $49.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 is free for instructors.

Google SketchUp Pro 8 Lab licenses are available at a school discount price of $15.