We used Softimage to create all the 3D elements, and rendered with Arnold. Employing Arnold in this show was one of the best decisions we made for the show, and it allowed us to render with all of the expensive calculations such as GI, glossy reflection, and 3D motion blur, without costing too much render time. Additionally, all the effects work such as cloud/myst, flags/banners, water, and crowds were done with ICE in Softimage, and these libraries of effects also helped toward recycling for use in other shots. Also, while we originally planned to replace all of the CG cliff renders with image-based projections at the end, the sophisticated lighting and quality of the Arnold renders allowed for only about 10% of touch-up painting in the end.

via The Art of VFX » THOR: Jonathan Harb – VFX Supervisor & Founder – Whiskytree.

Autodesk looks to build the future of game development with Project Skyline, first shown at GDC 2011

Without a vision, the people perish. It’s a situation that can even affect digital media creation software companies like Autodesk; or perhaps that should be, especially affect companies like Autodesk.

As a giant of the industry, the company has been acquiring major rivals such as Alias and Softimage over the last few years, resulting in a more tempered product management approach to the major 3D applications.

But the big fish of the pond is running out of water to swim in. Where does Autodesk’s vision lie?

via Autodesk Project Skyline | Game development.

Download it here.

The latest service pack for Autodesk® Softimage® 2012 software includes 70 fixes. See below the fold for a complete list of fixes

Coexistence
Softimage 2012 SP1 is a full build and can co‐exist with Softimage 2012.
Softimage 2012 is not required to be uninstalled first.
Licensing
Softimage 2012 SP1 uses the same license as Softimage 2012. When installing Softimage 2012 SP1:
• Enter the product key 590D1 and your Softimage 2012 serial number, and then click Next.
• If you have a Network license, click Configure to switch to the Network licensing method.

The full list of fixes is as follows:
Continue reading →

Project Photofly 2.0 Now Available – It is Alive in the Lab.

Project Photofly is a free technology preview of a service that converts your sets of photographs into a 3D model.  Version 2.0 includes more realistic looking 3D models, video export, and more accurate manual stitching. You can export to OBJ.

The big news with Premium is they have added Softimage to the bundle. You now get Face Robot for dealing with complex face rigging, the simply incredible ICE visual programming system and the much talked about and drooled over Lagoa Multiphysics dynamic solver system written in ICE. I know what youre thinking: I have not used Softimage since Maya 1.0 came out, why would I now? Well, Autodesk made it easy to add its very powerful toolset to the pipeline with one click Send To functions letting you push and pull data between the other suite software via the updated .FBX format. Also helpful are the Maya navigation and hotkeys for a quick transition. Want to use ICE to make amazing effects and send it over to Maya? No problem. I think it is time to add some Softimage artists to your “to be hired” list if you havent done it yet.

via Maya Entertainment Creation Suite 2012 Review: Greater Interoperability | AWN | Animation World Network.

GraphicSpeak » Luxology and Softimage add Bullet to their arsenal.

Bullet and Autodesk Softimage
Exocortex Technologies is distributing a plug-in for Softimage alled Momentum 2.0 for $149. It was developed by Helgee Mathee of the University of Hamburg, a prolific plug-in developer for Softimage. Momentum simulates rigid bodies and is used to simulate ropes, the behavior of plastics, soft bodies, and cloth.