Copy error when creating a network deployment

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Before you create a network deployment, create an empty toxik folder in the source folder where the you extracted the contents of the downloaded .exe. Otherwise you’ll get this error, even if you clear the MatchMover and Composite checkboxes:

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Autodesk Softimage 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack
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The copy functions cannot be used.

Failed to copy the following files:

    C:\Autodesk\Softimage_2011_Subscription_Advantage_Pack_English_Japanese_64bit\toxik	
to
    \\EXAMPLE\Deployments\SAP\AdminImage	

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OK   
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MatchMover FBX export doesn’t work

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When you try to import an FBX file into Softimage 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack (SAP) from MatchMover, you get an error:

The following error(s) occured while attempting to read the FBX file:
-Corrupted or invalid file.

That’s because MatchMover exports a REALVIZ XML file instead of actual FBX.

Try using the Softimage VB Script export instead. That gives you a VBScript you can run in Softimage 2011 SAP to set up the exported tracking data.

Softimage 2011 Subscription Advantage Pack (incl Lagoa) is available

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Sign in to the Subscription Center and get it now.
autodeskcom/subscriptionlogin

You don’t need a new serial number. The Subscription Advantage Pack (aka SAP or 2011.5) runs with your 2011 license. So, if you have a Network license, just point 2011.5 to your license server. If you have a Standalone license, enter your 2011 serial number at startup.

Getting Softimage to render on all cores

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I see this question pop up from time to time: why doesn’t Softimage use all my CPUs/cores when I render?

mental ray is going to use all the cores it can (or should I say “all the cores it needs”?). There’s no flag to set or switch to activate. In fact, the only related option is the -threads command line flag, which will restrict the number of threads.

Here’s a screenshot of a render region of the ICE_Candle example scene. I didn’t have to do anything for Softimage to use all cores:

If Softimage doesn’t seem to be using all your cores/CPUs, I guess the first thing I would check is the task priority and affinity in the Task Manager.

Just add ICE

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As you’ve probably heard, the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Premium Suites include Softimage and some new interoperability technology that allows users to transfer ICE effects into Maya or 3ds Max.

I recently had a chance to check this out when I was asked to give a quick training session to the Maya support team.

Long story short, the way it works is that from Maya you can send geometry (via FBX) to Softimage, and Softimage sends back ICE effects (particle effects or deformations) via nCache. There’s plugins in both Maya and Softimage that care of the details, so in Maya you simply select some objects and click Send to Softimage (or Update/Add if you want to add new objects to an existing scene). In Softimage, you create the ICE effect and then click Update Maya, and the ICE effects are cached out and the Maya scene is updated to use the cached effects.

http://area.autodesk.com/userdata/static/ibc10/pr/Autodesk_Suites_Premium.pdf

Autodesk Softimage software, featuring the Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) to help in the creation of more sophisticated effects that can be integrated into Maya and 3ds Max through new ICE interoperability technology…

http://investors.autodesk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=117861&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1452020&highlight=

Featuring sophisticated cross-product integration, the Premium Suites also allow users to transfer Softimage ICE effects to Maya or 3ds Max with a simple menu click.

http://autodesk.com/entertainmentcreationsuites

Export ICE effects … to Maya for greater flexibility

Who gets the Subscription Advantage Pack?

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As you can probably tell from the name “Subscription Advantage Pack”, any Softimage customer on Subscription gets the Subscription Advantage Pack (SAP).

If your Subscription expires within a month of the SAP release, you’ll still be able to download the SAP.

If you purchase Softimage with no Subcription after the SAP, you don’t get the SAP, you get 2011SP1.

The case of the missing Lagoa

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Why aren’t Lagoa and Matchmover mentioned on the Softimage SAP page? Is this omission ominous?

If you ask me, most likely that copy was written when the legal stuff was still being ironed out. I don’t think the omission means anything. You’ll notice that Lagoa is still mentioned on the AREA and on the Autodesk youtube channel (where you can see all the 2011 SAP feature videos).

But Lagoa and Matchmover are still in at the time of this posting. Since it hasn’t been released, there’s always some possibility something could happen, but right now, all I know is that they are still in.

btw, the friendly URL for the Softimage SAP page is autodesk.com/advantagepack-softimage. These advantage pack pages are for us at Autodesk to send out to customers when we tell them the SAP is available.