Software
Rendering
Trio of Tools
WIN | Linux - Mercury Computer Systems has debuted three software offerings that provide real-time, photorealistic 3D rendering and raytracing. Targeted at 3D application developers, OpenRTRT is a software development kit that delivers real-time raytracing capabilities to produce realistic images with accurate reflections, refractions, and fine shadow details. OpenRTRT provides an easy-to-use application programming interface as an alternative to the OpenGL rendering engine, offers linear scalability, and takes advantage of multiprocessor and multicore architectures.
An extension of the company’s Open Inventor Version 6, DirectViz is an object-oriented, cross-platform, 3D graphics software suite for 3D application development. DirectViz delivers a hybrid 3D graphics application development framework for styling and conceptual design, virtual prototyping, and visual simulation.
Mercury also presents Lumiscaphe’s Patchwork3D, a software suite for interactive 3D digital design. Patchwork3D, based on a real-time, realistic rendering engine, aids users in importing CAD models, applying textures and lighting, and developing interactive views with realistic material and lighting simulation. Patchwork3D enables industrial designers to communicate ideas in early design stages and deliver high-quality digital mock-ups. OpenRTRT, DirectViz, and Patchworks 3D are now available.
Mercury Computer Systems; www.mc.com
Character Animation
Di-O-Matic Voice-O-Matic
WIN - Di-O-Matic has released its Voice-O-Matic lip-synchronization extension offering for Autodesk Maya and Softimage XSI. Voice-O-Matic delivers believable lip synchronization animation for use in game development, CG film production, visual effects, and TV commercials.
Designed to automate the lip-sync process, Voice-O-Matic processes audio files with its intelligent phonetic engine. Then, it automatically assigns the accurate phonemes and provides standard curve controls to enable the user to further perfect the results. Voice-O-Matic provides automatic lip synchronization for virtually any character in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. The Maya and XSI editions of Voice-O-Matic are each priced at $349.Di-O-Matic;
www.dio-o-matic.com
Video
Primatte Chromakey Update
WIN | MAC - Digital Anarchy presents Primatte Chromakey 3.0 for Photoshop, a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Primatte removes bluescreen and greenscreen backgrounds from both still images and footage. The result is the subject against a transparent background, with details–such as wisps of hair, translucent materials, and mesh fabrics–preserved.
Features new to Version 3.0 include one-click auto mask functionality, batch processing, improved blending between subject and backdrop, an enhanced user interface, and support for Intel Macs and Photoshop CS3. Primatte Chromakey 3.0 is priced at $299. Upgrade pricing is available. Primatte 3.0 supports Mac OS X and Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, and Vista 32-bit systems.
Digital Anarchy; www.digitalanarchy.com