SOFTWARE
Visual Programming
New Fabric
Fabric Software
has released Fabric Engine 2.1 with numerous Canvas presets, samples, and UI improvements aimed at making the development framework easier to use. Highlights of the release include: Canvas presets that focus on geometry attributes, Canvas presets for Alembic, and DFGBindings for treating Canvas graphs as objects.
www.fabricengine.com
Digital Content Creation
New Pricing
Maxon has announced the immediate availability of short-term licenses for its flagship software application, Cinema 4D Studio. These licenses are valid for three months ($600) or six months ($1,100) and are available as single-workstation or floating multi-licenses. Plug-ins that require the use of serial numbers can also be used with the short-term licenses. Perpetual licenses for Cinema 4D Studio and all other packages (Visualize, Broadcast, and Prime) as well as BodyPaint 3D will continue to be available
.
www.maxon.net
Gaming Middleware
Sweet Set of 3D Tools
Marmalade Technologies has unveiled its Marmalade 3D with an all-new 3D editor and next-generation graphics architecture. Marmalade 3D Kit brings together a suite of tools and middleware to simplify the creation of 3D games, allowing users to export models from Maya, 3ds Max, or any modeling tool with FBX or Collada support into resources that can be directly used in Marmalade projects. The editor allows users to easily import 3D models and then lay out scenes rapidly with the help of controls. Once users are happy with their layout, they can simply export them in Marmalade format for direct inclusion into a project. Also new to Marmalade 3D Kit is the company’s next-generation graphics architecture, built to take full advantage of leading industry technologies. Marmalade 3D Kit is available now as part of the latest Marmalade Platform release, with the editor and next-generation graphics architecture debuting later this year.
www.madewithmarmalade.com
Postproduction
Tracking Made Easy
VR3 has developed a new workflow and tools for recording data in a greenscreen production. Track2go records camera data and prepares it for postproduction, while giving an on-set impression of the final output. All tracking data is automatically synchronized and recorded with the video signals. Track2go records all camera parameters in parallel to the video signals. The camera movements can be exported to FBX format. In postproduction, this data can be used to drive virtual cameras in 3D or compositing software, and can be used to add or change elements in the scene, after studio production.
www.vr3.de
Compositing
Energized by Nuke
Chaos Group has released V-Ray 3.3 for Nuke, a node-based VR system with improved GPU rendering speeds and 200-plus updates. V-Ray for Nuke allows compositors to alter 3D assets themselves. Nuke’s first VR system arrives via two new cameras, covering spherical and stereo cube maps. V-Ray Standalone brings real-time, GPU-accelerated rendering, including full access to the entire V-Ray line-up (bucket, progressive, and V-Ray RT). The addition of a V-Ray VRscene node will help teams transmit full render-ready assets from V-Ray for 3ds Max and Maya to Nuke artists (or vice versa). V-Ray for Nuke is available now for $1,040.
www.v-ray.com
Visual Effects
Fusion 8 Initiated
Blackmagic Design is now shipping Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Studio advanced visual effects and motion graphics software. The release of Fusion 8 is the first Mac-compatible release, and projects can be easily moved between Mac and Windows versions. Fusion 8 Studio is now also available in 10, 20, or 50 multiuser licenses. Fusion 8 offers a large toolset for pulling keys, tracking objects, rotoscoping, retouching images, animating titles, and creating particle effects, all in a true 3D workspace. Fusion 8 for Mac and Windows is free for customers and offers a full professional 3D visual effects and compositing system. Fusion 8 Studio for Mac and Windows is priced at $995 and has the same features as the free version, but also adds advanced optical flow image analysis tools for stereoscopic 3D work, retiming, and stabilization.
www.blackmagicdesign.com