<p class="strap">Software developer WTools3D has released the latest version of its modelling plug-in for LightWave</p> <p><span id="more-34173"></span></p> <p></p> <p>WTools3D has released version of 4.0 of LWCAD, the latest update to the modelling plug-in for LightWave. Users of LightWave will welcome this new release, which includes some impressive new features:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Full UV Mapping support</strong> - UV mapping support applied into every polygonal based tool</li> <li><strong>Shape Library 2</strong> - next generation of Shape Library, fully compatible with the previous version</li> <li><strong>Streamlined toolset</strong> - redundant tools removed and enlarged functionality of existing tools</li> </ul> <p>This release does not include any of the impressive NURBS surfacing tools showcased for LightWave CORE - whether these will be included in a future update is not yet known.</p> <p>LWCAD is available now and priced at $299. To upgrade from version 2.x and 3.x costs between $149 - $225.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wtools3d.com/lwcad-40.php">For more information visit the WTools3D website</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a7f95d2/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=LWCAD+4.0+released&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F29%2Flwcad-4-0-released%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=LWCAD+4.0+released&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F29%2Flwcad-4-0-released%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120127085857/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a7f95d2/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120127085857/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a7f95d2/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/UNKcBZ-KhKg" width="1" />

<p class="strap">International visual effects facility Method Studios creates intricate VFX for Payload: Motorola’s latest mobile phone commercial</p> <p><span id="more-34127"></span></p> <p></p> <p>Award-winning visual effects group Method Studios was responsible for creating the complex VFX in this new spot for Motorola’s new Droid Razr model. The company got involved with the project in early September after being approached by advertising and design agency <a href="http://www.mcgarrybowen.com/">Mcgarrybowen</a> and production company <a href="http://www.biscuitfilmworks.com/">Biscuit filmworks</a> with the brief.</p> <p>Many of the original ideas for the spot feature in the finished product, however, the concept changed as the production process began. Method’s VFX producer Sascha Flick explains, “As we began to collaborate with the director, Noam Murro, his production team, and the agency creative team, the story evolved and changed from the original boards. Things like gun turrets, flying blades, car flips, and truck rooftop fights were eliminated, and items like stealth motorcycles, drone vehicles, spike-deploying bikes and box recovery scenes took their place.”</p> <h4>Razor-sharp effects</h4> <p>Along with building the product – the Razr phone – in 3D, Method designed and created the CG blade cage as well. The company also created the CG box and van ramp and touched every shot in the spot in terms of compostiting plates together and clean up. Additionally, the team changed all of the lights on the motorcycle from blue to white and also added logos on the side of the convoy vehicle. </p> <p>To achieve all of these intricate effects, the team opted to use Maya for modelling, rigging and animation, a combination of Mari and Photoshop for texturing, Houdini for some of the spark and smoke effects, and rendered everything using V-Ray.</p> <p>However, it was Maya that proved to be the most useful tool in production. “Our Maya pipeline for asset, rigging and animation publishing was our most vital tool in completing so many shots in a short period of time,” says VFX supervisor Sean Faden. ”It allowed our animators to quickly and efficiently share scenes with our lighters, and when a rig change was required, updates were easy. Payload had several different animated assets that all ran through this publishing scheme: the box with an articulated top, the blade cage, the van ramps, and the snapping wire cables.”</p> <p>With so many animated elements came a complex lighting set-up, which the team worked out using their chosen renderer. ”The lighting on the phone and blade cage was achieved using V-Ray,” says Faden. ”Our team created a convincing prop using a combination of HDR photography from the set and carefully placed HDR images of silks and additional realistic set lighting assets. HDR photography only gets you so far… It takes an artist playing director of photography to place additional lights in a way to accentuate the details of the CG, and V-Ray allows for quick feedback as lighting adjustments are made.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.methodstudios.com/">Check out the Method Studios website for more work</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a775304/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Method+Studios+creates+new+action+packed+Motorola+spot&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F28%2Fmethod-studios-creates-new-action-packed-motorola-spot%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Method+Studios+creates+new+action+packed+Motorola+spot&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F28%2Fmethod-studios-creates-new-action-packed-motorola-spot%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120006452274/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a775304/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120006452274/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a775304/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/Nnmj0TN4eiY" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Until 31 December, you can get two full HDR sets with sIBL data and 11K exposures! Plus: find out how you can win the complete Dutch Skies 360° collection!</p> <p><span id="more-34158"></span></p> <p>Between now and 31 December 2011, you can download two full HDR sets from Bob Groothuis, the photographer behind the popular Dutch Skies 360° series. Each set includes an 8K spherical background, a 4K spherical HDR for reflections, a spherical lightmap and a reference document to link everything together using the popular sIBL system. You also get a sequence of 11K exposures for post-production work.</p> <p>These sets work with any 3D package capable of reading HDR files, including 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, LightWave 3D and modo.</p> <p>To celebrate the release of his newest DVD, <a href="http://www.bobgroothuis.com/blog/?p=4646">Dutch Skies 360° Volume 4</a>, Bob is offering a prize selection including all four Dutch Skies 360° DVDs in his <a href="http://www.bobgroothuis.com/blog/2011/10/dutch-skies-360°-annual-free-dutch-skies-360°-edition-2011-317w/">annual rendering competition</a>. For your chance to win, all you need to do is create a render with the free HDR set created specially for the competition. The closing date is 31 January 2012.</p> <p>As well as the Dutch Skies 360° collections, the winner will also receive a 360precision Atome panorama head, copies of PTGUI Pro, HDR Expose and Photomatix Pro, and more. Three runners-up will also receive prize packages; full details of what’s on offer and how to enter are on Bob’s website.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bobgroothuis.com/blog/2011/10/dutch-skies-360°-annual-free-dutch-skies-360°-edition-2011-317w/">Enter the Dutch Skies 360° competition</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bobgroothuis.com/">Visit Bob Groothuis’ website</a><br /> <a href="http://www.bobgroothuis.com/blog/2009/06/dutch_skies_360_online_shop_information/">Find out more about Dutch Skies 360° HDRI sets</a></p> <h4>Your free downloads</h4> <p><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-34159" height="290" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/dutchskies360-08-311211.jpg" title="dutchskies360-08-311211" width="580" /><br /> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/resources/3dworld/dutchskies360-3dworld08.zip">Download Dutch Skies 360°/3D World Set no 8</a> (ZIP, 131.2MB)<br /> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-34160" height="290" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/dutchskies360-09-311211.jpg" title="dutchskies360-09-311211" width="580" /><br /> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/resources/3dworld/dutchskies360-3dworld09.zip">Download Dutch Skies 360°/3D World Set no 9</a> (ZIP, 135.3MB)</p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a75d3c3/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Download+two+free+HDR+files+from+Dutch+Skies+360&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F28%2Fdownload-two-free-hdr-files-from-dutch-skies-360%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Download+two+free+HDR+files+from+Dutch+Skies+360&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F28%2Fdownload-two-free-hdr-files-from-dutch-skies-360%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120006435820/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a75d3c3/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/120006435820/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a75d3c3/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/r9Tn2Qn5RjY" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Take advantage of our seasonal pricing offers and subscribe to 3D World</p> <p><span id="more-28288"></span></p> <p>Check out the savings for your region:</p> <h4>United Kingdom</h4> <p><a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design/3dworld-magazine-subscription/">Pay £12.69 every 3 months <strong>saving 35%</strong> or pay £51.99 for 13 issues<br /> Europe: £74.69<br /> Rest of the World: £80.99</a></p> <h4>US and Canada:</h4> <p><a href="http://www.imsnews.com/home.php?page%3DmagPage%26#38%3Bpubid%3D3590%E2%80%9D">Pay $28.75 every 3 months by continuous credit card or $114.99 for 13 issues</a></p> <p>3D World is now available digitally via Apple Newsstand or Zinio. </p> <h4>Got an iPhone or iPad?</h4> <p><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/id451397015?mt=8&affId=1621074&ign-mpt=uo%3D6">Find us on Apple Newsstand with subscriptions from £14.99 for 90 days</a> </p> <h4>On Android or PC/Mac?</h4> <p><a href="https://gb.zinio.com/checkout/publisher/?productId=500611462&offer=500365407">Find us on Zinio with 1 year subscriptions from £44.99/$69.99</a></p> <p>*Please note that digital subscriptions do not include the coverdisc that comes with the magazine, or any covermount gifts. Access to the subscriptions only area is also not available</p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a6764f9/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Subscribe+to+3D+World%3A+great+seasonal+offers&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fcurrent-3d-world-subscription-offers%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Subscribe+to+3D+World%3A+great+seasonal+offers&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fcurrent-3d-world-subscription-offers%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118102557787/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a6764f9/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118102557787/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a6764f9/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/PI_9yxJYCyc" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Pythagasaurus is a funny tale about two cavemen and a dinosaur with a penchant for trigonometry</p> <p><span id="more-34152"></span></p> <p></p> <p>Pythagasaurus is a charming story staring two cavemen who seek the advice of a ‘clever’ dinosaur after a volcano appears in close proximity to where they live. </p> <p>The production quality of Pythagasaurus is exceptional - as you would expect from Aardman. The characters have been well thought out and the landscapes featured are unbelievably detailed, and then there’s the fabulous story with a twist in the tail.</p> <p>The short is a self-funded Aardman film, directed by Peter Peake, and features the voice talents of Bill Bailey, Martin Trenaman and Simon Greenall. We hope Aardman have some more downtime soon so that we can experience some more shorts of this calibre.</p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a66df29/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Pythagasaurus%3A+Aardman%E2%80%99s+new+short&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fpythagasaurus-aardmans-new-short%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Pythagasaurus%3A+Aardman%E2%80%99s+new+short&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fpythagasaurus-aardmans-new-short%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098775324/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a66df29/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098775324/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a66df29/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/MqlwdsX4y9A" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Stock content specialist Rocketbox Libraries has announced that its complete product portfolio is now available directly in Unity’s native unitypackage file format</p> <p><span id="more-34149"></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/unity_hero.jpg" rel="lightbox[34149]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-34150" height="444" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/unity_hero.jpg" title="unity_hero" width="580" /></a></p> <p>This offers the large group of Unity developers the opportunity to use the assets directly inside of Unity, without the need to export them from a 3D software package. Shaders, textures and animations are already set up for convenient usage in Unity right out of the box – allowing the user to create astonishingly realistic scenes with lifelike animated characters within a very short development timeframe. </p> <p><a href="http://www.rocketbox-libraries.com/">For more information, visit the Rocketbox Libraries website.</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a660362/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Rocketbox+Libraries+content+now+available+for+Unity&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Frocketbox-libraries-content-now-available-for-unity%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Rocketbox+Libraries+content+now+available+for+Unity&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Frocketbox-libraries-content-now-available-for-unity%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099258397/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a660362/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099258397/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a660362/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/KWeuD5Ycw2M" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Looking to show off your talent? Be part of the Autodesk 2012 Best of the Best Reel</p> <p><span id="more-34145"></span><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/auto_best_hero.jpg" rel="lightbox[34145]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-34146" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/auto_best_hero.jpg" title="auto_best_hero" width="580" /></a></p> <p>Autodesk has called for submissions for its 2012 Best of the Best Show Reel.</p> <p>Submit your latest commercial, broadcast work, music video, episodic projects, short or feature film, digital media, and interactive projects created using Maya, 3ds Max, Softimage, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, Flame Premium, Flame or Smoke.</p> <p><strong>Great exposure</strong><br /> The reel will be shown at Autodesk’s NAB booth, on AREA, the Autodesk website, on the Autodesk YouTube Channel, and at events throughout the year.</p> <p>Autodesk is also seeking high-resolution images for inclusion in its marketing materials leading up to and surrounding NAB. </p> <p>The deadline for imagery is 9 December 2011, and the deadline for video content submissions is 24 February 2012.</p> <p><a href="http://www.autodesk.com/film-submityourwork">Submit your work for inclusion on the Best of the Best reel</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a64e28a/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Autodesk+calls+for+submissions+for+its+2012+Best+of+the+Best+Show+Reel&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fautodesk-calls-for-submissions-for-its-2012-best-of-the-best-show-reel%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Autodesk+calls+for+submissions+for+its+2012+Best+of+the+Best+Show+Reel&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fautodesk-calls-for-submissions-for-its-2012-best-of-the-best-show-reel%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098750337/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a64e28a/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098750337/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a64e28a/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/okrioSJFxXM" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Create art matching our latest theme and win a copy of 3DTotal’s Digital Art Masters Vol 6 and the acclaim of your peers!</p> <p><span id="more-34141"></span></p> <p><span class="youtube"> </span><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYY2lD4YzU&fmt=18">www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYY2lD4YzU</a></p></p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_34142" style="width: 238px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/digital_art_master.jpg" rel="lightbox[34141]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-34142" height="317" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/digital_art_master.jpg" title="digital_art_master" width="228" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"> Inspirational and instructive, Digital Art Masters Vol 6 is a timeless resource for any digital artist.</p></div> <p>We want to inspire and motivate you to create fantastic work, and our forum is a great place for you to share your work with other artists who have a passion for 3D. </p> <p>Every month a new challenge is set by the 3D World forum users. It’s the ideal opportunity to have some fun on a small project -- perhaps you’ll even learn some new skills. </p> <p>If you’ve never entered a Creative Challenge before, now’s a great time to start as this month we’ve got a copy of <a href="http://shop.3dtotal.com/books/digital-art-masters/digital-art-masters-volume-6.html%E2%80%9D">3DTotal’s Digital Art Masters Vol 6</a> waiting for the winner.</p> <p><strong>This month’s challenge: Something hairy.</strong></p> <p>Sounds simple enough, right? Well, we’d like to see your efforts. </p> <p>We don’t care whether you create this using a hair/particles system or careful use of planes and trans maps or whatever other method you care to use (or learn). The aim is to produce one thing that is hairy.</p> <p>The hairy thing (be it person, creature or object) should be the focus of the scene against a plain background. As usual, we’d like a wireframe model and a fully textured beauty render.</p> <p><strong>Closing date</strong></p> <p>Final images should be posted by <strong>Saturday 10 December</strong>, please; and we’ll close voting on Monday 12 December.</p> <p><strong>Need a little help?</strong></p> <p>If you’ve no idea how to do anything hairy, here are some tutorials that might help you.</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2011/05/03/control-fur-with-image-mapping-in-modo/">How to control the distribution of hair or fur on a model</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2011/07/15/tip-how-to-use-images-to-manipulate-fur/">How to use images to manipulate fur</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/vFBbO6">Watch some YouTube tutorials on fur and hair</a></p> <p>Visit the 3D World forum for the <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/3dworld-forum/showthread.php?t=1111">official Creative Challenge thread</a> for full details.</p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a64676c/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Creative+Challenge+December+2011%3A+Something+hairy&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fcreative-challenge-december-2011-something-hairy%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Creative+Challenge+December+2011%3A+Something+hairy&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F25%2Fcreative-challenge-december-2011-something-hairy%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098742030/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a64676c/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118098742030/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a64676c/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/LydfPNbbuus" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Find out what kit, add-ons and apps you need to be a mobile pro</p> <p><span id="more-34123"></span><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/dellpromo_231111.jpg" rel="lightbox[34123]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-34125" height="238" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2011/11/dellpromo_231111.jpg" title="dellpromo_231111" width="580" /></a></p> <p>Our ever-improving technology means that what seemed impossible yesterday is ordinary today. Mobile working is a classic example: even a few years ago, the idea of carrying a fully fledged mobile workstation in a laptop bag or getting broadband speeds from a mobile modem was hopelessly futuristic. Now, though, technology enables us to work from anywhere – but while it solves many problems it also introduces new challenges. So what kit, add-ons and apps will make you a happy traveller?</p> <p><a href="http://www.dellcreativestudio.com/servers/the-right-stuff-for-road-warriors-essential-kit-for-mobile-pros/">Visit Dell Creative Studio for the full story</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a565be8/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Sponsored+link%3A+Essential+kit+for+mobile+pros&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F23%2Fsponsored-link-the-right-stuff-for-road-warriors-essential-kit-for-mobile-pros%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Sponsored+link%3A+Essential+kit+for+mobile+pros&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F23%2Fsponsored-link-the-right-stuff-for-road-warriors-essential-kit-for-mobile-pros%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099072135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a565be8/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099072135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a565be8/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/ValGjIEgq0c" width="1" />

<p class="strap">Anders Langlands, CG supervisor at MPC, explains why specular properties are important for creating realistic materials</p> <p><span id="more-34117"></span></p> <p>In the ’150 CG secrets’ article in <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/magazine/latest-issue-magazine/">issue 150</a>, Anders Langlands discusses the need to prioritise specularity in order to achieve realistic materials. </p> <p>Anders explains: The most important thing with any material is to get the specular properties right. The specular/glossy response of a surface (or lack of it) tells us whether it’s made of metal, plastic or rubber. You know you’ve got a shader right when you can look at an image and instantly know what each surface would feel like to the touch. </p> <p>This means getting two things right:</p> <p>1. Your Fresnel settings determine what your surface is actually made of. If you don’t apply a Fresnel falloff, you’re going to be limited to something that looks like metal. Otherwise apply a Fresnel falloff that’s appropriate to your material. </p> <p>Water: 1.34<br /> Skin: 1.4<br /> Plastic and glass: 1.5-1.7.</p> <p>If you’re unsure, just set it to 1.5: better to have something slightly wrong than no Fresnel at all. </p> <p>For the best metal effects, use measured reflectance data (‘nk data’) to get the subtle shifts in the colour and brightness of reflections as the incidence angle changes. If your renderer doesn’t support this, you can often use a very high IOR with a standard Fresnel to get some of the same effect.</p> <p> ?2. If specular reflections are the most important part of a shader, bump and displacement maps are the most important part of your texture stack. </p> <p>If you’re using ZBrush or Mudbox for overall displacement, make sure you’re happy with your base model and displacement before you start shading. </p> <p>If you’re going to try extracting bump maps from your colour textures as a starting point, do so immediately after you get a first colour pass. Once you have your bump and displacement down, move on to specular maps. If you’ve done your displacement well these can usually be quite simple. What you want to paint is the ‘exponent’, ‘glossy’ or ‘shininess’ map, depending on what your software calls it - in other words, the one that controls the shape of the specular highlight. You should always use an energy-conserving specular BRDF so that as the highlight gets broader, it also gets dimmer. If your software does not support an energy-conserving BRDF, you can plug the inverse of your shininess map into the specular strength parameter to fake this effect. </p> <p>Once you’ve got your displacement right and your Fresnel settings correct, you can just tweak your shininess settings until your CG material matches your reference images.</p> <p><a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/tdww15/">To discover all 150 CG tips by experts from the likes of MPC, Aardman and ILM, get your copy of issue 150 now</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1a565be9/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Top+tip%3A+Make+the+most+of+specularity&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F23%2Ftop-tip-make-the-most-of-specularity%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Top+tip%3A+Make+the+most+of+specularity&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2011%2F11%2F23%2Ftop-tip-make-the-most-of-specularity%2F" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099072134/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a565be9/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/118099072134/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1a565be9/a2.img" /></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/aJn36su55BI" width="1" />

Cinesite launches its 2012 Inspire Internship Program New technical effects placement added to develop the next-generation of VFX programmers   London, UK, October 19, 2011 – Cinesite, one of the world’s leading film visual effects houses, today opened pre-registration for its highly successful annual internship program, Inspire. New to this year’s initiative is a separate technical effects strand, which specifically targets graduates with an interest in computer programming or technical effects – in direct response to what Cinesite sees as a distinct lack of skilled programmers coming into the VFX industry.   “We’ve had great success ov...

  Minneapolis: Peterson Milla Hooks/Minneapolis (PMH) capped a colorful history of commercial work for Target with a grand finale, a vibrant and engagingly stylish spot, "Missoni," announcing the launch of the Missoni for Target line.  SUE at CRASH+SUES once again brought her artistry and technical expertise to creating the color-driven imagery that has been the signature of PMH’s highly successful campaign for the national retailer. Budget-conscience fashion-istas responded to the :30 spot’s message in record numbers, buying out all of the limited-time designer Target collection in less than two days, and crashing the retailer’s new website. The PMH’s ...

Atlanta, GA. – An Atlanta favorite seen by more than 25 million people for almost 30 years the Lasershow at Stone Mountain Park is a tradition at the landmark site.  Artistic Image (AI) created 3D animation and 40-minute video enhancements for Full Spectrum LLC’s new Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision, which has dazzled visitors since its debut.  The show uses Stone Mountain as a projection surface with digital video projection delivering 3D-like effects without the glasses.   The original lasershow featured neon laser lights, fireworks, graphics and stories choreographed to a pop musical score transforming the park into a natural amphitheater.  In t...

DMM stands for "Digital Molecular Matter" - an advanced simulation technology developed over the past 6 years by Pixelux Entertainment. DMM was first used by LucasArts in their hit game "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed"While covering the use of new technologies in "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed", Vanity Fair Magazine called DMM Technology "a technological breakthrough, nearly as revolutionary as the introduction of sound in film".Now you can use this same technology to easily bring your artistic creations to life through advanced simulation technology with the DMM Plug-in for Maya. Unlike rigid body physics system...

CUDA releases Real Time Shatter tool for MayaRUINS is a shatter plug-in for Autodesk's Maya.   RUINS is an advanced technology designed to simulate shatter sequences in Maya. In Maya, solid shatter is a difficult to solve, moreover a lengthy process, RUINS offers shattering and breaking of your models in an instant.  RUINS is production-proven software and capable of meeting most simulation shattering and breaking needs. RUINS costs $66.00-$99.00 See more information about RUINS here: http://www.nshatter.com/index.html Tutorial Available here: http://www.nshatter.com/ruins%201.0.html

Autodesk has reduced the price of its Flare package (the software-only version of Flame) to £4k to “bring it in line with other compositing systems,” Stig-Erik Gruman, vp, Digital Entertainment Group, Autodesk, told Televisual at IBC. Gruman also said Flare is increasingly being used for 2d to 3d conversions, in combination with Autodesk's Maya, a process he described as “redimentionalisation” rather than conversion. He added that MPC recently bought 20 Flare seats, which are global licenses that can be moved around its different international offices. Autodesk also announced it has agreed a licensing deal with Disney to take its in-house procedura...

Subscription customers gain exclusive access to design optimisation, visualisation and collaboration in the cloud 3D design, engineering and entertainment software company Autodesk has launched Autodesk Cloud, a collection of more than a dozen Web-based capabilities, products and services. The new offering would enable customers to extend their desktops with greater mobility, new viewing and sharing capabilities, and more computing power, said the company. In addition, Autodesk Subscription customers will now have exclusive access to cloud-based rendering and design optimisation, and enhanced collaboration capabilities, said Autodesk. The company added that Autodesk Subscri...

To help launch its Adobe Creative Cloud solution, Adobe Systems has delivered a series of new touch enabled apps for tablet users.To help kick start its new Adobe Creative Cloud initiative, Adobe Systems announced a series of Adobe Touch Apps, a family of six, intuitive touch screen applications, designed for Android tablets and Apple iPad that enable users to explore ideas and present their creativity on touch devices.During an Oct. 3 keynote announcing the news, Adobe’ CTO Kevin Lynch, said the new Adobe Touch Apps were inspired by Adobe Creative Suite software, and they bring professional-level creativity to millions of tablet users. The apps address multiple areas of the creativ...

http://nymayausersgroup.blogspot.com/2011/10/next-meeting-tuesday-october-11th.html NEXT MEETING TUESDAY OCTOBER 11th !!!! Sorry about the late notice, but come one come all, and tell your Friends.Come to check out some new maya features, some behind the scenes from Nathan Love, and meet up with Other Maya artists in the NY area. ( ps. the more of you show up this time, the larger budget we get for next!!)MEETING 7:30 to 10:00 OCTOBER 11thNYC OCEANALee Fraser of Autodesk will show off new stuff for Maya, including some SAP toolsandNathan Love will be showing some behind the scenes from some of their awesome projects.... if you aren't already familiar with Nathan Love's incredible ...

New York:  Wild(child) Editorial has signed alumnus  Nick Tomnay for commercial representation in the US. The Aussie native, who did a four-year stint at the NY-based spot house, reconnects with Wild(child) after moving to LA in 20010 to direct and edit his debut feature film, The Perfect Host, starring David Hyde Pierce. Tomnay, who also wrote the script for the film, recently returned to New York to cut a spot for Wild(child), rekindling his love of the city and passion for the commercial genre. Yvette Pineyro, owner of Wild(child) Editorial, a 100% minority woman-owned company, helms her Flatiron-based boutique’s team of in-house editors, as well as the select roster o...

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5157" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/student-gallery.jpg" title="Gnomon Student Gallery" width="150" /></td> <td valign="top">Join us on Saturday, December 3rd for the second Gnomon Gallery show to showcase the best work of students and recent graduates from the Gnomon School of Visual Effects, featuring characters, creatures, models, matte paintings and more.</td> </tr> </table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5157" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/axis-news1.jpg" title="Axis School of Visual Effects" width="150" /></td> <td valign="top">Gnomon is excited to announce our partnership with <a href="http://www.saga.art.br/">Saga</a>, a unique school that teaches computer graphics, arts and animation to young adults across Brazil, in the development of <a href="http://www.axis.art.br/index.php?lang=en-us">Axis</a>, a new facility to be launched Spring 2012.</td> </tr> </table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5157" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/real-steel-news.jpg" title="The Making of Real Steel" width="150" /></td> <td valign="top">Join us for a special, behind-the-scenes look at Digital Domain’s work on the recently released hit <em>Real Steel</em>. Stick around for an in-depth presentation by Marcel De Jong as he shares tips and tricks for Autodesk Maya and demos new features of Mudbox and Motion Builder.</td> </tr> </table>

Today The Gnomon Workshop and concept designer Harald Belker combine forces again for the 6th installment of his entertainment design [...]

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="14%"><img alt="" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/mc2011-680.jpg" title="Gnomon Master Classes" width="150" /></td> <td valign="top" width="86%">Join us for two weeks of new, exclusive classes in an interactive, online event. Each class focuses on a different element of the visual effects or games industries and allows individuals to discuss the content with the instructors. One ticket gives you access to all 14 classes!</td> </tr> </table>

Instructor: Axel Stanley-Grossman Format: DVD-Rom, Digital Download, Online Subscription

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5157" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/neville-page1.jpg" title="Neville Page: From Page to Screen at Gnomon Gallery " width="150" /></td> <td valign="top">View a collection of concept designer Neville Page’s work from various film projects, including digital images, original 2D and 3D artwork and prototypes from select films. Opening reception is Saturday, October 1st at 7:00 P.M. at <a href="http://www.gnomongallery.com/">Gnomon Gallery</a>.</td> </tr> </table>

The Gnomon Workshop is proud to announce the release of the first volume in a new foundational figure drawing series [...]

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tr> <td><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5157" height="70" src="http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/gallery-girls.jpg" title="Hades in Hollywood" width="150" /></td> <td valign="top">Join us this Thursday, Sept. 29th, as Gnomon hosts a special drawing workshop with <a href="http://www.sketchtheatre.com/">Sketch Theatre</a> and <a href="http://www.gallerygirls.org/">The Gallery Girls</a> at the Gnomon Stage. This event will feature live models, lots of drawing and live music.</td> </tr> </table>

We’re pleased to share with you two new free ZBrush tutorials by character artist Mark Dedecker, who has worked as [...]