Computer Graphics World articles from February 2009

Computer Graphics World archives from February 2009

Entertaining thoughts.(Editor's Note)
February 1, 2009... The year 2008 was a good one for visual effects and animated films, especially in terms of variety, and, 2009 looks promising, as well. What is in store for us? Are there any big, new trends? Recently, Tim Sarnoff, president of Sony Pictures...

Autodesk grows its Mac portfolio.(PRODUCT: CONTENT CREATION)
February 1, 2009... To coincide with the annual Macworld Conference & Expo held recently, Autodesk announced that it has expanded its portfolio of Macintosh 2D and 3D software tools for entertainment, multimedia, and design professionals. The three new 2009...

Pixellexis introduces single-card solution.(PRODUCT: VIDEO CARDS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Pixellexis introduced the LXGD351SC, geared to imaging users who want to speed up their JPEG2000 encoding/decoding (compression/decompression) throughput. The LXGD351SC is a single PCI Express card with four lanes holding one MPPA device...

Blackmagic opens doors with low-cost DeckLink Studio.(Blackmagic Design Proprietary Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Blackmagic Design unveiled a new capture card model, DeckLink Studio, which replaces the entire Blackmagic standarddefinition product line while adding HD support at a lower cost. The card also offers increased analog connectivity, making it...

NewTek turns on LightWave 9.6.(PRODUCT: 3D MODELING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... NewTek released LightWave Version 9.6, a major update to its 3D modeling and animation software featuring increased stability, hair and fur cloning, nodes, and workflow acceleration. LightWave 9.6, the latest free update in the LightWave...

Boxx unwraps single-processor workstation.(Boxx Technologies Inc.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Boxx Technologies rolled out the single-processor 3DBoxx 4850 Extreme Workstation. Powered by new Intel Core i7 technology running at 4GHZ, the 3DBoxx 4850 Extreme is equipped with features such as liquid cooling to withstand the rigors of...

At home with augmented reality.(NEWS: AUGMENTED REALITY)
February 1, 2009... In terms of computer graphics technology, a lot can happen in just one short year. During Intel CEO Paul S. Otellini's keynote address at CES last year, a colleague, standing in a set designed to look like a street in China, pointed a cell...

A museum unlike any other.(NEWS: CG TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... One of the most eye-popping, mind-expanding public facilities in the world, the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria, has unveiled a remarkable new facility. With 3000 square meters of exhibit space and another 1000 devoted to its R&D...

The French evolution: digital reigns.(NEWS: DCC-EDUCATION)
February 1, 2009... The E-Magiciens festival in Valenciennes, France, always highlights the work of talented student animators, but this year, for its 10th anniversary, the city's Chamber of Commerce brought something new to the party. First, a new and separate...

Realistic digital characters.(Viewpoint: CGI)
February 1, 2009... Is it possible to have expressive digital characters that are sincere, intense, and subtle? And, why would you care? The term "realistic digitally created movie" (also called 3D or CG) appeared on the scene a few years back with the release...

Short subjects, big ideas.(CG Short Films)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Last year, under the direction of Ed Catmull, president, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios each released a feature and a short animated film. Whether by design or happenstance, the...

Simple truths: Disney tests a new, streamlined CG pipeline for Glago's Guest.(CG Short Films)
February 1, 2009... A Russian soldier marches from his outpost into a vast expanse of snow-covered tundra every day. He guards nothing. He keeps his eye on nothing. His name is Glago, and he's the star of Walt Disney Animation Studios' short film "Glago's Guest....

Chage-O: Pixar's Presto crew pulled a production rabbit out of the hat to create a loony 'toon on deadline.
February 1, 2009... When Pixar wanted a new short film to show with its then upcoming CG feature Wall-e, animator Doug Sweetland jumped at the opportunity. The result is a five-minute 'toon called "Presto," a short film about a rabbit that pulls a magician out of...

A clear vision: getting immersed in, oh, so many ways and for, oh, so many reasons.(Visualization)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At least one reason we make hand gestures when we talk is to help people see what we mean. Visualization is a critical part of understanding. On the computer. 3D visualization opens up the door to collaboration and...

Fit crew: CG plays the lead role in a unique marketing campaign for Honda.(Broadcast)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Years ago, advertising campaigns for cars were about one thing, the vehicle. Today, the ads tend to focus on the experience the vehicle offers, with glimpses of the car, truck, or SUV as it traverses a picturesque...

Everything you ever saw: Pixar's Ed Catmull looks back on 20 years of RenderMan.(Trends & Technology)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... Twenty years ago, Pixar Animation Studios released a shading language, an interface, and a specification called RenderMan, a collection of "took and systems that would let thousands of people create pictures of whatever they chose to design,...

Get recruited in a recession: gain an upswing in your career during an economic downturn.(Recruitment)
February 1, 2009... Competition is fierce in computer graphics. Everyone wants to be part of the next groundbreaking, breathtaking hit and responsible for the greatest eye-catching computer graphics and visual effects in film, television, gaming, or the Web....

Reality is served.(Mental Images)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Mental Images has unveiled its Reality-Server 2.2 server-based, 3D Web application and services platform for developers and system integrators. Reality-Server, designed to provide high-quality renderings for large-model visualization in 3D,...

Frantic deadline.(Frantic Films)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The in-house software division of Frantic Films VFX has released Deadline 3.0, an administration and rendering toolkit for Windows-, Linux-, and Mac OS X-based renderfarms. Deadline offers file sharing, 64-bit support, an intuitive user...

Male model.(3D MODELS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Michael 4, the latest version of Daz 3D's 3D male figure, is designed to be the most realistic, versatile, and anatomically accurate human male model available for public use. The figure is derived from high-resolution human photography and...

Extended family.(E-on Software to expanded its Vue product family )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... E-on Software has expanded its Vue product family with Vue 7 Complete and Vue 7 Pioneer. Vue 7 Complete, specifically designed for expert 3D artists and small studios, provides wind and breeze effects, ventilators, EcoSystem painting, and 3D...

Contact editor.(Animazoo to introduce Contact Editor)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Animazoo debuted Contact Editor, soft-ware with editing and auto-cleaning tools. Contact Editor works in conjunction with Animazoo's IGS-190M (Mobile) and new IGS-190H (Hybrid) motion-capture suits to deliver optical-quality motion-capture data...