Computer Graphics World articles from July 2005

Computer Graphics World archives from July 2005

The play's the thing.(use of computer games and their designing process)(Editorial)
July 1, 2005... Given the recent focus on next-generation game consoles, with their graphics, processing, and networking improvements, it's clear that gaming hardware is progressing at an impressive rate. But is the software--the games themselves-advancing as...

NaturalMotion previews endorphin 2.5.(CHARACTER ANIMATION)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... NaturalMotion has revealed that it will demonstrate the latest version of its Endorphin real-time 3D character animation software during SIGGRAPH 2005 in Los Angeles. Endorphin Version 2.5 employs Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS),...

Microsoft presents 64-bit windows OS, Xbox 360.(OPERATING SYSTEM)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Microsoft has announced the availability of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, its latest operating system. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, targeting those pushing the limits of today's 32-bit applications, is designed to increase...

Hewlett-Packard debuts xw4300.(WORKSTATION)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Hewlett-Packard has introduced the HP xw4300 workstation, which takes advantage of the new dual-core Intel Pentium D processor. An entry-level system starting at $849, the HP xw4300 is designed to offer up to a 20 percent performance...

Maxon releases 64-bit cinema 4d.(MODELING/ANIMATION)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Maxon Computer has unveiled 64-bit versions of the company's 3D animation software, Cinema 4D. Cinema 4D has been optimized for today's 64-bit processors, enabling users to benefit from increased memory and speed. In fact, its previous 2GB...

Boxx Technologies launches GoBoxx 2300.(WORKSTATION)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Boxx Technologies has unveiled its GoBoxx 2300 mobile workstation designed for digital media and content creation applications. The new system is powered by an Intel Pentium 4 processor with HT technology, up to 3.8 GHZ, and an 800MHZ...

Signs of the times.(use of flat panel displays in advertising)
July 1, 2005... If you've ever been to Las Vegas's McCarron airport, you can't have missed the audiovisual theatrics showing on the huge monitors above the baggage claim area advertising the wealth of entertainment options the city has to offer. And even at...

Acts of war: ILM creates mysterious war machines, aliens, and mayhem for a gritty War of the Worlds.(Film)
July 1, 2005... Steven Spielberg could have invaded the planet with a spectacular battalion of transparent, high-tech spaceships. He didn't. Rather, for his 21st-century cinematic version of H.G. Wells' 1898 novel The War of the Worlds, he focused on one man's...

Casting the dark side: ILM unleashes a massive digital ensemble for Revenge of the Sith.(PART TWO OF TWO-PART SPECIAL FEATURE)
July 1, 2005... Even though the galaxy far, far away in Episode III is teeming with hundreds of digital characters, there is one technical terror that reigns supreme: the biomechanical General Grievous, whose body transforms into a seemingly unstoppable...

Home field advantage: artists kick off MLB 2006's virtual baseball games with unique, realistic game-day crowd scenes.(Major League Baseball)
July 1, 2005... During the past few years, as the boys of summer take the field, the cinematics team at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has been looking ahead to the next season of its MLB franchise, finding ways to increase the game stats when it...

Monochrome merger: black-and-white characters enter a world of color in the film trilogy Full Moon Fables.(Video)
July 1, 2005... Independent filmmaker Edward B. Sherman knew exactly what kinds of special effects he needed for "Saturday Night at Madame Wing's, the third installment in his triology, Full Moon Fables. In order to express the central themes of the films--the...

Portfolio.(SIGGRAPH 2005 Electronic Theater)
July 1, 2005... A showcase of cutting-edge animations, visualizations, and computer graphics, the SIGGRAPH 2005 Computer Animation Festival will feature groundbreaking CGI in today's exciting and entertaining fields of film, television, and gaming, as well as...

HP Compaq nw8240: the new mobile release meets the demands of graphics professionals.(MOBILE WORKSTATION)
July 1, 2005... Mobile workstations have always been a compromise between power and portability. Workstations need to be the most powerful machines on the block; yet, this power usually means additional bulk, making most mobile workstations bulky when compared...

DeckLink HD Pro: Blackmagic Design's video card offers a cost-effective bridge to HD.(VIDEO CARD)
July 1, 2005... The DeckLink HD Pro, the flagship of Blackmagic Design's product line, is offered in two configurations: a dual-link (4:4:4) card, which I tested, and a single-link (4:2:2) model. The dual-link card sports an additional BNC connector that...

Compositing software.(Snapshot)
July 1, 2005... This month, we turn our attention to compositing software. Visual effects artists, 2D and 3D digital content creators, and video editors have a wide array of options available to them. Today's market bears stand-alone applications and software...

After Effects.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Adobe Systems' After Effects motion graphics and visual effects software offers compositing functionality. Currently in Version 6.5, After Effects is offered in Standard and Professional editions for Windows and Macintosh operating systems....

Shake.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... During NAB2005 in Las Vegas, Apple Computer introduced its Shake 4 visual effects and compositing software for film and commercial applications. Available alone or as part of Apple's Final Cut Studio, Shake 4 offers 3D multi-plane compositing,...

Combustion and Toxik.(Snapshot)
July 1, 2005... Autodesk Media and Entertainment has unveiled Combustion 4, the latest edition of its desktop compositing and motion graphics application. Combustion 4 provides 3D compositing and animation utilities, particles, effects, and vector paint....

Boris FX, red, blue, and more.(Snapshot)
July 1, 2005... Boris FX offers six solutions for 3D compositing and titling: Red, Graffiti, FX, Continuum Complete, Continuum Complete AVX, and Blue. Among the offerings are vector paint and rotoscoping, 3D digital video effects, motion tracking, track-based...

Nuke.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... D2 Software's Nuke (short for New Compositor), recipient of an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 2001, is a high-end compositing and effects software application designed by artists. In fact, Nuke got its start as Digital Domain's...

Fusion.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... During SIGGRAPH 2005 in Los Angeles, Eyeon Software will demonstrate the latest enhancements to its Fusion node-based compositing system. Fusion 5 provides film and video professionals a 3D environment with cameras and lights, as well as...

Liquid Edition.(Snapshot)
July 1, 2005... Pinnacle Systems' Liquid Edition 6.1 standard- and high-definition video-editing software combines compositing, real-time effects, DVD authoring, and multi-stream native HD editing. The latest version also incorporates a redesigned user...

Morph mastery.(FACIAL ANIMATION)
July 1, 2005... Win Timothy Albee Animation and Mac Reiter Creations have introduced facial animation software. For professional and novice animators seeking feature film-quality results, Timothy Albee's Facial Animation was developed during the production of...

A moving collection.(MOTION CAPTURE)
July 1, 2005... Win Digimation has introduced MoCap 400, a collection of 416 motion-capture files in the BioVision (.bvh) format, which works with most popular 3D applications. The files are divided into six categories, including Walking, Sports, and Jog &...