Chaos Group, authors of the Phoenix and SimCloth plugins, and Dimension Design Animation Group, well known
for their Shag:Hair and Shag:Fur plugins, are preparing to launch a new website together. Already on offer is a time-bombed beta version of a plugin called f-Edge (the plugin formerly known as EdgeSmooth which has now been extended with more capabilities, resembling Lightwave's EdgeFX plugin). The site officially opens May 1st, and can be found at www.chaoticdimension.com.

Side Effects will offer free Houdini introductory workshops in Santa Monica and San Francisco. Additional Houdini courses at a more advanced level will also be made available. Course descriptions, dates and times available at Side Effect's site.   [ more... ]

Peter Watje has put 2 more recompiled plugins up on his site. They are EditSpline2 and Deflector Plus.

A list of Maya 4's new features (mainly aimed at game developers) has surfaced on the web. Maya 4 is still in early beta testing, though, so the list is subject to change.

Check out the new Brazil renderings being posted at Blurbeta's webboard!

Here are some more recompiles from Peter Watje for 3ds max 4: Deform Paint v0.7, Chase Gravity v1.0 and Blob Mod v1.2.

Brief - this will be on the front page: Gonzalo Rueda has recompiled a couple of his freeware plugins for 3ds max 4. HotScript is a plugin utility that allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts to MaxScripts, and Yascript is a MaxScript extension that allows you to show and hide the UI toolbars.

VFXPro reviews 3ds max from a game artist's perspective.
Max 3D reviews Cebas' Ghostpainter.
Computer Creative takes a quick look at After Effects 5.

According to a recent forecast published by Computer Graphics World magazine, 3D plugin revenues are expected to experience a 37% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the next five years, compared to a 15.8% CAGR for professional 3D packages which could translate into revenues from plugins outrunning proceeds from 3D packages by 2005. 3D tools *and* plugin revenues are expected to grow from $384 million in 2000 to $1 billion by 2005. The whole industry is expected to experience a healthy growth in the next years following the steady increase in demand for 3D content. Will the inclusion of 3D features in Flash (including Havok's physics capabilities) affect this figures? Is the web ready for more complex 3D animation? Tune in same day next year to find out the answers to these questions. :-)

DV Format has an article on Nonlinear Digital Video Editing software packages (covers Final Cut Pro, edit 6, Premiere 6, Speed Razor, etc.).

A new trailer has been released for the PDI/DreamWorks animated film, Shrek.

REZN8 visual effects studio created part of the opening sequence for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards aired Sunday, March 25. REZN8 used Max to create all the 3D elements of the detailed two-minute video segment that introduced Oscar host Steve Martin.

LightWave 6.5 for Mac OS X can be downloaded from NewTek's website.

Discreet announced that it has begun shipping edit 6, the latest version of its NT based desktop non-linear editing system. Edit 6 incorporates enhancements for editing professionals with focus in four main areas: encoding and automated publishing for web streaming, advanced vertical editing and compositing, expanded effects capability, and workgroup services for producers, editors and assistants.
Read the whole PR at Discreet.com.

Computer Creative reviews FiLMBOX Studio 2.7, Kaydara's motion capture and NLA editing/blending tool.

"For those of you who haven't yet upgraded to 3ds max 4, the new patch for Stitch (v. 1.05e) for 3ds max 3.x is now available for download from the Digimation website:
(www.digimation.com/asp/support_downloads.asp)   [ more... ]

SplutterFish is finally online and the latest release of the Brazil Rendering System is available for testing.  This release includes, bug fixes, speed improvements, and, hold on to your pants, global illumination!  Enjoy :-)   [ more... ]

Motion Analysis has released Solver 6.0, the latest version of its motion retargeting tool to aid animators using motion-capture data to create 3D characters. Solver allows the user to apply motion to any skeleton and to describe a bio-mechanical knowledge of that skeleton. The software preserves high-frequency movements, maintains subtle nuances of motion, accurately solves character skeletons with as much as a 30 percent difference in proportions and enables puppeteering capabilities for non-human characters, among other features.
Ascension Technology announced ReActor (sounds familiar? :-), an infrared active-optical motion capture system aimed at independent game developers and small to mid-size animation production houses. Reactor provides very clean data output with little or no post processing needed. Automatic marker recognition allows ReActor to reacquire markers momentarily blocked, minimizing lost data and increasing data quality. The system sets up in minutes and requires no calibration. Supports Max, Maya and FiLMBOX.

Kotoc, a group of Spanish animators, have posted another nice preview animation for their upcoming short Top Gum.

Adobe Atmosphere lets designers import objects created with leading 3D design tools such as 3ds max and Maya through importing Viewpoint file formats. The software integrates standard 3D web design technologies, such as connecting worlds through urls; linking in textures, sounds, and objects; and using JavaScript to animate objects, add sound, and program special effects. The Atmosphere browser is powered by the Viewpoint Media Player. Atmosphere beta is available for download.

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a cutting-edge device that may help you realize your wildest dreams while you sleep comfortably in bed. Stephen LaBerge has spent years studying lucid dreaming, defined as the experience of dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming.
Read the whole story at ABCNews.com.

faceLoft v0.8 by Christopher Subagio lets you loft a face selection (one face only) in a polyobject through a spline.

Peter Watje has started recompiling his plugins for 3ds max 4, and has written a couple of new ones. The recompiles are Particle Plus, Hair, Scatter, Cross Section and Unwrap. The new plugins are FPS Controller and Camera Map Animated, which is available for MAX R3.x and 3ds max 4.

Posted Mon Mar 26, 2001 10:42 PST by | Source:

Several new tutorials have been added to NeilBlevins.com over the past few weeks, including a recent one discussing the soon to be released build of Brazil rs. Check them out here..   [ more... ]

Nik Foscarini, creator of the Ultrashock plugin, has updated his freeware plugins for 3ds max 4. You can get the plugins here: Translucency, Colorize and Starblur.

Selma, by Herman Saksono, the selection sets manager, consists of two modules. The Selection Sets floater and the Quadmenu updater. The floater lists all selection sets, plus you can edit, remove, hide anda unhide selection sets by using this floater. The updater put your selection sets into your quadmenu, so if you are working in a large scene with many different objects, you can quickly select them using the quadmenu. Check it out here. PS: The Bonetools script has been updated as well, but it has a new name: Skeletools

WildTangent have released export plugins for Max R3.x and 3ds max 4 which allow you to create content for their Web Driver software. You can download the plugins here.

This release includes a number of improvements and bugfixes. The plugin, available for Max R3.x and 3ds max 4, is available here

Visual Magic Magazine reviews CS 3.0.

Animatek's soon to be released World Builder 3.0 landscape creation tool will sport new communication features that will allow users to eliminate import/export hassles between 3ds max / VIZ and World Builder 3.0 and enable them to share lights, cameras, shadows, reflections, depth and more between both 3D programs dynamically. "AnimaTek WorldBuilder Professional is so closely integrated with Max and Viz that you may consider it as a plug-in for these popular professional packages."
Check out some of WB's animation capabilities (animated trees, plants, grass, waves, etc.) at their movie gallery.

The patch as well as a read-me file can be found at Discreet's website.   [ more... ]

Discreet announced that it is teaming with Microsoft to make its extensive suite of 3D tools available to participants in the Xbox Incubator Program. Starting immediately, Incubator Program members will receive -- at no charge, and for the full term of their membership -- a fully functioning license of 3ds max 4, character studio, and the newly announced reactor physics-simulation extension.   [ more... ]

According to a press release from Discreet, Microsoft is planning to include similar gmax game packs to the ones announced for Flight Simulator 2002 in other simulation titles in the future, including Microsoft Train Simulator and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator. Discreet has also announced an agreement with Criterion Software that will result in gmax licensors having a direct export path to Criterion's RenderWare Platform game development framework (licensed by game developers such as Interplay, Konami, Activision, etc.).

DV.com has a very favorable review of ReelSmart Twixtor (a plugin for AE, Combustion, Commotion and Final Cut Pro that slows down, speeds up or changes the frame rate of image sequences), and a first look at After Effects 5.0.

Discreet  introduced today at the Game Developers Conference, gmax, the company's licenseable game development platform and free consumer game-content editor based on tools found in 3ds max. Development and consumer versions of gmax are expected to be available late summer 2001. Microsoft will reportedly be distributing gmax with their new Flight Simulator 2002 which is scheduled to be released this fall.   [ more... ]

The latest Digimation Newsletter has a profile on Ensemble Studios, developers of the Age of Empires series. Also announced at the newsletter are price discounts for many of Digimation's plugins (valid 'til April 30).

Meme-X Inc. has been very busy creating a slew of new plug-in tools, including a new NPR vector engine, a realtime skinning system for game developers and more. You can check it out on the web http://www.meme-x.com.

TDP_NeWz: Discreet at GDC '01

László Sebõ has put up a website with information on his great MeshTools modeling script. A brief documentation of MeshTools' different commands can be found at the site along with screen-capture tutorial videos from Tamás Varga and Irfan Celik. The latest version of MeshTools is also available for download. Get it while supplies last.

Ghost 3D, announced the release of Scribe-iT v1.04, a desktop 3D digitizing solution for Immersion’s MicroScribe digitizers and Discreet’s 3ds max 4 and 3D Studio VIZ.   [ more... ]

Areté announced the availability of Digital NatureTools v4.0 for Maya v3.0. The new release features the Pyro plug-in, which includes the fire and smoke volumetric effects technologies Areté has been researching for more than a year.   [ more... ]

Maya 3 reviewed at the 3D Gate.
Poser Pro Pack reviewed at Digit Magazine.

Digimation and Di-O-Matic announce today the release of Morph-O-Matic, read the press release here.
Check out the comparison chart regarding 'Morph-O-Matic vs. other morph plugins': Worth a look-see.

http://www.3dworldmag.com/application/app_default.asp

"We don't need no stinkin' dissasembler."  Cuneyt Ozdas demonstrates how to crack his QuickDirt 1.5.1 for max 4 using nothing but a common copy of Photoshop.

"Autodesk [stock] Down 6%, Despite No News; Co. Declines Comment".   [ more... ]

Bonetools by Herman Saksono - Bonetools is a collection of tools to make bone creation and setup in 3ds max 4 easier, includes Reroot, Connect, Remove and Remove BoneXP commands.
Boundbox, Voxel Box Generator, 3D Poly and Mesh Generator, Clock Animator, Box Deflector by EffectWare.

Dosch Design hasn't been sitting still.

As of march 12th new versions (2.0) of some of their original Dosch Textures are available, and two products have been added to their Dosch 3D series.. namely Light-Scenes and Background Stages.   [ more... ]

  [ more... ]

CGW has a very interesting article on Peter Molyneaux's (of Populous/Bullfrog fame) latest creation: Black and White. This soon to be released game fits into the God-sim category and is driven by moral choices taken by the player during gameplay in a plot that seems to be based on Machiavelli's "The Prince". This one promises to be a very special game. 3ds max was used in the development of Black and White.
Also of note, CGW has an article on Munch's Oddysee, a new title being developed by Oddworld Inhabitants for Microsoft's Xbox platform.

Lighting strategies in 3D (Beginner)
Creating Industrial Textures
Advanced Subdivision Surfaces

This question has landed in the mu mailbox a few times now. What's your favorite models sites? Are there public archives out there? Which ones rock and which ones suck? Post some comments here to share your links and opinions.

Discreet will apparently be showing off Reactor 1.0 a "Great new technology for rigid and softbody dynamics, giving physically accurate animation of cloth, water, collisions, ropes and breakages" at European Games Developers Conferences in Copenhagen 3/4, Paris 5/4, London 9/4, Manchester 11/4, Frankfurt 16/5. They are also giving a free copy of Reactor or Character Studio 3 to companys that send 5 delegates according to the invite.

Creations have released a plugin for 3ds max 4 called VChannel Copy which allows you to copy UVW channel info between channels on the same object. This is an unofficial plugin with no support. You can get the plugin here

Raph.com has been updated with new pictures plus you can now order posters of some of the images displayed in the gallery. Posters are available from 15" x 22.5" to 52.5" x 35", and printed on heavyweight semi-gloss paper.

www.hollowstudios.com

HABWare have posted a new version of their Spider plugin for Max R3.x. This fixes a load/reset/load bug. The plugin is available here.

As many of you may know, Manex is no longer doing the effects for the maxtrix sequels. Well, more information is out thanks to Variety regarding who's handling the FX. And the FX goes to...ESC Entertainment. Who is ESC, you ask? Valid question, since it only officially became an entity this past Friday, put together by the members of the Manex team that worked on Matrix 1. In fact, ESC is, according to the mag, still drawing Manex digital artists away to join their new company, which was formed with Village Roadshow. Manex is now checking out their legal options that might gain them some much-needed coin out of the deal.

The patch for 3ds max 4.01 has been removed from the Discreet server. Here's the official word: Discreet has run into a problem with the 3ds max 4.01 patch and has temporarily removed it from the download site. We have encountered problems relating to XRef Scenes that can cause a data-loss crash. It is a problem that can only be reproduced with the patched version of 3ds max 4.01, therefore, Discreet has decided to remove the patch until a replacement is compiled. At this time, we are unable to provide information when the new patch will be available and we apologize for the inconvenience.

Tom Hudson has recompiled his Greeble plugin for max 4. This plugin was previously only available together with Jon Bells 'f/x & design' book, but is now freeware. The plugin is available here.

WIRED has an article on the state of synthespians, digital water, and the other "holy grails" of computer animation.

Daniel Martinez Lara, from pepeland, have made a new animation with Cluster-O-Matic, check it out in the digimation beta page

Scriptspot has been updated with all the new r4 scripts.

Check out this nice preview animation of Top Gum, a short film still in production by Kotoc - a group of animators from Barcelona, Spain.

Digital Media Designer has a short article on the upcoming ZBrush 1.2 up on their website.

Discreet tools have been used in all of this years' films nominated for the Visual Effects Oscar. Read the article at Discreet's website.

D Vision Works D Sculptor image based modeler reviewed at Digit Magazine.

"With Final Cut Pro 2, real-time editing and compositing functions are seamlessly integrated into the video production workflow. By simply adding an optional, supported real-time processing card, video editors can instantly perform wipes, dissolves, and 2D motion graphics effects, dramatically increasing their creative freedom and efficiency."

"The expected launch for Swift 3D Max Plug-in is the end of April. There will be a yet-to-be-determined discount on the plug-in for current Swift 3D standalone owners."   [ more... ]

Maxon have announced that the BodyPaint3D to Max connection plugin will soon be available FREE for Max R3.x and 3ds max 4. Read the press release here

MetaReyes, from Reyes-Infografica has been updated with some bug fixes related to the conversion of metamuscles to editable meshes.

Japanese developer Expression Tools has released an English version of ETShade, its 3D modeling, rendering and animation program. Highlights include: Subdivision Surfaces, Area Lights, Metashapes (fuses meta elements such as MetaBalls, MetaCubes, MetaCylinders and any polygon shape), Pseudo Caustics (reflects bump attributes of shapes/surfaces into the permeated shadows), Pseudo Aberration (expresses color aberration according to the bump attributes of shapes/surfaces) and Radiosity.

Lazlo Sebo recently released Meshtools 2.1 for R4. This version includes the new Bridge and Tighten tools.

Check out this image, and keep an eye on your radars. More UGIOs have been spotted in the vicinity of Splutterfish.com.

Sheba Speaks is a streaming 3D site using the Pulse engine for playback. Sheba was created with 3D Max, lip-synched with Ventriloquist and exported for Internet streaming with Pulse Producer.   [ more... ]

Digital Dimension just posted a few images and animations of some of their work for Nascar on FOX. Products used: MAX/Digital Fusion/RenderDrive/Modeled with Ghost's Surf-it)   [ more... ]

Di-O-Matic website, www.di-o-matic.com, is now online.
Bulge-O-Matic is available for free to download, as well as some infos regarding Cluster-O-Matic and Morph-O-Matic, that should be both released soon through Digimation.

Di-O-Matic released their first freeware plugin for Max R3.x and 3ds max 4. It is called Bulge-O-Matic, an advanced spherify modifier, and is available here:
http://www.di-o-matic.com/images/centre/download/bom_max3.zip (R3) and here http://www.di-o-matic.com/images/centre/download/bom_max4.zip (R4)

GHOST 3D has just released ResErect version 1.04.  Version 1.04 is a comptibility release that supports 3ds max/VIZ R3.x and 3ds max Release 4.   [ more... ]

The 3ds max 4 version of SimCloth from Chaos Group is available here:  http://www.chaosgroup.com/products/simcloth_v251(R4).zip

Norbert Raetz put up an article on PyroCluster for Mental Ray MAX on the 25th of Feb.

Cebas ThinkingParticles is a new particle system plugin that uses a rule-based approach to the creation of particle animations. ThinkingParticles offers true Non Linear Animation (NLA) and does not depend on keyframes to create complex animations and particle behaviors. Animations such as multiple cannons aiming and shooting at incoming targets can be easily setup and handled automatically (explosions included). As no keyframes are being used modifications are also a breeze.
Material and map control of when and where particles are generated are also offered in this plugin through the inclusion of Matterwaves which can now be tied to ThinkingParticle's rule-based animations.

HABWare have recompiled almost all of their plugins for 3ds max 4. The plugins are all available here.

The connection is available here

Discreet has released an upgrade for 3ds max 4. The patch can be found here, and the read-me is here.   [ more... ]

Faking sunlight
Basic compositing using Photoshop and 3D programs
Turning a bitmap shape into splines for Max (Beginner)

Fusioneers has released a new particle engine for Digital Fusion that lets you use custom particles, define their lifetime and behavior, add various modifiers and adjust different forces.
More information available at Fusioneers' site.

Amorphium Pro reviewed at Computer Creative.
Softimage XSI 1.5 reviewed at Digit Magazine.

Christopher Subagio has updated his HDRdomeLight script with some optimizations. He has also added detailed instructions on how to use the script's different parameters. R3 and R4 versions available.

There's an interesting article on rendering engines at Animation Artist's website.

Digimation Light Galleries lighting design plugin reviewed at Videosystems.com.

Plugin patches available at Digimation's Maxusers.com. Patches will ONLY work if you have a valid copy of the plug-in already installed.

Boomer Labs FSM 2.0 will support R4 and the upgrade will be free of charge for owners of v1.x of the plugin. FSM 2.0's new features soon to be announced.

New plugins by John Burnett: UVWtoRGB, PointCache2 and BindPoints. UVWtoRGB will let you view the UVW coordinates of an object. Handy while mapping objects, or as an enhance VertexColor texture. PointCache2 is an enhanced version of the Point Cache modifier. BindPoints is a set of modifiers that lets you bind points on one object to points or faces on another object. R3 and R4 versions available.

Bones Pro 3 : and its new MetaBone, soon to be released....
Cluster-O-Matic : true cluster selection, to be released on the 16th March

Ket-SP has recompiled his LightWave Importer for 3ds max 4. The plugin is available here or here.

HIGHEND Seminars Presents RENDERING THEORY FOR PRODUCTION - Using BMRT, Jig, Mental Ray, The Maya Renderer and Photo-Realistic Renderman.  Speakers will be Rev Lebaredian, Darin Grant, Eugene Jeong, Bruce Tartaglia, and Charles Anderson.  Sponsored by Highend3d, Compaq, Linux Network, and VFXPro.   [ more... ]

Some very nice Arnold renders courtesy of a reader from Spain. Enjoy!

As reported by Richard Annema, Kelseus has added new information and media to its Cloth plugin pages. The plugin can now be purchased from Kelseus' site and a demo version is available for download.

- 3D Forum for Norwegian language speakers, moderated by Rune Spaans. Max biased. :-)
- Reyes-Infografica Forums. Support forums for users of Infografica's great plugins.

Although FX Realm's website ( http://www.fxrealm.com/ ) may be unfunctional right now, they're not sitting still.  A mirror site(?) points out that a R4 version of Creature Creator is available (free upgrade for R3.x users, demo available).  Furthermore, they are working on its successor : Creature Lab.  (Editorial:  Digging around the mirror site, it looks like Creature Lab is shipping as of Jan.5.)

Visit www.siggraph.org/s2001/ for the most up-to-date, in-depth information about programs and events.   [ more... ]

Reyes-Infografica is considering commercializing the full range of Reyes plugins for R4 in a pack of six for a price in the range of 495 - 595 US$. Release date will probably be early April.

EffectWare Beams is a free plugin for Max 4 that creates C, H, I and L type steel shapes.

Reyes-Infografica have updated their JEdit program, which works in conjunction with JetaReyes. This fixes problems that a lot of people were having running the plugin.

According to 3D World magazine, Kelseus Cloth will be finally available on March 6. More information on the plugin (and a sample movie) can be found at 3D World's website.

Visit the BlurScripts website to pick up an updated zipfile (BSPack_008.zip) with a bunch of bug fixes and updates to their current scripts.   [ more... ]

Brendan Duncan, of MAXShade.com, has decided to let his Luminaire plugin remain a free(!) product. Luminaire is a radiosity and caustics calculation plugin, which was slated for release at an SRP $US395.   [ more... ]

Plugin patches available at Digimation's Maxusers.com. Patches will ONLY work if you have a valid copy of the plug-in already installed.
There are no current plans to recompile daVinci 3D modeling plugin for R4. More info available at Discreet's webboard.

Laszlo Sebo has updated his Meshtools script with an expanded toolset (EraseVertex, Connect-1, Connect-2.-3, Divide Edge 2.3.4). Layer Manager by David Humpherys updated with some bug fixes and enhancements.

"Contract talks between the Writers Guild of America and the television and film industry collapsed on Thursday after nearly six weeks of intense bargaining, deepening fears that Hollywood is headed for a crippling strike this spring."  (editorial:  ugh.)  full story

Uzife selection tool by Yaei Itoh updated with a small bug fix. Download R3 and R4 versions.

Where are pleased to announce the new newsgroups for the french-speaking community on news://news.3dvf.net/charte. These one are 12 newsgroups about maya, xsi, 3dsmax, lightwave, compositing, etc... So your are welcome !

Shag:Hair tutorial
Advanced Digital Compositing
Afterburn - An Introduction

Deep Paint 3D and Texture Weapons 3ds max 4 support plugin now available (registered users only).

François Rimasson interview (a version in French is available at 3dvf.com). Brazilian artist Eni Oken profiled at Design4 magazine.

Boston Dynamics has been working with Sony to develop a simulator for the SDR-3X Humanoid Robot. The dynamic simulator is software that models the physics of the SDR-3X body, actuators, and control system. The simulator uses 3D computer graphics to display the simulated behavior.   [ more... ]

Avid held their Softimage XSI 1.5 launch event last night at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, CA.  The Good:  Free beer, impressive poly modeling tools, open ascii file format, animation signal processing in their animation mixer - The Bad:  I think a piece of bad fish nearly poisoned me last night, all rendering is very tightly tied to Mental Image$ with no apparent support for other 3rd party renderers.  Overall, as a package, XSI is looking pretty nice - good workflow, competitive toolset - but there is a sense that they are desperately trying to regain market share in a community they've lost touch with.  Given a little more time and 3rd party support, I think XSI is going to become very attractive.

Martin Foster wrote up a really good review of the show and posted it up on the