Category: Visual Effects

BOXX Technologies is now offering the BOXX 3200 workstation based on the AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processors, the NVIDIA nForce 4 chipset, dual PCIe x16 SLI capable slots, 3Gb/s SATA and expandable internal storage to 4TB. The BOXX 3200 workstation is the first in a series of high-performance workstations.

SyncCast has been selected by the Visual Effects Society (VES) to host and stream the nominated content for voting by its members of the material from many of the box office hits of 2004.

For the first time in the VES Awards' history, final viewing and voting will take place online via the VES Website from Jan. 31 to Feb. 12. This groundbreaking method will allow VES members worldwide to view encrypted clips of the nominees' work and vote in a safe and secure online environment. Only VES members may vote and a special password is required to view and vote online.

NaturalMotion Ltd. announced the worldwide release of endorphin 1.6, its award-winning 3D animation software. Customers such as The Mill, Sony Computer Ent., Namco and Konami as well as leading animation schools are already reaping the benefits of endorphins new approach to 3D character animation.

USL-WOA, the post-production and visual effects division of UTV in Mumbai, India, has added fire and smoke editing/finishing systems to its existing Discreet-based workflow. The company anticipates a workload of 200 commercials and up to 30 film projects in 2005.

Curious Pictures has tapped DreamWorks/PDI alum Lewis Kofsky to head its newly expanded visual effects department in New York. Kofsky recently completed the visual effects for SHREK 2 and the soon-to-be released MADAGASCAR.

NewTek Inc. has launched version 8.2 for LightWave 3D. The update includes major changes to the renderer core to implement new technologies for anti-aliasing, as well as new options for image reconstruction filters that can be applied to the final image to offer further control and enhancement of render output. The new LightWave team has also implemented a completely redesigned UV engine in the geometry core, which affects both Modeler and Layout, to make creating and editing UV maps easier and more powerful.

Maxon kicks off 2005 with the release of a new, free plug-in that connects Cinema 4D CINEMA to Alienbrain Studio, the professional asset management system from NXN/Avid.

The plug-in allows the Cinema 4D user to work directly with an installed Alienbrain server. Automated read/write access management for scenes and textures, project history and difference checking are all available directly from within Cinema 4D, as are the Alienbrain tools for workflow and internal communication.

e-on software has announced the immediate availability of Vue 5 Pro Studio. Vue 5 Pro Studio is the latest addition to e-on software's suite of award-winning solutions for the creation and rendering of natural 3D environments. Vue 5 Pro Studio is designed for advanced digital artists seeking extended control over the creation of natural 3D.