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SIGGRAPH 2005 SPECIAL EDITION No 2 ANIMATION FLASH An ANIMATION WORLD NETWORK Publication On the Internet since 1996: www.AWN.com JULY 26, 2005 NVIDIA to Launch Gelato 2.0, Sorbetto NVIDIA will introduce Gelato 2.0 at full power of Gelato and Sorbetto. SIGGRAPH 2005, which brings a list of Dubbed “Mango,” this plug-in is full-fea- INSIDE new features and performance improve- tured and not a limited subset of Gelato ments. NVIDIA Sorbetto, also introduced functionality. A similar plug-in for Au- Pipelinefx to demo Qube! Ver. 4.0 performance increase p.2 at SIGGRAPH 2005, is an interactive todesk’s 3ds Max has been created by lighting tool that will be available as an Frantic Films. Polhemus cuts strings option with Gelato 2.0. Gelato 2.0 includes the option of add- Offers wireless tracking system p.3 Gelato is the software renderer that ing Sorbetto relighting technology. Sor- leverages NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics betto is an additional feature set that al- ‘Educating the Educators’ Industry leaders offer job tips for boards to accelerate final-frame render- lows Gelato to re-render changes to a students p.3 ing for film, TV and design. scene’s lighting an order of magnitude Gelato ships with a plug-in for Alias or more faster — fast enough to be Full-Dome Theater Maya that allows users of that modeling dubbed “interactive.” You can add or Screening daily on 9m dia. p.5 and animation package to harness the [See NVIDIA, Page 14] NewTek at SIGGRAPH 2005 New 3D and video production Autodesk Releases New Versions technologies offered p.5 Iridas releases SpeedGrade of VFX, Editing & Digital Color Tool for cinematographers p.6 Alias at SIGGRAPH 2005 Grading Systems See latest 3D product solutions p.7 Autodesk Inc. released new versions BOXX Giveaway of its visual effects, editing/finishing Vicon Allows $100,000 BOXX/OCC Chopper p.9 and digital color grading systems. Used to create high-value feature film and Avid at SIGGRAPH 2005 Upgrade with Latest Softimage and Alienbrain television content, Autodesk’s systems software highlighted p.9 have been used on such major projects MX Bridge as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fan- NaturalMotion free eLE tastic Four, Spider-Man 2, The Sopranos Vicon, developer of Academy Award- Offering endorphin Learning Ed. p.10 and the CSI franchise. winning motion capture technology, has The new systems will be showcased released MX Bridge, a hardware product SCAD New vfx technology offerings at the at the Autodesk booth (#1700) at that allows previous-generation Vicon Atlanta college p.11 SIGGRAPH 2005 at the Los Angeles Con- cameras to be seamlessly connected to vention Center, Aug. 2-4. It is also antici- the new Vicon MX architecture. MX Bridge NZTE at SIGGRAPH 2005 pated — but unconfirmed — that the represents a flexible upgrade path and New Zealand companies to demo newest version of 3ds Max will also be gives users benefits such as grayscale im- latest technologies p.13 launched, with improved character ani- aging and the ability to mix and match mation, among other new features. cameras of different types. The MX Bridge Art Institutes Come in force with animation New versions include Autodesk’s Dis- is aimed at and priced for current Vicon experts, education specialists p.13 creet Fire 7.0 and Discreet Smoke 7.0 ed- users who want to move to Vicon MX but iting systems, Discreet Inferno 6.5, Dis- need an alternative to a full MX system WIA Meet-N-Greet creet Flame 9.5 and Discreet Flint 9.5 replacement, or users who are seeking to Meet Birds of a Feather on 8/2 p.14 visual effects systems and the Discreet add MX cameras to an existing pre-MX [See Autodesk, Page 7] setup. [See Vicon, Page 11] Animation World Network | ANIMATION FLASH – SIGGRAPH 2005 SPECIAL EDITION No 2 · JULY 26, 2005 Pipelinefx to Unveil Qube! 4.0 at SIGGRAPH 2005 Pipelinefx, a leading provider of ren- tion and visual effects. Increasingly, number of lost jobs due to insufficient der farm management software for 3D state-of-the-art computer game com- licenses at job execution time. Other animation and interactive entertain- panies are using this technology to pro- performance features include a multi- ment companies, will demonstrate ver- cess art assets and distribute the game threaded worker, which improves com- sion 4.0 of its flagship product, Qube!, at build process. Render farm manage- munication and increases reliability via SIGGRAPH 2005, being held at the Los ment software is the glue that holds the a self-healing mechanism.” Angeles Convention Center from July 31 workflow pipeline together — allowing Qube! was originally developed for to Aug. 4. artists using a wide variety of tools to Square USA’s 2,000-processor render The new version of Qube! will feature create high quality shots or build so- farm at a cost of more than $2.5 million. new performance and usability features, phisticated computer games. It was used to produce Final Fantasy: The elevated compatibility with several “We have focused on enhancing per- Spirits Within. Pipelinefx acquired the popular graphics tools and an enhanced formance and usability to meet the in- rights to the software in 2002 and the graphical user interface (GUI) called qu- creasing demands of modern develop- company’s technical team began en- bic. Enhanced support for applications, ment environments,” said Troy Brooks, hancing the product with a complete including Maya, SOFTIMAGE|XSI, 3DS cto of Pipelinefx. “For example, config- re-write incorporating a variety of pat- Max, Shake, Nuke, mental ray, as well as uring the Qube! Supervisor is now even ent-pending techniques for batch queu- compatibility with the latest version of easier with a new graphic interface, job ing and process control. The software’s Apple’s operating system, OS X Tiger execution under Windows has been architecture supports the ability to (version 10.4) will be demonstrated. simplified and performance has also achieve deep integration with all of the Render farm management is a mis- been improved by providing realtime artist tools used by animators and game sion critical activity for film, 3D anima- license checking, which reduces the [See Pipelinefx, Page 15] CoursePTR_HalfPageAWNAd2.qxd 7/20/05 4:32 PM Page 1 BRING YOUR VISION TO LIFE Creating 3D Effects for Film, TV, and Games LightWave 3D 8 Revealed Inspired 3D Short Film Production ISBN: 1-59200-589-6 � $49.99 ISBN: 1-59200-582-9 � $24.99 ISBN: 1-59200-117-3 � $59.99 Meet the authors at SIGGRAPH! 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Receptor cable length the advancement of 6DOF tracking tech- Tracking Untethered System). This system is 60 feet (18.3m). This lightweight, small nology. The latest Liberty system is proof represents a whole new dimension in cube can easily be mounted to almost of that commitment — LATUS delivers tracking technology, one that offers a to- any surface. The system is capable of ac- truly wireless full 6DOF drift free tracking tally wireless, full 6DOF solution. The sys- commodating up to 16 receptors for huge over large areas and without significant tem has speed, ease-of-use via an intui- areas of total coverage. distortion issues. Distortion mapping is tive Graphical User Interface (GUI), and is Incorporating state of the art Digital not required with this system. An 800-sq. capable of tracking up to 12 independent Signal Processor (DSP) electronics in con- -ft.-area can be se up and operational in markers over large areas at a rate of 94 or cert with A/C magnetics provides the less than one hour.” 188 updates per second. user with improved signal-to-noise ratios, The Polhemus Liberty series, in combi- Polhemus will be demonstrating the which increase range, stability, resolution nation with FastTRAK and the cost-effec- Liberty LATUS system in booth #952 at and speed. The system is essentially unaf- tive Patriot system, provides a full line of SIGGRAPH 2005 at the Los Angeles Con- fected by facility power grids or electric products to meet various tracking re- vention Center on Aug. 2-4. power motors and update rates are al- quirements and budget constraints. Each self-contained marker is tracked ways maintained, allowing for consistent, in space by receptors, each providing 8- high quality data. Vermont-based Polhemus (www.polhemus. foot diameter spherical coverage. Addi- “The new Liberty LATUS highlights the com) is a global leader in providing 3D tional receptors can be arranged to cover commitment we have to our customer position/orientation tracking systems, an area of any shape. Each Liberty LATUS base,” said Polhemus president/ceo Al [See Polhemus, Page 16] system is capable of connecting up to 16 receptors for coverage of hundreds of square feet.