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Next Limit released Maxwell Render version 2 today. This initial release is for current customers only, new users will be handled later on it seems. This major new version is said to bring an arsenal of new features, enhancements and additions. I’ll have to check these all out in the following weeks.
SketchUP 7.1 was released today by Google. This new version will be a free upgrade for existing Pro users, and has emphasis on Google Earth and 3D Warehouse integration. Layout was also bumped to version 2.1 adding the much requested dimensioning feature
While writing posts 9 SketchUP tips for better 3d modeling workflow & Making of ‘MS House’ at dusk, part 1 i refereed to the process of exporting SketchUP models as 3DS files to be imported into 3d Studio Max for more work and rendering. Today I’ve learned that Autodesk has released a new SketchUP importer for 3d Studio Max 2010 available for all their subscription holders. Boy, if ever i wanted to be a subscription holder it is now.
The thing is a never really found any incentive to upgrade from version 9. but since Autodesk did notify all the users about the termination of upgrades for 3d Studio Max 9 starting from March 16th 2010 – it is a good time to upgrade regardless. Read more →
John Bacus, SketchUP Product Manager, posted some interesting news about the new Google SketchUP 8 release – or should I call it a little ‘heads-up’ notice for all the free users out there. You can read it all at the Google SketchUP Blog, but following are some highlights from it.
The new version of SketchUP will introduce COLLADA file format support said to be a 3D model exchange format that is open, extensible and public. The reasoning behind this is to provide a more flexible way of exporting (and importing) SketchUP models out for whatever the user wants.
In our next release, we’re going to make COLLADA an official first-class format for all modelers. You’ll be able to import and export COLLADA models, as well as COLLADA models wrapped up in the KMZ format for Google Earth, with any version of SketchUp.John Bacus, SketchUP Product Manager
V-Ray RT was released early of June this year and it is now fully integrated in my studio’s work-flow. this tool is remarkably helpful at setting up scene lighting and editing materials on the fly. although it doesn’t support all of V-Ray’s features (Displacement & Proxies for example) i started to think about how it could become a replacement for the standard render engine when it does. it seems Chaosgroup decided to take this even further as seen on this latest demo from SIGGRAPH 2009 posted by Jeff Mottle of CGarchitect.com.
It seems that the predictions some of us had a few years back about targeting GPU’s as the rendering hub are starting to take shape and are on the way into V-Ray RT. I don’t think this will become available any time soon, perhaps in one years time, but clearly this seems to be what everyone is aiming for.
In the past I was contemplating the use of game engines in our studio for real time solutions, but this latest demo shows one will be able to possibly use the V-Ray RT engine as a real time tool for production and possibly for actual display and recording of walk through sequances.
One other such tool I keep my eyes on is Randomcontrol’s Fryrender RT and their VirtualEditor.
Welcome to my new blog, a personal addition to my web presence along side my studio website at www.polytown.com running since late 2005. I’ve been pondering doing this for a few months now and finally got around to actually do it. Many thanks to the great community built by Envato and specifically their ThemeForest Marketplace were i found the theme for this blog.
