CityEngine 2009.2 procedural modeler released
16/09/09 11:01 Filed in: News
New CityEngine 2009.2 Version Available Now for Download!
Significant improvements in performance allow for the design and modeling of megacities with over 500'000 buildings.
Procedural Inc. today announced the CityEngine 2009.2, the latest version of its groundbreaking software for the fast creation, visualization and analysis of large 3D cities. The software is used by high-profile companies such as Foster+Partners, Microsoft, Navteq, Boeing, IBM, Thales, Blizzard, Square Enix, etc. and was awarded Killer Technology 2009 by 3D World magazine Procedural Inc., an innovative software company located in Zurich, Switzerland, is creator of the world’s foremost procedural modeling technology. With the CityEngine, Procedural Inc.’s graphics experts have developed a radically different 3D application that allows professional users in entertainment, architecture and urban planning to efficiently design cities. "CityEngine 2009.2 introduces significant improvements in performance and overall stability", says Pascal Mueller, CEO Procedural Inc. "Furthermore, with the integration of map projection standards and corresponding accuracy enhancements, the CityEngine is now, together with its unique reporting functionality, the perfect tool for sustainable urban planning such as accurate simulation and evaluation of new city developments."
Key Highlights of the CityEngine 2009.2
- Large Data Set Support (over 500'000 buildings on 64bit)
- Map Projections (over 80 projections are supported)
- Accuracy Enhancements (enabling high-precision at global scale )
- 3DS Export (plus advancements of Collada and FBX export)
Pricing and Availability
A free 30-day trial version is available for download. The software can be purchased via Procedural Inc.’s website, or by telephone order at +41 76 720 3303. The CityEngine retails from a starting price of $ 3’450.
Modo 401
Luxology has just released Modo 401
In this latest incarnation Modo has broken the animation barrier and added lots of really cool features for both still and animated imagery.
A quick run down the feature list reveals some solid new possibilities.
Fur
Fur in Modo is much more than just some simple strands that can be turned into hair or grass or, yes, furry coats for animals. The system has been expanded to allow you to create many types of fiber based materials or organisms like roots, anemones, textured rugs, etc. The fur can be brushed into shape very interactively. Check out the demo video here
Volumetric Lighting
New to 401 is the ability to apply volumetric lighting to a scene. With volumetric light shadows will even cast onto air, much like beams of light that shine against objects in a haze. The really great thing is that you can check out volumetric effects right in the preview renderer. Demo video here
Replicators
Fantastic for adding just tremendous amounts of detail that would normally kill any renderer are the replicators. With these you can add the proverbial sand to the desert, the fish to the ocean and the leaves to the trees. You have to see this to believe it. You start out with just a single source element and then spread this across a designated area using wieght maps to add variation to density, placement, rotation, scale, etc. And they preview really really fast in the editor. Check them out here
And there’s more!
There’s a lot more in the new Modo and for people who use it for more than just modelling this is a very worthwhile upgrade that has a lot going for it.
You can download a demo of Modo here.
Modo lists for $ 995
Upgrades start at $ 395 for the download version.
In this latest incarnation Modo has broken the animation barrier and added lots of really cool features for both still and animated imagery.
A quick run down the feature list reveals some solid new possibilities.
Fur
Fur in Modo is much more than just some simple strands that can be turned into hair or grass or, yes, furry coats for animals. The system has been expanded to allow you to create many types of fiber based materials or organisms like roots, anemones, textured rugs, etc. The fur can be brushed into shape very interactively. Check out the demo video here
Volumetric Lighting
New to 401 is the ability to apply volumetric lighting to a scene. With volumetric light shadows will even cast onto air, much like beams of light that shine against objects in a haze. The really great thing is that you can check out volumetric effects right in the preview renderer. Demo video here
Replicators
Fantastic for adding just tremendous amounts of detail that would normally kill any renderer are the replicators. With these you can add the proverbial sand to the desert, the fish to the ocean and the leaves to the trees. You have to see this to believe it. You start out with just a single source element and then spread this across a designated area using wieght maps to add variation to density, placement, rotation, scale, etc. And they preview really really fast in the editor. Check them out here
And there’s more!
There’s a lot more in the new Modo and for people who use it for more than just modelling this is a very worthwhile upgrade that has a lot going for it.
You can download a demo of Modo here.
Modo lists for $ 995
Upgrades start at $ 395 for the download version.
Piranesi 5.1
10/06/09 10:21 Filed in: Work
I have recently upgraded my Piranesi license to 5.1. Piranesi is a tool for very flexible ways of visualizing a 3D project. It does this by reading a specially prepared 2.5 D version of a scene from any of the supported 3D software packages, and allowing you to quickly add textures on the [almost] 3D canvas.
Apart from allowing you a very flexible way of working with just a fraction of the rendering penalties involved in normal 3D rendering, it also give you ways to explore more non-photorealistic ways of presenting your material. And in this day and age, where phenomenal photorealistic simulations are possible and have become commonplace, the more loosely rendered styles are a welcome diversion that add a new sprak of life to visual presentations.
Apart from allowing you a very flexible way of working with just a fraction of the rendering penalties involved in normal 3D rendering, it also give you ways to explore more non-photorealistic ways of presenting your material. And in this day and age, where phenomenal photorealistic simulations are possible and have become commonplace, the more loosely rendered styles are a welcome diversion that add a new sprak of life to visual presentations.
KPN Glasvezel Visuals
09/06/09 20:04 Filed in: Work
Just finished some cool conceptual visuals for KPN Glasvezel. I had the freedom to approach this project from only the brief of a given set of containers really was a lot of fun to work on.
Images will follow soon...
Images will follow soon...