Archive

Digit Magazine reviews Swift3D 2.0 vector 3D creation package for the Web.

"Professional 3D Accelerators in 3D Studio MAX 3.1
Among 5 tested accelerators there are, in fact, only two - FireGL2 and GeForce3, which provide an appropriate performance for the 3D MAX. If the GeForce3 get its own API for the 3D MAX, it will be the fastest accelerator. The FireGL2 provides good quality and speed though there are some errors, but they are not fatal."
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Sitni Sati has posted more information and images on their upcoming DreamScape plugin for Max 4. The new plugin will enable users to create realistic landscapes, various atmospheric conditions, layered clouds and sea surfaces (the results produced by the algorithm resemble Arete's DNT-generated surfaces). According to Max3D, the plugin provides various paint tools for modifying the terrain and uses its own renderer to generate the images, which allows for the rendering of complex terrains with a fast performance and low memory requirements.

Kieron Helsdon has started a list of movies that have used 3ds max (& 3ds) over the years. If you have information to add to the list you can email him at kieron@groundzerofx.com.

Discreet is offering promotional upgrade prices for Max 1.x and 2.x users who upgrade to release 4 before January 15, 2002 (there's also an extra promotion for those who upgrade before Dec. 31, 2001). There's no mention of what happens if users do not upgrade by that date.

Eagle Research's WaveAnalyzer can control and synchronize a 3D graphics animation based on the frequencies of its sound track. Check out some sample animations at Eagle Research's website. Demo version available for download.

Chaotic Dimension has posted an update to their hair generation plugin. The update fixes several bugs and adds a new feature for helping in the creation of feathers. Release 3 and 4 builds available.

Snoswell Design's Absolute Character Tools muscle and skinning plugin is nearing its release date. More information on the plugin has been posted at ACT's website and new media can be found at ACT's gallery and Digimation's Beta site.

Pepeland is updated with a new free IK model nammed "BOPED". BOPED is a IK skeleton (alpha version) for 3ds Max 4.2, with some very cool features. Check it out in www.pepeland.com

A new animated series created entirely with 3ds max is coming to the ABC Family channel. Donner was conceived by Kevin Munroe, who also wrote the script, designed all the characters, backgrounds and props and produced the animation working with a team of ten animators from Rainbow Studios. The result is some "genuinely slapstick 2D-style animation inside the 3D realm". Read the article at Animation Magazine (which has some great pictures and drawings from the series) and don't forget to check out the schedules for the television show.