Best 3d Movies
Of course, there are numerous best movies available for audiences to enjoy but 3D has been the current vogue and latest movie feature to lure people into watching. For instance, the Piranha 3D is one apparent example where the gist of the story reveals Elizabeth Shue starring as a sheriff in the film. The town she dwells in was plagued by some primitive man-eating fish that has been threatening to devour all that they can see. Although not being one of the best to defeat other better movies, this could be a fun story to view through.
Among the many top 3D movies, Step Up 3D is probably one of the top in the list. This is very likely the movie capturing the hearts of most teenage boys and girls. A production of Disneys Touchstone, the dazzling 3D effects in the film are the main attraction to make everyone fall prey into it. The roles played by Alyson Stoner from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Adam Sevani from Step Up 2 have their toes going all twinkling in the 3D version of Step Up, making audiences feel like dancing along with them.
Being one of the best movies, Alice in Wonderland is certainly one of the most anticipated movies in 2010. Either they are a fan of Johnny Depp or not, all audiences are in deep astonishment to see how Burton and Depp come in collaboration to bring such a brilliant production. Anne Hathaway made an incredible job in acting the lead female character and Depp, needless to say, he kicks at every movie he has ever been. Undeniably, this film is Disneys summer assault to continue the 3D scenes.
If those mentioned are the top 3D movies, the list should not cease not entering the name Toy Story. The production of Disneys Pixar displaying the characters of Wood and Buzz is released in 3D version to captivate young audiences. Being set at a surrounding of orphanage and the silver screen also being tear up there, the Toy Story 3D has the ability to deliver great impact to all youngsters throughout the globe. In fact, the toys appeared in the film is believed to flood all toy department in shopping stores.
Chris is the writer of this article , you can visit us for more information on best movies and list of movie genres.
We’re alreay halfway through the year and developments in the world of 3D artdon’t show signs of slowing down any time soon. With plenty of tools and updates hitting the scene, let’s dive in with the top 5 tools for June.
1. Laubwerks
Laubwerks are touted as the best foliage kits in the business
If you’re into architectural visualisation or environment work then it’s very likely that you will need foliage of some kind. Over the last few years Laubwerk have produced some of the best quality foliage packs around.
What makes them special is not just the excellent models and accompanying textures but the implementation. Not only doe they ship plugins for various host apps but the Laubwerk player also lets you dial in attributes for your plants, from age of plant to the season, with materials and meshes responding appropriately.
Now, Laubwerk have released their first shrub pack, as well as a new Maya player, bringing these top quality kits to an even bigger user base.
2. Modo 10.1
10.1 adds a large feature list to the previous release and will please modelers
Not that long ago the foundry announced their new model for development of modo and now we are seeing the results of the second edition in this series, 10.1.
10.1 is solidly focused on modelling and brings to the table far more than can be talked about here but the highlights are some huge additions and improvments to MeshFusion, the versatile Boolean system. With similarities to Zbrush’s shadowbox it allows the user to create Booleans from different angles, making complex shapes far easier than traditional methods.
Also a big new feature, and one that joines forces with other areas of modo, is the procedural modelling system,. With many uses it’s hard to describe fully here but see it as a way of creating and editing models non destructively, with operators able to be freely moved, adjusted and animated.
10.1 is a big release so head to the product page to read more and see some of the demo videos.
3. Guide to GPU rendering
In depth guide to rendering on the GPU is free to all registrants
The battle for rendering supremacy is raging away, with both GPU and CPU camps having good points to make. However understanding the benefits of one system over another is not always that simple but Chaos Group Labs have come to the rescue, with this in depth and best of all, free guide on how working with a GPU can make your life as a cg artist easier, or at least quicker.
Of course there’s a slant towards V-Ray but that is in some ways irrelevant. The pros and cons are the same and the authors have put together a really comprehensive guide, covering everything from compute power background and history to what the future could hold.
4. Spline connect
The most efficient way of connecting spline segments is only $15
Default Cinema 4D installs don’t provide a way of easily connecting spline objects but Mike Udin, has the answer. His new Fast Spline Connect plugin, available from cgtools, makes it about as simple as any command can be.
At just $15 it’s impossible to resist if you ever work with splines and should really be a part of the standard feature set. Seeing as Cinema 4D has such a large user base we can certainly see this being a popular plugin.
5. Autodesk Industry collections
Autodesk’s new collection is a rent only affair, although cheaper than pervious iterations
If you are a fan of Autodesk software but your budget prohibited signing up tho their subscription service there’s some good news. The big ‘A’ have reshuffled their software suites into ne ‘industry collections’, which contain the same core products as before, although obviously not softimage, and they come out at a fairly substantial reduction in yearly cost (around $300 depending on your choices).
On top of this the new collections also sign you up to a new cloud service, for rendering, storage and other tools like the character builder.
There will no longer be the option to buy a perpetual license however, so if you really need to use the software plan ahead.
Our 22 elegant bedroom staging ideas offer some great tips on how to stage any kind of bedroom for optimal selling success!
Welcome to our gallery featuring a number of incredible bedroom designs created byBespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
The company focuses on providing staging services and selling custom, high-quality furniture to interior designers and decorators, among other customers.
Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors has been sought out by popular interior designers as a source of high-quality furnishings and accessories, and takes pride in providing well-crafted, bench made furniture at a reasonable price.
Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors chooses quality over quantity and handmade over assembly line. They offer a comprehensive catalogue of furniture in dozens of styles, as many staging companies do.
However, the company also offers complete customization options so that customers can make any desired alterations to pieces in the catalogue.
This gallery aims to use the incredible designs by Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors to illustrate a list of important tips to keep in mind when staging a home to sell.
When designing and staging a bedroom, remember these tips:
Let the sun shine in. Sources of natural light are desirable, and potential buyers will definitely be looking for all the sources of light in your bedroom. So when staging, open the shades, crack a window, and add a few sources of artificial light to make the room seem even brighter. You can’t have too many sources of light in a bedroom. To cheat this in a small room, apply a light shade of paint on the walls and choose bedding and furniture that stick to that light palette. (Source: HGTV)
Appeal to him as well as her. You need to impress both sexes, so you aren’t alienating a portion of the market. Get rid of any features that seem too gender-specific, which may include excessive ruffles or sports memorabilia, as well as particular paint colors. Swap the paint color for something neutral, find bedding that matches, then bring a color back in with complementary accessories. (Source: HGTV)
Replace personal photos. The point of staging is to invite potential buyers into picturing themselves living in your home, and that gets awfully difficult when you have family photos strewn throughout your home’s design. By replacing personal photos with artwork, your home will look great in listing pictures, and you won’t turn off any potential buyers. (Source: Forbes)
Make the bed a focal point. Cover that boxspring, invest in a headboard, a bedskirt, or a duvet cover. The bed should be the focal point of any bedroom, so don’t be afraid to really do it up. Elegance is key to making your bedroom seem inviting; like a retreat. (Source: Home Guides)
Don’t shy away from decorative displays. Adding small, tasteful displays will stave off the stark, deserted look that your home will have once you remove all your personal knick-knacks and displays. When making your displays, choose colorful decorative items in odd numbered groupings, making sure to vary height, texture, and shape. (Source: Forbes)
We hope that these tips will help you make the best decisions and help sell your home faster!
Check out our guide with tips for every room in the house!
Light, neutral colors allow this bedroom to easily appeal to both men and women. Color and style are added back in through plaids in the armchair and plaid blanket, in addition to yellow in the table lamps and throw pillow. An accent wall behind the bed adds a personal touch and draws the eye to the bed. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
This bedroom is spacious and includes a wealth of windows, which are all unshaded, letting as much light in as possible. Bedside lamps are also included and turned on, for extra light. The walls are in a light, neutral color, with color pulling the eye to the bed. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
From the other side of the bed, we can see the small seating area in front of the largest window, furnished with a luxurious chaise lounge and punctuated by two landscape images above. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
While much of this bedroom is in a muted white, color is added back in by a rich turquoise in the chair and blanket, and a soft green by the console table and painting above it. While the French doors are frosted for privacy, they still let in loads of light, and are helped by lamps. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
The two sections of this bedroom are separated by a swath of open space, but united by a similar color palette. This is an example of a dark bedroom. While the bedroom lacks recessed lighting or natural light, it can be made to seem lighter with white paint, bedding, and a few table lamps. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
25 Most Popular Kitchen Designs
This much more modern example is bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area all encased in glass balustrades. The whole of the room is in light colors, with contrasting dark floors. The glass balustrades keep the sections separate, but prevent them from feeling enclosed. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
From another angle, we can see lamps and other small displays adding a soft, lived-in touch to the otherwise modern layout. There are no personal photos to be seen, instead replaced by art. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
In small bedrooms, light can make all the difference. Bedside lamps, recessed lighting, and French doors all combine to bring light into this somewhat small space. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Adding a furry throw pillow in a slightly different shade helps dress up the bed and pull the eye to it as the focal point of the room. The bed has also been dressed up with an incredible stone accent wall as a headboard. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
This spacious master bedroom is in white and utilizes lamps and mirrors to help reflect light throughout the spacious room. A seating area is arranged in front of the large bay windows. A splash of color is brought in via the navy velvet sofa. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Soft colors like gray and charcoal can be used safely in a mostly white bedroom to provide contrast and color. A simple vintage print was introduced to the design to tie into the yellow throw pillows. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
While in most bedrooms, the bed is a focal point, this bedroom chooses to allow the magnificent view from the bay windows take center stage, and the bed plays second fiddle, blending into the light color palette. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
This small bedroom gets plenty of natural light through the two windows, but table lamps in an accent color are still added to complete the design. Again, we see how adding simple, impersonal prints can keep a bedroom feeling well-loved, but welcoming. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Cream and beige are neutral colors that keep your bedroom appealing to both men and women. The bed is dressed up by two small seats in front of the rich wood of the bed frame. A simple watercolor landscape painting brings color into the room. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
The sheer size of this bed frame makes the bed the focal point of the room, and the texture in the area rug furthers this effect. Plenty of lamps ensure that even during an evening showing, this room has plenty of light. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Again, we see benches and patterns used to draw the eye to the bed as a focal point. Decorative lamps add an interesting element. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
This bedroom is more liberal with the color, using various shades of teals to lighten up the neutral walls and bedding. Paintings replace personal photos, and an orchid adds a bit of organic, tropical beauty. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
The bedroom is seen from a different angle, highlighting the decorative mirror and small displays on the dresser. Exotic and beachy elements are combined to give the bedroom a sense of a vacation getaway. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
A mirrored closet is used to reflect light around the space and make the bedroom feel much larger than it is. Sleek, light colored furniture and bedding add to this effect. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
This bedroom is a great way to showcase the principle of arranging items on shelving. Not every shelf is full, but the items are varied in shape, color, and texture, creating that magazine-look that so many covet. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
The checkered pattern on the bed frame is a great example of using color and pattern in a more subtle way to draw attention to the bed as a focal point. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Opening the window during the showing helps chase away any “house-whiff” you may have accumulated and helps set a relaxing atmosphere in a bedroom. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Info:
VRayPattern is a plug-in for 3ds Max and V-Ray that allows you to multiply geometry without extra memory consumption. As a sample, you can use any tiled geometry (or whose with unobtrusive joints). The plug-in is best used where huge amounts of geometries are required, but without great accuracy.
Features:
Geometry based “2d-displacement” like texture.
Low memory usage.
Superfast rendering.
Unlimited number of copied geometries.
System Requirements:
3ds Max versions: 2008 , 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 all 32 or 64 bit.
3ds Max Design : all.
V-Ray versions: V-Ray 1.5 (SP2 -SP6), V-Ray 2 SP1, V-Ray 2.2, V-Ray 2.3 – 32 or 64 bit.
OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8 all 32 and 64 bit.
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (probably already installed on your PC).
User must have local administrator rights with Windows XP to use VRayPattern.
On Windows 7 administrator right needed only during installation.
To make a certain room your favorite place in the house, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Look at these ingenious ideas for decorating the walls and giving the whole room individual character and a fresh look. The best part is that everything you’ll need is right at hand!
We hope you’ll find these ideas useful and that you’ll consider them for your next renovation.
Correctly setting up blueprints so they’re usable in your modeling work-flow can be a frustrating task to say the least, but in today’s Quick Tip you’ll learn how to do just that. Sasa Posloncec will show you the best place to find and download blueprints, how to correctly separate, scale and align them using Photoshop and how to get them up and running inside 3D Studio Max. Get started after the jump!
Here I will show you some of the basic concepts that many students of Max might overlook because they are focused on modelling characters right off the bat. While this is fine, it also makes for a frustrating experience when someone new to Max wishes to unleash their creativity.Therefore this is my main focus here, to help you understand some of the basic things you should have under your belt concerning using this programme in order to free the artist within you!What we are going to start with is learning how to use our Primitives to enable us to quickly get modelling. This is a powerful way to not only create or model quickly, but it can also be a great way of getting some ideas down in 3D space. Remember the point here is to unleash your creativity!The first thing that we must have in our minds is what we are going to model. However, sometimes just letting yourself go is a great way to explore your own creativity. But for this project I am going to begin thinking that we are going to try and model some kind of reactor. This is where I will start, but if we end up somewhere else, it’ll be okay because if our creativity begins leading us down a different path it is best to follow it. Of course, if you are being paid to model something specific then veering off that path will not end well for you. But with this exercise – which is exactly what this is going to be: an exercise – we will not have those constraints.Let’s begin!
1. Open Max, and under the Create tab change the Standard Primitives drop down to Extended Primitives, and then create a Chamfer Cylinder in the centre of the Perspective view. Remember that most of the Extended Primitives have 3 creation parameters that must be created: Radius, Height and Fillet. Here is what it should look with all three parameters created (Fig.01).
Fig. 01
This is the only object we will create. Everything else we do from here on out will be copies of this object. We are also not going to convert it to an Editable Poly because, while it will give us control over the object at the sub-object level, we will lose the power to adjust and manipulate the Chamfer Cylinder primitive. This is important and much overlooked.Â
Just
so we are all on the same page, select this cylinder, go to the Modify tab and make the following settings, shown in Fig.02.
Fig. 02
2. Alright, now using the Move tool, hold down Shift with the LMB (left mouse button) and move the cylinder up on the Z axis a little, then release the mouse. In the window that opens ensure that Copy is the selected method and hit OK (Fig.03).
Fig. 03
Note: from this point on, I am not going to describe in detail how to make these copies, I will assume that you now understand how to do it!
3. Now let’s adjust this new cylinder’s primitive properties, so go to the Modify tab, make these changes and then move the cylinder dow, like so (Fig.04).
Fig. 04
4. Make another copy and move it up (Fig.05).
Fig. 05
5. Copy it, switch to the Front View and then move it down and make these adjustments (Fig.06).
This awesome piece of software consists of 3D modeling design, realistic animation, and renders of 3D models. There is a free 3ds max trial version to try out (See the 3ds Max download below). You can purchase the software at the link below. Also, students get to
Introduction to and history of Autodesk 3ds Max
Developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment, Autodesk 3ds Max is software for rendering 3D animation, models and imagery. It was originally called 3D Studio and was created by the Yost Group of Atari for work on the DOS platform, and development started in 1988. It later was adopted for Windows NT with 3D Studio DOS release 4 and was subsequently renamed 3D Studio MAX. 3D studio MAX, also developed by the Yost group was produced by Kinetix, which was then the media and entertainment division of Autodesk. It was the release 8 of the original 3D Studio, which was renamed Autodesk 3ds Max which was made available to the public in 2009. 3ds Max offers much functionality targeted towards ease of use and faster image and animation rendition.
Major Applications of Autodesk 3ds Max
The software is used in developing CGI as well as applications ranging from academia to game development. Each use of the software requires the use of a different set of tools available in the software and as plug-ins. 3ds Max is available free of cost for students. However profession packs are available for sale.
Major Features of Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max is primarily, although not completely, based on polygon modeling. Polygon modeling is used more extensively in game design than in other animation application as it offers a highly specific control over individual polygons that make up the model. This feature of polygon modeling also allow for greater optimization of the model.
Usually, the design process begins at the selection of a primitive model bundled with 3ds, which is then further refined as per need. The current versions have a simplified mesh editing interface and using the ‘edit poly’ modifier which moves the tools available in the primitive model, higher in the modifier stack, allowing them to be used on top of other modifications.
In the 3ds Max software various unique primitive shapes such as teapots, cones, pyramids and cubes are available which can be used as a base for model development.
Although polygons are the method of choice for model building, surfaces are easier to define using other methods. 3ds Max’s subdivision surface support allows for smoothened surfaces and with the use of tools like Soft Selection, which allows manipulation of vertex clouds into the desired shape without distortions from unwanted shapes and displaying smooth surfaces. The sculpting brush feature allows smooth surfaces to be drawn by hand, if polygons give a distorted image, although functionality is limited.
The NURBs feature of Autodesk 3ds allows smooth surface rendition by use of mathematical formulae and is of greatest use to in accurate simulation of mechanical parts. This is of greatest use in applications such as automobile design and instrument design.
3ds Max allows the use of custom lighting and shadows and highlights can also be ‘burned’ into the image rendered. These settings are mostly used for game imagery, since pre-fit values of shadows and highlights allows the game engine to process less data thereby improving game speed and performance as the model is already painted with the required modifications.
This also means that for constant lighting conditions during play, especially if motion is involved, the images do not falter and give a constant, regular image, free of improper shadows and bad graphics.
For life like character models, 3ds Max includes simulation for hair, skin, cloth and fur, all requirements for simulation of living beings. These inbuilt add-ons reduce the time required for model development and improve the detail for each frame.
It also includes rigid body dynamics which means that simulation of hard bodies such as wood or bricks, is easy to perform. This software is also equipped with features like shatter effect to recreate the dynamics of shattering rigid objects. However, soft body dynamics, which allows for the motion simulation of deformable objects, is not supported by 3ds Max, which makes simulation of such objects difficult.
A very useful feature of this software is the support for Inverse Kinematics and Forward Kinematics. Inverse Kinematics or skeleton modeling allows the user to create a model and fit it with a skeleton, which can then be animated as per the requirements of the animator. This skeleton can then be placed inside the model, making the animating the model easier.
Tools available in Autodesk 3ds Max
* MAXScript: It is a scripting language which is built into the software and can automate repetitive tasks, give varying combinations of present features and developing tools and user interfaces. MAXScript can also be used to build plug-ins for 3ds Max.
* Scene Explorer: Scene Explorer provides an orderly, hierarchical view of scene data. It allows categorical editing of data, to achieve simplicity in editing complex sets and can also manage code in .NET.
* Character Studio: Initially a plug-in character studio is a tool for help in animating virtual characters, the Character Studio allows using stock skeleton animation to quickly and easily modify characters for a project which work on the ‘biped’ skeletal system.
* General keyframing: There are two keying modes; auto key and set key which provide support for separate workflows. The keyframing controls given help in easing the animation by providing simple, but important features like cut, copy and paste.
* Constrained animation: It allows animation of objects placed inside the constraints of their shape. This tool allows the animation of objects along curves with controls provided for smoothness, velocity, alignment, banking etc. and along surfaces.
* Skinning: Using with the Physique or Skin, a fine control of movement can be achieved and can be used in the most tricky of places.
* Integration with Autodesk Vault plug-in: The Autodesk Vault is a plug-in which is shipped along with 3ds Max and is used to integrate user data and assets on to one location, thus tracking progress on projects. Also, managing work in progress is an easier task. The plug-in enables users to safely and easily design, find, reuse and share 3ds Max models for a team production effort.
Conclusion
All in all, Autodesk 3ds Max is a useful software for learning and practicing animation and developing the skills required for 3D modeling and animation purposes. Along with having a very user friendly interface, it also can be used for managing professional projects in animation. One of the best features is added plug-in functionality which increases its features by a wide margin.
Vincent Callebaut’s Hyperions Eco-Neighborhood Produces Energy in India
Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
Agroecologist Amlankusum, together with Paris-based Vincent Callebaut Architectures, has created Hyperions, a vertical, energy positive eco-neighborhood proposed for Jaypee Green Sports City in theDelhi National Capital Region (NCR) in India. Aiming to “reconcile urban renaturation and small-scale farming with environment protection and biodiversity,” the project combines low-tech and high-tech elements with the “objective of energy decentralization and food deindustrialization.”
Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
Hyperions is comprised of six, 36-story garden towers, each of which houses a combination of residential and office spaces. The towers are built with Delhi-farmed cross-laminated timber (CLT), and are covered with orchard gardens. Wood was chosen as the project’s base “because it is the material that provides the best environmental footprint during its lifecycle—from harvesting to recycling, through transportation, processing, implementation, maintenance, and reuse.” Thus, by utilizing wood instead of materials like steel or concrete, the emission of 1.1 tons of CO2 per cubic meter can be avoided.
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
In order to optimize the buildings, “steel and concrete substructures for earthquake-resistant foundations, parking areas, and vertical core bases,” as well as a “superstructure made of solid wood columns, beams, and walls reinforced with steel blades where columns and beams meet” are added to the wood framework. “This mixed structure is reputed for its strong mechanical resistance, including in the event of earthquakes, for its high resistance to fire, and for its high acoustic and thermal performance.”
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
Operational energy—energy for lighting, climate control, water heating, et cetera—is produced on-site, for example through wind lampposts that produce their own electricity through magnetic-levitation vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) integrated into their poles.
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
Climate control throughout the buildings mimics that of a termite mound through vertical circulation cores of wind chimneys. “The system takes advantage of the earth’s thermal inertia, which remains stable at 18 degrees Celsius all year round. Through natural airflow, the external air—which can reach 45 degrees Celsius and fall to 3 degrees Celsius in the winter—is therefore naturally cooled or heated in contact with the earth, and so without using a single kilowatt of electricity.”
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Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures
A network of suspended footbridges connects the towers, converging under a large orchard roof that serves as a community meeting place.
Following our readers poll last year, here’s an updated list of what we think are the best ten apps for architects. From condensed versions of large scale programmes architects and designers use every day, to blank canvases to scratch ideas down onto, you might just find an app that could improve the way you work.
#10 Photosynth (iOS/Windows)
If you’ve ever been on a site, or in an interesting location, and are bored of flat panoramas then this app holds the answer. It’s user friendly and, once you’ve stood in one position and circled for a while, it stitches a collection of photos together and gives you a great 360degree panorama.
#9 AutoCAD 360, formerly AutoCAD WS (iOS/Android)
Get all your CAD plans on a mobile device. It’s simple and easy to use. They do require a ‘Pro’ subscription for some features.
#8 iRhino 3D (iOS)
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iRhino
Using this app you can view any Rhine 3DM file on your mobile device. It’s a great way of showcasing your models.
#7 Autodesk Formit (iOS/Android)
As a subsidiary of Autodesk Revit, this app allows you to create and alter BIM models on mobile devices.
#6 Morpholio / Morpholio Trace (iOS)
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Morpholio Trace
The Morpholio Project is really interesting and offers an insight into where skilled app designers can go with a good idea. Trace is an architect’s best friend and they offer an app that does just that – you can read an ArchDaily review of it here.
#5 Adobe Ideas (iOS)
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Vector based sketching
This app gives a few tools to jot down ideas quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t provide as many export options as our #4, but does work well on both iPhone and iPad.
#4 Sketchbook (iOS)
This app (designed by Autodesk) offers you sketching freedom coupled with useful ways of exporting drawings on different canvas sizes and at different resolutions. It might feel as user friendly as our #1 app choice, but it’s certainly useful.
#3 Graphisoft BIMx (iOS)
Introducing Hyper-models – Graphisoft’s term for describing BIM on mobile devices – has the potential to make BIM even more popular. As an app that can be used by every member of a project’s design and construction teams, it’s worth checking out.
#2 MagicPlan (iOS/Android)
MagicPlan is, well, magic. It takes advantage of the devices camera and augmented reality to create floor plans of rooms. All you have to do is stand and point your device and it does the rest of the work. You can then export these drawings as a PDF, JPG, or DXF. It takes a bit of getting used to at first but, once mastered, is quite accurate.
#1 Paper (iOS)
With five tools and a blank canvas, coupled with as many virtual sketchbooks as you want, Paper is one of the most loved mobile sketching apps. Having won Apple’s App of the Year and been given the 2012 Apple Design Award, the app has also been extensively reviewed by The Verge. It’s fast, easy, and responsive.
Discover our winners and be inspired to explore new software, apps and movies.
For the last few months, 3D enthusiasts all over the globe have been nominating and voting in the 3D World CG Awards for what they believe represents the very best products, technologies and CG content of the last year. Now, the voting is over and the results are in. Here we present the winners and runners up in each category.
Redshift was developed from the ground up to be a production-ready renderer. “Redshift was the first commercially-available product to offer out-of-core textures and geometry, and the first to offer both biased and unbiased GPU-accelerated GI algorithms. Key to this was developing a sound technological foundation that allowed us to implement features thoroughly,” says Panos Zompolas, chief technical officer at Redshift.
With ZBrush 4R7 Pixologic introduced innovative tools, like the new dynamic subdivision mode, the bridge to KeyShot and ZModeler. It’s tools like these that have really impressed: “ZModeler has been a game changer for a lot of artists because it enables them to focus on a model’s shape rather than accuracy of its topology,” says Thomas Roussel, marketing director and 3D specialist at Pixologic.
These features impressed judge Ken McCuen, matte painter and concept artist on feature films: “As a traditionally trained artist I have a high respect for developers who make the transition from painting/sculpting in real life to the digital medium easier. I’ve found ZBush to be excellent at providing tools to quickly create maquettes as a basis for my work.”
With Golaem Crowd 4, the team wanted to make it more user-friendly and more open than previous versions. “We implemented tons of helpers, lessened the number of files to manipulate, enhanced all interfaces, and created new ways of accessing Golaem Crowd’s internal data,” says Golaem Crowd product manager, Nicolas Chaverou.
“But as we can’t help playing with technologies, we also integrated Nvidia PhysX for doing physics simulation with crowds. It is a huge step forward in terms of speed and quality, and it also enables new features like servo force (mixing animation and physics simulation together) or direct physical interaction of the crowds with Maya objects.”
Unreal Engine 4 is a complete suite of game development tools, but its success has been in attracting new users to those real-time tools, including filmmakers and animators.
“Epic Games made a big, bold move back in March this year that demonstrates it has its eyes looking five, 10 and 20 years ahead, by making UE4 a free platform for the likes of us [arch-viz artists] to tap into its platform and use it to tell our client’s story in new and captivating ways,” says CG Awards judge Ronen Bekerman.
Wacom has leveraged 30 years of experience in pen-based tablets, patented technologies and unique manufacturing processes to bring a unique solution to us. “The Cintiq Companion is a fantastic tool that allows you to take your studio anywhere,” says Iñaki Gonzalez.
“The power CPU means there are no delays or jags while working and with so much RAM memory you can easily work on large files.”
“Our ambition is to produce innovative and inspirational products that enhance the creative workflow,” says Jeff Mandell, executive vice president branded business, Wacom. “Here we were able to develop a state-of-the-art Cintiq graphic display and integrate it into a stand-alone mobile computing device for on-the-go creativity.”
Big Hero 6 is a story told in the finest traditions of Disney. Its message is reaffirming and heartfelt, and visually, it’s a stunning blend of new technology and well-honed skill.
According to producer Ron Conli, Disney strove to develop a look never seen before in an animated feature film: “We created a new rendering system called Hyperion to produce the incredible world of San Fransokyo. We developed a character-building program called Denizen to populate the streets… Our Effects Department created the ‘microbots’ and the ‘interior of the portal’. Artists and technical teams worked hand in hand to support our story.”
“The story of the making of this visually exciting and emotionally uplifting film is almost as inspiring as the subject! Made by a group of graduates in Montreal and supported by crowdfunding, this story of the heroic attempt of two backpackers to build a bridge spanning an impossibly wide chasm is as compelling as it is impressive. The main characters never speak, but we are irresistibly swept along by their determination.”
Double Negative’s work on Interstellar mixes miniatures, opticals and in-camera projection FX with CG research such as the cutting-edge relativistic renderer developed to reveal the way a black hole warps the fabric of space time.
“On one hand we wanted to be absolutely faithful to the reality of space exploration, staying as true as possible to the incredible material captured by space explorers over the last six decades,” says VFX supervisor Paul Franklin. “On the other we were passionate about revealing some of the universe’s most astonishing phenomena; the reality of the cosmos is so much stranger than fiction.”
Ingenuity Studios worked with director Joseph Kahn to create this ‘bootleg’ short film. The sheer number of shots combined with the complexity of the VFX work is extraordinary. The team spent many late nights and weekends over the course of six months to create this film, and are pleased their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed: “We were quite busy with other projects during post-production on Power/Rangers which meant splitting time and a lot of late nights,” says VFX supervisor Grant Miller.
The Mill took seven months to create a ground-breaking piece of work to showcase the actions of leading renewable energy company SSE. The team collaborated with adam&eveDDB and academy director Frederic Planchon to create the 90-second spot that depicts an entirely CG orangutan climbing up buildings and experiencing all that a big city has to offer, before going back to the forest to nurture its baby.
The dedication of the VFX team’s work shines through. The Mill’s Dan Moore said: “We looked through hours and hours of footage of orangutan to try and work out how they move, how they gesticulate and how they emote.”
3D print innovation
Winner: Clip technology
Carbon3D made its debut at TED 2015 and took the 3D printing industry by storm, demonstrating speeds 25 to a hundred times faster than traditional 3D printing. In his TED talk Joseph DeSimone CEO and co-founder said, “We were inspired by the Terminator 2 scene with the T-1000, and we thought, ‘Why couldn’t the 3D printer operate in this fashion, where you have an object arise out of a puddle, in essentially real time, with essentially no waste, to make a great object?” The Carbon3D team met the challenge, and Continuous Liquid Interface Production, or rather, CLIP technology was born.
This image has a beautiful visual narrative that really pushes the boundaries of architectural visualisation. Past, present and future are merged in a frame within a frame. The Canadian studio has been pushing the boundaries of architectural visualisation since 2000. In every single project there is a constant and honest concern about telling the right story, using the appropriate visual narrative.
“With today’s technology, it is easier to achieve a hyper realistic look in arch-viz. This doesn’t mean that the technique is not important any more, nor that the industry is reaching its end. Just like photography has not ended as a profession with the rise of point shoot cameras with great resolution,” explains Zerofractal’s Jose Uribe, adding, “It just means that people and professionals are starting to value more what is really important: the message and the story behind each visual.”
Ryan Groves created this three-minute animation to test his skills as a 3D artist – in fact, it’s his first attempt at animation. 3ds Max and V-Ray were the core tools used, along with Nuke Studio (non-commercial) for post-production.
He employed a variety of modelling and texturing techniques, from poly modelling and splines to V-Ray blends, mix maps and composites. The result is a beautifully crafted animation that takes you on a journey through the elegant architecture of the Louvre, showcasing several lighting scenarios.
This award goes to the title that delivers the very best in terms of art and production design, and Ubisoft continues to up the ante with this latest offering to the Creed series. The art direction is absolutely awe-inspiring. Set in the fictional world of revolutionary France circa 1700s, the game boasts some of the best-looking and most-atmospheric cityscapes we’ve ever seen.
The Division’s story is a grand and sweeping one: a whole city dealing with tragedy, but in order to connect with people on an intimate level Blur wanted a microcosm of the larger event, and centres the action on one family dealing with the outbreak to great emotional effect.
Darren Butler, CG supervisor explains: “Initially reading the script, I got a bit of a lump in my throat thinking to myself how were we supposed to pull off 14 days of time-lapse in one single shot… but with the help of the whole team and a few new tools, we managed to pull off something that we are all extremely proud of.”
Paul Debevec is regarded as one of the most influential visionaries and researchers in the CG scene, and it’s easy to see why. Paul is associate director in graphics research and research associate professor at the USC ICT Graphics Lab, and he and his team have a long history of innovation.
His research and algorithms have had a huge impact on computer graphics. In particular, his work on image-based lighting and HDR techniques have resonated around the CG and VFX world, and the ‘Light Stages’ he created are still widely used today.
Moving the venue to Vancouver proved a talking point; smaller but beautiful, the Vancouver Convention Centre was a perfect venue.
Dave Shreiner, chair of Siggraph 2014, said Vancouver was, “the perfect city for a conference aimed at creating new experiences that impact on the senses. Technology, the way humans and computers interact, is rapidly growing and Siggraph is at the heart of that evolution.”
Want to start a VR project but don’t know where to start? Then this is the guide for you!
Download this free guide to VR today
Even though virtual reality is a big trend, not everyone knows how to do it. To help out, Chaos Group Labs just released a free VR Guide for artists and hobbyists who want to start a VR project, but don’t know where to begin.
Common pitfalls associated with VR are addressed through scientific research and production insights, culminating in step-by-step instructions that explain how to make VR stills and video.
What are the differences between the current headsets?
Where should I place my camera to create the best experience?
How do I make sure people don’t get motion sickness?
Is there a correct height or scale that people will respond to best?
There are even sample architectural visualization examples that let people see how you can turn old or new pre-rendered content into a compelling VR experience using V-Ray. We’d urge you to check out the Salle Labrouste room: it’s quite amazing.
Issue 205 of 3D World comes with over 40 hours of free video training to get you started in CG art. Just pick up the issue to download your free content!
Discover how to create an amazing 3D mech in the new issue of 3D World
With a cover tutorial on modelling, texturing and rendering a realistic mech, 3D World issue 205 focuses on hard surfaces and all things mechanical.
The issue gathers together leading CG artists, including Furio Tedeschi, Tor Frick and Paul Massey to discuss how to design, model and render robots and mech using modo, ZBrush, Maya and other leading software.


Tutorials this issue cover getting started in Quixel 2, creating a dynamic dress in Marvelous Designer 5 and modelling foliage for arch-viz using 3ds Max and GrowFX. Plus, Hannah Kang updates Norman Rockwell as she reveals how to add personality to your ZBrush sculpts. All tutorials come with video, resource files and extra content.


Inside issue 205…
Feature: Creating the VFX for The Revenant
Feature: Making a 3D studio in Unity for VR
Artist Q&A: It’s a robot modelling and rendering special
Tutorial: V-Ray for Nuke, master the latest compositing software
Artist Showcase: The best art from the CG community
Reviewed: Poser 11, Redshift and Paint & Stick get tested
Learn from master artists to improve your 3D artExperts share their processes and techniques for creating amazing mechanical marvelsFind out how to model, texture and scatter detailed vegetation for use in architectural imageryDiscover the best digital art from the CG communityArtist Camille Kleinman shares her process for creating a realistic dress in Marvelous Designer 5Discover how to design, model and render a tank-inspired walking mech
This time of year can often be a quiet one for those of us working in 3D art and visual effects, with developers gearing up for the events season and new releases being a bit thin on the ground.
However there are a few notable updates and newcomers, so have a read below to see what could help you improve your work or help you be more efficient.
01. Modo 10 series
Modo has been around for a while but continues to develop and grow
Recently announced is the latest version of the now long running Modo, the full solution for 3D artists that includes tools for modelling and texturing animation and rendering. Previous updates had followed the x01 naming convention, lending a feeling of continuity to the brand but The Foundry have broken from that with what would have been 1001. Instead they have refocussed a little and changed the way they are targeting their products.
10.0 v1 is the first of the new system and is aimed squarely at the interactive market, so if you are on the lookout for a solid 3D app for your VR work or game content then this is the one you want. It hasn’t quite been released at the time of writing but it’s just around the corner and will be followed later by 10.1 and 10.2 which will each have their own focus.
Rendering power is steadily moving to the GPU and Iray VR looks set to a strong contender
Most artists will usually have thoughts of graphics cards when you mention the name NVIDIA but they are also software developers and one of their main applications of recent years is Iray, now with additional versions for VR. Iray VR has many uses but the obvious benefits are for engineers and architects, where they will be able visualize not just form and function but also lighting interaction.
If you are into architectural visualization and want a step up then look at Iray VR, as it will let you light your spaces on the fly without the process of having to wait for test renders. Imagine taking the power of your GPU to run interactive demos to clients, showing them how their desgins will look in any situation. VR looks to be having a resurgence and Iray wants in on the party.
These two heavy hitting max plugins are well respected and rightly so
Possibly the best known plugins for 3ds Max is this pairing from iToo. Well regarded even amongst non-Max users, the software’s abilities in rapidly populating a scene in an organic yet controllable way has always been a huge benefit but they’ve announced their newest version which promises to add even more features.
There are a few new features for both apps but the main ones are expression support, so all you maths tweakers can use expressions to control your clones and their placements. Second up and one that will please many is support for V-Ray 3.3 including motion blur.
Check the website for a full list of new options as there are many new render options and a bunch of GUI options which make for more efficient working.
The popVideo keying tools allow easy background removal, with a single colour picker
If you work in VFX it’s pretty likely you will have to work with green or blue screen footage. That’s okay and working with different keying solutions is getting easier but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Reallusion has announced its latest version of popVideo, which includes some simple to use keying options that have sophisticated uses.
Using popVideo you aren’t limited to the tradition blue or green screen studios but can effectively remove any colour background. The possibilities this opens up are enormous, from basic paper rolls that can bought from any photo supplies shop to working with sky removals or annoying artefacts. The tools is operated with a colour picker meaning traditional chroma values aren’t a limitation.
The pixel lab packs are winners for quality and price
If you are a Cinema 4D artist and need plugins, materials and models then look no further. Joren Kandel has a huge range which is growing steadily, month by month. The news here is that he is currently running an NAB sale where you can save over $1000 on the complete set of products. Sales like this don’t come around that often and, although this isn’t about a specific product, it’s well worth sharing.
Many of the items are After Effects compatible too, so check it out. Even out of sale these packs are heavily discounted and well worth investigating.
In this session we will be challenging ourselves to learn how to play with the ARRAY command in AutoCAD.
The image below is one of those that may best serve this purpose. It is to be noted that all slots are equally spaced around the circles.
Feel free to visit the post where we practiced and talked about the use of the ARRAY command in AutoCAD.
LEARNING AUTOCAD BASICS
There is not much to be done in this one but the proper use of the ARRAY command. All you will need is to have mastered the TRIM command, the LINE command, the FILLET command and theCIRCLE command.
Below we have split annotations in different figures to avoid having a bushy image. Combine all information available on the figures if you want to accurately replicate today’s exercise.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Piece in the center of the exercise.
EXECUTION
The following image might be helpful to you to have a good start
After proper TRIMMING, you will be left with the following
Now all you need to do is to use the FILLET command to round edges and create objects that are in the center of the figure.
Again, we see benches and patterns used to draw the eye to the bed as a focal point. Decorative lamps add an interesting element. See the complete home portfolio at Bespoke Home Staging & Interiors.
Cool 3D flying wing model in 3ds Max
