Storm FX Blog

Tractor 1.6.5 (1149182) is now available from the Pixar our download site.  

Tractor 1.6.5 provides important performance improvements and bug fixes over the 1.6.4 release.

You can view the full set of Tractor 1.6.5 release notes in the Pixar tractor support forum.

As a student nearing graduation you want to be using the tools the professionals use to ensure you have the essentials to hit the ground running post-graduation. While Autodesk provides options to download free software that expires after 3 years, students can now transition to fully functional Commercial industry licenses at a heavily discounted price if you upgrade from the Student Suite before you graduate.

If you have purchased any of the Autodesk Ultimate 2013 Student Suites (eg Entertainment Creation Suite or Building Design Suite) you are eligible to upgrade to Autodesk Commercial products at a 30% discount. (Please note: this upgrade does not apply to the free student downloaded software).
 
Based on your current usage, the table below indicates how to qualify for the 30% discount on the upgrade.

All Students will need to provide proof of their status as a student, in a degree or certificate granting program to be eligible to receive the discounted purchase. Autodesk will also require validation post-purchase.

If you’re about to graduate and want to look into your options to continue to use Autodesk Products This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to see how the discounts can apply to you.

P: 1300 061 007

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A patch is now available for ZBrush 4R4

(If you do not yet have 4R4, please follow these instructions instead: https://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/downloadcenter/instructions/)

This patch addresses the following:

• Fixes inconsistent behavior of customized UI buttons and palettes.
• Updates HD geometry read/write functions.
• Adjusted 'Simple Brush' rendering of applied alpha.
• Option to turn off LightBox 'Open at Launch' setting is now enabled.

How to Update

1. (PC Users, Only) Browse to your ZBrush 4R4 folder and delete updater.exe, if present. Do NOT delete ZUpgrader.exe!
2. Run ZUpgrader or launch ZBrush and click Zplugin>Auto Update>Check new updates.*
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. When update completes, launch ZBrush and activate. The ZBrush title bar will now say "ZBrush 4R4 P2".

*Note: For some users, depending on user permissions and network security, the "Check new updates" button may return a script error. If that happens, simply run ZUpgrader in your ZBrush 4R4 folder.

Happy ZBrushing :)

Blackmagic Design has announced the release of DaVinci Resolve 9 public beta, a major new update to the world's most advanced colour correction tool featuring a completely redesigned user interface to optimise workflow speed. DaVinci Resolve 9 public beta is now available for free download to existing full featured DaVinci Resolve customers, as well as the free DaVinci Resolve Lite! Find it after the jump.

This significant user interface overhaul has been created to harness the power of multiple new technologies added to DaVinci Resolve in the last few years, including automatic 3D eye matching, multi layering timelines, XML support plus more camera and file type support. The new user interface is extremely fast to use and eliminates unnecessary clicks and settings to get working fast. A job can be up and running in three clicks: one to log in, one to drop media into the project and the next to grade.

Check the free lite version here, or for the full version contact us online or call us on 1300 061 007

ZBrush 4R4 continues to expand on creative freedom with a focus on model topology and detail creation. These new features were developed to let you be an artist first and foremost, giving you more freedom to explore new ideas!

Major Features

IMM Insert Multi Mesh Brushes combine entire libraries of objects into a single brush. Select from any object within the brush, then insert it into your model. Easily convert any Tool to an Insert brush with a single click. If your Tool has multiple SubTools, an Insert Multi Mesh brush will be created, allowing you to select from any of its objects at

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Introducing Substance Designer 3

Substance Designer 3 includes new, dedicated and empowering features and tools such as a major batching system, letting you batch process numerous meshes and textures at the same time, or a powerful paint system freeing most of the artists' needs when it comes to basic image editing. All this in a non linear environment, making Substance Designer 3 the true only tool dedicated to texturing for game developers.

Main features for 3.0 are:

• Bitmap painting tools
• Batching tools
• 4K working environment
• New filter library

Multi Output

Today's textures are no longer one single image; the Substance description files are multi-output by definition, and can define and embed diffuse, specular, normal, height, AO, and as many maps as desired.

Real-time 3D Preview

See what the final material will look like, directly applied onto the mesh you are texturing, with the shader of your choice.

Compatible

Substance Designer seamlessly works with the real production pipelines: The Substance description files can be read by default in compatible game engines like Unity and DCC tools like 3ds Max and Maya.

Mesh extracted info

you are texturing a mesh, not a blank, square image: Substance Designer lets you extract automatically useful info from the mesh, like vector graphics UV Atlas, Ambient Occlusion, Curvature, World Space Normal and Position maps, that can be used to drive the texturing process.

Node-based Editor

The sine qua non method for rapid iterations, Substance Designer 3 is entirely non linear and non destructive ; rediscover the power of modern tools.

Batch Processing

Substance Designer is a parametric tool at its core, meaning you can replicate your most common operations and spend more time polishing your art ; this batch / scripting capabilities are truly unique in the industry.

Bitmap + Vector + Procedural

Use what is needed, whatever the situation and your preference, Substance Designer can handle it: the latest bitmap painting system completes the trio and will make you save hundreds of hours, just by not having to constantly go back and forth between different applications.

Texturing Painkillers

Substance Designer 3 comes with hundreds of predefined substances and filters to help you get there faster and with less pain.

Filter Design

Create your own tools and filters, never do twice the same task and save hundreds of ours by enhancing Substance Designer with your optimized, smart content and production tips and tricks.

Tweaking

Parameterize your textures easily and tweak them while in 3ds Max, Maya or Unity ; or even at run time!

For more information on this great deal contact us on the web or call us on 1300 061 007

Mac release 2.5 for MXO2 Family, Mojito MAX and CompressHD provides updates to improve overall performance and stability with Adobe CS5.5 and improvements and fixes with Matrox MAX functionality. RED 1K and 2K presets are now available in Adobe Premiere Pro for Matrox products that provide SDI I/O.

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5 March, 2012

Phoenix FD for Maya Beta Program

Chaos Group are excited to announce the Phoenix FD for Maya Public Beta Testing Program. Join the Beta Testing team and be among the first to gain access to Phoenix FD for Maya!

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24 February, 2012

In an effort to create the best possible release of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino, Chaos Group has extended their Beta program. V-Ray for Rhino users will benefit from many new features and improvements, including real-time rendering using V-Ray RT, optimised image-based lighting with the new Dome Light, and efficient memory management using Proxy objects.

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