Supporting Softimage‘s award-winning ICE system, dynamic geometry and V-Ray proxy objects, V-Ray for Softimage is capable of handling even the most demanding of scenes, with all their complexities. Its physically-based toolset includes versatile shaders, lights and cameras, and it’s entirely possible to standardise the rendering workflow with the quality, speed and stability of the V-Ray core.

Key features in V-Ray for Softimage include:

Geometry

• Render particles, strands, hair, and geometry produced by Softimage’s ICE system
• Manage scene memory and efficiently render massive amounts of geometry with V-Ray Proxy
• Render dynamic geometry such as displacement, proxy objects, fur, and hair
• Use all geometry animation and deformations applied through animated parameters and key frames, the Animation Mixer, and ICE-based simulations

Shading

• Create materials based on physical properties using V-Ray’s versatile shaders
• Use built-in Render Tree procedural shaders, computational, and logic nodes
• Simplify the texturing process and eliminate the need to assign UVs using Ptex
• Simplify the creation of complex multi-layered automotive paints using the VRayCarPaintMtl
• Render hair and fur with unprecedented control, quality, and speed using the VRayHairMtl

Lights & Illumination

• Create simple, artifact-free image-based lighting using the Dome Light
• Create realistic illumination using physically-based lights, including IES lights and texture-mapped area lights
• Emulate real-world atmospheric lighting conditions using the V-Ray Sun and Sky system

Cameras and Optics

• Render true 3D motion blur using the V-Ray Physical Camera
• Create fast and accurate depth of field with bokeh effects using the V-Ray Physical Camera
• Import displacement maps from Nuke to match lens distortion

Check out Chaos Group’s overview video:

A V-Ray for Softimage demo and other tutorial videos are all available on the Chaos Group website.

Chaos Group encourages users to submit artwork created using V-Ray for Softimage for its online gallery. Simply email your submissions to images[at]chaosgroup[dot]com.

Here’s a small selection of the entries already uploaded to the Thingiverse website for the 3D printer competition:

Teacup Dragon Puppet by Whystler is a cute creature that knows the key to a Brit’s heart: with a good ol’ cup of tea! Whystler took the idea of a ‘pet monster’ rather literally, designing something that could truly live like a pet. And what’s more, he’s even designed it to move! You can turn her head, and her mouth moves by a rod below her body. Whystler has already test printed this design on his own 3D printer, so it should print just great on a MakerBot!

Pet Toaster by Gicks continues the foody theme with an adorable creation that features bread as the eyes, and knobs for eyes. Gicks has been borrowing a 3D printer at weekends for his projects, and has discovered just how many possibilities are available for artists with a machine like the MakerBot.

Snurtle by 16-year old salfs was created in Carrara 8 Pro, Bryce 7 Pro, Daz Studio 4 and Sculptris. He’s also downloaded MeshLab and Netfabb to help design this cute critter for 3D printing!

The competition ends on 1 March 2012. Check out the competition page for full details on how to enter, and be sure to tag your creation with ‘3D Artist Mag‘ on the Thingiverse website when you’re ready to submit your final design, to ensure the judges can find your entry!

For tips on how to generate a manifold (watertight) mesh model (STL file), follow our free tutorial.

Good luck, everyone!

LightWave 11‘s innovative tools and creative possibilities make the software suitable for all genres of 3D content creation, from film and TV VFX production to arch vis and video game design. LightWave 11 has been designed to support creativity, giving 3D artists the tools they need to interact with real-time content, working seamlessly with other software applications in a mixed 3D pipeline.

Some of LightWave 11′s many new features include:

• Instancing – allows you to duplicate a vast number of objects in a scene, and to scale, position, rotate and surface randomly-cloned objects for more realistic detail
• Flocking – gives the ability to animate the realistic motion of grouped objects, such as birds, insects, spaceships… You can also now calculate crowd avoidance of neighbouring objects, target alignment, and cohesive attractions using the motion modifier
• Bullet Dynamics – delivers physics-based animation with the Bullet Dynamics engine in Layout, and the new Fracture tool in Modeler. You can also collapse buildings, create explosions and quickly place objects in realistically random patterns!
• Virtual Studio – support for new controllers includes the Sony PlayStation Move, which allows users to control and record the item results with a LightWave channel
• Interchange tools – import and export model and texture data to ZBrush using GoZ technology!
• Additional LightWave 11 features also include powerful new render buffer capabilities, robust Python scripting functionality, FiberFX enhancements, and user interface improvements

LightWave 11 is available now for $1,495 US, with upgrades priced at $695 US. Educational pricing is also available. Visit the NewTek website to find out more.

While The Muppets haven’t changed in twenty years – there are no CG Muppets, everything is still very much based on puppeteering – advances in GPU technology make this new cinematic adventure a markedly new experience. “Visual effects give filmmakers the ability to do more, to increase the scope of a movie, and to achieve higher quality results faster and more cost effectively,” said Max Ivins, visual effects supervisor from LOOK Effects. “Technology like the NVIDIA Quadro GPU, which enables studios to visualize quickly and iterate more, has helped drive this evolution.”

LOOK Effects carried out on-set supervision, 3D, green/blue screen compositing, driving comps, explosions, debris, set extensions, and crowd duplication on The Muppets, dealing with 350 shots in total. Visual effects tasks included removing all traces of puppeteers and extending the sets with CGI for the ambitious visual sequences that give The Muppets its contemporary feel. “In a 3D environment, being able to visualize quickly and get iterations back fast is critical,” said Ivins. “We have to be able to crunch through millions of polygons and that can get unwieldy quickly. For crowd shots we need to be able to see the interaction of individual CG actors; we need time to preview the animations, make suggestions and see them again. The NVIDIA Quadro card is the lynchpin of the whole process.”

The Muppets is showing in UK cinemas now. Watch the trailer on the Official Disney Muppets Site.

Missed an issue of 3D Artist? We have a solution! The 3D Artist eMag Volume 1 contains the first 20 issues of 3D Artist magazine on one interactive DVD.

Packed full with more than 2,100 pages of content, the 3D Artist eMag provides everything from issues 1–20 on one disc. Every article is included, from inspirational gallery images to expert tutorials, plus more.

Browse through issue-by-issue, or simply search for the software or subject you want to learn more about – the choice is yours.

Bonus content is also included. The DVD comes with all the necessary tutorial files, plus 100 high-res textures for you use in your projects.

The 3D Artist eMag Volume 1 is available to buy for just £19.99… less than £1 an issue! Purchase your copy now from the official Imagine Publishing online store.

In a massive announcement today, DAZ3D is offering DAZ Studio 4 Pro (retail price $429.95 US), Bryce 7 Pro (retail price $249.95 US), Hexagon 2.5 (retail price $149.95 US), and 3D Photoshop Bridge to everyone, for free.

“We’re excited to make this offer early in the year,” James Thornton, CEO for DAZ said. “We wanted to give any digital artist the opportunity to experience DAZ free 3D software for the first time and a full suite of 3D models and 3D animation software products is available on DAZ3D.com.”

This generous offer from DAZ3D is for a limited time only, so to download the full retail versions of these popular 3D software packages, head to the DAZ3D website before February 29, 2012. The downloads will be eligible for free updates and upgrade pricing on future versions of each product – a potential savings of hundreds of dollars!

February’s issue of 3D Artist is now on sale! Its 116 pages are packed with texturing tuition, character design tips, animation advice, 50 tips for going freelance, plus loads more.

Tutorials in issue 38 include how to create vinyl toy-style characters using ZBrush and modo. Richard Yot talks through a quick and simple process to create characters for still renders or concepts.

There’s a Day of the Dead-inspired DAZ art tutorial from Juan Carlos Soto Segura. Our free cover disc also includes a free DAZ Valerie Elite skin texture worth $29 and an exclusive DAZ discount code to go with it.

If you’re a Blender user, you’ll love Lech Sokolowski’s step-by-step guide to creating realistic arch vis in Blender.

Meanwhile, Richard Pritchard returns to provide the second, and final, part of our character design and development guide. In it he talks texture painting in Mari, rendering options, plus more.

Issue 38′s masterclass focuses on editing techniques for 3D animation. Richard Culver explains how to apply the theories of cinematography to improve your animation.

Wayne Robson heads up the 3D Artist workshop section this month. He provides a great guide on how to texture a tree stump in Mudbox. Wayne’s also very kindly supplied the resource files and video training for the cover disc too.

Features this issue include a guide to going freelance. Top industry artists Andrew Hickinbottom, Neil McCormack, Dan Crossland, Paul McCrorey, Henk Dawson and Rizon Parein provide 50 fine tips for going it alone in the 3D industry.

We also interviewed the motion graphics designer Paul Clements and awesome artist Matthieu Roussel about their careers so far and their nuggets of advice for other 3d artists.

There’s all this and loads more besides. 3D Artist is available to buy now from all good newsagents, supermarkets and at the official Imagine Publishing online store.

Digital editions

Digital editions of 3D Artist are on sale now through the Apple Newsstand. Save 1/3 off the cover price and get your copy immediately. Back issues and subscriptions to this service are also available.

Save money and subscribe!

3D Artist ships worldwide – check out our latest subscription promotions.

LumenRT 2 Review is the second generation of E-on Software‘s revolutionary interactive visualisation product for architectural projects, featuring full physical lighting.

This latest version of the LumenRT product, which is entirely compatible with Google SketchUp, is a major new release for the company, and to celebrate you can currently accss a free trial version for Mac and Windows – available immediately from the dedicated LumenRT website.

LumenRT 2 Review is also now available for free to all registered users of LumenRT 1. This offer is for a limited time only, so to upgrade without delay visit the LumenRT website.

With its new real-time engine, LumenRT 2 Review has a number of new features and enhancements, including:

• Complete physical simulation of light
• Physically accurate reflections
• Adjustable time of day
• Precise anti-aliasing and motion blur
• Soft shadows with varying softness
• Water and underwater effects
• Advanced material rendering
• Photorealistic skies
• Low quality mode for optimised performance on slower boards

A complete list of features in LumenRT 2 Review for SketchUp is available on the LumenRT website.

Check out this movie rendered in real-time with LumenRT:

iCloud For Beginners is Imagine Publishing’s first ever multi-touch eBook for Apple’s iBooks 2.It teaches you everything you need to know about iCloud, Apple’s revolutionary backup and sync service.

iCloud For Beginners contains helpful guides and step-by-step tutorials to ensure you really get the most from your iPad, iPhone and Mac.

What’s more, since the book is specifically designed for Apple’s iBooks 2, it also features slideshows, interactive images and more.

iCloud For Beginners is available to buy for just 99p or $1.99 on iTunes and the iBookstore worldwide now.

Have you cleared a special space on your desk for your 3D Artist calendar? If so, we want to see it!

Send in a photo of you and your calendar in your studio for a chance to win a 3D Artist goodie bag.

How to enter

Email your photo to 3dartist@imagine-publishing.co.uk with ‘desk calendar’ as your subject header or upload your image to our official Facebook page.

Closing date for all entries is 1 February 2012.

Terms and conditions

All entries must be submitted by the 1 February 2012 deadline. Judging will take place within four weeks of the closing date by the 3D Artist team. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Employees of Imagine Publishing, their relatives or any agents are not eligible to enter. Imagine Publishing and its partners have the right to substitute the prize for a similar item of equal or higher value. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. From time to time, Imagine Publishing or its agents may send you related material or special offers. If you do not want to receive this, please state so clearly on your competition entry. All entrants agree to participate in any promotion related to this competition.