Strengthening its challenge to the mighty RenderMan, NVIDIA amped up the speed of Gelato rendering software, with network parallel rendering in version 1.1. New plug-ins allow Gelato to be used through Alias Maya and Discreet 3ds max, with support for Windows to debut in October. The company also emphasized horsepower with its SLI scheme for PCI Express graphics cards. Stepping up to deliver the first Gelato-ready server last month was Boxx Technology. Its Gelato RenderBOXX leverages PCI-E and DDR2 technology and starts at $3300.
AMD showcased its AMD 64 Direct Connect Architecture Processors, which directly connect to I/O, memory and other processors and can handle multiple streams of HD. Partnered with Intel, AMD and NVIDIA, Verari debuted a PCI-E workstation, the NemeSYS X64 starting at $3400. In addition to rolling 64-bit extended technology across its line of workstations, Hewlett-Packard officially introduced its Remote Graphics Software with a protocol-based system for real-time remote interactivity with 3D graphics among 10 or 12 people.
Discreet focused on the high-end of the DI workflow with a series of new versions across its lines and is attacking high-bandwidth shared access with vigor. Key in its latest version of 3ds max is the integration of its character motion toolset as well as "normal mapping" a method for mapping detail to models with low polygon counts, to speed up workflow. ATI’s shader technology Ashli will be utilized for 3ds max 7, to render shader-rich environments in real-time within the 3ds max viewport.
The company emphasized 3D look-up tables in its version upgrades — Inferno 6, Flame 9 and Flint 9 — designed to let users preview film-outs with greater accuracy. Discreet is aggressively expanding into shared storage, signing a deal with SGI and DataDirect Networks to codevelop a high-performance SAN. Scaling up from a minimum of 5 TB, the SAN is not just for the digital intermediate 2K-4K workflow but for uncompressed HD. Shipments of the system are expected early in the fourth quarter.
Apple debuted its production suite — Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro and its new motion-graphics software Motion, bundled together for $1300. The company also hosted a brand-new player in 3D modeling, Luxology, which showed its Modo software on a dual G5. (See sidebar, pg. 47.)
Avid showcased the Alienbrain Digital Asset Library System, a new module for its VFX asset-management system in use at Digital Domain. The Internet-based module offers archiving and retrieval functionality to teams producing large volumes of graphics files for complex VFX projects and CG feature films.
It wouldn’t be Siggraph without price-slashing on software, and Softimage reached for the scissors, introducing a three-tier priced XSI called 3-Democracy, with an entry-level XSI v.4.0 of Foundation targeted at Avid editors for $495. At the second level, XSI Essentials adds Rigid & Soft Body Dynamics, the advanced character rig systems and SDK, and the Custom Display Host, for $2000. Topping out the line is XSI Advanced for $7000. Also snipping at price tags was Side Effects which offered Houdini Escape — modeling through rendering (but not compositing) — for $2000. The centerpiece of v.8 will be Houdini Dynamic Operations, which allows "smart" digital assets to interact with each other. NewTek showed LightWave v.8 with improved character and animation tools and particle system, the addition of a dope sheet and a faster workflow.
The word workflow is in danger of becoming 100 percent marketing-speak, except in the instances where working habits are changing radically, as with the growing confidence of high-end post shops in PC compositing. Long a slower, back-room alternative to Discreet’s Flame, Eyeon’s Digital Fusion is now being promoted to use in client-supervised sessions at houses like Manhattan -based Charlex. Hardware is finally catching up with the software, and Fusion 5 gains some more speed by leveraging Open GL in the new architecture. Version 5 is slated to ship in late 2004.
Fresh from selling off SGI, Alias announced its deal to acquire Kaydara. Initially, the buy will enhance Alias’s character animation capabilities with Motionbuilder 6, but Alias president Doug Walker has his eye on a larger market. "There’s an exploding market for drag-and-drop animation," he said. "With 100,000 Flash developers out there, 3D will be everywhere that 2D is now." The Kaydara line will remain standalone and will continue to support those who use competitive software packages. The company will also continue to promote the FBX file format exchange standard that it originated.
Physics or character animation is the spotlight of 3D development currently, making NaturalMotion’s push into the U.S. market very well-timed. The British company showed its Endorphin application, which does away with keyframing, allowing the operator to use a rig with artificial intelligence in real time. The ability to import live-action footage or cameras allows the creation of a character that’s half motion-control, half CG. Endorphin 1.6 was slated to ship by September at $12,795 and supports Maya, XSI, and 3ds max.
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