Over the years I’ve learned and developed my own solutions and methods for complex texturing. The blood knight is the second of several characters I’m making and since he’s the one who experiences the battle up close and personal more than the others, I’ve decided that with him I will try to push my methods to add many details such as dirt, scratches, stains, blood, decorations etc’ much further than before in a method I like to call “multi-channel texturing”. My main focus on this character was the texturing / shading and in this tutorial I will share the process, considerations and a few other tips.

Terragen™ 2 is a powerful solution for rendering and animating realistic natural environments. Create entire worlds from your imagination, or import real world terrain datasets and use Terragen 2 to create the most realistic visualizations possible. You control the weather, landscape, rivers, lakes and oceans, suns, moons and stars.

Terragen is not a game engine; it has a sophisticated film- and broadcast-quality renderer and procedural modeling tools designed so that you can create the most realistic images possible without taking a photograph. Nor is it a general-purpose 3D program designed to render everything. We have dedicated more than a decade to specializing in algorithms that simulate skies, outdoor lighting, terrain textures, and to render extremely large and detailed terrains. Terragen 2 puts those algorithms in your control. When you need CG environments that don’t look CG, Terragen 2 will help you get there. If you want to go beyond reality, Terragen 2 is a toolbox with infinite possibilities.

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The first release of Ultimate Papercraft 3D, is now available.

Ultimate Papercraft 3D is a specialty Windows tool for creating papercraft  models from 3D models. It includes an easy-to-use layout editor for bringing your papercraft designs to reality and a 3D window for viewing your 3D models. It is ideal for artists, professionals, modelers, and hobbyists, and easy enough to use for all levels of computer users.

Import formats includes Collada DAE, Autodesk FBX/3DS, Autocad DXF, Lightwave LWO, WaveFront OBJ, DirectX,
Stereo Lithography STL, Metasequoia MQO, and Ultimate Unwrap3D U3D.

Export formats includes Windows Bitmap BMP, Autocad DXF, WaveFront OBJ, Encapsulated EPS, Windows Metafile EMF, and Postscript PDF (using PDFCreator).

Full details here: Papercraft3D.com
Link via: CGtalk.com

Autodesk, Inc., has announced Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool 7.5 software (formerly SOFTIMAGE│XSI Mod Tool). This free* 3D modeling and animation package for aspiring game artists is based on the same professional toolset as Autodesk Softimage (formerly SOFTIMAGE│XSI). Game studios have used Softimage software to create hit titles such as “Metal Gear Solid 4” and “Fable II.”

“Softimage Mod Tool gives the next generation of game artists access to professional tools, so they can learn while making their own games or game mods,” said Marc Stevens, Autodesk Media & Entertainment vice president, games. “Game developers can also use the software to extend the life of a game by building a community of modders. Game mods can go on to become commercial games in their own right, and they can be used by developers to identify talent for recruiting purposes.”

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Download the free digital art book Bioshock: Breaking the Mold.

You can download Bioshock: Breaking the Mold from 2kgames.com.
The PDF is available for download in low res and in a high res verion.
Link via Parka Blogs

Upcoming month Douglas Alvarez will be featured in the Julie Rico Gallery, downtown in Los Angeles. The group show features a contemporary take on botanic art with a focus on human and plant relationships. Talented local artists from a variety of backgrounds have been asked to create a series of work depicting human plant relationships both literally and metaphorically. For more info and dates please visit; Julie Rico Gallery

Read our Interview with Douglas Alvarez
Website of Douglas Alvarez

E-on software released Vue 7 Pioneer (Full version) as Freeware, both Mac version and Windows version are available for download.
Vue 7 Pioneer is an perfect introduction to 3D. You can create vast expanses of terrains, add trees, select the best point of view and render hyper-realistic images of your landscapes in moody atmospheres… in just a few mouse clicks. Vue 7 Pioneer is a great way to learn 3D. It’s so easy to use that you’ll be composing amazing 3D landscapes in no time.

Read the press release
Vue 7 Pioneer product page

3D Art Gallery
Gallery update by John Tonkin

New links added to following link categories:
Free Models - Software - and some more

Off-site news
Ballistic Publishing; EXOTIQUE 5 - Call for entries
Ballistic Publishing invites you to submit your work to EXOTIQUE 5: The world’s most beautiful CG Characters. The fifth book in the series will showcase the best digital character creations produced for film, television, games and personal endeavor. EXOTIQUE 5 will showcase the world’s most stunning CG characters. We are looking for all types of character work from humans to fantastic creatures. EXOTIQUE 5, Deadline entry: Monday 15th June 2009, Midnight GMT.

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3D Art Gallery
Gallery update: Maurizio Pocci
New Artist: Anders Lejczak

Off-site news
Winning the Individual Image Master Award in CGSociety’s ‘Steampunk: Myths and Legends’ CGChallenge, Fabricio Moraes put fingers to keyboard to tell us how he created his image ‘Steamnocchio’.

Voting is now open for the Alien Landscape Contest finalists on Autodesk AREA. When voting, certain points should be taken into consideration: originality, complexity and aesthetics. The power is in your hands to decide whose image has captured the essence of an alien terrain.

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3D art gallery
John Tonkin

2D art gallery
George Patsouras

Off-site News
Zhetri - Jeffrey M. de Guzman shows on CG society his tutorial on the process of creating the ‘Zhetri’ figure, which is featured in EXOTIQUE 4.

E-on software, Maker of Vue, the leading solution for natural 3D environments, today announced it is seeking submissions for its upcoming 2009 show reel. This year, E-on software would like to invite all Vue artists to submit recent commercial projects that involved Vue or Ozone for inclusion in the 2009 show reel. The deadline for submitting video content for the 2009 show reel is May 15, 2009. Please visit Vue website for more info:
www.e-onsoftware.com

CG CON 2009 is a new educational conference for creative computer graphic artists and professionals coming in July. Offered as a four-day series that comprises 24 lectures in three different programs: Digital Painting & Concept Art Design, Digital Modeling, and Digital Animation, CG GON 2009 promises something for visual artists at every career level.

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