If you know of an Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, or Autodesk Softimage artist whose work and contribution to 3D computer graphics deserves recognition, nominate them for an Autodesk Master Award.

Nomination deadline: September 1st, 2010
Selection process begins: January 31st, 2010 (AREA community and panel of judges)
Awards announced: 3December Event, 2010
Remember, the names of those nominated in previous years may be put forward again.

Autodesk has released Softimage 2011, packing a variety of changes, ranging from core application enhancements to new features that should improve your workflow greatly.

Autodesk Softimage software is a high-performance 3D character animation and visual effects application. Softimage enables artists to use intuitive, nondestructive workflows to create stunning character animation and effects. The unique, multithreaded Softimage GigaCore architecture and innovative tools like ICE (Interactive Creative Environment) and the Autodesk Face Robot facial animation toolset extend an Autodesk Maya software pipeline. Now you can more quickly and easily create detailed simulated effects, advanced character rigs, and lip-synced facial setups.

Click here to download a free trial of Softimage 2011

The new amazingly versatile figure from Daz3D

Save up to 51%* on Stephanie 4 Elite products.

*reflects  Platinum Club discount

This tutorial will covers some of the interesting steps of producing the Blood elf  image. Starting with what sparked the idea, and covering the modeling, texturing, rendering and compositing parts. Ziv also shares a few tips and tricks as he shows you the process.

3D Art Gallery updates by:

Adrian Tiba - Chevrolet Camaro 1969

The Vue 8.5 PLE is a fully functional version of Vue 8.5 xStream/Infinite. With the PLE, users can:

* Create complete projects
* Save their work and export to other applications
* Render stills and animations without size/length limit
* Experience Vue’s power directly inside Max/Maya/Softimage/LightWave/Cinema4D
* Learn at their own pace (the PLE never expires)!

The Personal Learning Edition ships with a wide selection of Vue presets, as well as the complete PDF Reference manual.

Click here for more info
Click here to download the Vue 8.5 PLE

As the demand for an efficient, feature-rich and cost-effective 3D toolset expands, DAZ 3D responds with the release of Carrara 8.0, the latest version of its popular all-in-one 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution. Daz3D boast Carrara 8.0 is only complete, all-in-one 3D suite designed to be compatible with DAZ 3D content. This powerhouse will help grow your 3D world and enhance your 3D abilities. Not only can you manipulate existing DAZ 3D content in ways you’ve never imagined, but Carrara 8 gives you the ability to create your own custom content from scratch. What more could you ask for in an affordable, powerful, and complete 3D solution? Finally, there is a single solution for realistic figure posing and animation combined with advanced modeling, terrain-building, physics, and rendering that is readily compatible with a large array of 3D assets. An ideal 3D workhorse within any designer’s creative suite, the highly-affordable Carrara lavishes speed and power that enables you to create more freely and deliver the highest-caliber results under even the tightest deadlines.

Click here for  more info

MicroVisions 5 auction is now live on eBay.
Opening bids start at $50.00.
Auction ends Wednesday, May 26th.

Each year, Dan Dos Santos and Irene Gallo ask about a dozen artists to create a 5×7 painting of their choosing. These miniatures are exhibited at the Society of Illustrators and placed on auction with all proceeds going to the Society’ student scholarship fund.

This year’s contributors pulled out all the the stops and created an amazing exhibit. This years contributors are: Scot Altmann, Scott Bakal, Rick Berry, Bill Carman, Jon Foster, Donato Giancola, Michael Kaluta, Tim O’Brien, Omar Ravvan, Allen Williams, and Boris Vallejo.

For more info visit Irene Gallo’s website The Art Department.

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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