| | | | Turn Your Computer Screen Into a Movie Set With iStopMotion 3.1
New Screen Capture feature provides animators with a new medium for animating
iStopMotion 3.1, the latest upgrade to Boinx Software’s award-winning stop motion animation software, now includes a Screen Capture feature, requested by many users. Artists can easily capture frames from the screen to create stop motion animations or timelapse movies by pairing the software with illustration programs such as Photoshop or InDesign, or any other app, for example, to document the creation of a drawing. They can then export movies in Apple® ProRes format (if the codec is installed), and import directly into Final Cut Pro® X for further editing, without the need to transcode. iStopMotion 3.1 continues to be perfected with bug fixes for better functionality.
published 3 days ago read more | | | | |
| | | | SCRATCH and SCRATCH Lab Are Key to Rolling Out Red Carpet for Cannes Film Festival 2013
ASSIMILATE Congratulates SCRATCH Artists on Festival de Cannes 2013 Entries
At the 66th Festival de Cannes, May 15 - 26, several films on the competition roster have been created by filmmakers whose post-production companies used ASSIMILATE’s SCRATCH® DI software in their digital workflows for conform, color grading, and finishing, and/or SCRATCH Lab® for their production dailies or VFX reviews. The Cannes Film Festival is the world’s premier showcase for independent and international filmmakers. (http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html)
published 5 days ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Shotgun Releases Complete UI Overhaul with Artist-Friendly Shotgun 5.0
 Simplified Access to Essential Tasks and Updates on Top of Powerful Project Management, Review and Asset Tracking Toolset
Shotgun Software, developer of Shotgun, the leading production management system designed for the visual effects, animation and game industries, today released a complete product overhaul with Shotgun Version 5.0. Shotgun encompasses production tracking, scheduling, review and approval, helping modern production pipelines run as efficiently as possible--but now includes a new UI and toolset designed specifically for artists and supervisors. Shotgun 5.0 also adds new tools for task tracking, review and approval, collaboration and search, and is still priced at $49.00 USD per seat, per month.
published 7 days ago read more | | | | |
| | | | TSD Video To Represent Hybrid’s Virtual Studio And Robotic Camera Solutions In Canada
TSD and Hybrid Sign Dealer Agreement to Expand Virtual Studio Business Across Canada
Hybrid, a leading provider of real-time graphics and robotic camera systems, has entered into a dealer agreement with TSD Video—a leading systems integrator/reseller with offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Nova Scotia—to market Hybrid virtual studios and robotic camera products throughout Canada. The two companies signed the deal during the 2013 NAB Show last month in Las Vegas.
published 7 days ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Method Studios Announces Top Flight Animation Hires
 Global VFX House Welcomes Erik-Jan de Boer, James Jacobs and Keith Roberts
Method Studios, a Deluxe Entertainment Services Group company, announced today the addition of three world-class animation artists to the Method Studios’ creative team.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Adobe Delivers “Sneak Peeks” of Ground-breaking Creative Innovation at MAX 2013
Top technology explorations spotlighted, including “Perspective Warp” in Photoshop and “Video Color Grading” in After Effects
Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today presented a behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge design and interactive technologies at Adobe MAX, The Creativity Conference. Focused on creativity and expressiveness, MAX brings together over 5,000 creative industry leaders, visionaries and professionals to exchange ideas and inspiration and explore how creativity is changing the world.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Tim Dillon joins MPC New York as Executive Producer of Digital/Experiential
 The momentum continues to build in MPC New York, where the addition of interactive and experiential force Tim Dillon completes the aggressive expansion of MPC Digital. A go-to talent for cross-platform projects across the digital, mobile and physical realms, Dillon brings to MPC more than a decade of experience working as senior producer and design lead for big-league clients such as Coca-Cola, Google, Tate, Dewar’s, Intel and TED, as well as Creator’s Project and Lifetime’s “Project Runway Catwalk”.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Buster Beefs Up Creative Talent Roster
 Joseph Kiely Named Executive Creative Director for On-Air Design, While Neville Burtis Named Executive Creative Director for BusterINK
Design and animation studio Buster has beefed up its creative talent roster by naming Joseph Kiely as the company’s new Executive Creative Director for motion graphics, and Neville Burtis as Executive Creative Director of the agency’s print, outdoor and digital division, BusterINK. Both men report to Buster’s Chief Creative Officer / Executive Producer Jonas Morganstein. Brad Roth and Mark Feldstein, principals of Stun Creative, the parent company of Buster, made the announcement.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Antenna Forges Creative Pact with Barcelona’s Custom EFX
 Studios plan to collaborate on advertising projects originating in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.
Seeking to extend its global footprint and add some European flair to its creative offerings, multi-platform content creation company Antenna has forged a strategic alliance with Barcelona-based Custom EFX. The agreement provides Antenna with access to the talent and resources of one of Europe’s top boutique providers of visual effects, animation and post-production services, with a client list that includes some of the world’s best known brands. Custom EFX secures access to the U.S. market via a well-established production services provider with a strong, national sales network. It will also have the opportunity to market Antenna’s services in Europe.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Luma Pictures Goes Patriotic For "Iron Man 3"
 In Latest Weighty Contribution For Marvel Studios, Luma Adds Iron Man & Iron Patriot Armor, Weaponry and Environmental Effects
Luma Pictures answered the call for Marvel Studios' new "Iron Man 3," the latest installment in the hit franchise, adding extensive full-body CG armor replacements for both "Iron Man" and "Iron Patriot" The VFX house, which now boasts locations in Santa Monica and Melbourne, also added weaponry, environmental and particle effects as well as CG backgrounds. This is the first "Iron Man" for Luma, however the project marks its 4th collaboration with Marvel and 3rd with VFX
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Shade VFX Expanding To New Location
 Lisa Maher Named Business Development Executive
In response to expanding business, shade VFX announced today that the company has relocated to Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. The new facility doubles the space for the growing company. Lisa Maher, a veteran visual effects producer, has been named Business Development Executive for the four year-old company. Maher will report directly to Bryan Godwin, shade’s founder, owner and Visual Effects Supervisor, and David Van Dyke, shade’s Executive Producer.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Ntropic Taps Autodesk Software to Give Life to Marco Brambilla’s “Creation [Megaplex]”
![News: Ntropic Taps Autodesk Software to Give Life to Marco Brambilla’s “Creation [Megaplex]”](http://newsi2.creativecow.com/thumb/871505.jpg) Ntropic Creative Director and Founder Nate Robinson pushed the boundaries of Autodesk Flame visual effects software and Autodesk Maya 3D animation software to deliver extraordinary visual effects for "Creation" - the newest stereoscopic 3D video installation from Artist Marco Brambilla. An epic conclusion to Brambilla’s 3D video collage “[Megaplex]” trilogy, “Creation” features 1500 visual elements derived from iconic film sequences spiraling through the center of a hypnotic and visually stunning double helix. The piece will be on display for a limited time at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York, NY May 3- from 10:00pm to 12:00am, May 4.
published 2 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | The Nation Creates Captivating “Brands in Wonderland” Campaign For Innovid
 Campaign Includes Web Video, Microsites, Banner & Print Ads For Leading Immersive Video Advertising Provider
Award-winning design & branding agency The Nation has partnered with Innovid, the leading immersive video technology platform, again on a new integrated campaign entitled, “Brands in Wonderland.” This comes on the heels of The Nation’s hugely successful “Cats” campaign for Innovid last year, which was a viral sensation.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Athena Studios Produces Stop Motion Short Film on Self-Accountability in Association with Author Dr. Rick Kirschner
 Athena Studios, an Emeryville, CA-based company that provides full production services for film, TV, advertising, and multimedia clients and projects (and is also the production arm of AthenaOnline), has produced an original, stop-motion, animated short film. The announcement was made today by Jon V. Peters, CEO/Founder, Athena Studios.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | 3DGarage.com Delivers New "LightWave 3D v11.5 Up to Speed” Training Video
 Highlights Robust New Features in More than Four Hours of Instructional Video
3D Garage.com™, a worldwide producer of instructional training videos for 3D modeling and digital content creation, announced today its new “LightWave 11.5 Up to Speed” instructional training video from Dan Ablan is now available.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | The Day Dragons Attacked the World
 Rogue State turns to LightWave 11.5 3D software to conquer CG dragons and220 visual effects shots for Dracano
In Dracano, a volcanic eruption in the Pacific Northwest spews lava, steam and fire—along with eggs that hatch ancient, menacing, winged dragons that prey on man. Since similar volcanic eruptions in Russia, Japan, and other “Ring of Fire” regions are also releasing these menacing creatures into the world, scientists fear they are witnessing the start of a global dragon apocalypse.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Oblivion 3D Motion Graphics Design Team Innovates With MAXON CINEMA 4D
 In-Camera and On-Screen Visual Effects Sequences Define Futuristic Tone of Universal Pictures’ New Action-Adventure
MAXON, leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today announced that an award-winning team of motion graphics designers and animators leveraged the company’s popular CINEMA 4D software application to visualize and design the complex in-camera and on-screen motion-graphics sequences in Universal Pictures’ "Oblivion".
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Imaginary Forces Paints With Love For Toyota
 Ever get so caught up in the sometimes-arduous task of car shopping that you forget that it is actually meant to be fun? Imaginary Forces art director Joan Lau and creative director Michelle Dougherty bring back the youthful elation of selecting that lustrous new set of wheels in the charming :60 animation, “Love in One Mile,” for Toyota out of Saatchi London, co-produced with Supergoober, London.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Rhythm & Hues Alumni Thom Burkhart Named Senior Producer at STEELE Studios
 STEELE Studios, a leading post production company and creator of visual imagery for Films, Commercials, Television, Broadcast, Music Videos and Online/Viral Media, has named Thom Burkhart as the company’s new Senior Producer. Most recently, Burkhart had been Head of Digital Post Production for Rhythm & Hues for 14 years.
published 3 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Leviathan Wins FITC Best Animation Award and WorldFest Platinum Remi Award for Visual/Special Effects
It has been an eventful week for everyone at the design-focused production studio Leviathan, and the company's principals are very proud to announce two major award wins. Over this past weekend at the 46thWorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, Leviathan's original short film "Lilith" was honored with the Platinum Remi Award for Visual/Special Effects. Then, at the FITC Toronto Design and Technology Festival on Monday, Leviathan's executive creative director Jason White personally accepted the FITC Best Animation Award for the studio's sensational "Wooden Toy" project for Ninja Tune recording artist Amon Tobin.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Walmart and Warner Bros. Give Superman Fans Exclusive Opportunity to See "Man of Steel" First
Tickets to the June 13 nationwide advance screening on sale at Walmart on May 18
Superman fans, mark your calendars! Walmart announced today that it has partnered with Warner Bros. to give its customers exclusive access to see Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' "Man of Steel" in theaters nationwide before the film's official release. This program marks the first time in entertainment history that a studio has partnered with a retailer to provide such an opportunity for fans.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Motion Graphics Studio leftchannel Breathes Optimism into PSA for Natural Resources Defense Council
 Award-Winning Company’s Animated Short Tackles Marine Pollution Crisis For International Environmental Advocacy Non-Profit
Looking to shed light on the disastrous effects plastics are having on the world’s oceans, the international environmental advocacy non-profit group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) turned to leftchannel – the motion design studio led by Executive Creative Director and President Alberto Scirocco.Leftchannel was challenged to craft an entertaining yet informative public service announcement that would be a call to action for viewers to “reduce, reuse and recycle” plastic packaging.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Qube! Rewires Render Pipeline at Scandinavia’s Biggest Animation Studio
 Superior Technical Support and Intelligent System Controls Help Norway’s Qvisten Animation AS Increase Efficiency While Working on Film and Commercial Projects
With two animated features in production, and a commercial due every month, Qvisten Animation AS is the epitome of a hardworking animation studio. But like most creative organizations, they can only be as good as the tools they have around them. For years their render farm was more burden than boon; more likely to crash than provide them with the customization tools they required. During their search for something more stable, the team came across PipelineFX’s Qube!™ – a production-proven render farm manager that satisfied their need for consistency. It has never let them down.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Ripple Timelines for Final Cut Pro
 The world’s first FCP X effect that moves videos through time.
Noise Industries, developer of visual effects tools for the post-production and broadcast markets, announces the availability of Timelines from Ripple Training, a plugin designed exclusively for Final Cut Pro® X. Ripple Timelines is a collection of eight transition effects that create graphical timelines for videos.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Red Echo Post Expands Service Offering with FilmLight’s Baselight
 - Cincinnati editorial house adds in-house colour grading to deliver full service offering to clients -
Top editorial facility Red Echo Post, which has long served leading advertisers from its base in Cincinnati, has moved to round out its offering with a Baselight ONE colour grading system from FilmLight. The addition of the Baselight means that the company can add top end colour grading services to its clients.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | SynthEyes Makes Tracks for Linux
 3-D Tracker now a 3-P Tracker: Linux, OS X, and Windows
The SynthEyes 3-D tracking application completes a triple-header with the introduction of its Linux version by developer Andersson Technologies LLC, joining the existing Windows and Mac OS X versions.
published 4 weeks ago read more | | | | |
| | | | LOGAN Designs Immersive Museum Exhibition, Spectacle: The Music Video
 LOGAN, the award-winning bicoastal creative studio, takes a step into the exhibition space with Spectacle: The Music Video, a traveling museum show designed by Alexei Tylevich and the LOGAN team. With a portfolio that boasts numerous entries in the medium, including iconic music videos for Money Mark and N.A.S.A., Tylevich and LOGAN were natural choices for the task. Spectacle provides an immersive look at the history-so-far of the music video, exploring 40+ years of filmmaking and music with a Herculean assemblage of physical, web and print components.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | MPC LA Announces Andy Boyd As Head Of 3D
 MPC LA is proud to announce the addition of Andy Boyd as the studio’s new Head of 3D. A respected VFX supervisor in the commercial and film industries, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to MPC, as well as a client base built over his 15 years working around the globe.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Nola Redefines Standard With Cadillac
 Nola Pictures director Nick Lewin and editor Sean VonLembke have teamed up with Martin Retail Group to create “Standard,” a spot for Cadillac that is anything but. The sharp new :30 is an ode to the timelessly inventive Cadillac brand, which has continually populated the “standard” features in its line of vehicles with the very best in cutting-edge, fully-integrated luxury technology.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Chris Bernier Joins MPC NY AS VFX Supervisor And CG Lead
 A welcome addition to the MPC family, Chris Bernier joins as VFX Supervisor and CG Lead. “We are delighted that Chris has joined our growing team,” says NY Executive Producer Justin Brukman, continuing, “Chris is an immense creative talent as demonstrated by his impressive reel. We’re looking forward to him taking the lead on a number projects – both our creative and production teams are thrilled to have him on board.”
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Gentleman Scholar Goes All Out For Qatar
 Following beautiful work on campaigns for Chevy Volt and Salt, live-action, design and animation specialists Gentleman Scholar brought the full force of their production expertise to an elegant campaign for Qatar Foundation’s QF Radio. At the center of the campaign is an ambling dream of a spot directed, produced and post-produced by Gentleman Scholar, who worked not only with agency TBWAQatar, but also a marketing team assembled by the First Lady of Qatar who, as Chairperson of the Foundation, was actively involved in evaluating and approving the work during various stages of the creative and production process.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | IMAX® And Paramount Pictures Strengthen Partnership With Five-Picture Pact
First Two Blockbusters Announced are Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' and Michael Bay's Next Installment of 'Transformers' - 'Interstellar', 'Transformers 4' will Feature Select Sequences Captured with IMAX® Cameras
IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA and VIAB), tonight announced an agreement to release five of Paramount Pictures' upcoming films in the immersive IMAX format under an extension of the companies' long-running partnership. The arrangement features some of Paramount's most highly anticipated tentpole films, including Michael Bay's Transformers 4 (June 2014) as well as its co-production of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (November 2014) and three titles that have yet to be announced.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Inaugural "Production Pipeline Expo" To Launch May 3-4 at Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hanger
First Annual Visual Effects and Animation Expo to Present Expert Panels, Guest Speakers and Educational Sessions
What originally began as the “Career Fair & Technology Expos” of 2011 and 2012 has evolved into a brand new, two-day event, entitled the “Production Pipeline Expo.” This inaugural event, which will be held May 3-4 at the Barker Hanger (Santa Monica Airport,) has been designed as a full blown visual effects and animation expo, complete with expert panels, “must see” presentations, best in class educational sessions, provocative speakers, and an unprecedented level of attendee talent with an eye on new opportunities. The announcement was made today by the expo’s founder/originator Anthony Horn, most recently Director of Marketing and Development for the Visual Effects Society.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Brickyard VFX Goes Long for Callaway Golf
 Bi-coastal creative shop Brickyard VFX recently completed work on a new commercial for Callaway Golf and Dick’s Sporting Goods through Denver, Colorado agency Factory Design Labs. The new spot, “Truck to Store,” features pro golfer Gary Woodland and required extensive visual effects to appear as if it were set up and captured in one continuous take.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Reel FX Delivers Colorful Carnival Nostalgia For McDonald’s
 Dallas/Santa Monica-based digital studio Reel FX infuses a colorful boardwalk stroll with the bubbly nostalgia of classic carnivals in the new :30, “Joywalk,” for McDonald’s out of Moroch, Dallas, TX. The spot features the first person viewpoint of a young woman sipping a bubbly $1 Coca-Cola from McDonald’s as she takes in the atmosphere of a bustling boardwalk carnival with her handsome date. Reel FX handled comprehensive post production on the spot, including editorial, visual effects, coloring, cleanup and online.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | RealD Introduces Precision White Screen Technology Combining 2D White Screen Performance with Polarized 3D Capability
Forty Percent More Total Light Than a Standard Silver Screen with More Uniform Brightness in 2D and 3D
RealD Inc. (NYSE:RLD) announced today the introduction of Precision White Screen technology for cinema projection, combining 2D white screen performance with the ability to project polarized 3D images. Designed to deliver enhanced 2D and 3D presentations with wide viewing angles similar to white screens of equivalent gain, Precision White Screen technology features edges 4 to 5 times brighter than a standard silver screen. The improved screen efficiency results in 40% more total light coming off the screen, providing more uniform brightness than a standard silver screen. Precision White Screens also feature a smooth, white surface which generates better image contrast for improved image quality in 2D and 3D.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Televisa Partners With Troika To Rebrand Galavision As GalaTV
 Mexican Network Partners with Branding Agency to Deliver New Brand Strategy & Identity
Televisa, the largest media company in Latin America, has tapped American brand consultancy and creative agency Troika to deliver a new brand strategy and identity to their general entertainment network, GalaTV, formerly Galavision. GalaTV, whose programming includes Novelas, news, sports, and comedy, is set to unveil the new brand on Monday, April 15th.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | HP Leads Workstation Industry with Solutions for Creative Professionals
Fusion-io’s Steve Wozniak selects HP Workstations to advance computing architectures
This week at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, HP is demonstrating its leadership and market expansion in the media and entertainment industry with solutions that drive innovation and performance for some of the world’s most demanding customers.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Editors Embrace Autodesk Smoke Pro Editing Software to Tell Great Stories
 The Smoke Community Continues to Grow as New Users Adopt the Easy-to-Use Workflow of Editing and Effects Together
Since Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced the radical redesign ofAutodesk Smoke professional video editing software at the 2012 National Association of Broadcasters Convention (NAB), video editors have enthusiastically embraced uniting editorial and effects together to create compelling stories.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | NVIDIA Accelerates Creative Workflows at NAB 2013
New NVIDIA GRID Visual Computing Appliance Featured Among Demos for Broadcasters, Visual Effects Artists and Animators
NVIDIA is showcasing how professionals creating and distributing content can accelerate their workflows using the latest GPU technologies and partner software in booth SL3905 and throughout the conference at NAB 2013.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Rock Legends, Primetime TV And Universities Rely On Cache-A To Safeguard Their Treasured Assets
 Booth #SL11109 – Cache-A Corporation (http://www.cache-a.com), manufacturer of award-winning archiving appliances, today revealed details of how its LTFS LTO-tape-based archive appliances, are being used by major TV broadcasters, in on-set production environments, higher education and rock legends, to safeguard the increasing amounts of data and video-related media they generate. Cache-A is showing its full LTO-6 product range at NAB 2013, Las Vegas, at Cache-A Booth #SL11109.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | MAXON Announces New Live 3D Pipeline Between CINEMA 4D and Adobe After Effects
First Step in Recently Announced Strategic Alliance Results in Streamlined Workflow and Improved Functionality for Motion Graphics and Visual Effects Artists
MAXON, leading developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions, today revealed the first step in its strategic alliance with Adobe Systems Incorporated, aimed at delivering a new level of integration between its powerful 3D application, CINEMA 4D, and Adobe® After Effects®. The recently revealed next release of Adobe’s industry leading software will include two MAXON technologies directly within the new Adobe After Effects: CINEWARE and CINEMA 4D Lite.
published 1 month ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Adobe Drives Innovation with New Video Workflows at NAB 2013
Company Previews Next Generation of Professional Video and Audio Products and Launches Adobe Anywhere for Video
At the annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) will showcase new software and video technology that is transforming the way broadcasters, filmmakers and video professionals create and deliver high-quality productions across multiple screens. Highlights of the show include the first public demonstrations of the next generation of Adobe’s flagship video tools including Adobe® Premiere® Pro, Adobe After Effects® SpeedGrade™, Adobe Audition® Adobe Prelude™, Adobe Media Encoder and Adobe Story before their official release. NAB attendees will see a modern, highly-interoperable set of video tools that enable fast, seamless workflows.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Dalet Features New Dalet Brio Video Server I/O Combinations at NAB 2013
Increased I/O port capabilities on a single server provides increased density and flexibility for News, Sports, Studio and MAM workflows
Dalet Digital Media Systems is announcing new configurations for the Dalet Brio servers that offer broadcasters tremendous flexibility for all types of ingest, production and playout workflows at NAB 2013 held in Las Vegas from April 8 – 11, 2013 (Booth SL4524). The Brio servers can now be scaled to a maximum of 12 ports in a single server, through a four-port extension board, offering tremendous density and flexibility to broadcasters. When combined with the range of Dalet or third-party tools, the Dalet Brio servers provide even greater versatility with more improvements for workflows in news, sports, studio production and MAM.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | The Media Center Builds Multi-Camera Flypack Around JVC GY-HM790 PROHD Cameras
 JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., today announced The Media Center, a satellite uplink, video production, and computer animation service provider based in Charleston, W.V., has built a new flypack production system built around three JVC GY-HM790 ProHD cameras. The new system was designed to support existing broadcast clients, as well as attract new webcasting clients. In January, only a few days after the flypack was assembled, it was already being used for both.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Method Studios Appoints Christian Kubsch as President
 Darin Grant joins Method as Chief Technology Officer
Method Studios, a Deluxe Entertainment Services Group company, announced today that Christian Kubsch has joined the company as President. Kubsch will oversee Method’s global operations including the company’s main base in Los Angeles along with locations in London, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, New York, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta. Kubsch will report to Stefan Sonnenfeld, President of Creative Services, Deluxe. Darin Grant has been named Chief Technology Officer of Method Studios, and will report to Kubsch.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Engine Room Creates New NASCAR On Air Graphics/Branding Package For Fox Sports
 Photo-Real CG Show Open Establishes An Exciting New Look for NASCAR ON FOX
Engine Room’s latest NASCAR project for Fox Sports revved into high gear during the Daytona 500 broadcast. The expansive, high-energy package will air throughout the NASCAR ON FOX fourteen-week season and involved the creative development, design and production of the Show Open (Daytime and Night versions) as well as two new NASCAR ON FOX branding icons to be rolled out in the coming weeks.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Calabash Animation Blows Up The Moon In Latest For Lucky Charms
 Award-Winning Studio’s Latest Project For General Mills Amps Up The Energy And The Creativity
Apparently the moon is made of Lucky Charms cereal pieces – at least it is in the fantasy world found in “Paper Moon” -- the new CG animated ad brought to life by Calabash Animation for General Mills. The spot was created by agency Saatchi & Saatchi, New York.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Markerless Motion Capture Software iPi Motion Capture Now Available Through The Valve ‘Steam Store'
 50 Million Gaming Community Members Gain Access To iPi Soft’s Popular and Affordable Motion Capture Solution
iPi Soft, LLC, developer of the iPi Motion Capture™, announced that its acclaimed markerless motion capture is now available in the Valve Steam Store. The move provides the 50 million members of the Valve gaming community with an optimized and integrated version of the mocap solution that is currently in use at some of the entertainment industries top game developers, visual effects/animation studios and independent filmmakers.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Brickyard Reprises Role for Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s in Spoof of “The Graduate”
 Bi-coastal creative shop Brickyard VFX provided seamless visual effects for “Mrs. Robinson,” the latest sexy spot for Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s via 72andSunny. The spot, directed by HSI’s Chris Applebaum, features supermodel Heidi Klum sporting a fresh take on the familiar eponymous role. Brickyard has a long-standing relationship with the creative team on various Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s spots over the years, and with director Chris Applebaum on recent buzzworthy hits “Sun Tan,” which aired during the Super Bowl, and “Drive-In” featuring Sports Illustrated cover girl Kate Upton. Brickyard’s trusted talent and long history with the brand made them the perfect collaborators for this latest iconic ad.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | King and Country Creates Bold and Iconic Logo for History Channel’s Epic “Vikings” Series
 Earlier this month, "Vikings,” History Channel's first full-length, scripted series premiered, arriving on the heels of the massively successful miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys,” starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton. To accompany such an insightful and engaging series, King and Country (K&C) designed a logo that captured the spirit of both the civilization and the show: embodying the different facets of “Vikings” in a way that is simple and memorable.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Steele Opens New Santa Monica Location With Superbowl Spots, Feature Film, Stereo 3D Project For CI/Sony, And Mariah Carey Video For “OZ: The Great And Powerful”
 STEELE Studios, a leading creator and producer of visual content for Films, Commercials, Television, Broadcast, Music Videos and Online/Viral Media, has relocated its offices to 1131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90404. Ph: 310/450-0600. Jo and Jerry Steele, co-founders, STEELE Studios, made the announcement.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Zoic Adds Emmy®-Winning Rainer Gombos As Creative Director
 Game of Thrones VFX Supervisor Joins Visual Effects Studio
Culver City/Vancouver-based visual effects house Zoic Studios has signed Emmy®-winning Creative Director Rainer Gombos. Gombos will serve as a Creative Director and VFX Supervisor. He joins Zoic on the heels of his 2012 Emmy® Award win for Best Visual Effects for his work as VFX Supervisor on the season two finale of HBO’s acclaimed series, Game of Thrones. The German visual effects veteran, most recently at Pixomondo, boasts a diverse background in blockbuster features including Fast Five, Sucker Punch, 2012, Beautiful Creatures and Sin City, commercial work for Snickers, Saturn and Total to name a few, as well as myriad music videos and video games. Gombos comes from a fine arts background, bringing passion and precision to every project he works on.
published 2 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Tokyo Chrominator for Final Cut Pro X
 Dazzle audiences with shiny metallic effects to spruce up logos and text
Noise Industries, developer of visual effects tools for the post-production and broadcast markets, introduces Tokyo Chrominator, designed exclusively for Final Cut Pro® X. Now available for FxFactory, the plugin can be found under Tokyo Chrominator in the FCP X effects browser. Especially useful for adding production value to logos and text, Chrominator lets editors instantly give images a glossy, beveled 3D look complete with animated lighting. In addition to the basic version of the effect, which can be easily customized, there are six presets available including gold, silver, brass and more, making it easy to instantly achieve an interesting look or to use as the basis for one’s own unique variation. Tokyo Chrominator is available now in FxFactory for 49 USD.
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| | | | Autodesk Debuts 2014 Entertainment Creation Suite
 Autodesk announced the new features of the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite 2014 today. The versatile workflow includes award-winning 3D animation, visual effects and creative tools, Autodesk Maya 2014, Autodesk 3ds Max 2014, Autodesk MotionBuilder 2014, Autodesk Mudbox 2014, Autodesk Softimage 2014 and Autodesk Sketchbook Designer 2014, all which have been updated to offer new workflow enhancements that help artists collaborate, manage complexity and move data through their pipeline more efficiently.
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| | | | NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology Puts Qube! Through the Paces
 Remote Capabilities and Reliable Results Make Render Management Software the “Backbone of BFA Program”
Free is great until system crashes become more common than polished renders. New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology learned this lesson the hard way after entrusting its render queue to free render farm management solutions. These systems were unable to provide the reliability required to produce quality animations and images for its students’ thesis projects, leading the Computer Animation and Interactive Media department to a solution that would: PipelineFX’s Qube!™.
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| | | | Autodesk Reveals New Gameware Advancements at GDC 2013
Game Development Solutions Boost UI Design, Artificial Intelligence, Lighting and Animation Tools
Game Developers Conference 2013 -- Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) unveiled new versions of its widely adopted game development middleware from the Autodesk Gameware product line that allow developers to create more compelling gaming experiences.
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| | | | NAB2013: Hybrid To Showcase New Features, Third Party Interfaces To Range Of Virtual Studio And Robotics Camera Systems
 Photo-Realistic Virtual Set, Social Media Interface and Enhanced Anchor/Video Interaction among New Highlights
At NAB 2013 Hybrid, a leading provider of real-time graphics and robotic camera systems, will present a dynamic display of its product line working together and with third party products to deliver interactive presentations with unsurpassed visual imagery. Groundbreaking new features to several products will be introduced. Hybrid will exhibit in Booth C9908 during the NAB convention, being held from April 8-11th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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| | | | IGN Pro League Live Streams SXSW eSports Tournaments with Blackmagic Design
 Blackmagic Design today announced that IGN Pro League (IPL) used Blackmagic Design’s ATEM Camera Converters, Micro Videohub, Videohub Master Control, H.264 Pro Recorders, DeckLink Quad capture and playback cards and Mini Converters HDMI to SDI, Audio to SDI and SDI Distribution to support its professional eSports tournaments at SXSW Gaming 2013.
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| | | | Tokyo ReAnimator for Final Cut Pro X
 Noise Industries, developer of visual effects tools for the post-production and broadcast markets, introduces Tokyo ReAnimator exclusively for Final Cut Pro X. Designed to give editors maximum control with minimum fuss, this new product provides tools that help clean up and repair dead pixels. Lens dirt, sensor dust issues and other small-scale artifacts all disappear, leaving the filmmaker with high-quality shots. Whether you're looking for a quick fix or a seamlessly perfect result that will stand up to the closest viewing, ReAnimator will help you get there. Get Tokyo ReAnimator for $49 USD right now.
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| | | | MAXON Announces Strategic Alliance with Adobe to Bring Creative Professionals New Levels of Digital Media Content Creation
MAXON, the developer of CINEMA 4D, a leading 3D animation software for film, broadcast and motion graphics professionals, today announced it has entered into a strategic alliance with Adobe Systems Incorporated to further collaborate on technology that provides creatives in the motion graphics and visual effects industry with new levels of digital media content creation. As part of the alliance, both companies are expected to collaborate and engineer a pipeline between Adobe® After Effects® software and CINEMA 4D to give users a seamless 2D/3D foundation.
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| | | | LightWave 3D Group Unveils Architectural Design Bundle
 Offers everything designers need for3D visualization with industry-leading modeling, rendering and animation tools
The LightWave 3D® Group, a division of NewTek, Inc., announced today a new Architectural Design Bundle that couples LightWave 11.5 3D modeling, animation and rendering software with WTools3D’s LWCAD 4.5 CAD tools for LightWave. The bundle includes a powerful set of features that architects, set designers and interior designers can use to cost-effectively create professional 3D visualization and animation for the most demanding design projects.
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| | | | MAXON Applauds Oscar® and Visual Effects Society Awards Winners and Nominees
 Innovative VFX Sequences in Life of Pi, Prometheus and Men in Black 3 Benefit from CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D Technology
MAXON congratulates the many customers that won and were nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Visual Effects Society (VES) and other prominent creative arts organizations for outstanding achievement in the visual effects and other categories who leveraged the company’s professional 3D solutions – CINEMA 4D and Body Paint 3D – to create this year’s most proclaimed characters, backgrounds and environments.
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| | | | Sony Pictures Unites Sound Department And Digital Mastering Under ‘Digital Productions’ Umbrella
With production underway on Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, and post-production continuing on The Smurfs 2, Sony Pictures Digital Productions (SPDP) today announced it is bringing the studio’s award-winning Sound Department and Colorworks, the studio’s digital intermediate facility, under its umbrella. SPDP will now offer a host of post-production services to the professional community, including visual effects and computer animation, sound mixing and editorial and digital mastering, color grading, and film restoration.
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| | | | OptiTrack™ Simplifies Motion Capture with Release of Motive Software
 Motion capture provider OptiTrack™ today announced the launch of Motive, a unified software platform designed to eliminate the complexities historically associated with motion capture workflows. Motive delivers cleaner motion data, enables larger capture volumes and can be tailored to meet a full range of production studio and research facility needs. With an easy-to-navigate interface, Motive provides a high-performance solution for data management and processing as well as skeleton solving. When customized with the Motive Body Module add-on, the system delivers simultaneous full body and finger tracking, even in very large capture areas.
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| | | | Autodesk Invites 3D Pros to Animation Software Reveal
 On Tuesday, March 26, Autodesk will commence Unfold 2014 -- a two-day celebration unveiling the latest 3D animation software releases. Festivities will include live and virtual events, where artists can see Autodesk's newest technology in action, interact with product managers, learn from 3D experts and check out new customer projects.
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| | | | Jollyfy Announces SXSW Mobile Video Theme-a-Thon Contest for Creative Designers
 ‘Jollyfy@SXSW Theme-A-Thon’ Contest to Award 32GB iPad Mini to Designer With Most Popular SXSW Video Theme for Jollyfy, the First iPhone and iPad App Enabling Users to Add Their Own Themes in Camera Viewfinder
Jollyfy today announced a creative designer contest, the ‘Jollyfy@SXSW Theme-a-Thon’ which challenges iPhone and iPad developers and designers to create the most popular video themes around the SXSW interactive/film/music festival, which takes place in Austin, Texas March 8-17. The Jollyfy@SXSW Theme-a-Thon provides interactive designers with a chance to gain global recognition during SXSW, and win a 32 GB iPad Mini. The Jollyfy theme which gets the most downloads and has the most videos created with it between the date of submission and March 20th will be declared the winner. Jollyfy will announce the winner on Monday, March 25, 2013.
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| | | | Dell Helps Soho VFX Siege the Castle in Time for Jack the Giant Slayer Premiere
Dell’s comprehensive media and entertainment solutions helped award-wining visual effects (VFX) studio,Soho VFX, deliver 214 visual effects shots on tight deadline, without sacrificing quality, for today’s opening of Jack the Giant Slayer, a fantasy—adventure film based on the Jack the Giant Killer and Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tales.
published 3 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Aframe Helps STV’s Iconic Game Show “Catchphrase” Expedite a Prime-Time Comeback
 STV Saves a Full Week of Production Time, Plus Costs, Using Aframe’s Cloud Video Platform To Power Collaboration And Cloud Storage For Over 1500 Graphic Sequences
Aframe announced that STV Productions is using Aframe’s cloud video production platform to expedite collaboration and lower production costs for “Catchphrase,” a remake of the classic game show airing this March on ITV. In a relaunch where snazzy graphics make all the difference, Aframe’s platform allowed STV’s production team to develop over 300 rich animation collections and store them securely in the cloud – then shave a full-week off of a demanding 7-week production cycle by cutting upload and download times as well as allowing anywhere, anytime review by a distributed team of animators and producers.
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| | | | Grass Valley Believes the Future of Live Production, News, and Playout is Now
Nonlinear Production from Grass Valley saves time and money for broadcasters, media companies, mobile truck operators, and playout providers by simplifying the way live content is produced and delivered across multiple platforms
Grass Valley® will demonstrate, at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas (April 8-11, 2013), how Nonlinear Production—a single collaborative platform providing a true create once, publish everywhere environment—delivers greater workflow efficiency by enabling collaboration and work in parallel, while eliminating costly and complicated processes needed to repurpose TV content for multiple platform distribution.
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| | | | Academy Award Nominations Celebrate Marriage of Storytelling, Artistry and Technology
Digital Artists Worldwide Relied on Autodesk Media & Entertainment Software to Create the Best Movies of the Year
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) Media and Entertainment technology has played a pivotal role in the creation of some of the most iconic and breathtaking movie imagery over the past two decades. From large post-production studios to small boutique houses, talented artists across the globe — from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia/New Zealand — combined digital artistry, Autodesk software and great storytelling to make the most celebrated films of this past year.
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| | | | Boris FX Rolls Out New Boris Continuum Units Product Family
Pick and Choose Boris Continuum Complete Filter Categories Starting at $199
Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated VFX and workflow technology for video and film, today announced that each category of Boris Continuum Complete filters is now available as a separate Boris Continuum Unit, allowing artists to choose toolsets that are geared towards their specific needs.
published 3 months ago read more | | | | |
| | | | Autodesk Kicks Off ‘Gwen & Dave’ Animated Vacation Getaway Contest
 Artists are encouraged to create an animated vacation short or postcard image that features Gwen and Dave using assets from the film and tools from the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate for a chance to win great prizes.
It's time to put on your thinking caps! Autodesk is calling all artists to design the animated vacation of a lifetime for Gwen and Dave - new characters from "Gwen & Dave," an animated short created by Autodesk and Hatch Studios.
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| | | | |  Articles and Tutorials: AE Basics Extras: Butterfly Wing Text Animation Part TWOIn the second part of this two part AE Basics Extra tutorial, Andrew Devis continues to build the butterfly in After Effects and then shows how to keep it 3D as it is formed.
Items covered in this tutorial include custom views, 3D and collapse transforms to keep items working in 3D once pre-composed, duplication and flipping layers, vertical type, text formatting, and complex animations with motion sketch. These tutorials will be valuable for anyone learning and developing text animation skills in After Effects.Read Article Subscribe AE Basics Extras: Butterfly Wing Text AnimationIn the first part of this two part AE Basics Extra tutorial, Andrew Devis starts to show how to create a butterfly wing with text.
The purpose of these tutorials is to give additional hints and tips for text animation in After Effects. Items covered in this tutorial include, using the pen tool, paths, copying mask paths to shape layers, text along a path and path option, 3D layers, animation of a wing, loopOut expression and viewing your composition in a different viewer.
In the second part of this tutorial Andrew will go on to complete the animated butterfly in 3D and show how to have it fly around your screen.Read Article Subscribe Learn Apple's Motion: Lesson 3 - The Layers TabIn this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe talks about the layers tab, but more specifically he talks about groups, which is how you will organize and animated your elements inside of Motion 5. Thinking through how you do things before you get started is exceptionally important, and Kevin walks you though creating a simple animation, and how thinking it through with groups will save you a ton of time.Read Article Subscribe AE Basics Extras: Caterpillar Text AnimationIn this AE Basics Extra tutorial, Andrew Devis shows some more text animation techniques by animating 'Caterpillar' text in After Effects. Andrew shows how to shape your text so that it curves from large to small to create a 'tail' for the text and then he shows how to set up and animate the path that the text will use. Andrew then goes on to lock the text to the animated path and continues by adding additional animators to give body movement to the animated text.
This is a helpful tutorial for anyone wanting to learn to use a wider range of options for text animation in After Effects.
Andrew will be following up with a similar but different tutorial looking at creating a flying butterfly text!Read Article Subscribe IK Character Animation: Walk to the Beat 2: The Walk CycleIn this second tutorial on animating an IK character Andrew Devis shows us how to create and refine a walk cycle with our IK controlled character such that it walks in time with the music we had set up in the previous tutorial.Read Article Subscribemore articles » Blogs: Ray Harryhausen dies....I was saddened to learn today that Ray Harryhausen died. Harryhausen was not only a visual effects/stop motion pioneer but his work was the chief reason why many of today's leading lights in VFX got involved in the field. He was 92. He began his work in the early 1940s...Read Blog Subscribe New Wacom Tablet Offers Potential for Motion Graphics, Animation, and Video ProsWacom has just announced the new Cintiq 22HD touch . This device combines tablet and display into one, plus now features multi-touch. Here are the features I'm most excited about. Multi-touch to directly interact with UI elements like color correction controls. A 21.5" full HD display (with 1920 x 1080...Read Blog Subscribe What Star Wars Means to MeWith all this talk about another Star Wars Trilogy, spin off movies, live action tv and George Lucas retiring a terribly wealthy man, I've kept myself busy with rumors, speculation and criticisms as well as hopes for good movies. But why exactly does Star Wars mean to me and why...Read Blog Subscribemore blogs » Podcasts:AE Basics Extras: Butterfly Wing Text Animation Part TWOIn the second part of this two part AE Basics Extra tutorial, Andrew Devis continues to build the butterfly in After Effects and then shows how to keep it 3D as it is formed.Tune In Subscribemore podcasts »IK Character Animation: Walk to the Beat 2: The Walk CycleIn this second tutorial on animating an IK character Andrew Devis shows us how to create and refine a walk cycle with our IK controlled character such that it walks in time with the music we had set up in the previous tutorial.Tune In Subscribemore podcasts »IK Character Animation: Walk to the Beat 1: Finding the BeatThis tutorial is both a follow-on tutorial to Andrew's previous tutorials on IK controllers in After Effects and a helpful stand-alone tutorial showing how to define a beat range to use as a guide to animation in After Effects.Tune In Subscribemore podcasts »Related Tags | | | | |
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