Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/57248
Designed to meet the needs of VFX texture and matte-painting artists, Mari is capable of handling vast numbers of pixels, and allows artists to concentrate on painting detailed, multi-layered textures directly onto 3D models in a fluid and natural way. The new release introduces Photoshop-layered PSD import and export capabilities, along with color manage- ment with OpenColorIO and triplanar projection. Mari 1.4 supports Ptex, Python OpenEXR, and C API. Version 1.4 is priced at $1980, with maintenance cost- ing $330. The Foundry; www.thefoundry.co.uk WIN TERRAIN New Vue of Nature E-on Software has released the 10th generation of its Vue product for the creation of high-resolution rocks, physical water water, and spline-driven effects. Advanced render- stacking capabilities have been added, too. Vue 10 xStream is the company's flagship solution, and allows 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, Cinema 4D, and Light- Wave users to create fects realistic nature imagery from host applications. New tools include spline and road tools, a new rock technology, stream- lined terrain editing, and a physical water shading engine, along with improvements in overall rendering performance (up to 30 percent) and artistic control. Vue 10 xStream costs $1790. Vue 9 Infinite, a stand-alone version, retails for $1190. E-on Software; www.e-onsoftware.com WIN MAC LINUX ANIMATION Browser-Based Service IKinema's WebAnimate is an all-in-one platform that can professionally retarget and customize animation through a user's browser. WebAnimate's built-in tool set allows users to fashion rigs, manipulate bones, retarget/customize motion-capture data and animation in minutes. The intro- ductory version of the platform allows for the retargeting of motion-capture data to models from standard formats such as bvh, FBX, and, in the near future, c3d. Both experienced and beginner users can quickly port mocap data from the cloud or local sources directly to their models. They can also tap into the vast number of free mocap files that reside online. Because IKinema's solver works off a browser, users are able to animate or retarget from anywhere. The tool is avail- able free of charge during its beta period. After that, users will only be charged when their animations or poses are exported for commercial use. IKinema; www.ikinema.com WIN MAC LINUX EDITING Blackmagic Expands Avid Support Blackmagic Design has introduced Desk- top Video 9.0, a new software update with advanced capture and playback for the Avid Media Composer 6 family of software, including Symphony and NewsCutter. Desktop Video 9.0 is available as a free download for Blackmagic Design custom- ers. The update includes support for all current DeckLink, Multibridge, Intensity, and UltraStudio models. Avid custom- ers can now use Blackmagic's latest Thunderbolt, USB 3.0 and PCI Express video capture and playback devices. The company's UltraStudio 3D and DeckLink HD Extreme 3D take full advantage of new advanced 3D editing support in Media Composer 6, saving time and creating a much more fluid editing experience for 3D projects. Version 9.0 features include uncompressed and DNxHD capture and playback in Avid Media Composer 6, real- time effects, and advanced dual-stream 3D workflow capturing left- and right-eye versions to separate files. Blackmagic Design; www.blackmagic-design.com WIN HARDWARE Thunderbolt-Enabled AJA's new Thunderbolt-enabled Io XT features dual Thunderbolt ports, allow- ing users to connect it to a Thunderbolt- enabled Apple computer via a single cable. The additional Thunderbolt port enables users to daisy-chain Io XT to other Thunder- bolt peripherals, including high-bandwidth storage and high-resolution displays. Io XT is a portable video I/O device that supports the capture and playback of 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 HD and SD formats. The solution can unify disparate formats via its 10-bit real- time up/down/cross-conversion capability. In addition to the dual Thunderbolt ports, Io XT has two 3G/HD/SD-SDI inputs and outputs; single-link SDI 4:2:2 support; single- and dual-link SDI 4:4:4 support; HDMI input and output (including support for 3D); analog HD/SD component and composite output, 10-bit; eight-channel embedded SDI audio I/O; and eight- channel balanced analog audio output (using an optional DB-25 type cable). Pricing is set at $1495. AJA; www.aja.com February/March 2012, Volume 35, Issue 2: COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD (USPS 665-250) (ISSN-0271-4159) is published bi-monthly with special additional issues in January and July resulting in 8 issues per year by COP Communications, Inc. Corporate offi ces: 620 West Elk Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204, Tel: 818-291-1100; FAX: 818-291-1190; Web Address: info@copprints.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at Glendale, CA, 91205 & additional mailing offi ces. COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD is distributed worldwide. Annual subscription prices are $72, USA; $98, Canada & Mexico; $150 International airfreight. To order subscriptions, call 847-559-7310. © 2012 CGW by COP Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without permission. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specifi c clients, is granted by Computer Graphics World, ISSN-0271-4159, provided that the appropriate fee is paid directly to Copyright Clearance Center Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA 508-750-8400. Prior to photocopying items for educational classroom use, please contact Copyright Clearance Center Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA 508-750-8400. For further information check Copyright Clearance Center Inc. online at: www.copyright.com. The COMPUTER GRAPHICS WORLD fee code for users of the Transactional Reporting Services is 0271-4159/96 $1.00 + .35. POSTMASTER: Send change of address form to Computer Graphics World, P.O. Box 3296, Northbrook, IL 60065-3296. 48 February/March 2012 MAC LINUX