Krakatoa is Thinkbox Software’s production-proven volumetric particle renderer previously available for the Autodesk 3ds Max 3D software. Krakatoa is CPU-based, highly optimized, heavily multi-threaded, and can be used successfully on most hardware running Windows or Linux operating systems including laptops and render nodes without dedicated high-end graphics accelerators.
Sony got a head-start in the next-generation race for hardware domination with its early reveal of the PlayStation 4. Sony has ditched the Cell architecture it utitlised in the PS4, instead opting for technology that its developers will be more familiar with. As such, the PS4 is more like a “supercharged” PC, running off an x86-based CPU – similar to that found in most desktop computers – and an “enhanced” GPU, both of which are designed by AMD. The console also hosts 8GB of memory, meaning plenty of space for extremely shiny graphics.
Autodesk 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.
In the Best Visual Effects category, all five film nominees The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,Life of Pi, Marvels The Avengers, Prometheus, and Snow White and the Huntsman used Autodesk software. This will be the 18th consecutive year Autodesk has had that distinction. The five nominated movies contained a combined 7,754 visual effects shots and involved the work of 30 visual effects studios using Autodesk software (many of whom worked on multiple films) in more than 10 countries.
The Blender Foundation has released Blender 2.66. This release contains long awaited features like rigid body physics simulation, dynamic topology sculpting and matcap display. Other new features include Cycles hair rendering, support for high pixel density displays, much better handling of premultiplied and straight alpha transparency, a vertex bevel tool, a mesh cache modifier and a new SPH particle fluid dynamics solver.
In addition to the new features, over 250 bugs that existed in previous releases have been fixed. Blender 2.66 is available now on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and FreeBSD.
The RayFire 1.61 has been released. RayFire 1.61 brings some enhancements and also fixes some bugs. This new version includes Geometry and transformation caching or custom Viewport and Render properties. RayFire 1.61 is free for customers of v 1.58, 1.59 and 1.60.
Latest version improves RayFire Cache object. Image tracing to fragments, Support for kinematic Alembic objects and brings enhanced and impreved clustering.
