Incredibly Lush Wheat Fields

Linda Daireaux brings us another excellent pack of plants, Incredibly Lush Wheat Fields, and EcoSystems for a great price of $5.

TerraPak™ toolkit for Vue 6

Chipp Walters has released his TerraPak™ toolkit for Vue 6 available for sale from his web site. Here is what Chipp has to say about it:

TerraPak™ is an easy-to-use, but advanced toolkit for users of Vue 6 and above. With TerraPak, and a few enlightened clicks, Vue quickly replicates the hyper-reality seen in many 3d landscape images and photos, including those from Terragen™.

For the immediate future, we're also including over 20 mats from Monsoon. And for those interested in how it works, there's a 35 page manual that goes along with the toolkit.

New Replacement Wood Materials for Vue SolidGrowth Trees

Dave Burdick has a new set of free wood materials for use on Vue SolidGrowth plants available on his web site. The materials are 100% procedural and distortion free and are suitable for rendering close to the camera. You can find them in the Downloads section of Dave's SkinVue web site.

EcoRotate Python Script

Mark Caldwell has a new python script for Vue 6 Infinite to easily set the rotation of the instances in an EcoSystem. Rotation can be set separately for each of the three axis and a range for a random variation from the angle can be set for each axis too. The script is still in Beta so it can be found on Mark's blog.

Vue Links Directory Expands

Based on suggestions, requests and feedback I've added four new categories to the Vue Links Directory including vue training, vue books, vue merchants and vue free stuff.

e frontier Vue offer for Poser Users

e frontier are offering existing Poser 7, for a limited time, owners Vue 6 Esprit for $189.99, a savings of over $39 on the regular price. For more information see the e frontier web site.

RANCH renderfarm Update

From Frédéric Louguet:

Hi everyone,

some big news at the RANCH Render Farm:

• all our nodes are now equipped with 4 GB RAM
• I know some of you also use Maxwell Render, well the RANCH now supports Maxwell Render too, in a completely automated way, just like Vue!

The RUG has been updated and the web site has expanded, and we have a new logo too. We'll send a newsletter probably today.

Come take a look!

Fred

Free Models from DigitalDream666

DigitalDream666 has posted three free models for none commercial work: two house models and a street. You cna download them from RapidShare

Vue 6 class at LVS Online Sign Update

The Vue News blog already featured details of the Peggy Walters' LVS Online Vue 6 course but with the deadline for signing up fast approaching here is a quick reminder. Registration for the LVS OnLine September 2007 session ends on August 30th 2007. Class starts September 1st 2007.

For more details see: LVS Online

Poll Results #3: Which version of Vue do you use most?

Vue 6 UFO Hoax in the LA Times

The Los Angeles Times has investigated the UFO Hoax that is has been suggested was created using Vue 6. It includes comment from e-on president Nicholas Phelps. You can read the article on the LA Times' web site.

Vue 6 Easel on Amazon.com

Efrontier are selling Vue 6 Easel through Amazon.com with a discount and rebate available at the time of writing this which (after the rebate has been claimed) reduces the price to $71.00. This offer is only available in the USA.

Vue 6 Academic and Student Discount from E-on

E-on software, the creators of Vue, are offering Vue 6 Esprit, Vue 6 Infinite and Vue 6 xStream with educational discounts for academics and students. At time of writing those discounts are, according to the e-on software web site:

Name	Regular Price	E-on Software Price	Savings
Vue 6 Esprit (Boxed)	$229	$149	$80
Vue 6 Esprit (Download)	$199	$119	$80
Vue 6 Infinite (Boxed - Nodelocked License)	$299	$735	$436
Vue 6 Infinite (Download - Nodelocked License)	$279	$695	$416
Vue 6 Infinite (Boxed - Floating License)	$349	$835	$486
Vue 6 Infinite (Download - Floating License)	$329	$795	$466
Vue 6 xStream (Boxed - Nodelocked License)	$359	$935	$576
Vue 6 xStream (Download - Nodelocked License)	$339	$895	$556
Vue 6 xStream (Boxed - Floating License)	$399	$1035	$636
Vue 6 xStream (Download - Floating License)	$379	$995	$616

For more details see the e-on software.

Vue 6 Academic and Student Discount from Campus Tech

Campus Tech is offering Vue 6 Esprit, Vue 6 Infinite and Vue 6 xStream with educational discounts for academics and students. At time of writing those discounts are:

Name	E-on Software Regular Price	Campus Tech Price	Savings
Vue 6 Esprit	$199.99	$139.85	$60.14 (30%)
Vue 6 Infinite	$735.00	$279.85	$455.15 (61%)
Vue 6 Infinite Floating License	$835.00	$329.85	$505.15 (60%)
Vue 6 xStream	$935.00	$339.85	$595.15 (63%)
Vue 6 xStream Floating License	$1035.00	$379.85	$655.15 (63%)

For more details see the Campus Tech web site. E-on also offer academic prices - see the e-on Software web site for more information.

e-on at Siggraph 2007 Photograph

Agiel has posted some photographs he took of the e-on stand at Siggraph 2007 on Flicker.

Monsoon's Free Billboard Plants

Monsoon has released a set of free images for use as billboard plants in Vue. The files are available for free from 3D Commune.

BSM3D Vue Training

BSM3D are offering French language training videos, e-mail and forums about Vue Infinite / xStream for a one year subscription fee of 18 euros.

Vue 6 UFO Hoax

When I checked on the 16th August 2007 the above video had been viewed on YouTube 1,651,425 times and has caused a stir with both debunkers and believers. Here is the video that shows how it was done:

Flash Gordon and Vue

The SCI FI Channel's new version of Flash Gordon uses Vue and Autodesk Maya to create Mongo’s capital. You can read more in Animation Magazine.

Poll Results #2: Which Vue forums do you read?

E-on Launches Ozone 3.0

SPECTRAL ATMOSPHERE TECHNOLOGY FOR MAX, CINEMA4D, LIGHTWAVE, MAYA AND XSI!

August 8, 2007. Siggraph, San Diego CA: e-on software, makers of Vue, the leading solutions for natural 3D environments, and creators of the breakthrough spectral atmosphere technology today announced the immediate availability of Ozone 3.0 for 3DS Max, Cinema4D, LightWave, Maya and XSI.
Ozone 3.0 is a complete solution for creating and rendering scenes with real 3D clouds and spectral atmospheres.

Some of the new features of Ozone 3.0 include:

• Breakthrough spectral atmosphere technology:
  New technology realistically models the behavior of our planet's atmosphere to produce all kinds of atmospheric effects.
• Spectral and Volumetric atmosphere models:
  Based entirely on real-world atmospheric behavior, the new spectral engine produces ultra-realistic environments with volumetric clouds, accurate light dispersion and natural phenomena such as Godrays.
• Real 3D Clouds:
  The highly optimized volumetric cloud layers let you create convincing flythroughs or easily simulate realistic low-lying fog.
• Super-fast rendering technology:
  Despite the staggering complexity of the atmospheric model it features, Ozone 3.0 renders its atmospheric effects at blazing speed, thanks to e-on software’s highly optimized technology.
• Animated clouds and sunsets are a breeze:
  Users can realistically animate the atmosphere, the clouds and the sun, making their skies spring to life, all in a wink! Simply set the direction and speed of the wind, the rate of change, and render on!
• Extensive library of over 100 predefined atmospheres:
  Ozone 3.0 includes presets for all kinds of atmospheric conditions: bright daytime, bad weather, sunrise, sunset, night time, etc. Customize the atmosphere using dedicated tools and the library of over 100 preset cloud shapes.

A complete and detailed list of features is available at:
www.e-onsoftware.com/products/ozone/ozone_3.0/

You can see Ozone 3.0 in action right now at e-on software’s booth at Siggraph 2007 in San Diego, CA (booth #623).

Pricing and Availability

Ozone 3.0 is immediately available in English for Windows 2000/XP/XP64/Vista32/Vista64 and Mac OS X 10.4 (Universal Binary). Ozone 3.0 is compatible with the following renderers:

• For Windows: MentalRay for 3DS Max (8 and 9), Maya Software and MentalRay for Maya (Maya 6 to 8.5), Cinema 4D (C4D R9.6 and R10), LightWave (LW9), and Softimage|XSI (5.1 and 6).
• For Mac: Maya Software and MentalRay for Maya (Maya 8 and 8.5), LightWave (9.2 UB public beta) and Cinema 4D (R10).

Boxed versions will be available soon.

Ozone 3.0 pricing starts at US$199, with upgrades from Ozone 2 available for $99.

Winners of Vue 3D Environment Competition 2007 Announced

E-on have announced the winners of the Vue 3D Environment Competition 2007. You can see them on the e-on software web site.

Vue 6 Infinite and Vue 6 xStream version 6.5 Released

Vue 6 Infinite and Vue 6 xStream version 6.5 (Build 291733) are now available from e-on software's web site as a free upgrade for existing users. New features in 6.5 include:

• Create skies with as many overlapping spectral cloud layers as you like for complex cloudscapes
• New cloud lighting technology that lets local lights affect spectral atmospheres and clouds
• Create true-to-life thunder storms*, search lights or illuminated fly through clouds.
• Render spectral atmosphere animations significantly faster
• Spectral atmosphere anti-flickering
• Render very high resolution images with a network of computers

* Editor's note added 8th August 2007: Lighting effects appears to be a reference to bright light in cloud effects. It is not a "Lightning Bolt Editor" as some users had speculated it might be. E-on have removed mention of this feature from there press release - I've retained it but thought a note of clarification was worth adding here so as to avoid missleading anyone.

New Philippe Bouye Show Reel

I was a little late spotting this one but Philippe Bouye has a new vue show reel on his site: belino.net.

Shape Magic Road Maker

Shape Magic Road Maker is a free program can be used to carve roads into Vue's grayscale terrain maps. The road will rise and fall with the terrain. After importing the greyscale map you draw the road on it and it generates a new terrain map which can be saved and then imported into Vue. Road Maker also creates road texture and alpha maps that can be used in Vue to provide a road texture that is different from the rest of the terrain.

e-On to ship Vue 6.5 at SIGGRAPH

e-on software will be debuting releases 6.5 of Vue Infinite and Vue xStream for 3DS Max, Cinema4D, LightWave, Maya and XSI at next week's SIGGRAPH conference in San Diego. Vue Infinite and Vue xStream are the company's flagship solutions for the creation of natural 3D environments. The new releases will be free for all Vue 6 Infinite and Vue 6 xStream owners. Vue 6 xStream starts at $900, and Vue 6 Infinite starts at $700 (Nodelocked Licenses, Download Versions).

The new releases allow users to create skies with as many overlapping spectral cloud layers desired for complex cloudscapes. There is also a new cloud lighting technology that lets local lights affect spectral atmospheres and clouds. New functions allow creation of true-to-life thunder storms, search lights or illuminated fly through clouds. You can also render spectral atmosphere animations significantly faster thanks to the optimized spectral atmosphere anti-flickering technology.

E-on Software News - August 3, 2007

E-on has posted a new newsletter including What to Expect at Siggraph and Vue Competition Finalists Announced. You can get a copy from e-on software's web site.

Vue Directory Updated

I've just updated the impworks site Vue directory bringing it to 183 links to Vue related sites. Over five hundred sites were visited from the directory last month so if your not listed or your not listed in a category that your site fits why not submit a link request?

Sunny Summer Skies: Cornucopia3D Image Contest

Cornucopia 3D is running a new contest Sunny Summer Skies with Cornucopia 3D vouchers as prizes. You can find all the details on the contests page at C3D.