Digital Image Magazine - First Vue 7 Infinite Review

Digital Image Magazine has posted the first review of Vue 7 Infinite I've come across. Its not particularly long or in depth but it is broadly positive.

Vue 7.1 Beta

E-on have released a beta version of the first update for Vue 7 Infinite and Vue 7 xStream for registered users. It includes the following changes for Vue 7 Infinite (Build 37660):

• Fixed animation preview on MacOS freezing without mouse movement.
• Fixed post render options dialog showing up behind render display window
• Fixed unexpected "ghost" ecosystem openGL drawing
• Fixed non properly reset GI solution when creating new scene
• Warn user about potential render artifacts when using lens glare along with "Sharp" anti-aliasing mode.
• Improved rotation gizmos
• Fixed missing python access to symmetrical & thin surface terrain properties.
• Fixed artefacts when rendering in maximized main view
• Fixed wrong scaling of procedural terrains created using macros
• Fixed too often boxed terrains
• Fixed wrong ecosystem opengl display with groups
• Fixed locked parametric terrain OpenGL refinement once a parametric terrain has been deleted.
• Fixed crash when running python scripts
• Fixed apply bumpmap on non-displaced impacts of displaced objects (ie clipped areas) when "show bumps on saturating displacements" is ON.
• Fixed wrong camera altitude lock, ecosystem instance placing or object dropping over some procedural terrains.
• Fixed wrong lighting below displaced terrains
• Fixed wrong edit action replay
• Fixed broken png file writing on MacOS
• Fixed potential crash with standard atmosphere clouds.
• Improved standard terrain creation.
• Fixed potential xStream plugin crash when render begins (AA inits)
• Fixed possibly abrupt changes in Hybrid 2.5D depth of field blurring radius.
• Fixed missing viewport refresh when zooming with mouse wheel.
• Fixed unexpected low quality OpenGL drawing when boxes are used.
• Fixed crash when using double Icon Button in function editor.
• Fixed RenderCow shut down request processing.
• Fixed discarding available GI solution when performing a network still picture render.
• ctrl+C is now properly disabled when some editor has focus
• Improved OpenGL boolean operations display.
• Improved rendering speed when not using multipass.
• Fixed potential crash when manipulating sunlight.
• Improved opengl renderer compatibility
• Improved rendering speed & quality of still pictures via HyperVue when using GI or GR.
• Fixed a crash when opening the plant editor with a plant species which could not be found by Vue.
• Fixed a problem of backwards compatibility with old ecosystems (scale and presence).
• Fixed a crash in some cases when global Undo/Redo is performed whereas the Ecosystem Painter is open.
• Fixed material copy/paste operations in object properties panel.
• Fixed rounding issue when rendering large scale terrains (infinite loop while evaluating terrain altitude).
• Fixed extreme slow-downs when manipulating groups.
• Fixed wrong coordinate system handling when using scatter & replicate tools while current coordinate system is not the default one.
• Fixed potential crash with various render previews.
• Fixed ignored extracted alpha map from loaded RGBA color map in alpha plane editor.
• Fixed splotchy global illumination artefacts through semi-transparent surfaces.
• Fixed ignored bitmap rotation & inversion modifications in alpha plane & plant leaf editors.
• Fixed wrong terrain geometry animation.
• Fixed a possible crash when initializing 3DConnexion plugin at Vue startup on computers not running the 3DConnexion driver.
• Fixed possible crash when initiliazing the QT module(Windows only).
• Fixed crash when using subsurface scattering over plant leaves.
• Fixed cleared OpenGL viewports when render finishes, if "clear OpenGL data before render" option is checked.
• Fixed missing ecosystem species list refresh when removing species.
• Fixed crash in scene preview with some displaced parametric terrains.
• Fixed crash when editing old plant species.
• Fixed terrain editor effects local painting.
• Fixed modifications saving in function editor when only node title or position changing.
• Fixed possible node position changing when creating a metanode from a graph.
• Fixed position of finite procedural terrains regarding viewpoint.

The update for Vue 7 xStream (Build 37681) includes the following changes:

• Integration plugins:
• Fixed wind preview when auto keyframing is disabled.
• "Use geometry" option for ecosystem preview in the 3ds Max integration plugin was not saved in the configuration file.
• Fixed forced values in the preferences (disabling decimation preview, disabling autokeyframing option, disabling OpenGL preview of the atmosphere).
• Maya plugin now properly detects batch rendering state.
• Fixed potential problem with automatic reloading of linked files.
• XSI lights were not correctly converted to Vue lights at render time: light color and intensity were taken from the energy color/intensity instead of the regular color/intensity. Shadow casting option was not read from light.
• Fixed influence (illumination and shadows) of LightWave lights on Vue content.
• Fixed internal unit change in 3ds Max not instantly reflected in the interface.
• Fixed painted Ecosystems disappearing from 3ds Max viewports.
• Speeding up rendering with C4D.
• Ray marching option is disabled at render time when atmosphere model is not compatible: Environment Map or Standard atmosphere.
• Fixed rendering of animations in C4D.
• Fixed shadow computation in xStream through absorbing medias (like water).
• Fixed distance update along xStream shadow rays.
• Objects behind a non-directional light could cast shadows in front of the light.
• Shadow rays of non-directional lights were not taking the correct position of the light into account (but the correct direction).
• Fixed focal unit conversion of the mentalray render camera (grainy clouds without density when internal unit was not set to 1 inch).
• Fixed animation preview on MacOS freezing without mouse movement.
• Fixed post render options dialog showing up behind render display window
• Fixed unexpected "ghost" ecosystem openGL drawing
• Fixed non properly reset GI solution when creating new scene
• Warn user about potential render artifacts when using lens glare along with "Sharp" anti-aliasing mode.
• Improved rotation gizmos
• Fixed missing python access to symmetrical & thin surface terrain properties.
• Fixed artefacts when rendering in maximized main view
• Fixed wrong scaling of procedural terrains created using macros
• Fixed too often boxed terrains
• Fixed wrong ecosystem opengl display with groups
• Fixed locked parametric terrain OpenGL refinement once a parametric terrain has been deleted.
• Fixed crash when running python scripts
• Fixed apply bumpmap on non-displaced impacts of displaced objects (ie clipped areas) when "show bumps on saturating displacements" is ON.
• Fixed wrong camera altitude lock, ecosystem instance placing or object dropping over some procedural terrains.
• Fixed wrong lighting below displaced terrains
• Fixed wrong edit action replay
• Fixed broken png file writing on MacOS
• Fixed potential crash with standard atmosphere clouds.
• Improved standard terrain creation.
• Fixed potential xStream plugin crash when render begins (AA inits)
• Fixed possibly abrupt changes in Hybrid 2.5D depth of field blurring radius.
• Fixed missing viewport refresh when zooming with mouse wheel.
• Fixed unexpected low quality OpenGL drawing when boxes are used.
• Fixed crash when using double Icon Button in function editor.
• Fixed RenderCow shut down request processing.
• Fixed discarding available GI solution when performing a network still picture render.
• ctrl+C is now properly disabled when some editor has focus
• Improved OpenGL boolean operations display.
• Improved rendering speed when not using multipass.
• Fixed potential crash when manipulating sunlight.
• Improved opengl renderer compatibility
• Improved rendering speed & quality of still pictures via HyperVue when using GI or GR.
• Fixed a crash when opening the plant editor with a plant species which could not be found by Vue.
• Fixed a problem of backwards compatibility with old ecosystems (scale and presence).
• Fixed a crash in some cases when global Undo/Redo is performed whereas the Ecosystem Painter is open.
• Fixed material copy/paste operations in object properties panel.
• Fixed rounding issue when rendering large scale terrains (infinite loop while evaluating terrain altitude).
• Fixed extreme slow-downs when manipulating groups.
• Fixed wrong coordinate system handling when using scatter & replicate tools while current coordinate system is not the default one.
• Fixed potential crash with various render previews.
• Fixed ignored extracted alpha map from loaded RGBA color map in alpha plane editor.
• Fixed splotchy global illumination artefacts through semi-transparent surfaces.
• Fixed ignored bitmap rotation & inversion modifications in alpha plane & plant leaf editors.
• Fixed wrong terrain geometry animation.
• Fixed a possible crash when initializing 3DConnexion plugin at Vue startup on computers not running the 3DConnexion driver.
• Fixed possible crash when initiliazing the QT module(Windows only).
• Fixed crash when using subsurface scattering over plant leaves.
• Fixed cleared OpenGL viewports when render finishes, if "clear OpenGL data before render" option is checked.
• Fixed missing ecosystem species list refresh when removing species.
• Fixed crash in scene preview with some displaced parametric terrains.
• Fixed crash when editing old plant species.
• Fixed terrain editor effects local painting.
• Fixed modifications saving in function editor when only node title or position changing.
• Fixed possible node position changing when creating a metanode from a graph.
• Fixed position of finite procedural terrains regarding viewpoint.

Vue 7 Book from Ami Chopine

Ami Chopine has announced she has a contract to write a book about Vue for Focal Press. You can read more about it on Ami's blog.

Flickerless Rendering in Vue

I missed this one but spotted it on Chipp Walters' blog. Paul Fitzgibbon posted on the e-on forum a sample and render settings directions for creating animations which render fast and flickerless in Vue.

Model Like a Superhero

Chipp Walters' has posted a sample of his in development guide to modeling in Vue Model Like a SuperHero!

Free Decal Materials and Tutorial

Chipp Walters has posted a quick tutorial and two free materials for creating decals in Vue 7.

VueTools Toolbar for Windows 64-bit

Chipp Walters' VueTools toolbar will now work on Vista 64 and WinXP 64.

More Geekatplay Vue 7 Tutorials

Geekatplay Studios have released five more Vue 7 tutorials:

• Object Graph
• Ecosystem III
• External dependecy
• xRay gun, external dependency - Part one
• xRay gun, meta node - Part two

They also have two new tutorials from Gary Miller:

• Creating cartoon landscape, texturing and rendering in Vue
• Creating a spinning galaxy

Free ComStation for Vue

Jacob Charles Dietz has posted a new, free, science fiction model of a ComStation in VOB format for use with Vue.

Vue 7 Vista Activation Tip

A quick, but important, tip for users of Vue 7 with Windows Vista: if you keep getting an error message on start up that you're Vue 7 activation code isn't right try running Vue in administrator mode.

Cornucopia 3D: Through the Magical Gate Contest Winners

The Cornucopia 3D Through the Magical Gate Contest's Winners have been announced:

• 1st place: Door to the Underworld by Bob Nolin
• 2nd place: Old Celtic Gate by Godwin
• 3rd place: Sky City by Jean-Francois Liesenborgh

New Tutorials and Challenges

Gary Miller has posted a new tutorial about creating a golf course in Vue at Geekatplay studio. This runs alongside the Vue forum at Renderosity's challenge for November 2008 to create a golf course in Vue.

Geekatplay studio has also added 3 more Vue 7 tutorials and more Vue VFX tutorials.

SkinVue7

Dave Burdick has launched the latest version of SkinVue - SkinVue7. I've included my first two, quick renders using SkinVue7- one each of Daz's Michael 4 and Victoria 4 - both rendered in final mode after using SkinVue7's enhanced mode without any other modification. Both renders took around 2 minutes.

Features:

• 64-bit support
• New wet/dry skin specular model
• Added skin tone and tint adjustments
• Added "splotching" skin adjustment
• Enhanced Eye shader
• New HDRI Atmospheres
• All atmospheres re-calibrated for new Vue 7 GI lighting model
• New Meta-Node based material layers to add blood, bruises, chain meshing, robot and reptilian skin styles
• Added material swapping support for M4 (DAZ Character Plugin)
• Support to swap SkinVue6 mats into SkinVue7

VueMark7

Frederic Louguet (aka RenderFred) has posted the official version of VueMark for Vue 7. For all the details see Fred's post at Cornucopia 3D.

7 Geekatplay Vue 7 Tutorials

Geekatplay Studio has kicked off its Vue 7 tutorials with not 1, not 2 but 7 new tutorials:

• A quick overview of new Stuff
• Options and units
• Infinite terrains
• Macros
• Spectral clouds II
• Lens aberration
• Infinite water surface

SkinVue 6 Patch for Vue 7

Dave Burdick had released a zip file containing a patch to allow SkinVue6 to run on Vue7. There are some issues which will not work properly in Vue7 when running SkinVue6:

• The atmosphere files will produce very oversaturated lighting
• The scene file atmospheres will produce very overstaturated lighting

SkinVue 7 will be available shortly which has been optimized to run in Vue 7. To learn more about the features of SkinVue7, please visit http://www.SkinVue.net

E-on Software Newsletter - November 4th 2008

Its been a busy day over at e-on software along with the Vue 7 Infinite and xStream releases they've put up a whole pile of new web pages, done a press release and now put out their latest newsletter too. Hope they had time for lunch.

So in November 4th 2008 newsletter we get:

• Release Schedule
• Vue 7 Solutions for Professionals
• Vue 7 Pricing and Time Limited Offers
• Vue 7 Solutions for Schools and Students

E-on Software Ships Vue 7 xStream And Vue 7 Infinite!

MAJOR ENHANCEMENTS IN 3D ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR PROFESSIONALS

November 3, 2008. Beaverton, Oregon: e-on software, maker of Vue, the leading solution for natural 3D environments announced the immediate availability of its Vue 7 line of products for Professionals: Vue 7 xStream and Vue 7 Infinite.

Vue 7 xStream and Vue 7 Infinite are the newest versions of the company’s flagship solutions for the creation of natural 3D environments. Specifically designed for graphics professionals, Vue 7 xStream and Vue 7 Infinite combine a multitude of cutting edge features that easily integrate into existing production pipelines. Both Vue 7 xStream and Vue 7 Infinite are available immediately.

Vue 7 xStream – The Integrated Solution:

Vue 7 xStream, e-on’s flagship solution, represents a totally new paradigm in terms of integration and workflow. All Vue tools are now fully integrated in the host application, providing direct access to the most advanced 3D environment creation technologies.

Among many advanced innovations, Vue 7 xStream users can now create complete natural 3D environments directly inside their application, using standard application tools and manipulators.

Digital content creators working with Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya, Softimage XSI, Maxon Cinema 4D or Newtek LightWave will greatly benefit from Vue 7 xStream’s unprecedented 3D “Digital Nature” creation power.

Vue 7 Infinite – The Standalone Solution:

Vue 7 Infinite offers an all-round combination of unequaled scenery creation power, advanced rendering and full-featured animation tools in a stand-alone package. Vue 7 Infinite is the ideal tool for multimedia and entertainment professionals, architects and graphics designers.

Powerful, Realistic, Productive, Dependable

Vue 7 is the prefect fit for any production house and digital content creator needing to add professional digital environments to their production pipeline.

A selection of the new features available in Vue 7 xStream and Infinite include:

Direct access and interaction with single Vue assets inside of compatible applications (xStream)

Extended compatibility with Mental Ray – integrated and satellites (xStream)

EcoSystem 3 technology: dynamic population, EcoSystem painting from any angle

Spectral 2 cloud technology: highly realistic volumetric 3D clouds and cloud layers

New Radiosity engine optimized for Indoor and infinite scenery

Water Editor: convincing water animation from still lakes to stormy ocean waves

Global Illumination rendering up to 4 times faster

Improved SolidGrowth 4 plant technology with high definition species for your “hero” plants

Collada file format import

Over 160 editable SolidGrowth plant species, with almost 100 species previously only available from Cornucopia3D.com and 20 brand new species.

Numerous other productivity and feature enhancements.

A 4 minute video showing some of the new features of Vue 7 is available on the product pages (http://www.e-onsoftware.com/xstream and http://www.e-onsoftware.com/infinite).

Pricing and Availability

Standard Retail Price:

Vue 7 xStream will retail for $1,495, with upgrades from Vue 6 xStream available for $595. Until February 2, 2009, a special introductory pricing is available on this product, with the full version retailing at $1,195 and upgrades from Vue 6 xStream at $395. Annual subscriptions for Educational licenses of Vue 7 xStream are available for $149/year/seat.

Vue 7 Infinite retails for $895, with upgrades from Vue 6 Infinite available for $395. Annual subscriptions for Educational licenses of Vue 7 Infinite are available for $99/seat/year.

Site licensing discounts are available for both products, contact e-on software for further details and pricing information.

Special Offers:

Customers who purchased Vue 6 xStream or Vue 6 Infinite after October 1, 2008 are eligible for a Late Buyers special discount on their upgrade.

Temporarily, users of Vue 6 Esprit and Vue 6 Pro Studio will be able to Sidegrade to either Vue 7 xStream or Vue 7 Infinite.

All special offers and time limited upgrades will end on February 2, 2009.

Availability:

Vue 7 xStream is available in English for Windows XP32/64 and Vista 32/64, and on Mac OSX 10.4+ as a 32 bit application (Universal Binary). Vue 7 xStream is compatible with the following renderers: Mental Ray for 3ds Max, Maya and XSI (integrated and MR satellites), Maya Software, Cinema 4D Software and LightWave Software. Other renderers are under consideration.

Vue 7 Infinite is available in English for Windows 2000/XP/Vista for 32 and 64 bits OS, and for Mac OSX 10.4+ platforms (Universal Binary) as a 32 bit application.

Vue 7 Comparison Charts

I missed this but Jonj1611 on Renderosity spotted these two handy comparison pages on the e-on site...

• Vue 7 Bundles: Compares Vue 7 Pioneer, Vue 7 Esprit, Vue 7 Pro Studio and Vue 7 Complete
• Vue 7 Complete - Comparative Chart: Compares Vue 7 Complete with Vue 7 Infinite and Vue 6 Infinite

Vue 7 Infinite and xStream Prices

When there is a special offer I normally copy the price list here but with all the new support options I'm just going to be lazy and link to the e-on price list. I'm off to try and inwardly digest all the options.

Vue 7 xStream New Features

Again ripped straight from the product overview page...

• All the new Vue 7 Infinite features
• Total Integration
• Edit Vue elements inside your application
• Full Support of All Vue Elements
• xStream for Maya works with both MentalRay and Maya software renderer
• xStream for Max and XSI works with MentalRay
• xStream for LightWave and Cinema4D works with the native renderer
• Matching Scene Scales
• 3D proxy in the host application

Vue 7 Infinite New Features

Ripped without any apology straight from the Vue 7 Infinite product pages and in no particular order...

• EcoSystem Generation III
• Scene Graph
• MetaNodes
• High-definition 16 bit data in standard terrains
• Motion blur for wind effects
• Improved depth of field algorithms
• Spectral II Cloud Technology
• Indoor and Outdoor Radiosity
• Loose Tracking and Linking
• Improved SolidGrowth 4
• New Plant Species
• Water Editor
• Real-life camera aberrations
• Clumpy or feathery cloud shapes
• Displacement mapping of infinitely detailed procedural terrains
• Slope dependent bump or displacement mapping
• "Foam" output in Open Ocean node
• Faster Rendering
• Improved Anti-aliasing
• New OpenGL Engine
• Macro Automation
• Procedural Terrain Style Presets
• Collada File Import
• Enable or disable lights with one click
• 3Dconnexion range of 3D navigation controls
• High precision animation curve control
• Separate animation range and render range
• Rename individual render passes
• Disable/bypass Visual Browsers
• Intelligent re-titling of files
• New Software Architecture
• Bucket Rendering
• Redesigned Network Services
• New License Server
• Advanced Support Options
• Run several instances of Vue simultaneously
• Embedded error reporting
• Easily change the location of your content folder after installation
• Disable abort render on click
• Disable/customize frame padding
• Content files accessible from all system accounts

Breaking News: Vue 7 Shipping

Just spotted this on the e-on software home page. Vue 7 is now shipping. More to follow shortly.

Peter Plantec on Vue

In an interesting article in Studio/Monthly the magazine - Plantec's POV: Is VFX Going Down the Wrong Road? - Peter Plantec he has some nice things to say about Vue.

I’ve spent some time chatting with VFX people who are known to be clever at using simple, inexpensive approaches to achieve high production value VFX. I’m a big Adobe fan because they have some excellent tools that generally work well in tandem for creating cheap VFX. For example you can develop assets in Photoshop, slide them into After Effects and go from 2D to 2.5D very easily. 2.5D effects are created by layering up 2D images with transparency in After Effects (your application of choice), and applying virtual camera moves that display parallax, fooling the eye. You can combine that with a quick matte painting background, created by first rendering a basic photo-real scene in Vue 6, and then digitally painting in necessary details by hand or with photo-reference.

You can quickly create credible establishing shots in Vue. I created a 14 second, photo-real, time-lapse establishing shot of a jungle beach in Asia at sunrise, in 20 minutes in Vue 6, using off the shelf objects and customized preset atmosphere, lighting and breeze. In 45 minutes I created a believable two camera aerobatics sequence over a sunset ocean complete with volumetric clouds, a pirate ship, waves and sound effects. Let’s say that I was on staff at a TV production company and they needed that sunrise shot and didn’t know I could do this (and most likely they wouldn’t.) They would have to allocate a sizable budget to build a fake Japanese pagoda and set it up on Westward Beach and haul a film crew out there at 4:00 am to set up for the shot. They’d also need to rent an expensive crane as well. We’re talking days of aggravation and a lot of money.

CGTalk: Lighting Challenge #17: Natural History

CGTalk's Lighting Challenge #17: Natural History runs to Monday January 5th 2009. The challenge is to light a massive scene based on the Natural History Museum in London beloved of school trips and film makers includes model dinosaur skeletons.

Renderosity Artist of the Month (November 2008)

Jacob Charles Dietz has been named artist of the month (November 2008) at Renderosity for his work in the Vue gallery.

3D World Issue 111

The latest issue of 3D World (Issue 111 - Winter 2008) which is now on sale in the UK. It includes more than the usual Vue coverage including the Vue 7 advert seen in last months issue and a piece on the Vue 3D Environment Competition 2008. The real meat for Vue users is Ami Chopine's tutorial on using Vue 6 and After Effects to create a post apocalyptic environment image.

Free Team Dystopia’s Dys-Billboard Free for Vue

Jacob Charles Dietz is giving away a new freebie for Vue, a conversion of Team Dystopia’s Dys-Billboard model. It includes 10 custom, illuminated display options. The mats all feature video scanlines, a little grime, some weathering and all original advertisements. The freebie is available from the Team Dystopia website which requires registration. Once you’ve registered and logged in, you can find a link to it from this post on the Team Dystopia site.

Squirrels' Hollow Freebie for Vue

Gill B has released a new free model for Vue of a hollow tree trunk with a little door at the bottom. A little home for tiny creatures, birds or even little people! You can see a picture of it in her Renderosity gallery.