Digital Arts November 2009

Digital Arts November 2009 includes CD with what appears to be a copy of Vue 7 Pioneer (which can be downloaded for free from Cornucopia 3D). I didn't buy a copy and the issue was shrink wrapped so I don't know if there are any other Vue stuff inside.

LVS Online November Vue Courses

Introduction to Vue is a 6 week on-line class for Vue Infinite; Perfect for Esprit, Pro Studio, Complete, and PLE users too.

The Intermediate Vue class is a bit more detailed look into Vue. I cover an introduction to the function generator, how to make complex materials, spectral atmospheres, Depth of Field, and advanced ecosystem editing. This class is for users who are familiar with Vue.

The Advanced Vue class covers importing files into Vue, the function generator, HDRI, IBL, and radiosity lighting, animations, Multi-Pass renders and custom plant creation.

Registration for the November session is open.
The November session classrooms open October 26, 2009.
The November session registration will end on October 28, 2009
The first lesson for the November session will post on October 31, 2009


Returning students receive a 20% DISCOUNT!

3D World - December 2009

Issue 123 (December 2009) of 3D World is now available in the UK and includes a short tutorial for Vue in the Question and Answers section on generating trees with a planting plan.

TXE-Q Stand for Vue

Jacob Charles Dietz has posted a Vue version of Moebius' TXE-Q Stand to go with the Dystopia TXE for Vue. You'll need to be a registered user at Team-Dystopia.com forums to download the textured models.

Fantasies in Vue Web Site

I've added the German language Fantasies in Vue web site to my Vue Links Directory.

Striped Lighting Gels for Vue

I've posted 10 striped lighting gels for Vue to my web site.  I've lots more lighting gels to follow until I run out which may take some time.  A tutorial on using gels will be posted once I've finished it.  The set have been tested in Vue 7.5 Infinite.

Renderosity Vue Monthly Challenge (October 2009)

A new Vue challenge has started at Renderosity...

ENORMOUS: A huge sense of scale - a giant mountain, building, structure, hallway, spaceship, animal, etc. You need a real-world object (character, car, house, etc.) to show in the picture as well to SHOW that the featured object is enormous, so keep that in mind when figuring out the image. So, using any version of Vue, create an image encompassing the theme of 'Enormous'.

The Deadline will be Midnight Renderosity Time October 31th 2009.

E-on Software to Ship Vue 8 Early November

October 12, 2009. Beaverton, Oregon: e-on software, the leader in Digital Nature solutions, announced the formal unveiling of its upcoming Vue 8 product line - scheduled for release the first week of November, 2009.

In addition to a number of important new features such as 3D terrain sculpting, a new directional displacement engine and the 3rd generation of e-on’s cutting-edge atmospheric technology, Vue 8 represents an important milestone for the company as it is the first full release of Vue developed under e-on’s new annual release schedule program.

"We are tremendously excited by the new advancements and increased pace of innovation offered in Vue 8," explained Nicholas Phelps, CEO of e-on Software. "Our customers are continually expanding the use of our Digital Nature solutions as a fundamental, mainstream component within their commercial programs and projects. Vue 8 will allow them to achieve even greater levels of realism, precision and performance."

Release Schedule and New Product Lineup

E-on software expects to release the entire Vue 8 product line the first week of November 2009*.

The Vue 8 product lineup is organized in 3 Product Families:

• Vue 8 for CG Professionals: Vue 8 Infinite and Vue 8 xStream (Ozone 5.0 will follow).



• Offers CG professionals the premiere solution for creating exceptionally rich and realistic Digital Nature environments with seamless integration into any production workflow.



• Vue 8 for 3D Artists: Vue 8 Esprit, Vue 8 Studio and Vue 8 Complete.



• Provides 3D artists and small studios with powerful modular applications to create richly natural 3D Digital Nature scenery and landscapes. Vue 8 Studio, e-on software’s new mid range application, offers a feature set similar to that of Vue 7 Pro Studio.



• Vue 8 for 3D Enthusiasts: Vue 8 Pioneer & T-Packs and Vue 8 Frontier.



• Features content-filled, easy-to-use scenic nature creation for home and family use, with the addition of the new, cost effective Vue 8 Frontier, specifically dedicated to Poser™ users.

*English versions only. Localized versions of Artist products are expected Q1 2010.

Next Generation Features

Vue 8 includes a number of important new features such as:

• 3D Terrain Sculpting: Allows users to freely sculpt terrain features such as overhangs and caves directly into Vue standard and procedural terrains.
• Localized Infinite and Procedural Terrain Sculpting: Combine the best of both worlds with the ability to locally sculpt features on the infinitely detailed procedural terrains. Now, users have the ability to fine tune or completely rework localized areas on procedural terrains providing even greater artistic control and creativity.
• Scene Context Sculpting: Allows users to sculpt terrain features in the context of scene elements. Sculpt rocks and reliefs around vegetation and architectural buildings.
• New Stratified Terrain Fractals which allow the creation of richly detailed stratified, terrain features.
• New Directional Displacement Engine for textures to create more detailed and life-like surface features with greatly increased performance.
• 3rd Generation Spectral Atmospheric Technology which dramatically improves the quality and realism of clouds, god rays, and atmospheric shadows.
• Direct Re-Posing of Rigged Meshes: Rigged and pre-animated mesh objects can now be re-posed directly inside Vue. Currently supported formats: 3DSMax, Collada, and Vue Pre-animated Meshes.
• New Shader-based OpenGL preview engine for improved real-time performance and previewing accuracy.
• Deeper xStream Immersive Integration offering more seamless operation and improved workflow with the leading CG applications, including support for Maya 2010, Cinema4D R11.5, Softimage 2010 and V-Ray for Maya.
• All the new features introduced in Vue 7.5: camera mapping, planetary rendering, cross-shadowing and cloud masks, spherical cloud maps, animated EcoSystem populations, and more.
  

More details on the new features as well as the complete description pages will be disclosed at the time of release.

Vue 8 Pre-Release Versions Immediately Available

Following the terms of e-on software’s maintenance contracts, users of Vue xStream or Vue Infinite under maintenance will receive the upgrade to the corresponding Vue 8 product at no charge. If they wish, such users can download a pre-release version of their Vue 8 upgrade immediately.

Starting today, e-on software is now including a complimentary 30 Day Maintenance plan with all new purchases of Vue 7.5. Benefits added by this maintenance include:

• Unlimited, priority web-based technical support,
• Access to EEF releases (Expedited Engineering Fix),
• Free upgrades during the maintenance period (access to pre-release versions not included).

All Vue 8 Infinite and xStream products will include the new 30 Day Maintenance.

E-on software will also be offering the option to purchase Vue 8 Infinite and xStream pre-bundled with a yearly maintenance plan, providing a saving of respectively $100 and $200 on the regular cost of maintenance (the yearly maintenance period is added to the complimentary 30 day maintenance, providing a total of 13 months coverage).

The final pricelist for all upgrade and sidegrade options will be disclosed at the time of release.

3D Artist Issue 8 and Vue

Heard the joke about Vue articles in 3D Artist magazine being like busses?  None in one issue then two come along at once.

Issue 8 opens early with the current Vue advert and a thumbnail sized picture made using Vue in the community Reader's Gallery.  The main course is a nine page step by step article on creating a woodland waterway with Vue 6 Esprit that is neatly broken down into basic setup, materials, plants, ecosystems, atmosphere, rendering and post production.  Following a few pages later for desert is a one page article about making a scene with big waves in a stormy sea.

Vue Infinite & xStream Beta Updates (Build 46408) Now Available

A new beta update is available for Vue 7.5 and 7: Vue 7.51 Infinite,  Vue 7.51 xStream, Vue 7.41 Infinite and Vue 7.41 xStream (Build 46408) from e-on software.

 Update in Infinite 7.51:

• Improved overall compatibility with MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed locked plant reading on MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed scale mismatch when baking parametric terrains to polygons.
• Fixed glowing water issue within planet shadow.
• Fixed cumulated atmosphere quality drop each time a scene file is reloaded.
• Fixed macro issues with Metablobs.
• Improved network rendering with Hypervue.

 Updates in xStream 7.51:

• Integration plug-ins:
  • Optimzed render of region with 3ds Max 2010 when Vue GI is enabled.
  • Fixed a possible crash when launching Vue final gathering rays into the mental ray scene.
  • Fixed slower GI renders when camera aperture is set to something different than 36mm in the host application.
• Improved overall compatibility with MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed locked plant reading on MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed scale mismatch when baking parametric terrains to polygons.
• Fixed glowing water issue within planet shadow.
• Fixed cumulated atmosphere quality drop each time a scene file is reloaded.
• Fixed macro issues with Metablobs.
• Improved network rendering with Hypervue.

Updates in Vue Infinite 7.41:

• Improved overall compatibility with MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed locked plant reading on MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed scale mismatch when baking parametric terrains to polygons.
• Fixed cumulated atmosphere quality drop each time a scene file is reloaded.
• Fixed macro issues with Metablobs.
• Improved network rendering with Hypervue.

Updates in Vue xStream 7.41:

• Integration plug-ins:
  • Optimzed render of region with 3ds Max 2010 when Vue GI is enabled.
  • Fixed a possible crash when launching Vue final gathering rays into the mental ray scene.
  • Fixed slower GI renders when camera aperture is set to something different than 36mm in the host application.
• Improved overall compatibility with MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed locked plant reading on MacOS 10.6.
• Fixed scale mismatch when baking parametric terrains to polygons.
• Fixed cumulated atmosphere quality drop each time a scene file is reloaded.
• Fixed macro issues with Metablobs.
• Improved network rendering with Hypervue.

Known Issue: On some Mac systems, rendercows may not be updated automatically.

Cornucopia 3D Aerial Adventures! Contenst

The latest picture competition is running at Cornucopia3D: Aerial Adventures!

• 1st prize: $50 content voucher for Cornucopia3D. 
• 2nd prize: $35 content voucher for Cornucopia3D. 
• 3rd prize: $20 content voucher for Cornucopia3D. 

The Aerial Adventures! image contest will run to Saturday, October 31, 2009 (midnight, GMT).