Shade 12 (Read more...)

Mirye Software and E Frontier announce the release of Shade 12.0.3, a major update to the Shade 3D product line of modeling, rendering and animation tools.

Shade 12.0.3 is available on both the Windows (32 and 64 bit) and Mac OS X platforms and free to existing customers. This release includes many performance improvements as well as new features and feature enhancements over the previously released Shade 12 in English, first available in February, 2011. Shade 3D is also available through the Apple Mac App Store.

General Improvements

- Update Background Texture on File Open. In Preferences > View Tab, option to automatically update background textures whenever a file is opened.

- Tool Parameters. Scrollbar is now available when the Tool Parameters window is docked.

- Subdivision Surfaces. The preset values in the Tool Parameters sets values when a mesh is created.

- Mirrored Objects Preview. Mirror object are now able to display in wireframe

- Python Scripting Improvements. New attribute "message" added in "message_view" for set and get message between message window.

- New Mesh Selection Parameters

- New options and shortcuts added to the Mesh menu, including selection of Visible Only. Shaded display supports visible only (default behavior of Shade 12). Wireframe by default supports Front and Back. Shaded display supports Visible only (the normal Shade 12 default).

- New Preview and Draft Rendering

3D Stereoscopic Rendering Improvements

- Set Custom 3D Devices. Create custom 3D monitor size and resolution profiles, accessible through the Monitor Setting By popup menu and through the Image Window.

- Custom Profiles. Provides several preset monitor size and resolution settings profiles, including Nintendo 3DS, Sharp 3D Smartphone, FUJIFILM FinePix REAL 3D W3, NVIDIA 3D Vision compatible monitors and HDTV.

- AutoDetect Best Settings. Shade cna automatically detect the best monitor and output settings based on current hardware profiling.

- Side by Side Rendering. Supports both full static and animation for side by side rendering.

Import and Export Improvements

- MPO Improvements. Optimized based on specific custom profiles for exporting in this format.

- COLLADA Improvements. COLLADA import and export support ambient light options. COLLADA for BlueMars support now available in Shade 64-bit version.

- 3DS Improvements. Import and export support Ambient light options.

- OBJ Improvements. Import and export supports Ambient light options. Supports multiple UV layers.

Shade 12.0.3 is available as a full download only and works with existing Shade 12 licenses.

Shade 12 is available as Shade Basic ($99), Shade Standard ($349) and Shade Professional ($749), under the Shade For Friends campaign. Customers who purchase or upgrade to Shade Standard or Shade Professional will receive either two or four additional activation codes that they can give to friends and are redeemable during the campaign time for copies of Shade Basic.

Shade 12.0.3 is available through the Shade download site at http://www.shadetrial.com as a 30 day, free trial.

Ceramics For 3D Printing (Read more...)

Shapeways announces the launch of a glazed ceramics material for the printing of your 3D models, that will be available until August as a test. As happened before with other 3D printing materials, if the results are satisfactory both for users, builders and the business, the material will be added to the wide range of currently avaliable materials at Shapeways.

Read more about this new possibility at Shapeways' blog:
http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/839-Introducing-3D-Printed-Glazed-Ceramics.html

Contest: Create A Monster For Rift (Read more...)

The game RIFT in collaboration with DeviantArt announces a contest to design a super-monster enemy for their game using any technique including 3D modeling. You can win an Intuos4 tablet and other fantastic prizes.

You have until June 19th, 2011.

See the rules and details here:
http://fav.me/n151243

Blender 2.57: The New Stable Release (Read more...)

The new stable version of Blender is out for you to download. At last a stable version of this new 2.5 branch, that turns Blender into a more modern, powerful and easy to use modeler.

If you are a newcomer to Blender but have used other 3D modelers before, you will soon notice that one gets used soon to the new interface, which is completely customizable, neat, and modern.

Blender now has many of the features that some time ago were only available in very expensive modeling packages. In addition, the huge community of users and the extensive documentation that you can find in the Internet can help you to learn it if you dedicate some time for that.

http://www.blender.org/

Lost Stone Path (Read more...)

My wife Emma Alvarez and I have released this product for Renderosity. Only through May 22th, Lost Stone Path, new on the marketplace, starts at 15% off.

Get it here: Lost Stone Path

Build mountain passes, forgotten ruins, lost places... Use all together or independently in your endless adventures: rocks, bricks, arches, stone walls, panoramas, lights, morphing terrain...
This pack is 2 scenes and a toolset for your Runtime. Your imagination rules!
A product for Poser and DAZ Studio.
Contents:
- 2 preloads with full scenes: the Mountain Path, and the Lost Ruin
- Stone archway
- 4 stone mountain walls: 2 short + 2 long
- Morphing terrain with 8 morphs that can be mixed to deform the terrain at your will
- 12 rock bricks + 1 round stone
- 2 grass props: single grass plant and group of grass
- A preload of a stone archway with all the bricks added
- Panorama that can be turned, moved and scaled
- 10 MAT poses for the panorama: 2 panoramas at 5 different moments of the day each one
- 1 single mat pose to apply stone to any brick for easy use
- 5 light sets for different moments of the day + shortcut to delete all lights
- 8 cameras for easy framing your scenes (4 for each scenery)
- Render settings
- Render Settings Tutorial to get the most of your renders!
- For DAZ Studio: shortcut to apply all bumps to materials so they look like in Poser