Thursday, June 30, 2011

MARI 1.3v2 Builds a Bridge Between NUKE and MARI



MARI 1.3v2 delivers a focused workflow to provide NUKE artists with MARI’s dedicated 3D paint tools, making digital environment and projection work more efficient and final composited scenes more believable.

WHAT IS IT?

A new NUKE <> MARI bridge allows compositing artists to directly address common and time-consuming challenges faced when using 3D projection techniques to build digital environments:

  • Manage reference photography and paint seamless 3D projections.

  • Easily fix warping and stretching artifacts.

  • In-paint holes and occluded areas, often exposed from adjusted camera views.

  • Remove unwanted markers and scene objects.

  • Build invisible set-extensions.


Simple to setup, quick and easy to use – models, projections and images are sent from NUKE to MARI and back in a single step, or over a network when artists need to collaborate, share skills or save time. Seamless results, intuitive painting.

Watch Frank Rueter use the NUKE<>MARI Bridge below.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Furnace 4.2v5 is Now Available!

FURNACE 4.2v5 is now available!

This release includes:

  • A new 5 point widget to F_ScratchRepair for more freedom when selecting scratches

  • Improved installation experience to Windows 7

  • Bug fixes to both F_ScratchRepair and F_WireRemovalFor download info and more click here. This update is FREE for all users of FURNACE 4.2!


 

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Foundry Nuke 6.3v1 Beta Release Updated

Hello All,

NUKE 6.3v1b20 is now available and can be downloaded here

User Name: n63_beta
Password: intothevoid

This Foundry NUKE beta release includes improvements for the majority of the new features, details of which can be found in the release notes which are available on the beta downloads page. We are nearing the end of this beta cycle so if you have feedback please do send it through in the coming days.

If you wish to report a  beta bug please use our private mail box: beta-n63@thefoundry.co.uk.

If you have general licensing issues, or have encountered a bug that is reproducible in released versions of Nuke, please contact support@thefoundry.co.uk.

Thanks for your continuing involvement in this beta cycle, your feedback is greatly appreciated!

The Nuke Team

If you're looking for the current production release of Nuke from The Foundry, click the link for more info.

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Foundry Mari 1.3 Released

MARI 1.3 is loaded with great new features to help keep your painting creative whilst helping with workflow and pipeline pain.


WHAT'S NEW IN MARI 1.3?


PTEX Ptex allows you to paint and render models without having to spend time creating complicated UV maps - hooray! It gives the artist complete freedom providing access to texture resolution where and when they need it. In MARI each model face can have textures of up to 8k pixels square - a canvas that will never run out. Our Ptex support is built on MARI's world-class data and rendering engine and draws directly from Walt Disney Animation Studios' paint technology following a ground-breaking agreement with The Foundry.

DISPLACEMENT PREVIEW


Accurately previewing displacement on a model surface is essential to paint accurately and efficiently. Without an immediate view of how a sculpted surface detail will change final appearance, artists are working blind and relying on time consuming static render-outs for review and approval. By combining the power of modern GPU technology and MARI's world leading texture handling system, almost infinite amounts of displacement detail can be displayed in real-time. Simple set-up of displacement textures drive creation of geometry on the fly showing detail that would require many billions of polygons to display in traditional systems.
Snail without displacement
Snail without displacement

© Model courtesy of Jake Raymor.


Snail with displacement.
Snail with displacement.

© Model courtesy of Jake Raymor.



SNAPSHOTS


Snapshots provide a focused and efficient texture versioning system providing unprecedented flexibility for artists to play with new ideas and to deal with change and variation. Change requests become instant and fluid; no more waiting for files to copy or risk of overwriting the wrong ones and loosing the best work.
Snapshots
Snapshots

© Model courtesy of Universal Pictures and Weta Digital.



TILED TEXTURES


MARI's live tiled texture system brings quick and easy coverage of large surfaces without compromising control. Multiple tiling textures can be combined with masks and remain editable and tweakable right up to the last minute making change quick and simple.
Tiled Textures
Tiled Textures

© Model courtesy of Universal Pictures and Weta Digital.



ENVIRONMENT MAPPING


Environment maps allow artists to preview shiny, reflective surfaces and to review the final appearance of their textures whilst painting. Environment maps also help to visualise subtle surface changes and highlight subtle details guiding the artist in creative decisions and final work approval.
Environment Mapping
Environment Mapping

© Model courtesy of Universal Pictures and Weta Digital.


NUKE <> MARI


MARI and NUKE have become great friends. MARI 1.3v2 (due for release at the end of June) brings a new combined workflow to fix common problems found when doing projections such as seaming, stretching and occlusions. Sound interesting? Watch Frank Rueter's video to see how it's going to work and look out for the v2 release.

Monday, May 23, 2011

NUKE 6.3 Wins CGW Silver Edge Award

NUKE 6.3 was previewed on The Foundry's booth at NAB 2011 and the CGW team were so impressed that they've selected it for a Silver Edge Award.  If you're interested in purchasing Nuke or would like to get a quote, click here to contact an Authorized Nuke Reseller.

What's new in Nuke 6.3?


NUKE 6.3 is due for release in June and is packed full of new tools, reducing the need for artists to leave NUKE for external applications. New Spline and Grip Warpers, 3D particles, Denoise, a Planar Tracker and an audio scratch track all improve fluidity and flexibility of workflow, saving artists time.
Screenshot of Particles in NUKE 6.3 
Screenshot of Particles in NUKE 6.3


NUKE 6.3 also introduces a new Deep Compositing pipeline, allowing artists to work with deep data from 3D renders, supporting new ways to approach visual effects and more control when integrating and finishing CG rendered elements.
Screenshot of Deep Compositing in NUKE 6.3 
Screenshot of Deep Compositing in NUKE 6.3

MARI <> NUKE Workflow


In addition to all this, we have been working hard to make MARI and NUKE better friends which has resulted in a new workflow utilising the two to conquer common issues encountered during environment creation and texture projection such as stretching, seaming and occlusion.

NUKE Knows Stereo


NUKE continues to be the compositing tool of choice for stereo VFX work with its native stereo workflow. It also has everything needed to tackle 2D to 3D conversion work and is the only platform that supports The Foundry’s award-winning OCULA plug-in toolset.

 
TRON:LEGACY  
TRON:LEGACY

© Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


CGW Silver Edge Award


Read more Read more about the awards, bestowed on 'best of show' products at GDC and NAB.

 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Job Alert: RTT USA Looking for NUKE Compositor

Posted 5/19/2011


Project:  Film and Print

Job Duties(s): 2D Tracking, Animatics , Animation (FX), Camera Placement / Tracking, Coloring / Correction, Compositing / Lighting / Image Processing, Matchmoving , Rotoscoping, Special FX / Particle Systems, Tracker / Matchmover, Texturing 3D

Software Utilized:  Photoshop, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Python, MS Office, FTP, Nuke, HDRI, Boujou, Adobe Creative Suite

Genre(s): Animation (2D), Animation (3D), Visual FX

Bonus Eligibility: No

Relocation: No

Required Spoken Language(s): English

Required Work Auth.: United States

Start Date: Immediately

JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: Compositor
Reports to: CG Supervisor

Summary of Position: Supporting role to fellow Artists, CG Supervisor and Creative Director.

Job Responsibilities:
• Assisting team members with CGI projects as timing requires.
• Provide technical insight to Producer as needed, such as suggesting more efficient methods of handling a certain task.
• Lighting, shading, modeling and compositing realistic objectives and environments in Maya .
• Collaborate with fellow artists to create a visual style that will resonate with the target audience.
• Voice problems or concerns to Team Leads if missing materials.
• Maintain open and clear communication with Team Lead.
• Provide project status to Team Lead.

Skills Necessary:
• Compositing with Nuke and or After FX
• Understanding of 3D concepts and workflows
• Ability to coordinate with our 3D artists
• Ability to use extensive post effects to turn shots into high quality visuals
• Ability to develop high quality grading and finishing techniques
• Develop and integrate particle / visual effects
• Good knowledge of shading and lighting techniques in 3D
• Excellent traditional art skills
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with clients and strong desire to excel
• Proven pro-active team player
• Self motivated with ability to prioritize and attention to detail
• Take direction from others
• Ability to react and respond quickly to the needs of management and clients
REQUIREMENTS:

Education / Experience Required:
• Bachelors of Fine Arts
• Minimum 3 year experience in C



 

 

Monday, May 16, 2011

The Foundry Nuke v6.3 Beta Release Now Available





The Foundry have released Nuke 6.3 Beta.

Important Notes:

It is available to customers with an existing Nuke license key and valid maintenance.

Be aware that this is a beta build, some features are not yet fully implemented, and its performance cannot be relied upon in a production environment.

Follow the link for complete details, introduction videos and download information.

Don't have a seat of Nuke?

You can purchase Nuke at the Motion Media online shop.

Nuke(X) evaluations are available for 30 Days.

Contact an Account Associate at Motion Media for more details.

Ph: 310. 450-4000