MAYA shot mask python Script from Chris Zurbrigg

You may know Chris Zurbrigg from his script "blue pencil" , he just released a new super helpful script for making shot masks for playblast cameras inside of maya  it has a ton of options and customization..

looks super cool  you can download it here:  http://zurbrigg.com/maya-scripts/51-shot-mask

atdsk: Meet the Experts - Ptex painting in Mudbox

From what I can tell, this is the exact same presentation from the webinar a couple days ago...

Mostly focuses on painting and working with Ptex in maya

What is Ptex?  ( to me ptex is how you repair a divot in your snowboard base)

• Per Face texture assignment
• UV free workflow
• Uniform, balanced, smooth texture, layout
• production proven:  Disney/Pixar open source project
• PRman, Mental ray, vray supported.. and some other renderers

Brief History

•  Developed by Walt Disney Studios
•  Paper:  http://ptex.us/ptexpaper.html
• First used in the feature film Disney's Bolt, Nov 21st . 2008
• released open source Jan 15th 2010 http://ptex.us/

Pros & Cons

pros

• instant setup, no need to create and layout uvs
• zero distortion and limited seam issues ( if any) 
• no need to iterate or make special uv setups
• can instantly start texturing, with the ability to export to uv maps later when they are created

cons

• still doesn't support all texture formats
• not supported all render engine and game engines
•  not editable in a 2D package
• vert changes need to update uvs  ( still not sure what the best protocol is on this one) 

and here as promised is the webinar video from ATDSK expert :   Craig Barr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElVbyLyD_ts

Mudbox Retopo - from 123DCatch

nabbed this off the atdsk BLOG AMALGAMATION which focuses more on 3dSMax and Smoke, but I found it pretty interesting.. I've been using 123D catch for  a while now, and I love it.. and combined with the new retopo in 2014 it makes it super useful for building assets..

 if you are havn't been using 123DCatch, I definitely recommend checking it out.
http://www.123dapp.com/catch

here is a bunny sculpture I captured and then used FBX into maya.

in any case... here is the info from the ATDSK blog


In this video, I show the basic concepts behind the workflow and interop of Autodesk Catch123D, 3ds Max and Mudbox.  Highlights include the FREE creation of high resolution, textured models using photogrammetry techniques in Autodesk Catch123D (3D models from real-world photography).
The resulting, high resolution, triangulated mesh is cleaned up in 3ds Max and then, using the one-click interop between 3ds Max and Mudbox, a live link is created and the models is passed off to Mudbox.
Using the new Retopology feature of Mudbox 2014, a cleaner, quad mesh is generated with lower levels of detail, a normal map is extracted from the original high resolution mesh, and the final result is passed back to 3ds Max for use in tasks like rigging, lighting rendering or exporting to a game engine.

Randomizing objects and verts

Steven Roselle recently updated Maya's bonus tools for 2014, and put out a video showing the "randomizer" tool. Specifically for randomizing transforms and verts

I've been using a script called "transform type in" for years that works similarly

but it looks like the randomizer may have a little more to offer. I especially like that you can use the sliders interactively on the objects.

Painting with Ptex MudBox webinar - Tuesday June 25th

I'm sure some of you would be interested in this upcoming webinar hosted by Autodesk on using PTEX in Mudbox and rendering with Mental Ray.

be sure to from the link below.

http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/craig/announcement--painting-with-ptex-webinar

( from the site)

Hello everyone,
I wanted to let everyone know that I am hosting a Webinar this Tuesday June 25th on Ptex in Mudbox!
Europe:   Time: 13:00-14:00 GMT/14:00-15:00 CET
Americas: Time: 1:00-2:00 PDT/4:00-5:00 EDT
Tuesday June 25th
Join Craig Barr and celebrate as he eliminates the need for UV’s with Ptex Painting in Autodesk®Mudbox® 2014. Ptex in Mudbox provides the freedom from UVs and allows for a clean, high-resolution texturing environment.
Topics covered in this webinar include:
Painting toolset,
Ptex mesh preparation,
Layer blending,
Rendering in Mental Ray.
Attend this webinar to find out how Mudbox (included in Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suites) can help animators spend more time being artists.

- Craig Barr

and for those of you who havn't updated yet.. Mudbox SP1 is available

http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/craig/mudbox-2014-service-pack-1-available

ZYNC goes Public

ZYNC appears to making some more headway in getting their cloud rendering solutions out to the public.

They have now publicly launched their product and are out of beta!

so far these are the supported softwares

• Maya 2012 and up
• Nuke 6 and up
• V-Ray (including nightly builds)
• Mental Ray

they are also supporting the following plug-ins

• Peregrine Labs’ Bokeh
• Ocula by The Foundry
• Rolling Shutter by The Foundry
• Furnace by The Foundry
• GenArts Sapphire
• Mental Core for Maya
• Frischluft Lenscare

It should prove interesting for small houses to take advantage of large rendering firepower.

https://www.zyncrender.com



ZYNC billing overview...

VFX & the UNION : INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS/OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM

I don't know how many of you met with or talked with the local IATSE union group, but they are very interested in learning about the NY VFX community.  Especially the potential of more work come to our area , thanks to subsidies...

I am sending this out to anyone interested in learning more.



If you would like to continue the discussion of VFX and the union, please join us for an open forum evening.

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS/OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM:
Subject: VFX and the Union - All artists are invited to come and ask questions
DATE: Thursday, June 20 and June 27
PLACE: United Scenic Artists, Local 829, 29 West 38th Street, 15th floor, NYC
TIME: 6:30 pm

Please tell your friends and colleagues and forward this invite to them.
all are welcome.

Any artist that wants to be added to our email list should reply to organize@usa829.org
and we will include them in future updates.

Dates are planned for July and August as well.

An RSVP is not necessary, but feel free to respond.
If you cannot attend but have questions, send them. We will compile a FAQs document and make the answers available.

We look forward to getting to know you better!

"If you do nothing, Nothing Changes"

International Autodesk User Group Event - July 23rd - Anaheim California

It is doubtful that I will make it out, hopefully some of you can. Even though its in Anaheim, I really want to go this year....


http://area.autodesk.com/Anaheim2013/

( from the site)

On Tuesday, July 23rd, join us in Anaheim, CA where Autodesk will be hosting a live International User Group Event. Come to an evening of drinks, food and special presentations in a great atmosphere. Hear from industry visionaries in the film and games industry, connect with Autodesk staff and executives, see the latest product demonstrations, and network with your peers. If you can’t make it to Anaheim, follow us here on AREA where we’ll be posting new content daily. Registration is required. We hope to see you there!




-=s

Rendering Ptex with Mudbox, Maya, & mental ray

Online "Creativity" magazine

Autodesk has made available its new Online Magazine "Creativity" for Free!

Autodesk Media and Entertainment brings you a new industry magazine called Celebrating Creativity. Celebrating Creativity brings you recent award-winning work, industry articles and more. In this new interactive issue, you'll get the latest on the evolution of the 3D industry, catch 3ds Max and Maya tips and tricks from experts Fred Ruff and Daryl Obert, and learn what it's like to work at the amazing HALON Entertainment. Get your free digital magazine today!

CREATIVITY MAGAZINE

CHUMASH from HIFI 3D

awesome spot from HIFI 3D




for more info on the spot and HIFI3d   http://hifi3d.squarespace.com/chumash/

CHRLX - GNC wellness center

one of the spots we recently put out here at www.charlex.com using Maya , Vray,  ICE, Nuke etc....

FULL HD vimeo link
https://vimeo.com/64335413



lower res vimeo

NATHAN LOVE 2013 SUMMER REEL

Nathan Love kicks of summer with a fresh new reel !

http://www.nathanlove.com/

Tonight! June 10th vfx town hall

Hope you can all make it out.. should prove interesting ! and if you can't make it down, try and follow online!

VFX Town Hall: Collider 2013

6:00 PM, June 10th

Join this historic live event and help broaden and amplify the ongoing conversation surrounding the VFX crisis.

The event will allow both the in-room and live streaming audience to vote on key issues using their mobile devices and computers. The results of these polls will be tabulated in realtime and shared live with the world.

  

In addition to the panel members below, the VFX Town Hall will also feature online representatives from major VFX production centers around the world, 

including Sydney, London, Berlin, Mexico City and others.How do you really feel about the VFX/animation Industry?

http://colliderevents.com/portfolio/vfx-town-hall/