Autodesk

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Friday 29 June 2012


iToo Software launches Forest Pack 3.9.2 and RailClone 1.4.2

iToo Software has announced the release of 3DS Max® and 3DS Max Design® plugins, Forest Pack and RailClone. This release includes Max 2013 compatibility and introduces great new features. Lite version of both plugins are freely available to download here.
Forest Pack
Forest Pack is a scattering tool for creating nature environments. Using native shaders for MentalRay and VRay, it enables to scatter thousands of plants, and create interactively scenes with virtually unlimited number of objects. Some of its features include: real-time point cloud display, parametric areas, clusters, camera clipping, color variation, integrated library browser and much more.
Forest Pack 3.9.2 introduces many improvements as: Forest objects used as excluding areas, animation maps, inverted falloff curves, probability curves for rotation and scale, and unattended installation mode for renderfarms. Check all new features in the release notes. 
RailClone
RailClone is a parametric modeling tool based on custom geometry parts, definable by the user, and a set of construction rules. This new concept of modeling lets you build complex and realistic structures for Architectural Visualization, Civil Engineering and Interior Design.
The software includes a full library of preset models as fences, railings, trusses, facades, highways and other elements. RailClone is not limited to a fixed set of primitives, you can use any geometry from the scene and build your own parametric structures.
The new release 1.4.2 includes 280 preset models in the RailClone Pro Library. These models have been developed to fulfill main CG visualization needs in the fields of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design: bleachers, theater seats, sidewalks, curtain walls, sunshades, scaffolds, street lights and more. Click to see the full Library content and the release notes.
Registered users of Forest Pack Pro and RailClone Pro can download the upgrade from the User Panel. The Lite version of both plugins are freely available to download here.

3DS South Wales June Meeting Summary


Thanks to everyone who made it to the first 3ds South Wales User Group meeting in June. It went really well, with lots of enthusiasm and joining in during the discussions. We had people from all over South Wales, plus Bristol and further afield which was great to see. Special thanks to Jamie Gwilliam (Autodesk)  and James Mooney (Render Nation) for coming along to present at the meeting.

There was some great work shown at the event, from Richard Croydon of Stride Treglown , Darren Crockett of Do Visualisation and Matt Clementson of Nightingale Associates. Darren took home a £400 render farm credit from our sponsor Render Nation.

A reminder to those who attended, along with our sponsor Itoo Software we are running a competition where you can win a copy of Forest Pack Pro or Rail Clone. Just create an image using either Forest Pack Pro or Rail Clone and the winner of the competition will be chosen by a speaker at the next meeting.

Free versions of Forest Pack Pro and Rail Clone, as well as some other great plugins can be downloaded here.


The next meeting is planned for sometime in September. Watch this space in the coming weeks for more information.


Cheers,
Colin

Monday 11 June 2012

3ds South Wales (and Bristol area) User Group meeting, Wednesday 20th June


Hi all,

The first 3ds Max South Wales (and Bristol area) ) User Group meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th June, starting at 7pm at the Cardiff office of consultant engineers Arup. For future meetings however we will look for somewhere more 'social' :)

Here's a map to show you where the office is (4 Pierhead Street, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4QP). There is a multi storey car park across the road from our office http://cardiffbaymscp.com/

As the meeting is at our office, could you drop me an email at colin.hanford@arup.com if you are interested in coming along so I can get an idea of the numbers.


There are a number of bars near the office so if anyone fancies a few drinks after the meeting that'll be great.

Speakers we have lined up for the user group meeting are;

Jamie Gwilliam, 3D Solution Specialist at Autodesk. Jamie will be in attendance to talk about the latest release of 3DS Max as well as sharing tips and tricks with the group. Jamie run's the excellent Jamie's Jewels blog where you can find all sorts of useful 3DS Max tips, tricks and industry news.




Founder of Render Nation, James Mooney. Render Nation, a render farm service from Liverpool, was founded by James in 2005 to offer a commercial remote rendering service. Since this time they have grown to be one of the largest remote renderfarms in Europe and the world.






We hope to add one more speaker before the meeting on Wednesday.

There will be an number of prizes given away at the event including a £400 render farm credit from Render Nation as well as software from Itoo Software.

Please feel free to bring your own visualisation content to show at the meeting. We'll make sure everyone who wants to show anything gets some time to showcase their work.

Cheers,
Colin