MAXON CINEMA 4D R11.5 By Ko Maruyama
MAXON Computer released their newest version of CINEMA 4D, the 3D application that has quickly become the favorite of broadcast designers and animators. The name of the newest version, R 11.5 gives the illusion that the update is a minor upgrade from previous R11.2 version. However, the multitude of new features in R11.5 makes the upgrade feel like a integer release.
...Read More »
Toolfarm's Professional After Effects Camera Training By Ko Maruyama
The 3D world in After Effects has always been a difficult composition space to navigate. Even if you are familiar with world navigation in a 3D application, working with the camera in After Effects may not behave the way you might expect. Like any application, there is a workflow which will make working with these tools easier to understand. Toolfarm's new training shows you how.
...Read More »
Autodesk's Mudbox 2009 By Kevin McAuliffe
The world of 3D design and animation has always had a "what came first, the chicken or the egg" mentality. What I mean by that is when it comes to someone getting into the world of 3D animation, normally (not all the time), they are either strong at the computer/technical aspect, or strong in (classical) animation, and they end up having to bulk up on either one or the other.
...Read More »
I'm a Juicer By John Haley
Whether you are someone who is running errands all day, or have a business which requires you to be away from the office, or even a student who loves music or a avid gammer - this is for you. Not many of us are stationary long enough to to recharge our all in one mobile computer, or at least that is how some think of their iPhones!
...Read More »
Mercury On-The-Go By Ko Maruyama
There are tons of reasons to check out this lightweight drive. The OWC Mercury On-The-Go drive is a little powerhouse in your pocket. If you're going to run out an purchase an external drive for your Mac laptop, you already know what you want in a drive: FW 800, USB 2.0 for those other connections you may need to make, and bus powered (no external power supply).
...Read More »
PHOTOSHOP DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS By Ko Maruyama
You probably know Scott Kelby from many publications, especially as the editor of Photoshop User magazine. In his latest book, PHOTOSHOP CS4 DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS, Scott and Corey Barker walk through several of the latest design tricks and trends Photoshop users recognize in so much of the print work available today.
...Read More »
FreeForm AE for Adobe After Effects By Kevin McAuliffe
These days, 3D in Adobe's After Effects is a no brainer, and most people don't even give it a second thought. I've been an After Effects user since version 3.5 of the software, and when the 3D feature came along (version 5), it was a huge step forward, except for one problem.
...Read More »
Modbook from a MacBook Pro By Ko Maruyama
A few years ago, we saw a company called Axiotron out of El Segundo California come up with a Mac tablet which integrated the Wacom tablet technology (similar to the Cintiq) and the Apple MacBook. This is a great solution for those of us who loved to work with software that really took advantage of the stylus. Before the Pro version ships, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and Maxon's BodyPaint 3D were among some of the tools I tried out on the current 15-inch ModBook.
...Read More »
Flip video delivers new Flip UltraHD By Ko Maruyama
The Ultra HD in many ways is like it's predecessor, the flip. The small camera easily fits into a shirt pocket, or purse, it shoots a HD video image HD -- 1287 20x720, and has an easy to use button interface on the back of the upright camera. However, there are many features that set this camera apart from its previous version, and any of the other competitors' offerings.
...Read More »
Zaxwerks Serpentine By Ko Maruyama
While you may know Zaxwerks previous offerings, the latest plug-in for Adobe's After Effects is the evolution of some of the best parts from its predecessors. Although the company's other plug-ins offer interesting options for 3D designers, Serpentine gives After Effects artists need ability to create those 3D animations that are most frequently requested in motion graphics.
...Read More »
TEN ONE DESIGN'S pogo sketch By Ko Maruyama
When I heard about the Pogo sketch tool, I immediately thought that this could be the stylus that could supplement my`wacom tablet when I was using my Mac book remotely. I love my Wacom tablet and stylus and that I can fit into my briefcase easily, but the prospect of having a single stylus to scribble on my laptop's touchpad was alluring.
...Read More »
LightWave 9.6: NewTek's latest update to its flagship 3D product By Jon Carroll
NewTek's LightWave 3D 9.6 update offers some new functions and bug fixes over 9.5, which shipped around SIGGRAPH 2008. I'll admit I'm a long-time user of LightWave, having worked as a freelance LightWave artist for 10 years in various capacities. Some of the new features are easier for me to understand, while to others they may be obscure.
...Read More »
SIGGRAPH ASIA: 2008 / P2 By Ko Maruyama
2008 marked the first ACM SIGGRAPH Conference in Asia. Almost two years in the making, the Asian SIGGRAPH is host to computer artists of all kinds. Autodesk's Maya 2009 with newly enhanced Fluid Effects, nCloth, nParticles, Hair, Fur and MAYA LIVE.
...Read More »
Manga Studio 4 and website By Ko Maruyama
It has been almost 3 years since I first tried manga studio 3.0 for the PC. At that time it had just been ported from Japan's Comic Studio. Although there were two versions offered by E. frontier, both were extremely feature rich, and required some experience. Now you can get training and online assistance at manga studio online.
...Read More »
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional By Kevin Schmitt
I have bad news for those out there who were expecting Flash CS4 to, well, suck: It doesn't. Far from it. Adobe certainly seems to have responded to the pressure of having viable Flash competition by delivering a polished upgrade that is chock full of thoughtful improvements and useful new features. So despite the fact that I've spoiled the ending, I hope you'll come along as we explore the latest and greatest in the most recent release of the Flash authoring tool.
...Read More »
My Comic Book Creator and Comic Life Review By Heath McKnight
Planetwide Media's My Comic Book Creator, including Comic Book Creator 2 and Marvel Heroes Comic Book Creator (Windows only, www.myplanetwide.com), along with Plasq's Comic Life 1.4 (Mac and Windows, www.plasq.com), are making it easier for users to create their own comic books. The applications are a lot of fun, and for this comic book geek, a way to try my hand at even professional comic book creation.
...Read More »
Alien Skin Blow Up 2 for Photoshop By Ko Maruyama
Alien Skin is a plugin developer that has been around for a while and it's nice to see that they're continuing to keep their product line alive with new tools that we are all looking for. The new version of Blow Up works in Photoshop and Photoshop Express, giving us the option to get clean scaling solutions even when we have to get closer than we should.
...Read More »
Windows on Mac, hardware style By Ko Maruyama
There are many reasons that people like to use new keyboards. In addition to the occasional coffee spill and other mishaps, sometimes keyboards just give out and need to be replaced. Other times, a keyboard is chosen for comfort and portability. I had a chance to check out Adesso's USB roll up keyboard, the AKB-230.
...Read More »
Particles Get a Touch Up By Ko Maruyama
It's been a while since I've written about particleIllusion from wondertouch, so it was good news to see that the Mac OS X software got a minor upgrade that includes some necessary fixes and features.
...Read More »
Apple's 2.8Ghz dual Intel Xeon Quad-Core Mac Pro By Heath McKnight
Apple's 2.8Ghz dual Intel Xeon Quad-Core (8-cores total!) Mac Pro is one of Apple's fastest computers yet. With the capability to run with 32GB RAM, an excellent graphics card (or two), and terabytes of storage, no job is too big for this beast to handle.
...Read More »
NO...Doesn't have a thing to do with "that" smartphone...or "that" store...or "that" tablet. It's the next generation. Kids and we mean little kids. That's what today's products are being designed for/targeted at. You happen to buy one...fine. Watch a little, little kid pick up a smartphone. He/she just uses it. They've come pre-wired and we're still trying to figure out how to IM. It's the IGen. They want it instantly. They want to use it instantly. They expect their photos, their video, their music, their stuff immediately when/where/how they want it.
Read More
In this clip, lynda.com host Mark Abdelnour takes a look at proxy bidding. He discusses the strategy and how it works. He also discusses the maximum bid, and when to use Proxy bidding.
Read More
The blood, gore, adrenalin challenges that were unveiled at E3 and enjoyed at ComicCon are fun to look at, easy to hold but are they really the games people want to plunk down their credit cards to own or rent time with? Seems as though the investors, the players who control the controllers have a different idea of a "good" game than the kids who develop them. While mobs of people play educational, informational, stimulating games our kid huddles in his room and mumbles "The Few, The Proud, The Gamers."
Read More
MAXON CINEMA 4D R11.5
MAXON Computer released their newest version of CINEMA 4D, the 3D application that has quickly become the favorite of broadcast designers and animators. The name of the newest version, R 11.5 gives the illusion that the update is a minor upgrade from previous R11.2 version. However, the multitude of new features in R11.5 makes the upgrade feel like a integer release.
...Read More »
Toolfarm's Professional After Effects Camera Training
The 3D world in After Effects has always been a difficult composition space to navigate. Even if you are familiar with world navigation in a 3D application, working with the camera in After Effects may not behave the way you might expect. Like any application, there is a workflow which will make working with these tools easier to understand. Toolfarm's new training shows you how.
...Read More »
Autodesk's Mudbox 2009
The world of 3D design and animation has always had a "what came first, the chicken or the egg" mentality. What I mean by that is when it comes to someone getting into the world of 3D animation, normally (not all the time), they are either strong at the computer/technical aspect, or strong in (classical) animation, and they end up having to bulk up on either one or the other.
...Read More »
I'm a Juicer
Whether you are someone who is running errands all day, or have a business which requires you to be away from the office, or even a student who loves music or a avid gammer - this is for you. Not many of us are stationary long enough to to recharge our all in one mobile computer, or at least that is how some think of their iPhones!
...Read More »
Mercury On-The-Go
There are tons of reasons to check out this lightweight drive. The OWC Mercury On-The-Go drive is a little powerhouse in your pocket. If you're going to run out an purchase an external drive for your Mac laptop, you already know what you want in a drive: FW 800, USB 2.0 for those other connections you may need to make, and bus powered (no external power supply).
...Read More »
PHOTOSHOP DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS
You probably know Scott Kelby from many publications, especially as the editor of Photoshop User magazine. In his latest book, PHOTOSHOP CS4 DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS, Scott and Corey Barker walk through several of the latest design tricks and trends Photoshop users recognize in so much of the print work available today.
...Read More »
FreeForm AE for Adobe After Effects
These days, 3D in Adobe's After Effects is a no brainer, and most people don't even give it a second thought. I've been an After Effects user since version 3.5 of the software, and when the 3D feature came along (version 5), it was a huge step forward, except for one problem.
...Read More »
Modbook from a MacBook Pro
A few years ago, we saw a company called Axiotron out of El Segundo California come up with a Mac tablet which integrated the Wacom tablet technology (similar to the Cintiq) and the Apple MacBook. This is a great solution for those of us who loved to work with software that really took advantage of the stylus. Before the Pro version ships, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and Maxon's BodyPaint 3D were among some of the tools I tried out on the current 15-inch ModBook.
...Read More »
Flip video delivers new Flip UltraHD
The Ultra HD in many ways is like it's predecessor, the flip. The small camera easily fits into a shirt pocket, or purse, it shoots a HD video image HD -- 1287 20x720, and has an easy to use button interface on the back of the upright camera. However, there are many features that set this camera apart from its previous version, and any of the other competitors' offerings.
...Read More »
Zaxwerks Serpentine
While you may know Zaxwerks previous offerings, the latest plug-in for Adobe's After Effects is the evolution of some of the best parts from its predecessors. Although the company's other plug-ins offer interesting options for 3D designers, Serpentine gives After Effects artists need ability to create those 3D animations that are most frequently requested in motion graphics.
...Read More »
TEN ONE DESIGN'S pogo sketch
When I heard about the Pogo sketch tool, I immediately thought that this could be the stylus that could supplement my`wacom tablet when I was using my Mac book remotely. I love my Wacom tablet and stylus and that I can fit into my briefcase easily, but the prospect of having a single stylus to scribble on my laptop's touchpad was alluring.
...Read More »
LightWave 9.6: NewTek's latest update to its flagship 3D product
NewTek's LightWave 3D 9.6 update offers some new functions and bug fixes over 9.5, which shipped around SIGGRAPH 2008. I'll admit I'm a long-time user of LightWave, having worked as a freelance LightWave artist for 10 years in various capacities. Some of the new features are easier for me to understand, while to others they may be obscure.
...Read More »
SIGGRAPH ASIA: 2008 / P2
2008 marked the first ACM SIGGRAPH Conference in Asia. Almost two years in the making, the Asian SIGGRAPH is host to computer artists of all kinds. Autodesk's Maya 2009 with newly enhanced Fluid Effects, nCloth, nParticles, Hair, Fur and MAYA LIVE.
...Read More »
Manga Studio 4 and website
It has been almost 3 years since I first tried manga studio 3.0 for the PC. At that time it had just been ported from Japan's Comic Studio. Although there were two versions offered by E. frontier, both were extremely feature rich, and required some experience. Now you can get training and online assistance at manga studio online.
...Read More »
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional
I have bad news for those out there who were expecting Flash CS4 to, well, suck: It doesn't. Far from it. Adobe certainly seems to have responded to the pressure of having viable Flash competition by delivering a polished upgrade that is chock full of thoughtful improvements and useful new features. So despite the fact that I've spoiled the ending, I hope you'll come along as we explore the latest and greatest in the most recent release of the Flash authoring tool.
...Read More »
My Comic Book Creator and Comic Life Review
Planetwide Media's My Comic Book Creator, including Comic Book Creator 2 and Marvel Heroes Comic Book Creator (Windows only, www.myplanetwide.com), along with Plasq's Comic Life 1.4 (Mac and Windows, www.plasq.com), are making it easier for users to create their own comic books. The applications are a lot of fun, and for this comic book geek, a way to try my hand at even professional comic book creation.
...Read More »
Alien Skin Blow Up 2 for Photoshop
Alien Skin is a plugin developer that has been around for a while and it's nice to see that they're continuing to keep their product line alive with new tools that we are all looking for. The new version of Blow Up works in Photoshop and Photoshop Express, giving us the option to get clean scaling solutions even when we have to get closer than we should.
...Read More »
Windows on Mac, hardware style
There are many reasons that people like to use new keyboards. In addition to the occasional coffee spill and other mishaps, sometimes keyboards just give out and need to be replaced. Other times, a keyboard is chosen for comfort and portability. I had a chance to check out Adesso's USB roll up keyboard, the AKB-230.
...Read More »
Particles Get a Touch Up
It's been a while since I've written about particleIllusion from wondertouch, so it was good news to see that the Mac OS X software got a minor upgrade that includes some necessary fixes and features.
...Read More »
Apple's 2.8Ghz dual Intel Xeon Quad-Core Mac Pro
Apple's 2.8Ghz dual Intel Xeon Quad-Core (8-cores total!) Mac Pro is one of Apple's fastest computers yet. With the capability to run with 32GB RAM, an excellent graphics card (or two), and terabytes of storage, no job is too big for this beast to handle.
...Read More »
