Hi Guys,
While we await v6 - here are a few interesting apps I have come
across recently and also purchased. Being in the Euro Zone at the
moment is of huge advantage as the Euro / Dollar rate is very favorable.
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First off their is ANTICS. This is a PREVIZ movie making app. Can be
used as a story board app and best of all it is FREE:
http://www.antics3d.com/index.php
You actually go through the shop and 'BUY' it for free. Their is also
a Pro Version for $$$. Seems they may be going the route of DAZ, by
making money on extra content.
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Second - A rather strange 3D app called GROBOTO:
http://www.groboto.com/
This is for the production of what one would call Abstract 3D art. At
the moment it is $79, but if you look at the BUY page you will see a
button to click that will deliver a coupon with a further $20
reduction. If you are a company and outside the states you can strip
the VAT off also by providing an appropriate VAT number. I have had a
go off this, here is a quick vid:
http://www.tidalsound.com/3dstuff/groboto1.avi
This is about 534kb and xvid.
The models can be exported out of Groboto and into Realsoft - no
problem. I did such an OBJ export to Luxology Modo and quick rendered
here, same should apply to Realsoft:
http://www.tidalsound.com/3dstuff/grobolux1.jpg
[ Sorry about the unfortunate name :) ]
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Third, SIDEFX came out with an unreal offer recently - Houdini
Apprentice HD. Now, Houdini Apprentice had the usual watermark and
file size restrictions. What makes the HD edition very interesting is
that their are NO WATERMARKS and NO SIZE LIMITS. They call it the
Starving artist edition. You end up with the full working versions of
Houdini Escape and Master, both apps. About $8000 worth, all for
$99.
BUT, yip a but - this is only for personal use:
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1002&Itemid=66
Houdini is a high end 3D app, used alot for Fluid and dynamics. Its
used in alot of movies on the big screen - inc Beowulf. Look under
the Company Menu item, Houdini in film. So - as long as an animation
is as a showreel and not for sale you could integrate this app into
your Realsoft 3D workflow for certain scene shots involving fluid and
the like, as again OBJ is available from RS. I havent looked to see
if FBX is in Houdini yet. Of course the free Houdini Apprentice
edition is still available, but with traditional limits.
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Lastly, a music type app to help in the creation of your own ambient tracks:
http://www.ambientgrains.com/index.html
Quirky, but some interesting results.
Now - all these apps are available under Windoz, I am not sure about
Mac's or Linux [ Houdini is very strong with Linux ], have a look at
the individual sites.
So - more tools for your toolkit - and light enough on your wallet,
if in the Euro Zone anyway.
Roll on v6 .........
Enjoy
Cheers
Aidan
