Mathsurf is a scripted plugin for 3DS Max designed to create and explore mathematical surfaces and geometries in the form of standard editable meshes. It works as an extra create tool in the category of geometries, and its parameters can be used in animation for morphing the surface. Mathsurf offers those who have no interest in algebra the opportunity to explore the Math world in a visual manner. The package includes over 60 predefined surfaces that are ready to use. 

Craft Animations has announced free light versions of its Craft Director Tools, which allow users to animate different physically-simulated camera types with a joystick or keyboard in real-time, in the 3DS Max viewport. Craft 4-Wheeler Free, Craft ObserverCam Free and Craft Airplane Free are available for download from CraftAnimations.com.

With Vue 7 xStream, all Vue tools are now fully integrated in the host application, providing direct access to 3D environment creation technologies. Vue 7 xStream users can create complete natural 3D environments directly inside their favorite 3D software, using standard application tools and manipulators. New features in Vue 7 xStream and Infinite include: extended compatibility with Mental Ray – integrated and satellites (xStream), EcoSystem 3 technology (dynamic population, EcoSystem painting from any angle), Spectral 2 cloud technology with realistic volumetric 3D clouds and cloud layers, new Radiosity engine optimized for indoor and infinite scenery, Water Editor: water animation from still lakes to stormy ocean waves, up to 4 times faster GI rendering, improved SolidGrowth 4 plant technology with high definition species for “hero” plants, collada file format import, over 160 editable SolidGrowth plant species, etc. Check out a Vue 7 demo video along with a Vue 7 xStream-3DS Max presentation at E-onSoftware.com. 

Yes, you have read right. Autodesk is set to acquire substantially all the assets of Softimage (that includes Max plugin Character Animation Toolkit). Reactions at 3D forums have been very negative, if they represented a 3D stock market, one could say that today it has crashed. Here’s a random sample: “the worst industry news ever”, “a sad day for 3D”, “short of a death in the family”, “So now there’s officially absolutely no competition anymore?”, “Run Pixologic Run!”, “One Company To Rule Them All”, “Autodesk’s country based licensing system is a joke”, “For sale: 1 seat of xsi advanced version 6.5″, “one more reason to move to Blender”, “It is so bad, that I can’t describe it”. According to the posts, Max, Maya and XSI users are worried about a potential lack of innovation in future versions of their 3D software, the possibility of rising prices, Autodesk’s licensing policies (which are far more restrictive than Softimage’s), and the impossibility of being able to choose among major 3D software companies. Responses have been very emotional, as usually happens with releases and acquisitions of 3D software, but these latest ones have had a particularly negative tone, and whether the arguments will prove to be justified or not in the future, this symptom in itself does raise an eyebrow. One thing can be safely said, in the long run competition is better for everyone (yes, even Autodesk itself), and for the time being, among Autodesk’s 3D software, only Mudbox seems to be forced to keep competing due to ZBrush’s continued development. A few links related to the acquisition: press release at Autodesk.com, comments at Ken Pimentel’s blog, reactions at Softimage’s forums, CGTalk,Blenderartists.org, Leonard Teo’s take on the subject. Read on for a sample of comments from the Softimage forums. Another sample, this time from the Softimage forums (which has been by far the site with the most negative user comments): “I think i’ll cry”, “Soon this great community will be swallowed up into that mess of a website Autodesk call The Area. Ugh!”, “Time to saddle up and move out…”, “Pass Go, collect $200″, “Blender all of a sudden started to look a lot more interesting”, “Absolutely pitiful”, “MONOPOLY!”, “This is a sad day.”, “The only nice thing I can take from this is that we will all have a Cube in the top right side of our viewport”, “horrible and sad news”.

New features in the 3D data exchange format include HLSL and CgFX hardware shader support, ability to bake animation data that is not directly supported by FBX, etc. Visit Autodesk.com for more. 

New features in Photoshop CS4 Extended include the ability to paint on 3D models, smoother panning and zooming, fluid canvas rotation, enhanced auto-blending of images, content-aware image resizing, and more. After Effects CS4 incorporates a Mini-Flowchart for navigating complex comps and projects, QuickSearch for finding elements in comps, a 2.5D planar tracking application from Imagineer Systems and numerous interface and workflow improvements. Read the whole PR for more. Also of note, the latest version of the Flash player has been released. 

The Blender Foundation has announced a game engine heavy release of Blender, with new features such as realtime GLSL materials, game logic updates, bullet update + softbodies, grease pencil, atmosphere scattering simulation, fluid control, colored shadows, shrinkwrap modifier, new Python editor, and more. Read it all and check out some sample images and videos at Blender.org. 

Free KURV studios Video Content moved to new web site: www.VFXcast.com 

 Jesse Sandifer shows us how to get to grips with the Masking tool within ZBrush in new Video Tutorial.

New features in Luxology’s tool for creating seamless textures and high resolution images from low resolution sources include: up to 10x faster, support for dual core machines, improved memory management to handle larger scenes, runs as a plugin for Photoshop CS3, CS4 or standalone program, etc. Visit Luxology.com for more.