Cinema 4D R8 XL Bundle
(3D modeling and animation application)
Company: Maxon
Price: $1695 US
http://www.maxoncomputer.com
Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a 3D application can be? With Cinema 4D XL, that’s where! This bundle of 3D modeling and animation software is packed with more features than your local Blockbuster. And with Release 8, you’ll find that even Hollywood is falling in love with it. Cinema 4D software has been used in such recent films as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and DareDevil and by such large filmmakers as Industrial Light and Magic. Yet even as the big boys are using it because of its rock solid stability, ease of use, and lightning fast rendering engine, 3d modeling and animation hobbyists can also have a program that delivers a powerful set of tools at realistic prices. There’s a lot to love.
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Digital Character Animation 2, volume 2: advanced techniques
Author: George Maestri
Publisher: New Riders
218 Pages
$50.00 US, $74.95 CAN
ISBN 0-7357-0044-3
With Digital Character Animation 2, volume 2: advanced techniques, the maestro of animation, George Maestri picks up where he left off in volume 1 and delivers an amazing amount of knowledge in 218 easy to read, well illustrated, full color pages. Every page is short, sweet, to the point, and packed with tips that any aspiring digital animator needs to know. It is full of essential information that will help the reader turn out effective, believable animation.
Digital Character Animation 2, volume 2: advanced techniques is written from a software-neutral perspective and focuses on fundamental concepts that can be applied in any program. It begins with chapters on real world production and story development from an animator’s point of view. The heart of the book contains chapters on rigging characters, tips and tricks, human and animal motion, acting, and anthropomorphic animation (animating the inanimate). It ends with a chapter on animation for games.
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Vue 4 d’Esprit
(OS X Compatible)
Company: E-on Software
Price: $199
http://www.e-onsoftware.com
Vue 4 d’Esprit for OS X is a 3D application for creating natural scenery and terrains. It has a short learning curve and clean intuitive interface reminiscent of Apple’s iMovie, It allows beginners to jump right in yet advanced users will find it packed with many powerful features for fine-tuning both still images and animations. It is only available for OS X, one more reason to consider making the switch to Apple’s new operating system if you’re still standing on the fence.
Vue 4 gives you a powerful and easy to use terrain editor, infinitely variable sky and cloud generation with volumetric atmospheres, fog and haze, lens flares, realistic 3D vegetation (with every plant unique), stars, planets, soft shadows, blurred reflections, caustics, motion blur and depth of field. While you can have animated clouds but it does not give the ability to create rain, snow, or wind that interacts with the environment. Perhaps in future releases?
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