Apr
Autodesk has announced the new versions of its digital creation product line for 2013. The main new features are based on improved tools for greater efficiency and speed and the launch of a new suite called “Ultimate”.
This collection includes 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, Mudbox and MotionBuilder, and will be available for $7,995. In addition, all Autodesk collections(Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suites) now include Sketchbook Designer software, which offers a paint-and-vector toolset and allows you to turn your computer into a sketchbook.
One of the factors on which the company has placed most emphasis has been to achieve greater interoperability between the different Autodesk systems; to this end, one of its solutions has been to improve the FBX 2013 media management system, to make workflows more efficient.
Thanks to a new streaming system between MotionBuilder and Maya, it is possible to preview in Maya the animation that has been applied in MotionBuilder before all the data is transferred between the two applications. It is also possible to create a HumanIK character with CAT (Character Animation Toolkit) and carry it between 3ds Max, Maya and MotionBuilder.
Between Maya and 3ds Max it is now possible to perform 3D data movements in a single step.
Not only has communication between the systems in this suite been improved, but also between 3ds Max and Adobe Creative Suite, with a feature called Media Sync that improves the relationship between Max and After Effects and allows improved support of PSD layer files (with layer order, opacity and blending modes) for finishing in Photoshop.
Another of the company’s attempts has been to remove technical barriers to more believable character creation by providing new tools for cloth simulation, hair and crowd generation.
To make it easier for Maya users to familiarize themselves with 3ds Max and Softimage, more convenient keyboard shortcuts have been created to navigate through the different windows of the suite.
The F-Curve editor has also been enhanced to work more consistently in 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage and MotionBuilder.
Although not included in this collection, there are also new features in Flame Premium 2013, which adds some new compositing and 3D relighting tools, and an improved 3D tracking tool. The “Action” interface, for 3D compositing and geometry, has also been optimized.
Flame’s color correction features have been expanded, with 50 correction presets available. Rendering options have also been improved, with a background renderer and new options for exporting MXF XDCAM and Apple Quicktime H.264. These new options and its ability to import AAF and timelines from Final Cut Pro X make it much easier to operate with non-Autodesk programs.
Finally, support for the Tangent Element controller has been added.
All these updates will be available from April 12. Upgrades to the 2012 versions will be available until April 30.
Here is the link with all the information about the “Ultimate” suite and where you can download the trial.
