As always with any type of software that's still being supported, companies are always going to make updates for it.  Adobe is no different.  There are many people that agree that Adobe has been recently been milking it with their creative suite.  Many argue that with the addition of the .5 update, it should even be a paid upgrade.  Many feel it's more of the same and many people are forced to paying for the upgrades due to the fact that the only way to get do updates (ie software fixes) are to pay for it.  This has made a lot of people angry and with Adobe also changing the upgrade paths (no more discount for those using old software), the consumers aren't very happy.

Well, we leave all the complaints to other sites and forums.  What I want to see is will the next Adobe iterations of the Creative Suite be enough to get everyone to upgrade?  Well if we were to look at the next Photoshop.  I'd say yes.  This looks to be an upgrade.  From first looking at it, it looks more like Cinema4D.  Heck it even has an animation timeline.  It also has a viewport for 3D.  It looks like we'll be seeing functions starting to overlap from other softwares in the near future.  Who knows, maybe all the creative suite will just be one software and will be a jack of all trades.  Well here's a sneak peak at one of the functions of Adobe's new Photoshop Cs6.

 

Adobe Max conference is taking place this week.  Slowly, but surely, there are things that are trickling out.  There are a lot of things that would make a lot of motion graphics designers happy.  The video below shows something that is new, but isn't really new at all.  What you're about to see is image mapping, but in this case it's video mapping.

What the program does it takes the environment of the video and makes it into 3D.  Once calculated, a virtual camera can be set and you can change the view point.  You can zoom in out , pan etc.  Just like image 3D mapping, you can't go to the extremes.  Just subtles only.  In addition you can have people (who have been rotoscoped) be placed behind objects and other things.  Also you can change focus areas and what not.

The great thing about this is it's pretty automatic.  The user doesn't have to use a 3D program and texture objects in 3D space.  It's all calculated by the program.  We're sure this will be implemented in a couple of years though.

Also did any notice how the video below the screen is like floating in the air.  They look like their using projection mapping on the stage there.  Pretty neat.

Looks like there is more reason to get an #iPad.  #Autodesk just released their small sculpt program called 123D.  The easiest way to describe this program is to those that are familiar with #sculptris, the idea is very similar.  With 123d, they provide you with a base mesh (car, dog, people, etc), then you alter it to your liking.  You can even texture it easily and the results are very good.  Heck, you don't even need to UV unwrapped the model.  At the moment, there isn't an export for it.  I'm sure in the future they will.  I'm guessing they are aiming this to a certain young group though and that's why they opted to not include the export, but what I know is that the Windows version, you could send it out to get it be 3D printed.  Advancements in the 3D are sure getting there.  You can't do more complicated models yet with 123D (maybe due to ram constraints), but in due time we'll get there.  3D modeling is truly becoming mobile.  

With #SIGGRAPH going on, developers and companies are showing their greatest and latest gadgets, software, and what ever else can help you be more efficient with your workflow.  Here's a video showing some new "technical papers" that look great.   There's facial animation, simulation, clothing alterations and more.  Some of this techniques will truly speed up someone's workflow.

 

So it's summer time in the northern hemisphere.  What does that mean, well that mean Google SoC (Summer of Code) is happening.  One of the great notable things about this is that programmers tackle some aspect of programming.  Luckily, there are programmers willing to work on Blender.

The biggest thing to happen to Blender this summer is the the addition or the programming of a new camera tracking built right into Blender.  Now remember, camera tracking has many possibilities not only just items added to the screen.  It also can allow for a camera stabilization in post.   The camera tracking in Blender (being programmed as we speak) is able to do 2D and 3D tracking.  From the looks of the progress, this will most likely put Blender in the eyes of many.

With 3D being used in conjunction with video nowadays, camera tracking software is a must to get the most out of the video.  Camera tracking software is expensive, but with the one being programmed for Blender.  Indies and any other people who want to use don't have to worry about their budget, just have to worry about making their vision come to life.

Check out this video by Sebastian Koenig who played around with the new camera tracking software in Blender.  Remember he's a user of Syntheyes (a great software for a price) and his praises are very encouraging.

Let's how long this will be integrated officially into Blender. Developer Brecht van Lommel who was once a Blender developer left the institute to work for Refractive Software the creator of the Octane renderer. After a month, has left his post there and returned to his beloved home the Blender Institute.

So did he bring back anything? It may just be a conicidence, but he created a working gpu/unbiased renderer for Blender. I'm so glad that the Blender Internal is getting a face lift. Not that it was bad, it just seems outdated, and kind of slow. Yes it's powerful with the node editor, but it could use some updating. Hopefully Brecht can integrate this new renderer to work with the node editor for the old schoolers.

What will (considering this is a very early build) this new render get us? How about real time rendering with using either cpu or gpu or both. Real GI and quicker Dof and motion blur. If the renderer is fully stable, I believe that this will put Blender in the ranks of many artists. Just a renderer alone like that would cost at least $500. If there are no complications of it, this will get Blender in the eyes of professionals. View the video below and watch your jaw drop.