Autodesk Integrates Face Robot into Softimage 2010

Also Features Optimized Core Architecture and Enhanced ICE System

At SIGGRAPH 2009, Autodesk, Inc. has launched Autodesk Softimage 2010 3D modeling, animation rendering and compositing software for games, film and television visual effects. Softimage 2010 features an optimized core architecture, integration of the Softimage Face Robot facial rigging and animation toolset, and an expanded and customizable Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) system.

"Over the past year, we've made Softimage faster, easier to use and more powerful," said Stig Gruman, vice president, Autodesk Digital Entertainment Group. "This version provides integrated solutions for digital entertainment creation with the inclusion of Face Robot, scene complexity management tools and improved interoperability with Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk MotionBuilder software."

Face Robot
A professional solution for rigging and animating large numbers of 3D faces quickly and easily. Face Robot enables games and visual effects studios to create life-like facial animation at incredible speeds. Using Face Robot, animators are free to concentrate on emotion, expression and delivering unforgettable performances. An Autodesk Maya software exporter allows you to bring a fully solved Face Robot head into Maya for more integrated computer graphics (CG) character workflows.

Artists have used Softimage to help create stunning movies, commercials and video games, including commercials for BMW, Coca Cola, Kellogg's and Monster.com. Janimation, an award-winning animation and motion graphics studio, relied on Softimage to help create Activision's latest James Bondbased hit video game, "Quantum of Solace." Greg Punchatz, senior creative director at Janimation, remarked, "If you only looked at the huge performance increases and workflow enhancements, Softimage 2010 would be a very solid release, but add Face Robot to the mix and you have a home run."

GigaCore III, helps deliver superior data handling and significant speed improvements where todayâ€™s projects require it most. Loading and saving of large scenes and importing of complex character models is now significantly faster. In addition, many of the operations most commonly performed on enveloped characters or large numbers of objects execute much more rapidly.

Key New Features in Autodesk Softimage 2010

Accelerated Performance - The third iteration of the Softimage GigaCore architecture, GigaCore III, helps deliver superior data handling and speed improvements. Loading and saving large scenes and importing complex character models are faster. In addition, many of the operations most commonly performed on enveloped characters or large numbers of objects execute more rapidly. Also, the Function Curve (FCurve) Editor performs faster when animators are working with large numbers of curves or keys.
Face Robot - Softimage 2010 includes the Face Robot toolset. Face Robot is a professional solution for rigging and animating large numbers of 3D faces quickly and easily. It enables the creation of life-like facial animation at incredible speeds. Using Face Robot, animators are freer to concentrate on emotion, expression and unforgettable performances. An Autodesk Maya software exporter enables animators to bring a solved Face Robot head into Maya for more integrated computer graphics (CG) character workflows.
Custom Node Creation for ICE Systems - New tools allow for the creation of custom nodes that enable technical directors (TDs) and third parties to more quickly build new ICE systems: ICE Rigid Bodies, ICE Fluids and ICE Cloth. ICE effects can be exported to Maya for a more integrated CG pipeline.
Tools for Managing Project Complexity - New tools and workflows help enhance artist productivity by enabling the management of complex tasks. These are a new Scene Debugger toolset that helps give artists and TDs information about a scene's performance and memory usage, an easy-to-use scene search toolset and added support for grouping within layers.

Scene Search
A new, easy-to-use scene search toolset - accessible via a new search box in the main user interface (UI) - helps artists and Technical Directors (TDs) quickly locate specific scene elements by typing in a full or partial name (letters/numbers) and activating a drop-down window showing the results. Filters can also be added to the search (e.g. search only for objects of the type â€œbonesâ€).

FCurve Editor
The FCurve Editor now performs significantly faster with large numbers of curves or large numbers of keys, enabling animators to edit the animation of a larger number of complex characters at one time. Performance improvements span multiple areas: selection, drawing of tangents (even when zoomed in on a region), curve processing (smooth, fit and resample), and open/close.

Softimage 2010 also features improved modeling tools, additional animation and camera functionality, and an updated Autodesk Crosswalk toolset for content transfer. For more information about Autodesk Softimage 2010, visit http://www.autodesk.com/softimage.

Visual Performance Monitor
A performance monitor has been added to the Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) graph that enables artists and Technical Directors (TDs) to quickly track down which nodes are creating bottlenecks. These nodes can then be edited or removed to accelerate processing.

Pricing and Availability

Autodesk anticipates that Softimage 2010 will be available in September 2009. The Autodesk suggested retail price (SRP) for Softimage 2010 (Windows) is US$2,995*, Softimage 2010 (Linux) is US$3,295*, and US$4,695* for Softimage Advanced 2010 (Linux and Windows)*.

Upgrade Pricing

From Softimage 7.5 Windows to Softimage 2010 Windows will be US$1,495* SRP
From Softimage 7.5 Linux to Softimage 2010 Linux will be US$1,645* SRP
From Softimage 7.5 Advanced to Softimage Advanced 2010 Windows/Linux will be US$2,345* SRP
There will be no upgrades available for versions prior to Softimage 7.5

Operating Systems

The 32-bit version of Softimage 2010 will be supported on Windows XP Professional (SP3) and Windows Vista Business (SP1)
The 64-bit version of Softimage 2010 will be supported on the Windows XP Professional (SP2), Windows Vista Business (SP1) and Fedora Core 8 operating systems

Autodesk Subscription is available for purchase with the product license purchase or upgrade. The Autodesk suggested retail price for Autodesk Subscription is US$795* per year for Softimage and US$1,235* per year for Softimage Advanced*.

* International pricing may vary. Linux and Softimage Advanced versions are available in network licensing only. Face Robot toolset is not supported on Linux platform

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc, is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Face Robot, Maya, MotionBuilder, Softimage and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

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