Electric Image Animation System Version 9

The new company behind EIAS is aggressively planning the biggest update to the 3D suite in a long time. Some key new items included a full 64-bit, multi-treaded, multi-platform EIAS Camera 9. EIAS Animator 9 will also have a new 3D model import system, and there is a new EIAS 9 Developer Kit for plugin and shader developers. EIAS Renderama 9 will also have improvements. The new company is also now selling, supporting and developing the Konkeptoine Tools, a series of plugins and shader plugins.

With all this change comes a new website for Electric Image Animation System, including a built-in online store where you can purchase or upgrade to EIAS v.8 (895.USD new) or obtain plugins.

02 - Electric Image Animation Systesm v8. Screen shot sample.

Exact dates for the new Electric Image Animation System 9 release have not been made clear but Architosh will follow this development closely. To learn more visit: http://www.eias3d.com/

01 - The new EIAS logo. It's very cool!

EIAS v8 – Key Items

The famous software that made numerous key moments possible in movies such as Star Wars and Terminator, is now at its 8th major version. Well regarded for its rendering speeds and render quality, EIAS v8 has several new features and key technology which is summarized below:

• The biggest upgrade in 10 years
• Area lights
• Photon mapping
• Light objects
• Fast Software Shadows in rendering
• Environmental Rotoscopes
• Workflow improvements, including texturing and weight map painting improvements
• New plug-ins and shaders and much more. 

Dusseldorf Hafen at Night, created by Markus Groeteke, copyright, EI technology Group LLC.

EIAS v8 is now shipping for both Mac Universal Binary (PowerPC and Intel Macs) and for Windows 2000/XP/Vista. Upgrade pricing starts at 395.USD. And the full new version is 895.USD. 

For more information visit them on the web at: www.eitechnologygroup.com

A QuickTime animation from Maya with EITG Sonica v.1.0

Since the spring of 2008 Electric Image Technology Group has had in place a public beta of Sonica v1.0. The move to deliver innovative plugins for other leading 3D software packages is a new strategy to bring the Electric Image brand and EITG’s presence into new 3D markets. Sonic is the first in a planned series of plugins for Autodesk Maya.

Sonica v.1.0 is available for Mac Maya 7 and Mac Maya 8. It is also available for Windows Maya 7, 8 and 8.5.

We have some news for those out there looking at getting a new burly Mac Pro or other Apple computer. Many may not be aware that Electric Image Technology Group (EITG) is an authorized Apple VAR. They offer big discounts, free shipping and no sales tax to most locations. Additionally, certain purchases will also yield free Electric Image Animation System software — the fabled leader in rendering speed and the software behind Star Wars. 

In the upcoming EIAS version 8, photons will be on tap with the new Photon Mapping functionality as well as the new Tesla development team’s updated user interface. Tesla is the new 3D modeling package replacing EITG’s Universe package. We have further EITG news in a separate post. 

Silo News – Wiki, Source Code and More

The folks at Nevercenter, the makers of Silo, have a lot of news this year and the updated website (updated since we last visited them…) looks very attractive we might add! 

First off the company now has a Silo Source Leasing program. Under the terms of this program if you work at a studio, research university or company that would like to have a core like Silo to build out your own tools from Nevercenter will offer you a lease on the source code. This cross-platform source code can be compiled on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Nevercenter will also offer customized development services on a consultant basis. 

The company now has a new wiki and several other items of interest on its site. For example they have a new book on Game Character Development by artist Antony Ward. He explains core modeling techniques and advocates Silo in his new book. Silo 2.1 is available as a free, fully-functioning 30-day trial version. You can dowload it from the website. 

AC3D – Latest News

Inivis has a new version of AC3D version 6.4 out. This latest version is available and features more powerful texturing vis-a-vis a Texture Coordinate Editor.

Design new cloths for your Second Life avatar with AC3D v6.4

What can you do with AC3D? Inivis demonstrates on its website that you can use the program to design new clothes for your Second Life avatars.

EI Technology Group has released an update to the recently released Electric Image Animation Studio 7.0, bringing the update to version 7.0.1. This service pack release addresses several bugs and allows Renderama to now work with Apple’s new Leopard operating system. Renderama now renders properly from Mac to PC.

Making Renderama work properly with Leopard required that the entire system for transferring files be rewritten using UNIX functions instead of Mac Toolbox functions. EI Technology Group says the work took longer than expected but was worth it as the results are now that Mac Universal Binary build of Renderama now transfers files faster than the previous version. To learn more go here.

Bunkspeed Chooses Cadalog for Distribution in Japan

Bunkspeed, makers of HyperShot for Mac, an advanced accelerated 3D rendering program, have announced this week the selection of Cadalog as a major reseller and distributor of HyperShot in Japan. Cadalog has a successful track record of distributing CAD products in Japan, such as Robert McNeel’s Rhinoceros 3D modeling program to Google’s SketchUp. Cadalog has built a network of 25 resellers throughout Asia.

To learn more about HyperShot visit the Bunkspeed website.