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With Spyder 3™ Studio SR, Datacolor® provides a complete color management solution with three powerful color management tools:

• SpyderCube™
• Spyder3Elite™ Colorimeter
• Spyder3Print SR™ Spectrocolorimeter

Three Steps to Perfect Color

Step 1- Camera

Proper color management starts with proper white balance and exposure.  By using the 18% grey portion of one of the SpyderCube faces, a photographer establishes an accurate custom white balance  ensuring an accurate image from the start of each new photo session.  Highlights are checked with the shiny silver ball at the top of the SpyderCube.  Exposure can be selected based on the white and portions.  And the Black Trap for shadow detail control. The white and black reference values, and the Black Trap are also employed check and adjust RAW control settings in post processing.

Step 2- Monitor

When adjusting or color correcting an image on a computer monitor, it is critical that the monitor be calibrated.  Without using a calibrated monitor, the photographer is just guessing when making color and exposure adjustments in post processing.   The Spyder3Elite™ Colorimeter and monitor calibration software is an quick, accurate, and easy-to-use calibration tool.  With just a little effort two monitors were calibrated.  After calibration both monitors matched.

Step 3 – Printer

If you expect the print to look like the image on your screen, both the printer and the monitor must be calibrated.  First, print the printer profiling targets with the software.  Then read the targets into the software with the Spyder3Print SR™ Spectrocolorimeter. Presto,  a custom printer profile specific to printer, ink and paper used is created.  And soft proofing in most image editing applications is available after loading the new printer profile.

Pros:

• Powerful, yet easy to use
• Black Trap for shadow detail control

Cons:

• SpyderCube’s shape was awkward in my camera bag

System Requirements:

• Windows XP 32/64, Vista 32/64, Windows 7
• Mac OS X (10.4 or higher)
• USB Port
• Monitor Resolution 1024×768 or greater
• 16-bit video card (24-bit recommended)
• 128MB or available RAM
• 100MB of available hard disk space

Contact: Datacolor

Cost: $599.00

In the book A World in HDR by Trey Ratcliff, the author takes time to share the experience of creating and capturing each image in high dynamic range (HDR). This book not only provides vivid pictures, but describes the experience and how to create opportunities to capture stunning imagery. This book is a page turner, not only because of the pictures, but the story power behind each image.

Inspirational, But Doesn’t Hold Your Hand
HDR is not just for expert photographers. With each picture, Trey Ratcliff provides the readers ideas to inspire creation. He talks about the philosophy behind each image, but doesn’t go into depth on how he created each photo. He encourages photographers to develop their own ideas to create distinct images. The last few chapters in this book do offer tutorials, but this book inspires and tempts photographers to experiment.

Each picture provides gorgeous, mouth dropping imagery, some so surreal you wonder “How did he get that picture?” Terry does explains his motive and setting, yet mostly he delves into the why and wherefore. It is interesting looking behind the philosophical eyes of the photographer. The reader has a sense of being there, while reading the author’s quirky and humorous perspective.

Beyond Your Comfort Level
Terry prods amateur and experienced photographers to strive beyond their comfort shell. He takes the approach anyone can create HDR images.

Take the opportunity to read this book. It’s an awesome read, has great imagery, lots of interesting stories and provides an enjoyable experience musing over the fantastic scenes.

Contact: www.StuckinCustoms.com
Cost: $29.69 – $44.99
PeachPit Press

The image color is great, but if an image fails to convey the mood or emotion, the story behind the image falls flat. One of the filters in Color EfexPro 3.0 may be just the tool for adding just the right effect to enhance the image’s story power.

Nik Software’s U Point® control points in Color Efex Pro provide the tools of a color darkroom without messy chemicals, red lights, or working by brail.

New for Color Efex Pro 3.0:

• User Interface
• U Point – powered control points
• Selective tool interaction
• New filters: Bleach Bypass, Cross Balance, Film Effects, Film Grain, Glamour Glow, Low Key, High Key, Polaroid Transfer; and Tonal Contrast

User Interface

Color Efex Pro opens in an interface that is similar to the rest of the Nik Software plug ins.  Preview and Loupe views are available to review the effect on the image. A tabbed list of the 52 effects (filters) can be displayed on the left side of the preview window.  The tabs allow quick access to effects groups typically applied to an image or effect category e.g.  Favorites, All, or four user selected categories.  The user can select four tabs from Artistic, Landscape, Nature, Portrait, Stylizing, Traditional, or Wedding.

On the right side of the preview window are the following:

• Sliders for controlling specific aspects of the selected effect;
• shadow and highlight sliders; and
• a control point section that provides for managing control points includding adding  control point buttons

Color Efex Workflow

Open an image in Photshop and select Nik Software and then Color Efex Pro from the Filters menu.  Alternatively, access Color Efex Pro in Aperture (Images -> Edit With -> Color Efex Pro) or Lightroom (Photo -> Edit In -> Color Efex Pro).

After the user interface is open apply one of the effects on the left that is closest to the desired look.  Then fine-tune the image with the effect controls and control points on the right.

Images

To illustrate the abilities of Color Efex Pro, an two images was selected from photos taken with a Nikon D200 (10 MP sensor).  The images were processed in Photoshop CS4 using Color Efex Pro.  The original and processed images are presented below.

Original

Glamour Glow

As seen in the above images, the Glamour Glow effect provides a nice warming effect to the skin tone.

Original

Bleach Bypass

In the above image, the “Bleach Bypass” filter was selected to enhance the image. The image was also cropped.

The above images illustrate two of the new filters in Color Efex Pro 3.0.  These two examples, however, barely scratch the surface of Color Efex Pro’s powerful yet easy-to-control color effect tools.

Pros

Powerful color effects

Excellent video training

Cons

None noted

Training

• Training videos
• Webinar schedule
• Archived webinars

System Requirements:
Windows:

• 32-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista
  (64-bit operating systems with 32-bit host application)
• Pentium III 1GHz or better
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® 7 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 7.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later

Macintosh:

• Mac OS 10.4 and later
• G4, G5, Intel® Core™ Solo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon®
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-ins compatible applications**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 or later
• Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later

** Nik Software product filters are developed to integrate seamlessly into many popular image editing applications that support the Adobe plug-in architecture and there are numerous software applications that accept Adobe plug-in compatible filters. Please consult your image editing application’s documentation for compatibility and installation instructions for 3rd-party plug-ins.

Contact: Nik Software

Cost: MSRP Standard Edition $99.95 (15 filters); Select Edition $159.95 (35 filters); and Complete Edition (52 filters).

Mike Wooldridge has authored over 20 books in this series, and is a web developer. If you’re beginning to learn photo editing, I recommend this book.  It’s visually addicting, and makes Photoshop Elements 8 easy to learn. This book was written for beginners who are just starting to explore photo editing, to intermediates who want to improve their skills. In the first three chapters, the author doesn’t assume what his reader should know, but helps define some basic photo editing concepts, and computer mouse terms. Vibrant introductory photos and images, large font, eye-catching chapter headings and simple, short paragraphs liven up a somewhat dry subject. Colorful markers and arrows direct the reader to different tools and tool panels, plus how to apply these tools in different techniques.

Visually Enticing: Each chapter offers numerous clear, directive pictures to observe individual tool settings, buttons, where they are located, how accessed, and applied. What’s obvious to some is not obvious to others. This book facilitates, and encourages readers to test their skills, and explore. It’s one of the more , visually enticing how-to media books I’ve reviewed. The layout is engaging, allows reader to see how changes occur, and clearly points out what to do next. Don’t be afraid to tackle Photoshop Elements 8 with this book by your computer. Adobe offers a 30-day trial period. Grab the book, download the application and give it a whirl! Let me know what you think of the book.

System Requirements: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 is available for Windows and Mac OSX. Link to www.adobe.com for further information.

Contact: www.wiley.com/go/visual

Cost: $29.99 US; $35.99 Canadian; £21.99 UK

Nik Software’s U Point® control points in Silver Efex Pro provide the tools of a black and white darkroom without messy chemicals, red lights, or working by brail.

User Interface
Silver Efex Pro opens in a clean, professional interface.  Preview and Loupe views are available to review the effect on the image.  When displayed, the style browser provides thumbnail views of 29 preset styles and any user created styles.  The extensive image enhancement tools are on the left of the preview image.  These tools include:

• Brightness, contrast and structure (amount of detail) sliders;
• Add a control point button;
• Shadow and highlight sliders;
• A control point section that provides for managing control points;
• A color filter section that provides 6 preset color filters and a details subsection that enables fine tuning the filter’s hue (color) and strength;
• A film types section that provides a pull-down menu with 18 simulated films and subsections that include tools for adjusting grain, color sensitivity, and the tone curve;  and
• A stylizing section providing subsections with tools for adjusting toning (simulate traditional darkroom toners or create a custom toner); vignettes; and burning edges.

Silver Efex Workflow
Open an image in Photoshop, select Nik Software and then Silver Efex Pro from the Filters menu.  Alternatively, access Silver Efex Pro in Aperture (Images -> Edit With -> Silver Efex Pro) or Lightroom (Photo -> Edit In -> Silver Efex Pro).

After the user interface is open, apply one of the styles from the style browser that is closest to the desired look.  Next, fine-tune the image with the enhancement tools.  While the enhancement tools can be used in any order, for best results, Nik recommends starting with brightness, contrast and structure.  Add one or more control points.  Continue working down through the section menus and tools – color filters, film types, and stylizing.

Images
To illustrate the black and white control abilities of Silver Efex Pro, an image was selected from photos taken with a Nikon D200 (10 MP sensor).  The selected image was processed in Photoshop CS4 using Silver Efex Pro.  The original and processed images are presented below.

Original photo

Silver Efex Pro

In the above images, the blue sky was de-emphasized by placing a control point in the sky and reducing the brightness.  And blue filter was added from the color filter section.  The image was then burned along both sides and the top.

Second Example

Original photo

Silver Efex Pro

In the second set of images, the “Wet Rocks” style was selected from the style browser.  The image was further adjusted by using a control point to reduce the sky’s brightness.

The above images barely scratch the surface of Silver Efex Pro’s powerful yet easy-to-control black and white tools.

Pros: Powerful black & white control; Excellent video training

Cons: None noted

Training

• Training videos
• Webinar schedule
• Archived webinars

System Requirements:
Windows:

• 32-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista
  (64-bit operating systems with 32-bit host application)
• Pentium III 1GHz or better
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® 7 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 7.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later

Macintosh:

• Mac OS 10.4 and later
• G4, G5, Intel® Core™ Solo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon®
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-ins compatible applications**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 or later
• Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later

** Nik Software product filters are developed to integrate seamlessly into many popular image editing applications that support the Adobe plug-in architecture and there are numerous software applications that accept Adobe plug-in compatible filters. Please consult your image editing application’s documentation for compatibility and installation instructions for 3rd-party plug-ins.

Contact: Nik Software
Cost: MSRP $199.95

Every Photographer’s Compact
Care to dazzle your eyes with a suave green, or cool blue? And no, I’m not talking about eye shadows. Just as most women have some small makeup compact in their purse, or pouch – photographers, you should carry this nifty kit in your camera bag. It’s flat, compact and oh so functional! Quickly and easily, X-Rite’s Color Checker Passport allows beginning to expert photographers the ease of calibrating digital color from capture to edit.

Mind the Reds
How many times have colors in the field seem less vibrant, or washed out on screen? With the ColorChecker Passport, photographers can dial in accurate color on sight, and in their studio. The X-rite Color Checker combines three main features in the Passport:

• Creative Enhancement Target – enhancement patches that help photographers neutralize, check and evaluate details, highlights and shadows, plus check and control color shifting
• Classic Target – industry standard color reference target for creating DNG profiles and evaluating individual colors
• White Balance Target – allows custom in-camera white balance to establish a consistent white point within sets of images taken in the same lighting

In addition, X-rite provides a desktop application, plus an Adobe Lightroom plug-in and a portable protective case (with lanyard). This compact color kit provides self contained targets in a convenient, protective case.

Balancing Whites and Color
As part of the photo shoot using the Color Checker Passport, a photographer takes a picture of the color and the white balance targets under the same lighting conditions as the subject. Prior to shooting, the white balance target can also be used to set a custom white balance in the camera. If a custom white balance was not used in the camera, the white balance target can be applied to set the white balance from the photo shoot. After setting the white balance for the image with the color targets, the color target image is exported to the color checker plug-in (if using the Lightroom export button or menu comand). The color checker software will automatically generate a color profile that can be applied to the rest of the images. Photographers have the choice of uploading these images from the photo shoot into the desktop application, or within Adobe Lightroom 2.

The Color Checker Passport is not limited to photo shoots with fancy models. Capture that precious, spontaneous moment of toddler, teen, or sprinting pet. Then, take photos of the white balance and color targets within the subjects. And voilà, a perfect image is captured preserving this special memory.

Whether shooting RAW, or shooting for Jpeg images, the Color Checker Passport gives photographers the right tools to improve their images, and eliminate errors. It works great, and makes a great stocking stuffer, or surprise gift.

System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4, ; Windows XP 32 or 64 bit; 512 MB RAM; minimum of 200MB of disk space, G4 Processor or Intel Pentium 4

Compatible Software Supporting DNG Profiles
• Adobe® Lightroom® 2.0 or newer
• Adobe® Camera Raw 4.5 or newer
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 or newer
• Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 7 or newer
• Adobe® Bridge CS3 or newer

Contact:www.xrite.com
Cost: $99.00 US

Color control is vital to making a subject pop.  Nik Software provides a powerful color control solution with Viveza.  Nik Software’s U Point® color control points provide Viveza with exceptional color control precision.

Color Control Workflow
Open an image in Photshop, select Nik Software and then Viveza from the Filters menu.  Alternatively, access Viveza in Aperture (Images -> Edit With -> Viveza) or Lightroom (Photo -> Edit In -> Viveza).  Viveza opens in its own user interface that includes preview, loupe, and filter control areas.

Simply select “Add a Control Point” from the filter control area.  And then select the area of the photo to adjust.  Adjust the sliders on the control point to achieve the desired effect.

Images
To illustrate the color control abilities of Viveza, an image was selected from photos taken with a Nikon D200 (10 MP sensor).  The selected image was processed in Photoshop CS4 using Viveza.  The original and processed images are presented below.

Original Photo

Viveza with 4 Control Points

The above image illustrates the powerful, yet easy-to-direct color control capabilities of Viveza.  To draw the eye to the flower, the first control point was placed on the crocus flower and adjusted to add brightness, contrast, and saturation.  To improve the contrast between the flower and the green leaves, the second control point was placed on the green tulip leaves to reduce the brightness, contrast and saturation.  To de-emphasize and darken the background, particularly the red tones, two control #price points were added.  The third control point is above and to the right of the flower.  The fourth control point is slightly below and to the right of the flower.  Both the third and forth control points reduced the brightness, contrast, saturation and red tones.

These simple to implement color adjustments, made a tremendous improvement to the image.  Now the crocus really pops.

Nik Software has announced that Viveza 2.0 will be available in December 2009 for MSRP $199.95.  This is a free upgrade if you purchased Viveza 1.0 after September 22, 2009.  Thus, if you buy Viveza 1.0 now and get the free upgrade, you will save $50 over the MSRP of Viveza 2.0.

Pros

• A joy to use – great tool
• Powerful color control
• Excellent video training

Cons

• None noted

Training

• Training videos
• Webinar schedule
• Archived webinars

System Requirements:
Windows

• 32-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista
  (64-bit operating systems with 32-bit host application)
• Pentium III 1GHz or better
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® 7 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 7.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later

Macintosh

• Mac OS 10.4 and later
• G4, G5, Intel® Core™ Solo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon®
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-ins compatible applications**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 or later
• Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later

** Nik Software product filters are developed to integrate seamlessly into many popular image editing applications that support the Adobe plug-in architecture and there are numerous software applications that accept Adobe plug-in compatible filters. Please consult your image editing application’s documentation for compatibility and installation instructions for 3rd-party plug-ins.

Cost: MSRP $149.95
B&H Photo Video

Contact: Nik Software

Digital Noise Tamed

New for Dfine 2.0:

• User Interface
• Improved noise reduction engine
• Image and camera profiles
• Improved batch processing
• Improved selective tool

User Interface
Dfine 2.0 opens in a clean, professional interface, and automatically measures the image noise to create a profile.  The image noise may be manually measured by selecting noise measurement areas, and then measuring this noise to create the profile.  Alternatively, previously saved profiles may also be applied.  Custom camera profiles are easy to create for each ISO used.  These custom profiles are based on the camera used to create each profile, and thus account for manufacturing differences between sensors.

Preview and Loupe views are available to review the noise reduction effect on the image. Selecting the “Reduce” tab provides controls for the noise reduction process.  Both contrast and color noise reduction may be controlled.  Control points may also be placed on the image to fine tune the noise reduction.  A brush tool is also available to selectively apply the noise reduction.

Images
To illustrate the noise reduction abilities of Dfine 2.0, an image was selected from photos taken in the evening at Seattle’s Pike Place Market (taken with a Nikon D200 (10 MP sensor) set to ISO 800).  The selected image was processed in Photoshop CS4, using Dfine 2.0. 100 percent crops of the original and processed images are presented below.

100 percent crop of the original photo

Automatic Noise Reduction

Nikon D200 ISO 800 Camera Profile

Control Point Adjustment

The above images illustrate the noise reduction abilities of Dfine 2.0.  The Automatic nose reduction works well.  Using a camera & ISO profile provides enhanced noise reduction.  And employment of control points provides precise noise reduction control.

Training

• Training videos
• Webinar schedule
• Archived webinars

System Requirements:
Windows

• 32-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista
  (64-bit operating systems with 32-bit host application)
• Pentium III 1GHz or better
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® 7 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 7.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later

Macintosh

• Mac OS 10.4 and later
• G4, G5, Intel® Core™ Solo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon®
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-ins compatible applications**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 or later
• Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later

** Nik Software product filters are developed to integrate seamlessly into many popular image editing applications that support the Adobe plug-in architecture. There are numerous software applications that accept Adobe plug-in compatible filters. Please consult your image editing application’s documentation for compatibility and installation instructions for 3rd-party plug-ins.

Contact: Nik Software
Cost: $99.95

Autodesk Maya 2010 – Supercharged 3D Simulation Engine
Memorable movies and animated video games include numerous scenes and special affects incorporating Maya Unlimited tools: Maya nParticles, Maya nCloth, Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Hair, and Maya Fur.

With these powerful tools, Maya 2010 adds Maya MatchMover and Composite (Toxik) for a complete workflow producing futuristic digital images, realistic animations, and stunning visual effects. Maya 2010 provides enhanced creative control and a supercharged, simulation engine.

Maya is not for beginners learning how to create 3D animation video. And it’s fairly expensive, yet Autodesk takes different education situations into account. Their most attractive offering pricewise for students/education accounts are the Suites, rather than individual software packages. If students and artists want to advance their careers, Maya 2010 is a must to add to your 3D repertoire.

New for Maya 2010
These highlights identify some new features within Autodesk Maya 2010:
• Maya Unlimited toolset (new for Maya complete)
• Maya Composite – high dynamic range composting
• Autodesk MatchMover – camera tracker
• Five batch rendering nodes
• Autodesk Backburner network render manager

Maya Unlimited Toolset

The Maya Unlimited Toolset incorporates Maya nCloth and Maya nParticles, plus Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Hair, and Maya Fur. Whether it’s a graceful tablecloth floating over a dining table, a brisk wind coursing through dawn soaked sails, or the fluid aspects of hair or water, the Maya Unlimited Toolset provides powerful tools to create realistic animations.

Maya Composite
Maya Composite (Toxik) is a high performance, high dynamic range (HDR) composting tool included in Maya 2010. Whereas Toxik 2009 was available for Windows, Maya Composite is now available for Mac users. Maya Composite provides tools to connect passes and renders created in Maya into a final composition. The properties of each tool can be changed, and to obtain the right look, these properties can be adjusted. If desired, adjustments can also be key framed. Maya Composite’s toolset allows for keying, tracking, color correction, paint, rotoscoping, warping, and advanced filters (motion blur and depth of field). In short, Maya 2010 offers a full 3D compositing environment with support for stereoscopic production pipelines. Whether the artist is adding CG to film or video, or creating a sophisticated multilayer animation, Maya has the chops.

Autodesk MatchMover
MatchMover gives artists the power to seamlessly integrate 3D animation with live video. It provides automated tools for 3D camera and motion tracking for video and film. Manual tracking can also be applied to improve accuracy. Match-moving can be as simple as importing the sequence into MatchMover, selecting the appropriate interlace, frame rate and other camera data, and then choosing Automatic Tracking from the 2D Tracking menu. Alternatively, users can add and adjust manual tracks to create a 3D camera track. Manual tracks may be used to create a common coordinate system between the video and CG elements. Manual tracks can also track in 3D the motion of non-rigid objects, like the human face or piece of cloth, allowing users to synchronize video sequences, and match the motion between CG characters, or props with real objects, or actors.

Free Trials and Tutorials
For Maya 2010, Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial, outstanding online tutorials and support. Maya 2010 provides a full throttled animation and simulation environment to choreograph eye-popping advertisements and box office winners.

System Requirements:

Contact: www.autodesk.com
Cost: $3,495 US

Easy-to-Learn How to Create 3D Animation Characters
Put a piece of clay in your hands. Can you resist shaping the clay? With Autodesk’s Mudbox 2010, this application lets artists regain the feel of working clay and paint, without the messy clean up.

Mudbox 2010 allows beginners to experts the freedom to digitally mold and paint pre-sculpted, or geometric objects into 3D characters and props. Your imagination is the only factor limiting creativity and design.

By watching the four mini-tutorial videos (40-60 seconds long), within minutes users can start sculpting with Mudbox 2010. It’s that easy to begin learning, but don’t think this application doesn’t have the scope and prowess expert animators require. Autodesk recommends a drawing tablet with stylus, however a three-button mouse can used.

New for Mudbox 2010
These highlights list a few new features within Autodesk Mudbox 2010:

• Adobe Photoshop interoperability – Mudbox 2010 can export paint layers as PSD files for touch up or modification in Photoshop and then import the edited PSD files
• Autodesk FBX support – artists can import and export significant data containing more information than the standard OBJ file format
• New sculpting and painting tools – new paintbrushes, stencils, 3D paint performance, display textures without filtering, and new viewpoint filters
• Images rendered direct from viewport – allows faster access to high-quality images for design previews
• Software development kit (SDK)

Interoperability – Key to Efficient Workflow
Mudbox 2010 allows users to integrate their work with Adobe Photoshop, plus Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, and Softimage software programs. With the Software Development Kit (SDK), Mudbox 2010 can be integrated into additional workflow pipelines using different applications.

Interoperability

Adobe Photoshop
In Photoshop, artists apply their skills in two dimensions (2D), whereas animators design multidimensional objects (3D). Mudbox 2010’s versatility allows paint layers to be exported as a Photoshop file (PSD) , modified within Photoshop, and then re-imported back into Mudbox. A 2D-artist can fine tune the paint layers with all the tools available in Adobe Photoshop, saving 3D-artists time to create other characters or props. Exporting an image of the character, or prop allows artists to add context and fine tune the paint layer within Adobe Photoshop. This interoperability between Adobe Photoshop, a leading image editing tool, and Autodesk Mudbox 2010 enables users to add Photoshop’s broad and powerful tool sets in creating realistic, or fantastical characters and props.

Autodesk Applications
With Autodesk FBX support, 3D objects and props created in Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya and Softimage can be exported as an FBX file, which can be imported into Mudbox 2010. These 3D characters and props can then be curved, molded, painted and fine tuned using Mudbox 2010’s broad selection of intuitive painting and sculpting tools. The finished character, or prop can then be exported as a FBX file for animation into Maya, or 3dsMax. For example, design a magnificent, pristine Greek column in Maya, export the object file into Mudbox 2010, then quickly mold and paint to appear cracked and war ravaged.

New Tools – More Fun
Imagine sitting in front of a 3D creation, with multiple brushes at your fingertips. Digitally scale a creature’s forearm, or clone existing paint on both flanks creating futuristic 3D creatures. Autodesk’s Mudbox 2010 provides a delightful array of brushes, stencils, stamps and other tools to visually enhance 3D objects. Add soft, muted shadows or hard detailed edges, without the extra work and cost.

Dry Brush

For Mudbox 2010, Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial, outstanding online tutorials and support to launch yourself into 3D sculpting. As noted earlier, four mini-tutorial videos are included in the application, however, advanced tutorial videos and documents require internet access. No need to scrub off clay under the fingernails, or paint stains on your hands. Autodesk Mudbox 2010 enables artists clean, digital sculpting fun for budding beginners to artistic experts.

System Requirements: Apple® Mac OS® X 10.5.7; Windows Vista Business (SP1) and Windows XP Professional (SP2) for 32-bit system; Windows Vista Business (SP1) and Windows XP x64 Edition (SP2) for 64-bit system. For the latest list of Mudbox 2010 qualified hardware, including graphics cards, refer to Autodesk’s qualified Hardware chart.
Contact: www.autodesk.com
Cost: $745 Full Version; $375 Mudbox 2009 Upgrade. Contact Autodesk for Education Pricing.