Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 5, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
AREA is an interactive online community for artists who use solutions from Autodesk. This includes software for 3D Animation and Rendering such as 3ds Max and Maya, but also MotionBuilder, the software for Modeling and Character Animation, Autodesk VIZ 3D, the Modeling, Rendering and Presentation software, as well as Autodesk FBX, the universal exchange format for 3D data.
The content on AREA is largely shaped by the community itself. It also cultivates cooperation and exchange with the industry, with the community supported by Autodesk. The website contains tips, tutorials, discussion forums, blogs, downloads, galleries, member portfolios as well as user reports from 3D artists and developers. Membership in AREA is free.
In the first year, AREA members discussed more than 40,000 topics. They exchanged views on all challenges – starting with “ … the creation of realistic computer-generated hair with Motion Blurs…” through to highly technical aspects such as “… character expansion with Python Script …”.
At present, AREA shows the work of more than 200 artists and lists more than 65 discussion threads between the 3D Community and Autodesk’s product management team. Of the five Autodesk bloggers, the “Duncan’s Corner” blog by Principal Scientist Duncan Brinsmead is the most popular, with countless comments and additions.
For AREA’s one-year anniversary, Autodesk is presenting a new site structure that increases user-friendliness and integrates feedback from the ever more rapidly growing community. With the specially developed site, users receive a better overview of their content; interaction among users and user-friendliness have also been improved.
Key Features of AREA:
A completely new platform structure that works on the Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems as well as a multitude of web browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer and Netscape.
A new Tutorial System in which users can quickly and easily create or suggest new tutorials. Confirmed tutorials are added to the searchable Tutorial Repository and are available as a PDF File for download.
60 new user-generated tutorials for 3ds Max and Maya for game development, post-production and design visualization.
A Work-In-Progress Gallery with which users receive feedback on their work – starting with the first sketch through to the finished work.
New download infrastructure with which users can not only make scripts, material and plug-ins available to other users, but can also build their own page describing their individual tools.
Redesigned discussion forums with many features and navigation aids that are also popular in other large industry communities.
Further Links:
- The Area
