At http://www.the-area.com, Autodesk’s 3D community, users can also find detailed information about the new products and follow the show’s master classes and tutorials. Webcasts, downloadable presentations and product videos give everyone unable to attend SIGGRAPH in person a comprehensive overview of the show’s new products and allow them to exchange ideas with the community.
“Recent technological advances enable greater interaction and simulation. Users can immerse themselves completely in 3D worlds,” explains Marc Petit, Media & Entertainment Senior Vice President at Autodesk. “Creative processes for films, video games and television are becoming increasingly virtualized, while the development of digital entertainment is extremely complex. At SIGGRAPH, we are showing how Autodesk is driving the shift from a highly technical process to a more creative one. This allows artists to experiment freely and translate their ideas into the digital world more effectively.”
Product Demonstrations and Customer Presentations
Continuous innovation gives Autodesk customers access to advanced technology that enables them to stay one step ahead of the competition. On every day of the show, visitors can experience demonstrations of the latest Autodesk solutions for video games, film, television and the visualization industry. These include:
• Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk 3ds Max Design: modeling, animation and rendering
• Autodesk Flame: real-time visual-effects design and compositing
• Autodesk FBX: universal 3D asset-exchange format
• Autodesk ImageModeler: image-based modeling and photogrammetry software
• Autodesk Maya: modeling, animation and rendering
• Autodesk MotionBuilder: 3D character animation
• Autodesk Mudbox: digital sculpting software
• Autodesk Stitcher: software for creating panoramas
• Autodesk Toxik: interactive, collaborative compositing software
• Revit Architecture: Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Daily customer presentations will also show how Autodesk solutions are used on showcase projects, with talks by Autodesk customers including Crytek GmbH, Frantic Films, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Lucasfilm, Mackevision, Method Studios, Soho VFX and Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI).
Events and Training:
Autodesk MasterClasses
From 11 to 14 August, Autodesk will offer more than 25 master classes for advanced users and professionals. These courses cover a wide range of techniques and workflows in Maya, 3ds Max and MotionBuilder software. Further information and registration are available at http://www.autodesk.com/siggraph2008.
Technical Talk: An Introduction to Autodesk FBX
This event on the Autodesk FBX 3D file format provides an overview of the latest product features and explains how FBX can greatly simplify workflows. The introduction is aimed at developers, managers and design professionals working with content-creation tools, game engines and other applications.
Autodesk Education Summit
Lecturers and industry professionals can network here and exchange information about trends and best practices. The program includes a networking breakfast as well as presentations by senior Autodesk employees, university representatives and industry users. Registration is available at http://www.autodesk.com/siggraph2008.
SIGGRAPH Panel Discussion – Games: Evolving on an Order of Magnitude
Michel Kripalani, Director of the Autodesk Games Technology Group, will moderate this session. A group of experts will discuss how companies manage programming complexity and the growing demand for high-quality artistic content while producing realistic visualizations. Panelists include:
Lyle Hall, Vice President and General Manager, THQ Inc.
Martin Walker, General Manager, Artificial Mind & Movement
Steve Theodore, Technical Artist, Bungie, LLC
Steve Sullivan, Director of Research and Development, Industrial Light & Magic
Jeff Lander, Lead Software Engineer, Electronic Arts
Registration is not required. Further information is available at http://www.siggraph.org/s2008/attendees/program/item/?type=panel&id=70.
Screening of “The Man Who Planted Trees”
Autodesk is supporting this screening of the Oscar-winning film The Man Who Planted Trees. After the screening, John Lasseter of Pixar Animation Studios will speak with the film’s producer, Frédéric Back.
