3D Focus Draws Creative Minds to Karlsruhe

Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 13, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

Industry experts presented practical solutions in high-caliber workshops. The talks drew professionals from television broadcasters, advertising and marketing agencies, as well as film producers, architects, designers, game developers and students to Karlsruhe. The first day was devoted entirely to 3D technology. On the second day, the focus was on industrial design and product and architectural visualization. By grouping the topics in this way, the organizer succeeded in distributing visitor traffic evenly across both days.

Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH (KMK) organized the networking event in cooperation with the leading trade magazine DIGITAL PRODUCTION. The presentation of the 12th animago AWARD on the evening of November 12 at the Konzerthaus created a lively atmosphere. For the second time, Germany’s most important award for computer graphics and animation was presented at the digital creation days.

“Many trends in digital media production originate in the American film industry. With the digital creation days, we provide the industry based here with its own platform for exchanging views about the market and conditions in the German-speaking region,” explained KMK Managing Director Klaus Hoffmann.

Matthias Lange, Editor-in-Chief of DIGITAL PRODUCTION, offered a positive assessment: “Technological developments in our industry are rapid. New, better and exciting programs and solutions are constantly entering the market. Anyone who wants to stay up to date must keep themselves informed regularly. The digital creation days are the right networking event for the industry’s decision-makers, developers and emerging talent.”

The Right Focus with 3D

Following the positive response to the inaugural event in 2007, the organizers devoted the first day entirely to 3D. Professionals shared tips and experience on the subject, while many vendors demonstrated 3D technology applications in the accompanying exhibition.

“3D visualizations are in demand. We have a great many clients in architecture. But many photographers who come from traditional analog photography are also making increasing use of the advantages of 3D visualization, for example in product photography,” said Hans-Peter Kuhnert of software3D.de, an exhibitor at the digital creation days.

Visualization Trend in Automotive, Architecture and Industry

Computer-generated images are being used in an increasingly diverse range of applications, opening up new business fields and models. Moving and still images are in demand for presenting products to best advantage.

Marketing executives in the automotive industry, for example, have recognized that visual depictions of vehicles offer many advantages, particularly in sales. Karlsruhe-based Lumo Graphics created the digital model for an actual Mercedes-Benz bus. Marc Herling, Managing Director of Lumo Graphics, said during a press briefing at the digital creation days: “It is much easier for customers to make a purchasing decision if they have already seen their individually configured vehicle.”

Realistic depictions of buildings, cities and landscapes are of particular interest to architects and urban planners.

How will the proposed building fit into the cityscape? Visualizations allow developers to discuss such questions during the planning phase. More and more architects are therefore turning to visualization. Four workshops at the digital creation days were devoted solely to architectural visualization.

Terrain visualization is also becoming increasingly important for municipalities, states and the federal government. Modern programs show where flooding can be expected during high water and where water levels may become critical. For many waterside cities such as Karlsruhe, computer-generated scenarios are a valuable aid in containing floods.

Creative Ideas and Solutions in the Accompanying Exhibition

The digital creation days bring together users and developers from different fields. “We exhibited at the inaugural digital creation days last year and returned in 2008 to establish new contacts and strengthen existing networks,” explained Enrico Reil of CADnetwork. The company’s clients include corporations such as Porsche, Audi and Deutsche Bahn.

One of the main sponsors of the 2008 digital creation days was the Canon Business Solution division of Canon Deutschland GmbH in Stuttgart, with professional printing and copying solutions. “Canon appeared at the digital creation days for the first time. We were able to introduce our new professional HD movie camera to the event’s interesting target group of 3D and animation specialists. Canon also demonstrated how designs can be put on paper professionally, in color and at high quality. We could certainly imagine participating in the digital creation days again in 2009,” said Kristin Jung of Canon Deutschland’s Canon Business Center in Stuttgart.

The Industry Celebrates Its Best: animago AWARD in Karlsruhe

The animago AWARD 2008, the most important competition for digital content creation in the German-speaking region, was presented on November 12 during a gala evening event. An expert jury honored the best productions across eleven categories with animago AWARDs. The current feature film “WALL-E” won the “Best International Theatrical Production” category, which was decided by the audience. A total of 1,026 entries were submitted from 42 countries. As the most important benchmark for achievement in these fields, the animago AWARD is a key part of the German-speaking computer graphics industry.