( All topics subject to change )
A preview of the forthcoming issue—we are working flat out on the following topics! In the focus, we will have a lot of hardware: we test the primary CG working tool—and a representative cross-section of workstations in price classes ranging from the individual freelancer to high-performance computers. What can the different models do, where are their strengths and weaknesses, and what suits your everyday work?
For the Workstation Test, We Defined 3 Classes:
- High End Workstation: State of the Art—machines with a focus on “performance”. In the big arena, the starters here are: CADnetwork, Digital AudionetworX, Dell, Exone, Vasquez Videostation and XI-Machines
- Allround Workstation: Balancing price, equipment, performance and service—the realistic requirement is what CADnetwork, Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo and MSI (with a gaming rig!) attempt to answer in this class
- Special forms: Running out of competition are devices that do not really fit into one of the categories, but nevertheless have special features and their justification. These include the Microsoft Surface Book, the CX4 Nvidia Quadro Computing Workstation from XI-Machines, the Shuttle XPC Cube and mobile workstations from MSI, Digital AudionetworX, Dell and Lenovo.
The Test Parameters
In addition to the performance parameters of CPU, SSD, GPU and RAM, the assessment of the workstation also includes the quality of the case, power supply, internal cabling, cooling concept and noise development at different performance levels. The operating-system configuration will also influence the assessment under “Latency/OS Configuration”. Further points are shipping (packaging, on-time delivery, etc.) and support services. Tools used include AJA System Test, Atto Disk, HD Tune, Cinebench 15 and Resplendence Latency Monitor. In addition, there is a measurement setup for noise development (*A-weighted)—because who wants a vacuum cleaner at their workplace?
Further Topics
We also spoke to MPC and Weta about their mammoth achievement for Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, “The Jungle Book”. With only one real actor left in a fully CG jungle environment with several hundred different CG animal species, it can no longer be called a VFX film, but rather an animated film.
We also have a practical new series in the magazine about free AE scripts by Mathias Möhl of Mamoworld. This time, we start with “The Commander”, which offers a universal search and command line for After Effects.
The team from Unique & Limited in Prague presents gallery-quality visualisation of historical technology: historic racing cars and aircraft in digital dress.
On the gaming side, we have a virtual flight simulator from Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, which is based on the Unity Engine.
The submission deadline for this year’s animago AWARD ends on 30 June, and of course we once again have great making-ofs of last year’s submissions in DP. Agency Jung von Matt explains how the sensitive CG elephant for a 14-metre PVC tarpaulin with 25,000 pixels and a texture with 20K resolution was realised.
Also included is Till Nowak’s latest short-film masterpiece “Dissonance”. Not only did cultural broadcaster Arte consider the work particularly valuable and include it in its media library, it was also nominated in the “Best Short Film” category at the animago AWARD 2015. With “The Centrifuge Brain Project”, Nowak won the animago jury’s special prize in 2012.
Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 2, 2016. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
