News

Blackmagic Design has released a Camera v 1.9.10 update.

This software package allows you to update your Blackmagic Camera to the latest software release for new features, bug fixes and other enhancements.

What's new in Blackmagic Camera Utility 1.9.10:

Blackmagic URSA
Fixed error reading timecode input
Improved in-camera format reliability when formatting in HFS+

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
Improved in-camera format reliability when formatting in HFS+

Blackmagic Cinema Camera
Improved in-camera format reliability when formatting in HFS+

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K
Improved in-camera format reliability when formatting in HFS+

Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K
No changes

Blackmagic Studio Camera
No changes

Steinberg announced the availability of new maintenance updates for WaveLab 8.5, WaveLab 8 and WaveLab Elements 8 that provide full compatibility with Mac OS X Yosemite. In addition WaveLab 8.5.20 features several fixes as well as improved functionality with regard to the file browser.

New firmware v1.60 for Panasonic AG-AC90 (here) and AG-AC90A (download here) camcorders provides support for the HDMI output in “Recording mode” when 720p mode is selected. Installation instructions are located here.

Panasonic AJ-PG50EJ is a portable field recorder with AVC-ULTRA codec and microP2 card compatibility, HDMI input/output, and data transfer over a network. The AJ-PG50 memory card recorder is compact and lightweight. It supports the AVC-ULTRA codec family, is equipped with two microP2 slots and a P2 card slot. Operates from either a battery pack or AC adapter. It also comes with a high-resolution QHD LCD monitor. The AJ-PG50 offers high speed and high quality at a reasonable cost, and flexibly and supports the most advanced AVC-ULTRA workflows. Available at the end of December 2014.

LightWave 2015: New Features, New Price!

The LightWave 3D® Group, a division of NewTek, Inc., opens the door to a new era of creativity for artists, animators and designers working in 3D with the release of LightWave 2015 3D software for Windows and Mac operating systems.

LightWave 2015 offers many new workflow enhancements and features that are designed to streamline a variety of pipelines—from visual effects, motion graphics, and game development to architectural visualization, product design, and advertising and marketing. With the release of LightWave 2015 comes new pricing: $995 (USD) for a full license and $495 (USD) to upgrade from LightWave 11.x or earlier.

"At Stargate Studios our VFX workflow for hit shows like 'The Walking Dead,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' and 'NCIS: Los Angeles' require massive stability and performance—LightWave delivers both," says Al Lopez, VP of Creative Services, Stargate Studios. "We are excited to add all of the new tools in LightWave 2015 to our pipeline because LightWave enables us to get the impossible done…every day."

LightWave 2015 introduces new features that are ideal for character animation, visualization, dynamic simulations, and more. It also extends the functionality of popular features like the Genoma character rigging system, Bullet Dynamics, dynamic parenting, rendering enhancements, and more.

New hightlights for LightWave 2015 include:

Bullet Constraints

Take control of dynamic simulations with new constraint types such as Point-to-Point, Hinge, Slider, Cone Twist, Spring and six degrees of freedom (DOF) constraint types. Whether it's a car rolling over a terrain with fully working suspension, or a rag doll falling down the stairs, constraints help make the movement believable.

Importance Sampling

Greatly improve the quality of scenes lit by GI and HDR images or background lighting. Importance sampling intelligently concentrates rays into important areas and eliminates the noise and splotches that arise from highly differing light intensities for cleaner, more predictable renders.

Match Perspective Tool

Whether matching plates or simply placing objects in photographs, matching the camera position and rotation can be a time consuming process. The new Match Perspective tool can quickly sync the LightWave camera to an original photo or plate.

Genoma 2 Character Rigging System

This rapid modular rigging system, which at the base level is a complete rigging development kit (RDK), can be used to quickly rig characters for animation without the need to set up complex rigs from scratch. Genoma 2 can create expert rigs and generate custom presets that perfectly fit into any character animation pipeline. It supports the use of Math Expressions and Scripts and includes new and improved human, feline, and arthropod preset rigs.

Edge Rendering

Intersection Edges can now be drawn where geometry intersects on the same object and/or separate objects, allowing for more creative control over cel rendering. Use Patch Border Rendering to make Sub-Division patch borders visible in the renderer with the click of a button. It is perfect for modelers who want to showcase their mesh topology combined with the full render. Edge Buffer can be used to render all edges into their own buffer, allowing for post-process manipulation in a compositing software.

64-Bit QuickTime Support

Loading and saving Quicktime movies is now possible to those using 64 bit versions of LightWave for Windows. LightWave 2015 includes new enhancements to the Viewport Preview Renderer (VPR) and introduces many new features and improvements such as Interactive Dynamic Parenting, Textured Falloffs in Modeler, Fiber FX, GoZ Multi-tool and Unity 5 support, and more. It also supports the latest interchange formats such as Alembic 1.5 and FBX 2015.

Pricing and Availability

LightWave 2015 for Windows and Mac OS is now available and priced at $995 (USD). Registered LightWave 11.x or earlier users can upgrade to LightWave 2015 for $495. Educational pricing is also available. Download a no-cost 30-day full-feature trial of LightWave 2015 at www.lightwave3d.com/try.