studioGPU

What’s cooking in the StudioGPU Labs - Feb 2010

MachStudio Pro has come a long way since it was first announced last fall. There have been several version updates and a lot of work by creative people pushing the software to see what it can do.

A few weeks ago I posted an example of a photorealistic architectural rendering created in MachStudio Pro. The rendering was set up to emulate the style of the same scene as rendered in VRay.

The results surprised many people. The V-Ray-rendered and MachStudio Pro-rendered images were both production ready and very comparable. But of course, the MachStudio Pro image rendered in only 84 sec as opposed to a typical lengthy photo-realistic render (many minutes). And you could change the materials, lighting, AO, DOF, cameras, HDR exposures on the fly.

I've seen some other example renders that are being used in upcoming productions (which unfortunately means I can't share them yet) that are positively astounding.

Passion & Development

With each update, the SGPU development team adds in more refinements, and enhanced ways of rendering. It's one of the big advantage of buying software from a smaller startup - they are passionate about their work, want to constantly improve and are approachable by and responsive to users.

So this week I want to share an image I received from the StudioGPU Labs. It's an example of work in development.

Now if you've followed the recent Renderosity review, you know StudioGPU is actively working on additional rendering styles including ray-tracing. Well this image, using some StudioGPU radiance pass secret sauce is an early example of what you can expect. This is just a prototype, but you can see that the quality of light and color is cranked up even further.

Oh by the way, this new "In the StudioGPU Labs" image took about 60 sec. to render at 980 X 1200 with with x6 AA samples (36 samples per pixel). You can view the full resolution rendering here (will open in a new window).

Examples of MachStudio Pro photo-realistic imaging - good and even better.

Are there capabilities and features that you want to see integrated into MachStudio Pro? Experiments you want to see tried in the lab? Comment here or join the discussion in the StudioGPU forums. The developers read every post and typically respond within a day. It's a great way to have an impact that changes the industry and how it does visualization and rendering.

I'll be posting more images fresh "from the labs" as I receive them. Stay tuned!

Too many of the concept tools for architects miss out on light, time and the relationship of the two

Continuing with the blog topic of exploring interesting work I’ve seen created in MachStudio Pro by small or one-man shops, this week I turning to a basement redesign project.

Chad Wanstreet is a Technical Director at Speedshape Detroit, an automotive and product visualization studio.  However, his previous education (and obviously still a passion) was in architecture. This is where Machstudio comes in.  Chad used MachStudio Pro to help he and a friend visualize and define a basement renovation project.

Below are several images from the project (more in the showcase).  What interests me most about these renderings (besides the visual) is the workflow:

1. Model and texture iin 3ds Max
2. Light in MachStudio Pro
3. Render from MachStudio Pro in passes:  diffuse, reflection, AO, z-depth, and matte (render time for 1920 x 1080 images at x24 anti-aliasing was about 5 mins to produce all 5 passes)
4. Final composite in Nuke for stills and animations

Take a look at these sample images - they are a great example of “previs for architecture”. Quoting from Chad:

“Machstudio provides me with a quick feedback loop for my concepts, and the ability to create animations very quickly, which I love.  Too many of the tools which designers and architects use for quick concept work focus only on volumes and materials, and miss out on light, time and the relationship of the two.” (bold is my editorial)

“Machstudio Pro allows me to create very fast renders and animations, which normally I would need multiple computers or a farm to produce, in hours not days or weeks while experimenting with the effects of light on my design.”

If you have an example of work you have done in MachStudio Pro, or impressions/critiques about the productions I feature in this blog, submit a comment.

Will you be submitting to CGSociety’s B-Movie CG Challenge?

I’m a huge fan of B-movies.  I love watching zombies, monsters, bug-eyed aliens and of course the werewolves of B-movie fame.  So I was delighted to see CGSociety’s: “Attack of the 50ft CGChallenge” running today, through April 19, 2010.

Basically CG artists are asked to create their own version of B-movie or resurrect creatures from an existing movie. The emotive impact and implication of “the story behind the imagery” is the aspect that is most important.  But as we all know, good story can be strongly enhanced by powerful lighting and FX.  Since there is not a lot of time (nor budget) to produce these B-movies, the ability to do quick creative treatments and changes (essentially previs for animation) can be critical - i.e. MachStudio Pro.

Check out the StudioGPU CG animation showcase to see some inspirational examples (not of B-movies content, but of animation content). The Princess Twins, New Guys (each video produced in only a week), and Secret of Skull island, all make clear what you can do with good story telling and real-time lighting workflows.

You can enter as individuals or as teams so this might be a great opportunity to search for colleagues in our forums.  If you do plan to enter the contest, add a comment here or in the forums so we can follow your work!

Producing a broadcast commercial a month using MachStudio Pro

MachStudio Pro has been out on the market for less than 6 months, but already I've seen examples of some impressive production work. Last week there was a press release about the PlayMobil DVD for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and no doubt there will be other high visibility releases.

But I wanted to do some informal callouts in this blog of some of the interesting work I've seen, running from small productions, to experiments, to high visibility projects. What got me thinking about this, was the recent "Natal" video I received from FX, lda, a Mozambican post production studio for TV. FX, Ida is using MachStudio Pro to produce one commercial each month for the Arroz Leao brand of rice.

Nildo Essa is the principal behind FX, Ida. He began as a one man shop but has recently expanded to add in a second modeler for background scenes, and a story writer. Nildo himself does all animation, rendering, lighting and character modeling.

Natal (a punk jingle bells holiday commercial) is the second commercial in the series created with MachStudio Pro (see his other video in the showcase)

The workflow for Natal

For the "Natal" Commercial, Nildo motion captures all moves of the 3 characters in his very small but workable mocap studio (Nildo is the actor!). He imports this data into Max, cleans it up, and then maps into onto the final characters which are already modeled and textured.

With the camera work done he moves all assets into MachStudio Pro. For Natal he rendered the foreground elements separately from the background and then used After Effects for compositing and motion blur. In Premiere Pro he adds the final touches and special FX.

Now the kicker: Each commercial averages about 1 week of actual production from audio recording to the final piece and showing to the client. Impressive to say the least.

If you have an example of work you have done in MachStudio Pro, or impressions/critiques about the productions I feature in this blog, submit a comment.