We may have missed you in Las Vegas, but you can still experience the latest versions of Autodesk® Smoke® and Autodesk® Flame software at the Autodesk Media & Entertainment Systems NAB Replay Tour coming soon to a city near you.

This event is tailored for attendees to receive one-on-one time with the new 2009 versions of Autodesk Smoke and Flame, as well as connect with members of the Autodesk team. Register here for the city of your choice, and Autodesk will follow-up to schedule a personalized time slot for demonstrations on Autodesk Smoke and Flame. more

LA JOLLA, CA – High‐end cartoon effects for video are no longer the exclusive domain of Hollywood big boys thanks to video special effects creator NewBlue, Inc. Now anyone using leading desktop video software can take advantage of this free plugin download to “toonup” live‐action video with NewBlue Cartoonr, the company’s fast, easy and free way to give scenes a cartoon look. Users seeking effects for Adobe Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Liquid, Adobe After Effects, Avid Media Composer, Avid Xpress Pro, Canopus Edius, Pinnacle Studio and Ulead VideoStudio can download this free video effects plugin at http://www.newbluefx.com/cartoonr. more

LA JOLLA, CA (May 14, 2008) – After its recent release of video effects plugins for the Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Liquid, Avid Media Composer, Avid Xpress Pro, Pinnacle Studio and Sony Vegas product lines, NewBlue, Inc. continues its widening rollout of video effects plugins by unveiling a host of new effects and transitions for the Thomson Grass Valley™ EDIUS® nonlinear video editing software. EDIUS users can now enjoy 978 presets and 114 effects plugins encompassed in 12 distinct and competitively-priced NewBlueFX collections.

NewBlue’s new effects packages are compatible with the full range of EDIUS software, including EDIUS Broadcast, EDIUS Pro, and EDIUS Neo. more

IRVINE, CALIF.—With members of the automotive press corps standing by in eager anticipation, Nissan revealed its all-new 2009 Maxima at the New York Auto Show in spectacular fashion. A 40-foot wide high definition video screen lit up with dramatic views of the car muscling through pristine all-black and all-white environments. Punchy graphics proclaimed its dual nature: “powerful” yet “sophisticated,” “exhilarating” yet “elegant.” “The 4-door sports car” it said, “lives.” more

Click for a wink. Click again for a smile. Facial animation has never been simpler as DAZ 3D, a leading developer of professional quality 3D models and software, today announced the immediate availability of Mimic Pro for Carrara, a plug-in enabling seamless lip-synching, sound analysis and speech animation simulations directly within Carrara 6.2. Mimic Pro for Carrara provides an advanced environment for quickly creating facial animation sequences, such as winks, nods and smiles, allowing 3D characters to effortlessly obtain a greater level of expression. To learn more about DAZ 3D, Mimic Pro and Carrara 6.2, or to purchase, please visit http://www.daz3d.com/mimic. more

New Facility’s Services Include Stereoscopic DI and Post for Features and TV

BURBANK (May 12, 2008)—Responding to Hollywood’s growing demand for 3D production and post-production, Stereoscope has opened its doors to serve the creative community. Equipped with the new version of Quantel’s Pablo 4K color grading system, which can handle real-time stereoscopic post-production, the studio has been designed from the ground up to provide a full range of stereo3D digital content services, from development through distribution. more

Portland, Ore. – May 9, 2008 – CHIFOO (Computer-Human Interaction Forum of Oregon), Oregon and Southwest Washington’s local SIGCHI chapter, and Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH, Oregon and Southwest Washington’s local SIGGRAPH chapter, today announced that celebrated designer, author and researcher of human aspects of technology Bill Buxton will present “Design Thinking: Action and Ecosystem,” beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 at the World Trade Center Auditorium (Bridge Level) more

Free for existing Final Effects Complete 5.0 customers a new point release that includes; Blur Dissolve, Lens Wipe, Spherize Wipe, Griddler Wipe, Pin Wipe, Slant Wipe, and Rain Wipe

Marlborough, Ma – May 7 2008 - Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, today announced that Final Effects Complete 5.0.1 for FxPlug (FEC 5 FxPlug) and Final Effects Complete 5.0.1 for AE (FEC 5 AE) are now available as free updates for FEC 5.0 customers. The 5.0.1 updates add seven new transitions as well as provide important improvements to the existing 108 FEC transitions. more

Blur Studio channeled their inner disco in a new commercial for Pringles Stix via advertising agency Grey New York. The spot features a lively dance number performed by digital characters, in an entirely CG environment evoking the sparkly discos of the 1970s. The spot broke on April 28th, 2008, with :30 and :15 second versions airing in the US and later in the year will air in Canada. more

Leading visual effects software developer The Foundry has announced the development of Ocula, a unique collection of plug-ins providing a powerful armoury of tools that solve common problems with 3D stereoscopic imagery, boost productivity in post production, and ultimately help to deliver a more rewarding 3D-stereo viewing experience. more