Digital Domain, the Academy Award-winning full-service digital studio and production company responsible for jaw-dropping visual sequences in such films as Titanic, Day After Tomorrow and I, Robot as well as commercials such as the recent Budweiser Super Bowl “Superfan” spot, has received a $31 million investment from Falcon Investment Advisors and GunnAllen Financial. more

NaturalMotion Ltd., the award-winning developer of advanced 3D animation technology, announced that it will launch an additional third product line during SIGGRAPH 2006. The product launch will take place aboard The Lady Christine, an ocean cruiser moored at the infamous Boston Harbor.

Also aboard Lady Christine, NaturalMotion will demonstrate euphoria, its revolutionary run-time Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technology that is being used in several AAA next-generation titles, including LucasArts‘ Indiana Jones 2007 (working title); and endorphin 2.6, the newest version of its powerful, 3D character animation software. more

Intelligent Gadgets will debut the Windows version and a host of new features for its multi-user review and approval tool syncVUE at this week’s SIGGRAPH exhibition in Boston.

In response to fervent worldwide interest and strong sales for the Mac version of syncVUE that debuted at NAB last April, the eagerly anticipated Windows version offers the same impressive feature set. Billed as the world’s first media synchronizer designed for SKYPE and answering the needs of anyone working in the video, film or audio production and post production markets, syncVUE allows animators, editors, producers, directors, anyone in fact - to experience a synchronized, shared media viewing experience with no geographical limitations. Time-code based annotations added in a syncVUE session (whether offline or online) automatically propagate to all connected clients for a smooth, efficient “review and approval” process and all metadata can be easily exported to Final Cut Pro and common file formats including XML. Windows-XP and Mac-OSX syncVUE users can freely collaborate in the same session. more

Luxology LLC, an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software, announced it will present three special video segments for the computer graphics community during SIGGRAPH 2006. Hosted by Brad Peebler, president of Luxology, the initial session will focus on the latest computer graphics technology from Luxology. On subsequent days, Greg Leuenberger of Sabertooth Productions and Rich Hurrey of Pixar Animation Studios will offer veteran insight on two key topics: hard surface modeling, and advanced rendering techniques. Both customer sessions are grounded in the context of using modo in production environments. Sponsored by ATI, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative 3D graphics solutions, the Luxology SIGGRAPH 2006 video sessions are free and designed to share valuable tips and information amongst the modo user base and the entire computer graphics community. more

Toronto-based compositing software developers, eyeon Software Inc., showcase Fusion 5.1 at Siggraph 2006.

“With the release of Fusion 5.1 and the definitive approach to universal platform support, we have never been more excited to present Fusion’s latest rendition to the industry’s varied requirements,” said Joanne Dicaire, director of business development for eyeon Software. “The proliferation of work in film, broadcast, games and motion graphics has exploded and we are proud to offer every facility a comprehensive image processing solution regardless of platform preference.” more

VICON, developer of Academy Award-winning motion capture systems and a division of OMG plc, Oxford Metrics Group, announced a technology alliance with San Francisco-based Mova, which is debuting the new Mova Contour Reality Capture system in booth #1027 at SIGGRAPH 2006. Contour is a system that allows markerless motion capture to be recorded with sub-millimeter precision using a combination of specialized phosphorescent make-up, digital cameras, customized fluorescent strobe lighting and proprietary software. more

Massive Software continues to increase the speed and ease with which epic levels of 3D animation can be produced for film and television with an array of innovations for its line of artificial life-based 3D animation products. The advancements, on display from the Massive Software Booth #1023 at SIGGRAPH 2006, are highlighted by the shipping of Massive 2.6, a major release of the software. more

Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), announced Autodesk 3ds Max 9 software, the latest version of its world-renowned 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution. 3ds Max 9 supports 64-bit technologies, providing digital artists with the tools for next-generation games development, design visualizations, and film and television visual effects production. 3ds Max has been used to realize countless breakthrough projects, including New York City‘s Freedom Tower, games such as Assassin‘s Creed, Gears of War, Guild Wars and Mass Effect, and film blockbusters such as Aeon Flux and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 3ds Max 9 will be showcased at the Autodesk booth #1706 at SIGGRAPH 2006, August 1-3 at the Boston Convention Center. more

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) launched Autodesk Maya 8 software, the newest version of its Academy Award-winning 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution. Maya has been used by a variety of clients, including BMW, CNN, Disney, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Midway Games and Weta Digital, to create breathtaking 3D imagery for feature films, interactive games, broadcast graphics and industrial design. Autodesk Maya 8 meets the demands of next-generation productions by addressing the real-world production challenges 3D artists are currently facing. Maya 8 will be showcased at the Autodesk booth #1706 at SIGGRAPH 2006, August 1-3 at the Boston Convention Center. more

While new software products continue to turn up at every Siggraph, along with the latest update of core graphics programs, not much turns up to update the actual physical tools that artists use to create their work.

At Siggraph 2006, that‘s changing, with various haptic technologies on display that may soon offer more natural, interactive techniques to interface with software. (Haptic technology refers to technology which interfaces with the user via the sense of touch.)

Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo are showing a fingertip-mounted sensing digitizer; it captures what‘s happening at a user‘s fingertip during various activities. This new fingertip-mounted device uses technologies such as a miniature thin-film force sensor, a tri-axial accelerometer, and a motion tracker. more