Spotlight
Issue: Volume 39 Issue 6: (Nov/Dec 2016)

Spotlight

ALLEGORITHMIC OFFERS SUBSTANCE SOURCE MATERIAL LIBRARY

Allegorithmic has released Substance Source, a new online material library that offers 3D artists high-quality, physically based materials, so rather than starting from scratch, they can build from premade content.

Substance Source launches with customizable materials ranging from hand- painted to procedural to scanned. Hybrid materials are also available. New assets will be added over time. An implementation of Sketchfab’s 3D visualization technology lets users look over assets from any angle.

ADOBE SHOWS NEXT CC RELEASE

Adobe has announced new features coming to its Creative Cloud video and audio tools, including new collabora- tive features that will improve users’ workflows.

Premiere Pro CC receives better caption and subtitle tools. The Lumetri Color tools have also been refined, with support for HDR10 metadata work- flows, enabling editing of HDR10 and output for new HDR-enabled TVs and displays. Premiere Pro also receives improvements for VR workflows, including the ability to work with stitched equi-rectangular video.

Premiere’s audio effects and processing also sees improvement with Adaptive Noise Reduction, Dynamics Processing, Parametric Equalizer, Automatic Click Remover, and Studio Reverb.

Additional features include the ability to render sequences faster with new GPU-accelerated effects and improved support for Apple Metal. Improvements to Dynamic Link between Premiere Pro and After Effects makes working with both applications more streamlined.

WACOM DELIVERS MOBILESTUDIO PRO

Wacom has rolled out MobileStudio Pro, a new line of lightweight mobile computers with Wacom’s new pen technology. MobileStudio Pro features the newly de- signed Wacom Pro Pen 2, with 4x higher pen accuracy and pressure sensitivity than the company’s previous professional pen, enhanced resolution, leading-edge graphics, excellent color performance, 3D camera, and other innovations.

MobileStudio Pro computers are offered in six configurations starting at $1,499: four 13.3-inch models and two 15.6-inch models. Bundled with Windows 10, MobileStudio Pro can run industry-standard applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator as well as 3D creative software applications.

WORKSTATIONS GET UPDATED

Lenovo: This month Lenovo will support the Nvidia Quadro Pascal GPU architecture (via the Quadro P6000 and P5000 graphics cards) on its ThinkSta- tion P910, P710, P510, and P410 workstations.

MSI: In October, MSI rolled out the WT72 4k work- station featuring the latest Intel Core i7 processor (2.7 to 3.6 ghz), Nvidia’s Quadro M5500 GPU (making it VR ready), support for up to 64gb DDR4 memory, and a 17-inch 4k IPS display. The machine retails for $4,199.

Boxx Technologies: Select Apexx workstations from Boxx are now available with the new Nvidia Quadro P5000 and P6000 graphics cards. Apexx 5, available with as many as four dual-slot GPUs, also includes up to two Intel Xeon processors (44 cores). Also, Boxx announced the GoBoxx MXL VR mobile workstation for immersive VR experiences on the go, a compact, high-performance mobile workstation featuring desktop-class Intel Core i7 processor (4.0 ghz), Nvidia GeForce graphics, and up to 64gb of RAM.

@Xi: The company is offering the new Nvidia Quadro P5000 and P6000 cards in the Xi MTower 2P64X workstations based on the latest V4 Intel Xeon E5-1600 and E5-2600 processors, and in the MTower PCIe based on the new Intel i7 6700 and 6800 processors.