Do you use Poser Pro 2010? Product Manager Steve Cooper and the software engineers would love your feedback in a short survey about it:
Please share a few minutes of your time participating in a short survey about Poser Pro 2010. Your answers to the questions will help us evaluate which areas of Poser Pro 2010 are most important to you. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and should only take 10-15 minutes of your time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
When engineers talk, I listen
It's not often I get comments from engineers about anything I find online, but this tutorial caught the eye of the director of engineering so I figured it must be pretty awesome. It's about match moving, or motion tracking and how to do it using a plugin for Poser Pro 2010.
Steve Cooper, Poser product manager, said "He does a great job of showing a few techniques to use Poser figures against pre-filmed video, both rendered in Poser or for use in a compositing tool."
According to the developer Anakale, "MatchMove Assistant for Poser Pro 2010 is a plug-in designed to import camera data (translation and rotation) and tracker points from The Pixel Farm's Pfhoe and Pfhoe Pro matchmoving applications into Poser. This allows Poser to be used as a compositing tool, integrating Poser's incredible wealth of first and third party 3d figures and props into a live action shot."
And until the end of July, it's on sale for $29.95. That's 33% off the original price. You can check it out at Content Paradise.
Poser Pro 2010 SR1 is live! Poser Product Manager Steve Cooper and the Poser engineers have been doing hard work keeping Poser Pro 2010 and Poser 8 updated with useful service releases. Here's the latest news:
Service Release 1 (SR1) for Poser Pro 2010 is a well worth downloading. It includes updates, bug and stability fixes, dramatic rendering improvements, support for our new SendStuffNow service (formerly StuffIt Connect) and the much anticipated LightWave PoserFusion2010 plug-in.
The single downloadable archive includes installers for Poser Pro 2010 SR1, the Queue Manger 2010 updater, the new LightWave Poser Fusion installer, and a full set of PoserFusion 2010 plug-in updaters (required for the new SR1 version of PP2010). For a full list of improvements and features that are included with SR1, be sure to check out the ReadMe. It has a comprehensive list of all changes.
Poser Pro 2010 SR1 is available as a free updater to all Poser Pro 2010 users. There are both Mac and Windows installers available on the Poser Updates page.
For those users that want to run the new LightWave PoserFusion 2010 plug-in, you can enter your current Poser Pro 2010 serial number to receive a free LightWave plug-in number.
SR1 Rendering Performance Poser Pro 2010 SR1 offers improved rendering performance in several areas including strand based hair, 3D motion blur, raytraced refraction and texture caching. The first graph below lists the rendering improvements over the shipping version (GM).
Along with rendering efficiency, SR1 also offers significantly improved detail in Depth of Field and Atmosphere rendering plus more precise Indirect Light rendering. These changes may increase some rendering times slightly, but we feel the benefit of improved detail far outweighs the slight impact on rendering times.
In the Benchmark File Rendering graph you can visually compare render times for actual files in both the shipping version (GM) and SR1.
SR1 is an important update to Poser Pro 2010. We’re very pleased with this service release and are confident you will be as well.
Bigger is better as they say. Due to the great response to Dave Gibbons' and Rob Reger's signings this weekend, Smith Micro has decided to move to a bigger space!
Head over to Booth 5353 for giveaways and signings all weekend long!
Wanna know what's happening? Check out our Countdown to Comic-Con! And don't forget our Dave Gibbons dinner contest has been extended as well! It's gonna be great fun!
The San Diego Comic-Con countdown begins!
I've heard people refer to Las Vegas as the adult Disneyland. I disagree; I thinks it's Comic-Con. I doesn't matter where it is, you know it's gonna be fun. And while some people might think it's a little dorky, as one of my friends said Nerds are the real cool people.
If you're gonna be there, definitely stop by Smith Micro's booth-5238. We're having loads of giveaways for free prizes, and I might have some free stuff lying around (like comic books made with Poser or Poser T-shirts).
In addition we're having Dave Gibbons sign exclusive posters he drew in Manga Studio for San Diego Comic-Con. They may or may not look something like this:
Dave will be signing posters on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (this week!) from 11 to 11:30 and 3 to 3:30.
We've also got Rob Reger, creator of Emily the Strange, signing at our booth on Friday from 12:00 to 12:30. It's gonna be a madhouse, so stop by the booth at 9:30 to get a wristband. No wristband? No autograph sadly.
Keep an eye out on our Smith Micro Graphics and Productivity Facebook page and our Graphics Twitter account for up to the minute news and random musings about the entire event. After all, it's my Disneyland and I'm taking pictures!
Smith Micro Software Blog's got some new digs
Change is good, right? And so is learning new things. Unless you're an old dog. I'm doing my best to prove I'm not an old dog. I've got a Twitter account (or two), and I've got my Google degree in writing HTML. But does everything new have to be difficult? I don't think so.
The Smith Micro Software Blog has a new look. And new features. You can comment! (A feature I believe makes a blog a blog. Am I right?)
You can go through posts based on software, so if you're only in posts about Poser, you have that option. But I'm guessing you're no old dog either, so check it out and you might learn something new!
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life. Check out our software blog for news tidbits, observations, and tips for Smith Micro applications.
Metadata makes life (in Poser) easier Woooohooo!!! It's an easy day for me. I'm turning it over to Steve Cooper, Poser product manager, for a detailed explanation of metadata in the Poser library. If you create or sell content in Poser, this post will benefit you! Take it away, Steve:
With Poser Pro 2010 and the recent SR3 updater for Poser 8, we were able to include support for content metadata within the Poser library. For a quick snapshot of how metadata is presented, check out this image of the Poser 8 dog with stand-in data shown in Extended Details pane of the Library.
There are many benefits to metadata in Poser; but rather than try and pin down the almost limitless metadata pluses, describing it more broadly will inspire some thoughts on how metadata will be a boon to both content creators and content customers.
A few quick examples In Poser, metadata can be used to distinguish between a figure that is hair or clothing or between hair that is transmapped or strand based. Metadata tells the user if a selected clothing item is a conforming figure and what figure it should conform to, or if the clothing is dynamic or a smart prop.
Metadata can indicate additional items that are part of a set, such as required props, clothing items, or textures that are needed to recreate a complicated content item: Think of a medieval armor set with shield and sword smart props, a helmet, and conforming suit of armor for a specifically named figure.
Metadata can provide instructions for “best use” of a content item, such as rendering settings, conformation instructions, deformer requirements or dependent objects. Metadata can include artist names, contributor names, publisher details, age ratings, and any usage restrictions, such as non-commercial restrictions.
My favorite use of metadata would be themes to describe whole categories of items; think sci-fi, fantasy, '50s, retro, steam punk, futuristic, western, medieval, urban, and the list goes on.
Design Rationale When designing support for metadata in Poser, we wanted a system that content creators would find practical to use, that would allow metadata to be slipstreamed into existing libraries of content and be easy to develop for new items being introduced in the market. And we wanted to provide opportunities for python script developers to create powerful editing tools and data management scripts to resolve some longstanding problems. Here are a few of the design aspects for metadata in Poser.
We use .xmp (XMP) sidecar files. XMP sidecar files are simple to create and edit and will serve as a container for all the relevant information for any individual content item. The XMP files simply need to be placed in the same directory as the same-named content item, and the Poser library will display the data within that XMP file, field by field. Currently we use a simple python script to create these files from scratch, but in the very near future, expect full GUI controlled, python based editing tools for generating Poser compliant XMP sidecar files.
XMP sidecar data files can be created for any pre-existing or new content item. So as new content is made available, if it includes an XMP file, you’ll be able to view the metadata as soon as you install the item and select it in the library. For existing collections of content, the creator or publisher can create and distribute XMP files for those items, and if their customers are using Poser 8 SR3 or Poser Pro 2010, they’ll have access to that metadata. Users will also be able to create their own metadata for any content item, should they be so inclined.
We’ve used as many of the industry standard Dublin Core metadata fields as possible, and have created as few new Poser fields as required to address our unique cases. This lets us comply with an already accepted and well thought out set of definitions for various fields, rather than reinventing the wheel. The XMP sidecar file only needs to include the fields that are relevant to the content item, and only the fields contained in the XMP file are previewed in the Extended Details Panel.
The metadata fields are fully supported by PoserPython which enables Python scripters to create a number of powerful tools – as a seed idea - think of a single click of a python button that generates a list of credits for your illustration or animation, based on the XMP sidecar data for each content item in your scene.
As we evolve the Poser library system, we plan to include support for localized metadata in French, German and Japanese so content can be more universally enjoyed. We also have the goal of creating a master database on your system that can potentially manage all your content’s metadata, so if an XMP sidecar gets mistakenly trashed, moved or renamed, it can be recreated. Also in Poser’s future, expect support for metadata search, which will really help locate that exact item you’re looking for.
Evangelizing metadata is one of our long-term goals with Poser. We believe it will help transform the content market. As metadata becomes more broadly included with content, it will help users find content created by other artists that they like, learn how to get the best out of their existing content and provide better support for content creators.
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life. Check out our software blog for news tidbits, observations, and tips for Smith Micro applications.
Poser and CP award phenomenol student animation
I'm a big fan of the underdog. Since I know nothing about the World Cup football games, I always ask who's expected to lose, and then I cheer for them. As far as I'm concerned, if they're even there, they're probably pretty amazing.
A few months back, Content Paradise and Poser sponsored the Computer Graphics Student Awards. They just announced the winners. This animation, Black and White, by Gabor Lendvai was listed among them.
It was listed in the category of Best in Animation but was a runner-up. I was delighted by the surprise at the end, so of course it was one of my favorites. If you get a chance, take a look at more of the winners. If this wasn't first place, you can imagine how well-done the rest of them are!
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life. Check out our software blog for news tidbits, observations, and tips for Smith Micro applications.
Anime Studio & Poser go a Lil Emo
I'm all for celebrating holidays far from their intended date. I'm planning my Thanksgiving dinner already. So when Craig Lew showed me his Lil Emo's Halloweemo in June, I was jumping up and down like a little kid. (Yes I have my costume picked out already.)
Craig made this great animation with Poser and Anime Studio. In fact, it's so good, it's screening at San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, July 25.
Craig's little niece was the inspiration for his animation. While dancing with demons seems pretty cool, he originally intended on making her a lion. "But as things progressed the lion with a long shaggy mane became the Lil Emo Girl."
You can learn more about Craig's inspiration, art and process with Poser and Anime Studio by reading his user story. And if you're heading to Comic Con, you can see him there and celebrate Halloween in July.
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life. Check out our software blog for news tidbits, observations, and tips for Smith Micro applications.
Untitled Document I've got a lot of respect for writers, especially ones who can get your attention with one sentence. That's exactly what happened when I read the title of this tutorial, Create a Stunning 3D Liquid Explosion Artwork. You've got my attention.
But what really got my attention was what the tutorial taught you how to create:
"In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a Poser figure, create a shatter effect and render it in 3DStudio Max, then use Photoshop and some simple stock images to create a brilliant and visually stunning water explosion effect," writes Joe Moore. Right on Joe. That is visually stunning!
If you're interested in more Poser tutorials, check out the Poser website. They may not make you a better writer, but they'll definitely help you with your Poser abilities.
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life. Check out our software blog for news tidbits, observations, and tips for Smith Micro applications.
One of my favorites named the Apollo Spacecraft for Poser. How sweet would it be to have your own personal space shuttle in the garage? "Yeah, I've got a pretty busy weekend planned. Mow the lawn, grab a few beers with friends and take a quick trip for moon rocks. My kid keeps hassling me for more."
But the one that snagged the most votes was this: "Aston Martin DB4 Vantage. Why? It's the closest thing to getting Bond's car, it's an incredibly hot design that Digimation executed brilliantly. Love the license plate texturing, and the inclusion of a flat tire morph, as well as being able to remove all four wheels; adds a great deal of versatility to the model and lends itself to all kinds of "60's era damsel in distress" scenes. In fact, I've got a few in mind to create, already, just thinking about it. Now if only it had all the Bond gadgets.... ;)"
Congrats! And as a thank you to everyone else, you can take $5 off any Digimation vehicles. (Coupon code: 5digimationbucks) Have a super summer at Content Paradise!
Follow us on your favorite social site: Facebook | Twitter | DA | YouTube. Learn more about how to add Content Paradise and Smith Micro Software to your "social" life.
/31580_1.jpg)