Posts tagged Software
Bryan O’Neil Hughes on Adobe Photoshop CS5
Jun 16th
Bryan O’Neill Hughes posted a review of Adobe Photoshop CS5 new features on Scott Kelby’s, the president of NAPP the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, blog. Bryan O’Neill Hughes did not mean to speak about major feature set which has already been explained extremely thoroughly, but he dwelled on some of the tricks, polish and little known tweaks that went into making these features so magical. So, here is the “inside scoop from the perspective of a product manager”.
New in Revit Architecture 2011
Jun 15th
The following features are new or enhanced for Revit Architecture.
For additional detail and a more interactive listing of New Features for Revit Architecture, go to the following: http://www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecture-features.
- Modeless Properties Palette
- Repeat last command / Repeat Commands recently used
- Quick Access Toolbar (QAT):
- Single QAT per application
- Increased number of default commands in the QAT
- Customization options via dialog box: move command up/down, add separator, remove command
- Improved access to Worksets and Design Options on status bar
- Ribbon Enhancements:
- Redesigned Modify tab:
- Consistent modify tools – panels and buttons are always in the same order on the left side of the Modify tab. Buttons enable/ disable as necessary.
- Modify tab name updates to reflect the active contextual tab appended.
- Contextual tab content is appended to the right side of the Modify tab when active.
- Modify and contextual contents are separated by a gray visual bar.
- Persistent access to core modify tools (Object-Action commands):
- Move
- Copy
- Rotate
- Mirror – Pick Axis
- Mirror – Draw Axis
- Delete
- Type Selector EnhancementsType Selector is combined with the Properties Palette. Open at all times; can be opened/closed using the Properties Palette button available in the Properties ribbon panel.
- Group Edit Mode accessPanel is removed from the ribbon and will float in drawing area when invoked. Default is upper left corner of drawing area and can be moved.
- Model In-PlaceProject ribbon replaced with the family ribbon when an in-place model is started or edited. When you finish editing in-place, the ribbon will revert to the project ribbon.
- Redesigned Modify tab:
- Improved icons based on user feedback
Large Team Workflow: Linked Models- Enhancements to the Visibility Control of Worksets in workshared files:
- Visibility by Default for Worksets
- Ability to open/close Worksets for linked models
- Ability to control visibility of linked models according to host model
- Ability to apply View Filters to linked models from host model
- Ability to tag elements in linked files, with the exception of rooms, spaces, and areas
- Ability to automatically generate a ceiling grid from walls in a linked model
- Ability to apply View Filters to linked files
Graphics- Realistic materials available in editable views
- Hardware acceleration (DX9) on by default
- Levels of Details (adaptive to zoom)
- Ambient occlusion
- Display performance improvements (over 30%)
- Significant performance improvement in display of mechanical and electrical drawings (up to 200%)
Materials- Protein 2.0 appearances, in single project library
- Increased interoperability with 3ds Max through:
- Export of FBX files to Max with Protein 2 appearances
- Import of DWG files and ADSK files with Protein 2 appearances
Note3ds Max/Design 2011 is required for materials to transfer.
Inventor Interoperability- Support for oval duct, cable tray, and conduit connectors
- Support of new electrical properties (such as Motor)
- Improved performance when importing ADSK files
- Improved AEC Exchange functionality
- Support of Protein materials
Performance Improvements- Graphics
- MultiCore Operations
- Sync with Central
- Model Open
- User interface reaction time
- Linked Models
DWG Export- Increased visual fidelity when exporting Revit files to DWG
- Export option for True Color
- Export option for Text treatment
Family Editor Enhancements- Interactive exploration of parameter values in Revit families
- Ability to lock labeled dimensions
- Reporting Parameters
Parameter Enhancements- Default parameter type (length vs. text)
- Parameters groups automatically set
Temporary Dimension Enhancements- Remembering witness lines
- Family Editor: right-click permanent dimensions to select labels
- Ability to control temporary dimension font size and background (transparent or opaque)
3D Alignment Enhancements- Align tool now works on an element’s node, vertex, edge, surface, form, or level
Expanded Region of High Geometric Accuracy- Previous versions of Revit were unable to maintain the expected level of geometric accuracy at locations farther than 1 mile from the project origin. Revit will now maintain a high level of geometric accuracy for elements placed within 20 miles of the project origin.
Selection Enhancements- Select All Instances in the current view or in the entire project
Text Notes Enhancements- Additional leader attachment points: Top Left (TL), Middle Left (ML), Bottom Left (BL), Top Right (TR), Middle Right (MR), and Bottom Right (BR).
- Ability to adjust leader end distance
- Ability to show box around text
- Ability to create bullets and numbering
Sheet Enhancements- Create new sheet list rows to create placeholder sheets
- Convert placeholder sheets to project sheets
- Grid guide for sheets, enabling consistent sheet creation
Floor Enhancements- Ability to set span direction for metal deck floors
Analysis- Sun PathInteractive tool for visualizing the impact of natural light and shadows on buildings and sites
Conceptual Design Environment (CDE) / Conceptual Form Making and Editing Tool Enhancements- Solid-Solid Cut: Ability to cut one solid from another solid
- Dissolving Forms: Ability to dissolve a form back to the curves from which it was created.
- Generic mass template
- Flexible component mass
- Sketch Edit mode for Form Profiles
Surface Rationalization Enhancements- Dividing Surfaces with Intersects by:
- Intersecting levels, reference planes, and lines on reference planes
- Combination of U or V grids and intersects
Subscription Advantage Pack- Conditional Formatting in Schedule
- Element Section Area and Linear Weight in Schedules
- Span Direction Tool
- DWG Export enhancements (Index color and True Color support)
- Beam Coping for steel beams framed into joined beams and columns
- Text Formatting Shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, and Ctrl+U)
- Beam System Tags
- Split Walls with Gap
- Keyboard Shortcut UI
- Find and Replace Text in Notes
- Convert between Line Types: Model, Detail, Symbolic
- Export to DWG with correct RGB colors
- Linked File Performance Enhancements
- New API for slope angle and elevation for x,y location in given slab with choice of top and bottom
- Structural Components and Modeling:
- Slanted Columns
- Beam Placement using 3D CAD Geometry
- Curved Beams
- Structural Trusses
- Metal and Structural Deck Assembly
- Control beam length tolerance
- Beam Coping Tool
Revit Extensions- Shared Parameters Converter
- Model Review
- Autodesk Revit DB Link
- Road and Terrain modules
- Wall framing enhancements:
- New method to choose the location of the studs (wall layers are exposed)
- Multi-selection of walls and openings
User Assistance (Documentation)- Transition to Web Help, which includes improved search capabilities
- Streamlined Help reference content
- Short Tutorials in video format
- Additional Enhanced Tooltips
- New animated ToolClips
- Improved First Experience
Other Enhancements- Custom elevation tag
- List sheets not in a project on drawing list
- Background images in renderings
- Repeat last command
- Sheet layout grid
- Removal of 4 core rendering limit
- Google Maps™ mapping service interface (Location dialog) lets you visualize project locations
Lake Cabin Illustration
Jun 3rd
Here is a lake cabin illustration that I just completed. The model was created in 3DS MAX Design 2011 and rendered using the V-Ray render engine. If you have any technical question feel free to post them here.
Composition is one of the most misunderstood concepts in any form of artwork. It has been said that you can be the greatest painter in the world, but if you don’t know how to compose properly, your painting will fall apart and the same goes for digital art/illustrations/renders.
Like all illustrations of mine, this one started off in my head. First I decide what would make this image special and I decide on a focal point. These cabins are on a lake, very close to the water, and have windows and a deck facing the South. I like to play with contrast so I typically place my camera about 45 degrees from my light source (in plan), with the focal point being in the light. Since the cabins are on the lake facing South I know that you would see the sunrise so I took advantage of the glass on the sliding windows. I chose the sunrise in the reflection as my focal point.
To bring the viewers eye to my focal point (composition is really about moving the viewer’s eye) I placed the boat in the foreground, pointing towards my focal point. The boat was tipped slightly away from the camera so it wouldn’t bring so much attention to itself. I used yellow on the boat to help the viewer up into the image knowing the eye associates colors and the sunrise in the reflection is yellow too. The focal point is also 1/3 to the left of center and about 1/3 below center, which is were the eye is naturally drawn to in an image. I usually have my horizon lower, but I wanted at least as much blue water as blue sky (the water and sky are blue, which are complementary colors to my focal so it brings the illustration into balance).
Below are some screen grabs of my V-Ray settings:
VFB Frame Buffer
Global Switches
Antialising
Image Sampler
Environment
Color Mapping
Camera Type
GI
Brute Force
Light Cache
Caustics
DMC
Displacement
Systems
Elements
V-Ray Camera
HDRI
Gamma
I can comfortably say that I have never used the same settings for any 2 scenes so these settings might not work for you, but it might be a good starting point. I am running a render farm with 90Gb of RAM and 24 processors so unless you have an equivalent farm these settings might be to high for you.
Below find some Photoshop CS5 post screen grabs:
(coming soon…)
IES Releases Revit 2011 Compatible VE Plug-in For Environmental Performance Analysis
May 18th
BOSTON, May 13, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, today released an updated version of its VE plug-in to Autodesk Revit Architecture and MEP. The plug-in allows Revit 2011 users to easily export models into any of the IES Virtual Environment (VE) environmental building performance analysis tools; VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits, VE-Gaia and VE-Pro. Removing the need to re-build models, the IES plug-in greatly enhances design workflow and simulation accuracy, bringing comprehensive and integrated analysis options for all design stages to the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process.
This new IES VE plug-in now supports Revit 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. It offers enhanced model transfer capabilities and can handle challenging and complex geometry, as well as offering users the option to choose the level of geometry detail exported from the basic, to how shading surfaces are handled, to whether curtain wall mullions are counted as shading surfaces. The VE sets no explicit limits on the number of surfaces that it can import. This important capacity gives users ultimate control over geometry detail used for performance analysis and energy modelling within IES tools. Highly detailed curtain walling systems, multi-faceted shading surfaces and mullions, and additional complex shapes and junctions, can all be handled.
The IES VE tools offer a range of powerful performance assessment options suitable for all different design stages and user experience-level, while the integrated nature of the suite allows the interrelationships between energy use, CO2 emissions, solar, lighting, airflow and system design to be taken into account and analysed at a whole building level. Building mass and form, the climate, natural resource availability, occupancy, materials and services can all be taken into account to ‘virtually’ test the feasibility of different energy saving strategies and low carbon/ renewable technologies.
IES also offers a range of automated tools which assist with the LEED and GreenStar rating systems, and compliance with UK energy reduction and Performance Certificate regulations.
The latest version of the IES VE Revit Plug-in can be downloaded at http://www.iesve.com/Software/Model-Building/Revit-plug-in
Autodesk Developer Network Introduces Companion Products for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011
May 18th
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Apr 06, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Autodesk, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!adsk/quotes/nls/adsk (ADSK 30.11, -0.04, -0.13%) announces that several Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) members have released companion solutions for Revit Architecture 2011 and AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011. ADN developers reconfigure Autodesk software for niche industries, providing customized products that streamline design efficiency, innovation and sustainability.
“ADN partners, offering companion solutions to Revit Architecture 2011 and Civil 3D 2011, are allowing their architecture, engineering and construction customers to efficiently and collaboratively model and design complex projects,” said Richard, Harpham, Autodesk director, AEC industry marketing. “These solutions extend building information modeling practices that cut the costs and time for delivering work. Our developer partners, building on Autodesk technology, are reaching millions of new customers in niche markets and, in turn, tremendously increasing the growth of BIM adoption and by helping customers become more competitive in winning work.”
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an integrated process for exploring a project’s key physical and functional characteristics digitally before it’s built, helping to deliver projects faster and more economically, while minimizing environmental impact. Coordinated, consistent information is used throughout the process to design innovative projects; better visualize and simulate real-world appearance, performance and cost; and create more accurate documentation.
ADN members that have released products supported by Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 include:
– Adapt (www.adaptsoft.com/revitstructure/)
– Eagle Point (www.eaglepoint.com)
– GSA (www.gsa-network.com)
– hsbSOFT NV (www.hsbcad.de)
– Struc-Soft (www.strucsoft.ca)
– Trelligence (www.trelligence.com)
3ds Max 2011 How-To Movies
May 15th
Hidden away in the training section of the 3ds Max product page you will find a handy link to over 50 How-To movies. The focus of the movies cover all aspects of the software and from beginner to intermediate skill levels. This year Amer Yassine and the rest of our documentation team have been quite busy and added 23 new videos using 3ds Max 2011.
www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-howtos
3ds Max Subscription Benefits
May 15th
Often when I visit customers I find that they are only aware of a few benifits that are available to them as part of the Autodesk Subscription program. For most people Subscription is simply a way to get software upgrades and the exclusive Subscription Advantage Packs/Extensions, but did you know there are several other key benefits to the program? Plus, did you know we recently expanded the offering for 3ds Max customers? Below are common questions I recieve from 3ds Max Subscription Customers.
What benefits does Subscription offer?
- Web support *Coming Soon* – Get technical support directly from Autodesk and access technical solutions for Subscribers in the Autodesk Knowledge Base.
- License management tools – Clear visability to all the seats and serial numbers authorized to your company.
- Coverage/Renewal Reports – View your contract by Serial/Group Number or by Product. Track license information and check renewal dates, you can download the reports in a CSV file for export to a spreadsheet.
- Previous version rights – The ability to run previous versions (up to 3 versions back) of 3ds Max concurrently.
- Extra territory rights – Allows use of software licenses outside of the geographic territory under certain conditions. Contact your reseller for more information.
- Home Use Rights – The installation of the software program at a work location is referred to as the “primary license,” and the second installation of the same software license is referred to as the “home use license.”
- Access to e-learning content – Access to a library of self-paced e-Learning lessons, training videos, podcasts, and Autodesk University courseware.
- Access to downloadable DVDs – Learn from the masters new features, techniques, an/or workflows.
- Access to knowledge database – a unified search of more than 2 million content sources through a single search window.
- In Product Subscription Aware – Customers with an active subscription contract can directly access the Subscription Center from the 3ds Max Help Menu without going through the typical invitation and account management processes. (Contract administrators may turn this access off)
What benefits does Subscription with Gold Support offer?
*NEW* (Subscription with Gold Support is now offered in most locations, check with your local reseller to see if available in your region)
Subscription with Gold Support includes all the benefits of Subscription (see above list), plus the following:
- Telephone support – Direct phone support that can be accessed by calling the toll-free number provided to you upon processing your Subscription Gold order.
- Access to Ask Autodesk discussion forums
- Defect reporting and tracking
How can I access my Subscription benefits?
Simply sign in to the Subscription Center at www.autodesk.com/subscriptionlogin to begin accessing your Subscription services.
How do I obtain a Home Use License?
You must have a valid Autodesk Subscription contract to be eligible to receive a Home Use license. If the Primary License is a standalone license, you may use the media in your possession to install the Home Use License of the product. Once the Home Use License is installed you must obtain an authorization code from Autodesk. Standalone Home Use Licenses will have the same serial number as the Primary License on which they are based.
If the Primary License is a network license, you must complete a Home Use License Application and submit it to Autodesk. Autodesk will review the application and issue a serial number for a standalone Home Use License based on the corresponding network license.
Home Use License applications are available on the Subscription Center and from your reseller or Autodesk sales representative. Once the Home Use License is installed you must obtain an authorization code from Autodesk. In this case the Standalone Home Use Licenses will have a different serial number than the Primary License on which they are based.
Are 3ds Max customers on Subscription or Subscription with Gold Support entitled to use previous versions of 3ds Max?
Yes. 3ds Max 2011 customers with valid Subscription and Subscription with Gold Support are entitled to use up to three previous versions of 3ds Max (3ds Max 2010, 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max 2008), up to the total number of licenses of the product currently on Subscription. The Subscription contract manager or software coordinator can download the three previous versions from the Subscription Center.
As an Autodesk Subscription customer, how will I obtain my copy and my license of 3ds Max 2011?
Subscription customers are able to download their 3ds Max 2011 software entitlement directly from Subscription Center. Subscription contract managers and software coordinators should have recieved an email containing a link to a download page. Customers must sign in using their Subscription Center login credentials to access this page. From there they may download their 3ds Max 2011 product entitlement. The product license is accessible in the coverage report located in the Subscription Center.
In which countries is software download the default method for delivering software upgrades to Subscription customers?
Software download is the default method of delivering software upgrades to Autodesk Subscription customers in 37 countries listed below. Autodesk Subscription customers in these countries will not automatically receive a boxed shipment.
| Americas | Europe, Middle East,and Africa | Asia Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Austria | Australia |
| Bahamas | France | Hong Kong |
| Bolivia | Germany | Korea, Republic of |
| Brazil | Ireland | Macau |
| Canada | Italy | Malaysia |
| Chile | Liechtenstein | New Zealand |
| Colombia | Portugal | Singapore |
| Costa Rica | Spain | Taiwan |
| Dominican Republic | Switzerland | |
| Ecuador | United Kingdom | |
| Guatemala | ||
| Jamaica | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Paraguay | ||
| Peru | ||
| Puerto Rico | ||
| United States | ||
| Uruguay | ||
| Venezuela |
Can I change my product upgrade delivery preference?
Yes. If you are a Software Coordinator in a participating country and you prefer to receive a boxed shipment, you can change the delivery preference in your Subscription Center profile from “download” to “box.”
Likewise, if you are a Software Coordinator in one of the nonparticipating countries and you prefer to download your software upgrade, you can change the delivery preference in your Subscription Center profile from “box” to “download.”
You can change your delivery preference at any time; however, the changes you make will not be applied to upgrade orders that have already been fulfilled or upgrade orders that are scheduled to be processed within the next seven business days.
If you want to change your delivery preference, you should do so immediately to ensure all future software releases to which you are entitled will be delivered according to your preference.
Subscription customers who change their preference after their upgrade order has already been fulfilled, can request a box at any time by submitting a Boxed Shipment Request form in Subscription Center.
What if I want both a download and a boxed shipment?
If you are the Software Coordinator and you want both a download and a boxed shipment, you can change the delivery preference in your Subscription Center profile to “box.” This will ensure that a boxed shipment is automatically sent as soon as it is available. Or, you can keep your delivery preference set to “download” and request a one-time boxed shipment by submitting a Boxed Shipment Request form in Subscription Center.
Autodesk® Design Review software
Mar 31st
Accelerate architecture, engineering, or construction design workflows with Autodesk® Design Review software. The free*, integrated 3D model viewer provides team members who don’t use CAD software easy access to rich designs. It also reinforces the use of complete design data for building information modeling (BIM).
Accelerate Project Review Cycles
Significantly reduce time from building review and approval cycles and reduce printing and shipping costs by using Autodesk Design Review to mark up and review designs created with Revit® and AutoCAD® software products.
Effectively Show Designs in Client Presentations
Fully visualize drawings and walk through building models to create presentations that enable clients to experience a project before it is built.
Document Construction Change Orders
Use the markup and status-tracking tools in Autodesk Design Review to track the changes required throughout the construction process.
Publish, Share, and View
Conduct virtual walk-throughs of architectural models using the navigation wheel.
What’s new in Revt Architecture 2011?
Mar 25th
So what’s in RAC 2011 you may ask? RAC 2011 introduces some new concepts, an improved interface (needed too after the grief that Autodesk got about the Ribbon for 2010) as well as some genuine user feature requests. Whilst this blog just covers the main features it does not cover everything, but I do plan to cover specific functionality in future articles.
What’s New in 3ds Max 2011
Mar 10th
Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2011 3D modeling, animation, rendering software includes the following new and enhanced features:
- Slate, a new node-based material editor, enables you to more easily visualize and edit material component relationships.
- Quicksilver hardware renderer enables you to create high-fidelity pre-visualizations, animatics, and games-related marketing materials in less time.
- Graphite modeling and Viewport Canvas tools help accelerate modeling and texturing tasks.
- The new 3ds Max Composite feature offers high-performance, HDR-capable compositing tools and is based on technology from Autodesk® Toxik® software.
- 3ds Max 2010-compatible format enables you to save scene files to help manage the transition to 3ds Max 2011.
Watch Videos of these new features in Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2011
3D Painting features
Feb 17th
Sneak peek: New 3D Painting features and render surface improvements in 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design
Caddies” for soft selection
Feb 17th
Sneak peek: Introducing “caddies” for soft selection (and other modeling functions) in 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design
