SOFTIMAGE|3D is Softimage’s
legendary 3-D character animation product for the film, commercial/broadcast
and games development markets. SOFTIMAGE|3D v.4.0 features robust,
production-proven organic modeling, legendary character animation
tools and high-quality photorealistic rendering – providing
a perfect first step into the world of 3-D production. Version 4.0
offers a range of new features with an emphasis on game authoring,
including multiple UV texturing, vertex color authoring and polygon
hide/unhide tools. SOFTIMAGE|3D also offers an easy upgrade path
to the next-generation SOFTIMAGE|XSI nonlinear animation (NLA) system.
SOFTIMAGE|XSI continues to provide new tools and streamlined interfaces
that optimize creative and production workflows.
Highlights include:
SRT Manipulators.
Multiple modes and contextual options define a new level of control
for transformations.
The XSI Explorer combines the scene explorer with a contextual editor,
such as the Schematic View, the Render Tree or the Object View which
allows you to zero in on exactly what you want to work with in combination
with the most appropriate editing tool.
The Object View allows you to easily view and work with selected
objects in their own space, in isolation from the rest of the objects
in a scene, eliminating the need for complex layer, display or camera
setups. This allows you to focus on and edit subsets of very large,
complex scenes extremely fast, even if they're animated.
Pivots, quickly move the pivot point for objects and components
to speed up the modeling band animation process.
Interactive camera navigation tools allow artists, technical directors,
and project directors to experiment with and test different camera
moves interactively directly within XSI, using simple first person
"game-style" controls.
Parameter randomize, sampling and bracketing tools allow you to
experiment with different data values rapidly and completely non-destructively.
Multiple display modes provide instant access to critical low-level
data, such as SRT animation information, constraint relations, and
Object Model information, eliminating time spent searching for and
verifying settings.
Animation Cues provide visual feedback of driven SRT animation
and contextual access to the relevant editor.
A simplified wireframe display mode for subdivision surfaces makes
viewing and editing heavily subdivided objects easier.
The character creation
and rigging tools in XSI bring high-end character animation controls
to all XSI users. You don't need a specialized technical team to
automatically generate biped and now quadruped rigs. Using an intuitive
proportioning guide, rigs can be completed in minutes.
Highlights include:
A variety of setups for building simple or complex character rigs,
tailored to fit film or game requirements.
Arm and leg roll controls as well as deformation controls for difficult
joint areas.
Symmetry alignment options.
A quaternion-generated spine that can now be generated separately.
Game-style "shadow rigs" constrain null hierarchies, Box
hierarchies, or simple SOFTIMAGE|3D style skeletons to a master
rig, letting you animate using all the power of XSI but exporting
data appropriate for your game engine.
Motion deform tool ensures that there is no foot slippage when
animating characters around tight corners or over uneven terrains.
Character Designer provides a production-ready, biped character
mesh that can be easily edited to suit basic or complex setups.
The over a hundred options include controls for body type, hair,
skin, head, face, eyes, nose, mouth, arms, legs, and morph targets.
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