Archive for the ‘3D Invigorator Classic’ Category

3D Invigorator PRO / Classic, ProAnimator and ProModeler 6.1.0 Available!

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Version 6.1.0 is now available! This is a major update with tons of new fixes and even features an enhanced OpenGL Renderer. Below are the details on the changes for version 6.1.0:

- GPU-based Open GL rendering. Enables final quality textures, bump maps, reflections and shadows right in the 3D preview window.

- Changes have been made to handle text editing under more situations allowing text to be freely edited while retaining it’s original position.

- The user interface on Windows has been upgraded for a more modern look.

- A blur function was added to the noise shaders making for better bump maps and a wider range of uses.

- Bump maps have been made more dramatic… and useful.

- The Specular channel is now full color … good for metallic materials.

- Material channels now show a “no” sign if they don’t affect the material. This makes it very easy to see which channels are contributing to the look of the material.

- Imported 3D objects now have normals imported too.

- There is a new Preference to disable jumping to the start of a Pose or Transition when a control is changed. This enables you to leave the Time Marker at a point in time while you change the controls at a different time (ProAnimator Only).

- Undo now works faster, especially when working with Fragmentations (ProAnimator Only).

- ProAnimator no longer pops to the front each time a frame is rendered. This way you can put ProAnimator in the background and work on other things while it’s still rendering.

- Object Animation presets can now be organized into folders (ProAnimator Only).

- The timeline will automatically scroll if you drag a Pose past the end of the timeline (ProAnimator Only).

- The drawing window now automatically scrolls if you drag objects to the edge of the drawing area.

- Fixes an issue where using the Color Picker when working on a Mac OSX Lion may cause the program to crash.

- Fixes an issue on Lion where clicking the “little red ball” button may cause a crash (3D Invigorator Only).

Visit our download page to get the version 6.1.0 update.

3D Invigorator PRO Version 6.0 Available!

Monday, July 9th, 2012

You won’t believe this upgrade. 3D Invigorator PRO Version 6 has features that let you create animations like you’ve never seen before!

Our new Ray Trace renderer produces ultra-cool pictures, with reflections of objects in other objects, smooth realistic shadows, and glass refractions. Mmmmm. Sweet, sweet pictures.

New workflow features include the ability to trace pictures then map the picture back onto the object with one click; the ability to turn whole folders of images into 3D objects; and the ability to collect all project related files if you have to move the project from one computer to another. If you’re not a 3D-techie this means it’s now easier than ever to turn client artwork into flying 3D objects.

With 3D Invigorator PRO Version 6, animate up to 16 Sets. In a nutshell, with version 6, you not only create cooler looking objects, but you get to animate more at the same time.

Click on this link to download a demo or read more in-depth information about the features of 3D Invigorator PRO Version 6.

Take a look. Download the demo. Start getting Invigorated today.

3D Invigorator Version 6 is compatible with After Effects:
Windows CS5 – CS6
Macintosh CS5 – CS6

If you are working with After Effects 6.5 – CS4, please contact us for an older version of the software.

Note: Once you install version 6, this will replace the version 5 After Effects Plug-in. If you need the version 5.1.0 plug-in again, please use the links below:

3D Invigorator Pro Mac Version Download Link

http://zaxwerks.com/downloads/Invig_AE_5.1.0p_mac.zip

3D Invigorator Pro Windows Version Download Link

http://zaxwerks.com/downloads/Invig_AE_5.1.0p_win.zip

3D Invigorator, ProAnimator & ProModeler Version 5.1.0 Available!

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Version 5.1.0 is now available for download! Be sure to update to this version for all the latest bug fixes. This version includes many new optimizations and stability fixes.

- Optimization for rendering frames with Motion Blur and Fields.

- Fixes compatibility with the Zapf Dingbat font so the preview shows up properly.

- Fixes the Orthographic camera so you can now orbit using the camera.

- Fixes a crash where if you move Text and use the Undo command, this may cause the program to crash.

- Fixes an issue where deleting shapes in the Profile Editor may cause a crash.

- Fixes an issue where using the Undo command after applying Object Styles may cause the program to crash.

- Fixes a crash if you try to duplicate more than one Set (Invigorator Only).

- Fixes the Comp Camera so that moving the Comp Camera also blurs the objects if Motion Blur is enabled (ProAnimator Only).

- Fixes an issue where parenting an object to a Camera Track will cause the program to crash (ProAnimator Only).

Visit our download page to get the version 5.1.0 update.

Mac CS5 Versions of ProAnimator and 3D Invigorator are now shipping!

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

It’s time to get very happy.

Zaxwerks is proud to announce that both ProAnimator and 3D Invigorator v5, for After Effects CS5, have just been released. If you are a Mac user this is news to write home about! If you are a Windows user the software has been updated and a new 5.0.5 version is ready to go.

New features and fixes include:

- Enhanced 3D Text engine. This fixes any issues with incompatible fonts.

- Improved multi-threaded rendering engine.

- Compatibility opening up older projects.

- Fixes issues with importing 3D Models.

- Fixes an issue with typing values into fields (Windows Only)

- Fixed an issue with editing text from older projects.

To find out more about ProAnimator and 3D Invigorator Version 5, please check the links below:

ProAnimator Blog Post:
http://zaxwerks.com/blog/2011/02/23/proanimator-5-available/

ProAnimator Product Page:
http://zaxwerks.com/proanimator/index.shtml

3D Invigorator Blog Post:
http://zaxwerks.com/blog/2010/12/03/3d-invigorator-version-5-0-available/

3D Invigorator Product Page:
http://zaxwerks.com/invigorator_pro/index.shtml

3D Invigorator Version 5.0 Available!

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Zaxwerks is proud to announce that 3D Invigorator version 5 for After Effects has just been released!

This is a MAJOR release. 3D Invigorator has been completely reinvented. You can now do things in After Effects that were never possible before. We have added hundreds of new features designed to make your work faster, easier and more productive; to save you time and help you make more money.

Highlights include:

Integrated Drawing Window

All 3D objects have to be modeled. 3D modeling is traditionally very difficult but Zaxwerks has made this easy as pie. As you draw, the 3D model is created for you, on the fly. Right before your eyes. As you edit the 2D paths the 3D objects are re-built in real time. Need to add holes? No problem. If you draw one path inside of another path the program knows what to do. Hate Bezier curves? Again no problem. Our exclusive Auto-Curve tool figures out the curves for you.

Watch the movie to find out more.

Live Text Editing

Most of your text and logo animations begin life as fonts. But what if you have to make changes to the shapes of the letters? Ordinarily this means converting the text to outlines, which prevents you from going back and making changes to the fonts. A perplexing quandary.

So we solved that puzzle by giving you the best of both worlds. In Invigorator 5 you can edit the Bezier curves of text characters without having to convert them to paths. This allows you to make texty-type changes (switch justification, change margins, etc) and any edits you’ve made to the curves will be preserved.

Watch the movie to find out more.

Warping

Flat text and logos have their place, but nothing makes a client’s logo pop off the screen quite like bending it. 3D Invigorator PRO 5 can now do exactly that. Warping has been built directly into the After Effects time line so you can bend, twist, fold, bulge, taper, wave and ripple your 3D objects as you work on the rest of your comp.

Watch the movie to find out more.

Workflow-Based Interface

A program with lots of features usually pays the price of complexity. Complicated programs take a long time to learn and most features are hidden under layers of user interface, so Zaxwerks has gone out of its way to bring the features to the user. A simple set of workspace buttons presents the tools and controls you need, when you need them. Panels can be arranged to fit your personal monitor size and your working style. Additionally, hundreds of enhanced Tool Tips explain what every button and control does and how to use it, saving you valuable time and making you an expert, tip by tip.

Materials & Mapping

What good is a really cool model if it isn’t covered with a really cool texture? 3D Invigorator v5 has added a powerful texture creation system which has over 30 different procedural noises and the best gradient designer on the market to let you create surface treatments so luscious they’ll make your mouth water.

Of course if you don’t want or need all this power you can leave it hidden and never have to get your fingers dirty. The power is always a click away but Zaxwerks doesn’t force you to deal with it if you don’t want to. Remember, good workflow reduces the complexity.

Text Substitution

So you have 100 graphics to do and you’re on a budget? Time to let 3D Invigorator PRO help you out. Version 5 adds Text Substitution an amazing new feature where you can set up an animation once, then by linking the animation to a spreadsheet of data, get it to render all the variations automatically. No more hand-editing every graphic. Just a way to become extraordinarily productive overnight.

Designed For You

3D Invigorator v5 has so many new features we don’t have space to talk about them all. Lathe modeling; 16/32 bit rendering; Animatable Pivot Points, User-Drawn Bevels and support for Open Type fonts are just a few of the huge set of new features. But at the heart of it all is a workflow design that is like no other. 

This program was designed by designers. Folks who want to get the job done as quickly and professionally as possible, and want tools that can help them advance to the next levels of their craft. This program is a masterpiece of workflow. It works quickly, efficiently, with a low learning curve and an amazing ability to let you re-use previous work and to respond to client changes without losing precious time.

Take a look. Download the demo. Start getting Invigorated today.

3D Invigorator is compatible with After Effects:
Windows CS3 – CS6
Macintosh CS3 – CS6

When working with After Effects CS6, be sure to turn off the Disk Caching feature to avoid an issue with the plug-in not updating properly.

Video Tutorial: Prepping Illustrator Files for 3D

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Having trouble turning your Illustrator logos into 3D models? Watch this comprehensive tutorial and learn how to turn your vector logos into professional, billable 3D works of art.

Topics discussed:

• Determining which Illustrator vector paths you need to keep in order to create a well made 3D object.

• Organizing paths into layers, and how to move vector paths between layers.

• Why you would leave some paths grouped and some paths ungrouped.

• Cleaning up Clipping Masks, and cropping the shapes correctly with the Pathfinder tools.

• Saving the Illustrator file and importing it into ProAnimator.

• Creating and assigning Materials, and applying multiple materials to a single object in ProAnimator.


Click on the image above, or the link below to watch the video tutorial.

Click to watch the Illustrator Tutorial

ProAnimator Pivot Point Tutorial

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Ever wondered what’s the best way to set up pivot-points in ProAnimator or 3D Invigorator? Serge Hamad’s new video tutorial will guide you through how to set up a precise point for all your animation needs.

Learn the following:

• Creating a sphere and placing it where the pivot-point should be.

• Moving the pivot-point object to the same track as the objects that need to be animated.

• Scaling the pivot-point object so that it forces ProAnimator to generate a new pivot-point.

• Grouping the objects together.

• Making the pivot-point object invisible.

• Animating your objects.


Click on the image above, or the link below to learn how to set up a precise pivot point!

Click to watch the Pivot Point Tutorial

“News Intro” Fundamentals

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

news












I often get asked how one goes about creating that “glass rings floating around with lots of blues and golds” network news look. THIS tutorial presents the fundamentals that one might use to get that ‘look’ using Zaxwerks “Invigorator” and “ProAnimator” plugins. Consider this a starting point, then add your own salt ‘n pepper!

-Alan

Gettin’ Sporty with Invigomany

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007

Invigomany

If you do sports graphics Invigomany is worth its weight in gold. Serge Hamad, Zaxwerks power user and forum co-leader, has created a companion CD full of project files and texture maps. These project files enable you to create custom graphics of various sports equiptment. The maps are customizable right down to the stitching on the baseballs and the lacing on the footballs. You can even apply your own logos.

For more information see Serge’s site.

CS3 Versions Now Available

Thursday, May 17th, 2007

If anyone has a current version of a Zaxwerks plug-in that they would like to get running on the Mac under CS3, here are the links. These plug-ins will run in AE 6.5, 7 and CS3. Most of these links are MAC ONLY because only the Mac versions were changed for CS3. The currently shipping Windows versions work fine in CS3 on Windows. The only exception is Layer Tools which had to be changed from a floating window, into a panel for CS3. So there is a Windows and a Mac version of Layer Tools.

POST SCRIPT FROM ZAX:
The CS3 versions have been officially released. Any software available from the Download Link will work in AE 6.5, 7 and CS3.

Here’s a quick link to get to the download page and check version numbers.

Using Invigorator and Layer Warp to create 3d pie charts

Monday, May 7th, 2007

pie_image
























Every middle manager worth his/her mettle needs a nifty, extruded, animating pie chart every now and again. Check out the Quicktime tutorial and AE Project File here and see how Zaxwerks can help make your data look great.