3D Coat BETA Update - Version 3.5.08C

Builds re-uploaded (3.5.08C)

Changes since 3.5.08:

• I fixed problem with proxy scaling. Additional advantage is possibility to transfrom object in proxy mode that will be applied to the object
• Fixed problem with big sphere drawing/primitive in non CUDA mode (especially important for Mac)
• Full support of selecting invisible objects. You may select and operate over them, but can't change them
• 3DC will respect negative volumes in Merge tool, instancing mode (fixed again)
• possibility to upload turnables to YouTube (as always,95% is done by webmaster in this area)
• voxtree problem reported by Phil fixed
• instancung works with Axial and Wrap tools
• highlight problem fixed for OSX

Later builds comes as soon as possible and are stable enough.

Downloadlink to the 3D Coat forums: Wanna have it...

3D Coat BETA Update - Version 3.5.08A

Updated to 3.5.08A [beta]

Changes:

• NEW FEATURE: Support of instancing in voxel room (Look Instancer tool + new check box in Merge tool). It opens the possibility to use one volume multiple times in scene without additional memory consumption. For example you may do several bricks and create a building of them. The whole scene will stay very small and only the initial bricks will take memory. In this way you may manage really huge scenes if they can be decomposed into less count of basic elements. The scene will also be rendered faster in viewport because of much less video memory consumption. Instancing is extremely helpful for architecture, hardsurface modeling and sometimes for organic objects (scales, teeth), too.
• Arbitrary change resolution of voxel volume done. You may change mesh resolution to any given number of polygons.
• Big numbers display in all tools was rewritten into a better readable form - f.e. 31 765 321 (in compare with 31765321)
• Fixed bug - http://bit.ly/gdMy7t
• Smudge artifacts problem solved - http://bit.ly/hYAmn6
• Fixed issue http://bit.ly/el7NLV
• Fixed 3B-file merge related issue - http://bit.ly/eVUT57
• Possibility to upload turnables to YouTube
• Respecting negative volumes in Merge tool, instancing mode.

Downloadlink to the 3D Coat forums: Wanna have it...

New year greetings!

Hello together.

I hope some of you enjoyed the recent days, especially because of christmas. Last week I had no time to wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year. So I do it today:

I wish you all a happy new year! I hope you will keep healthy and reach all your goals. And hope all your wishes will be fulfilled, too!

And, the most important: Keep creative!
:)

We had a lot of snow! Here you see the
current view out of my office window.

Insider news: I have begun to update the german translation of 3D Coat v.3.5

Finally...
I have begun to update the german translation of 3D Coat version 3.5.
While my work on the translation I will save the current status always to my website www.lernfaktor.de.

The german 3D Coat users can download it directly here -> Aktuelle Fassung der deutschen 3D Coat Version...

As soon as the translation is completely finished, I let you know.

Insider news: AppLink for Maya completely rewritten (Now multiplatform compatible)

The 3D Coat AppLink for Maya was completely rewritten in python. This makes it compatible with all systems, where Maya with python support works, this are Win, OS and Linux. The AppLink was tested with Maya versions 2008-2011.

You can download the newest version for free here: Wanna have it...

3D Coat BETA Update - MAC build reuploaded to v3.5.07B

Mac build re-uploaded.
-> Now it is 3.5.07B

Tips & Tricks: New paint function "paint over mesh borders"

Following you see a video, where I explain two things:

1. The new brush painting function "paint over mesh borders" (Can be used up from 3D Coat version 3.5.07)
2. How to set your navigation to start to paint outside the mesh

3D Coat BETA Update - Version 3.5.07A

Don't miss this Beta-Update, it has really good changes!

Updated to 3.5.07 [beta]

Changes:

• I made possibility to paint through object, start stroke besides object or end stroke besides object - http://bit.ly/dQFJPQ (Comment by Chris: Great!)
• Also stroke will never dive into object, it will be drawn over it's top, it gathers advantages from both - projection and direct painting.
• 3D-Coat will store changed data to User's folder and will not change initially installed files, so will not require admin right.
• Found and fixed one brushing performance problem.
• Problem with "Interpolate" in voxels (carve especially) fixed.

Changes during 3.5.06 evolution:

• Specular contrast/brightness in Layer options will work more correctly. I also add "Copy channels" to layers RMB menu.
• I made support of multiple UV sets in retopo room.
• Only visible faces will be baked in retopo tool during baking operations.
• Fixed bug in normalmap-based shader baking.
• I made possibility to save separate voxel layers as 3B files (with subtree or no).
• Fixed problem of "dots" using File->Export->High poly mesh
• New option in brush settings - "Keep color along stroke" to be able to draw fur-like textures. 

Downloadlink to the 3D Coat forums: Wanna have it...

Insider news: voxel object instancing coming soon!

Recently Andrew announced a hot new function for the upcoming version:

Andrews original Twitter posts: "Support of instancing coming soon! It opens possibility to use one volume multiple times in scene without additional memory consumption.

Example: you may do several bricks and made building of them and scene will be still very light and only initial bricks will take memory. In so way you may manage really huge scenes if they can be decomposed into less count of basic elements.

Scene in viewport will also be rendered faster because of much less video memory consumption.

It is extremely helpful for architecture, hardsurface modeling, sometimes - for organic (scales, teeth)."

Instances will currently be used in voxel area only. You can do all the same, like normal voxels. As usual when using instances: if you adjust the main voxel object, all of its instances will be changed at the same time, too.

Featured artist: Michalis Zissiou

Hello,

this morning I will start a new category: "Featured artists".
With this category I will frequently introduce artists, who use 3D Coat for their creative work.

The first artist today came from greece, his name is Michalis Zissiou. Michalis is working with different tools to launch his ideas. He is a master of combining different applications and doesn't focus on one main program. The museums of Athens gives him a lot of creative material for his sculpting training. One of his newest creations you see following, called "Venus without a faun".

Michalis created the most parts of this sculpture in 3D Coat. He likes to work in 3D Coat, as long as his workstation limits let him do. As soon as he reaches the memory limits inside 3D Coat (voxel sculpting is insatiable...), normally he finish the rest in zBrush.

The base mesh for this artwork was done in blender. The head, the fish and the base of the statue are completely created in 3D Coat. Some details were done additionaly in zBrush, the rendering also. Michalis used zBrush's "BPR" (BestPreviewRenderer) to render the final result you see here.

"Venus without a faun" by Michalis Zissiou

"Corinthian order"

To get more information about Michalis work, visit one of his his threads in the 3D Coat forums:
Original "Venus withou the faun" thread: Click here to visit the Thread...
Michalis work in progress thread with different artworks: Click here to visit the Thread...

Best wishes
Chris

Tips & Tricks: Keep the origin scene center

Do you know the following situation?
You export a nice scene, that includes several objects, but as soon as you import the models into 3D Coat, the origin center is lost. 3D Coat takes all objects and use the bounding box center of the whole scene and not the origin one, that you use in your animation package. 

Your original scene.

Scene after a regular import,
the center has changed.

The solution:
As soon as the object import assistant window in 3D Coat appears, wait and don't click imediately OK. There is a small, but important checkbox called "no center snap". This function let 3D Coat take the orgin center of your scene.

Options before importing your scene.

Voila! The center is, where you need it!
 

Correct scene inside 3D Coat

Best wishes
Chris

Andrew made "paint through object" possible!

Just now I read the message, that Andrew has made it possible to paint over the mesh borders, directly in the viewport! In his words: through the object.

Here are his infos about that:
"I made possibility to paint through object, start stroke besides object or end stroke besides object. Also stroke will never dive into object, it will be drawn over it's top, it gathers advantages from both - projection and direct painting."

You will find the new function in one of the next beta updates.

The current beta versions can be downloaded by all users. Registred users will get a free update and nonregistred users can use the free demo or, if the demo expired, the free version.

Did you know it?

3D Coat can be used always, even if your demo have expired. Then you have some limitations, but can test 3D Coat nevertheless, as long as you like.

To the download page -> Wann have it...

Houdini AppLink beta started

The beta phase of the 3D Coat AppLink for Houdini have started!

All interested users can download the AppLink here -> I want it...
You will find a installation manual there, too.

Insider news: Andrew try to implement "painting over object borders" directly in the viewport

Here are the first insider infos, of course approved by Andrew Shpagin, the programmer of 3D Coat:

Andrew is currently trying to implement a new feature for the "paint room", I suggest to him, some time ago.

The idea:
Paint over the mesh borders, directly in the viewport. So you paint through the whole model.

At the moment you are only able to paint inside the objects surface, but as soon as you reach the border of a mesh, your brush stroke interrupts, short before the border.
In this relation, I had the additional wish to start to paint outside of a mesh, too. Means: Start to paint in the viewports space, outside of the mesh. This is really important in many cases, especially for flat elements like blades or planks. At the moment you already can do this, but only in 3D Coats projection mode, in an application like photoshop.

Let's see what will happen in the next time...

Best wishes
Chris

Did you know it? Free AppLinks for 3D Coat available

There are AppLinks for 3D Coat already available. You can download them for free. The most of them are in beta phase but they work already very well.

For all of you that are new to AppLinks: AppLinks are plugins, that allows direct communication and filesharing between two applications. An example for 3D Coat: Create a model in your 3D application and put it by one click to 3D Coat. In 3D Coat your model will be loaded automatically and you can texture it or do other things. After you are finished, bring the modified model back to your application, just by one click. Under the bottom line: An AppLink helps you to safe time.

Users of the following applications can find AppLinks for 3D Coat:

• Blender
• 3ds Max
• Maya
• Softimage
• Cinema 4D R11 & R12
• Fusion
• Messiah
• Cheetah 3D
• Mudbox

More applications are in preparation. :)

You can find all AppLinks for download here:  AppLinks 3D Coat forum thread

Best wishes
Chris

It's about time!

Hello guys,
yesterday I met my best friend Daniel Lieske. After a really comfortable dinner and a nice talk(actually as always...), we two were confident: "Christoph must open a 3D Coat blog."

So, here it is. Less content currently, but this status will change soon.
:-)

Best wishes
Chris