Check out the Softimage Nice ICE party video and photos here.

Related Links:

• Nice ICE Video and Photos

Enjoy!

Leo

Christopher Townsend – VFX Supervisor for Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D and  Mathieu Leclaire -- lead R&D programmer, Hybride (Montreal) will talk about the challenges and techniques of creating stunning visual effects and environments in Stereoscopic 3D for this summer's blockbuster film "Journey to the Center of the Earth--in 3D"

DATE:  Tuesday, August 12th
TIME:   4:30pm - 5:00pm
WHERE: SOFTIMAGE Booth #647 in the South Hall at LA Convention Center

* Read the full customer story at SOFTIMAGE.COM

Chris Townsend has a degree in Graphic Design and graduated in England in 1988.
Chris started his career in North America at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, working on the re-release of Star Wars: A New Hope and all three new episodes of the Star Wars trilogy.

For the past eleven years, Chris worked as an artist and supervisor on some of the most influential visual effects films including: Mission Impossible; The Lost World: Jurassic Park; AI: Artificial Intelligence; Hulk ;  Day After Tomorrow;  The Island; The Chronicles of Narnia;  The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and the Academy Award-winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Chris was the Visual Effects Supervisor on Journey to the Center of the Earth,—a Walden/New Line feature film that was theatrically released this Summer, and directed by Academy Award-winner Eric Brevig. It is the first ever full length stereoscopic motion picture shot in High Definition to be released in Digital 3D cinemas.  Employing cutting edge technology, often developing working methodologies and techniques during post production, with over 700 visual effects shots, it is one of the most complex movies that has ever been created. 

Chris is currently working on location for Fox’s “Wolverine” from the X-Men film series, staring Hugh Jackman.
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Mathieu Leclaire – Hybride (Montreal)
Mathieu has been working at Hybride for nearly 4 years. The projects he’s worked on include:
- The Adventure of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D
- Snakes on a Plane
- 300
- Journey to the Center of the Earth,    and of course, he’s currently working on 4 new productions that are still non-disclosed.
 
Mathieu is the lead R&D programmer at Hybride, creating tools for Hybride’s 3D department (99% of them are created for XSI). Mathieu’s specialization is creating simulation plug-ins and shaders.
 
Some of Mathieu’s key contributions include snake scales interaction for "Snakes on a Plane", hair and particle collisions for simulating snow interacting with the wolf's fur in "300", bird flocks on "Journey 3D", and has created an array of custom mental ray shaders.
 
Mathieu holds a Bachelor’s degree in computer science with a diploma in 3D animation and visual effects from Montreal’s NAD center (a certified SOFTIMAGE training facility). Before he graduated, Mathieu had already received a job at Hybride,
 

Related Links:

• Journey to the Center of the Earth - Customer Story
• Hybride
• Softimage
• NAD Centre- Montreal

The latest version of Softimage’s flagship software is now available—featuring ICE (Interactive Creative Environment)

MONTRÉAL, Québec, August 7, 2008 — Softimage Co., a part of Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID), today announced it has begun shipping SOFTIMAGE^®|XSI^® 7, the latest version of its professional 3D animation software for games, film and television. Along with many substantial new features, SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 is shipping with ICE, a transformative open platform designed to capture the infinitely creative vision of content producers. With a visual interface and an easy-to-use node-based programming model, users will be able to quickly create complex visual effects. ICE allows artists to explore, learn and modify the robust library of particle-based visual effects and deformation tools available in SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 software, or simply build new ones from scratch.

“The new features in XSI 7, along with the new ICE platform, represent a major leap for Softimage,” said Aloys Baillet, Research and Development Lead, Animal Logic, Australia. “The new ICE platform allows our artists and TDs to maximize their creative endeavors on our latest projects with new ways to create complex deformations and character effects in this impressive node-based workflow—and because it’s multi-threaded, we’re seeing significant performance gains on our multi-core workstations.”

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 Features

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 software offers features developed for and inspired by its customers. Along with the new multi-threaded ICE platform, SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 is shipping with pre-built, production-ready ICE ‘compounds’ for complex particle-based effects and deformations allowing artists and TDs to jump right into production. Additional features include: rendering support for mental ray v. 3.6; Delta II, an updated, lightweight referencing system; a new Real-Time Shading architecture; and a streamlined licensing process; User Interface & workflow improvements across several toolsets; and many other enhancements based on clients’ requests. Digital Tutors also provides a FREE DVD with official Softimage training material, exclusively created for SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7.

For a full list of features in SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 software, and to see demonstration videos, visit: www.softimage.com. View the SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 Web launch video at: http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4595.

”SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 with the new ICE platform represents another significant milestone in our 22-year history,” said Marc Stevens, general manager of Softimage and vice president of Avid Technology, Inc. “The incredibly positive reception from artists and TDs globally validates our objectives—provide a platform to easily create, modify and deploy complex tools and effects more efficiently than ever before.”

Availability:

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 is available now for purchase from a local Softimage reseller or sales representative, or on the Softimage Web store at: http://www.softimage.com/buy/.

Pricing for SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 Essentials will be USMSRP $2,995.

Pricing for SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 Advanced will be USMSRP $4,995.

Softimage also offers a compelling maintenance program that provides extended customer support and upgrade advantages. All Softimage customers and 3D enthusiasts can join the SOFTIMAGE|NET community site, where a dedicated forum is in place to post and share member-created ICE compounds.

About Softimage

Softimage is a part of Avid Technology, Inc., and develops leading-edge 3D technology used in customer-centric solutions that enable professionals in the games, film and television industry to realize their creative vision. Award-winning feature films, television productions and top-selling video games are made using Softimage software. Its flagship product, SOFTIMAGE|XSI, is an extensible 3D animation software solution built on the most modern architecture in the industry and is used by leading media and entertainment companies such as Digital Domain, Ubisoft, SEGA Corporation, CAPCOM, Animal Logic, and The Mill. Other solutions from Softimage include: SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOT^®, lifelike facial animation software; SOFTIMAGE|CAT™, a complete character animation plug-in; and SOFTIMAGE Alienbrain®, a digital asset management solution for artists;  For more information about Softimage, visit www.softimage.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio, 3D animation, gaming and broadcast professionals – as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands include Avid^®, Digidesign^®, M-Audio^®, Pinnacle Systems^®, Sibelius^®, Softimage and Sundance Digital^®. The vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid’s products and services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. Avid received an Oscar^® statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid^® Film Composer^® system for motion picture editing. For more information about the company’s Oscar, Grammy^® and Emmy^® award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com.

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© 2008 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. Promotions and discounts are subject to availability and change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, Digidesign, Film Composer, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius, Sundance Digital, Softimage, Face Robot, CAT, Alienbrain and XSI are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. mental ray is a registered trademark of mental images GmbH in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Related Links:

• Softimage XSI 7 & ICE
• Softimage new ICE video

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 7 with the new ICE platform will be the focus of attention for us this year. Check our SIGGRAPH Page for all the latest events, customer guest speakers and activites SOFTIMAGE will host this year!

OH, and... the Softimage NICE ICE User Event on Tuesday night (August 12th) is almost full - better register right away! http://softimage.com/events/sig08/userEvent/

Kevin G. Clark - PR Manager at SOFTIMAGE

Related Links:

• CGS Diary page
• Softimage NICE ICE User Event