If you’ve ever tried to model realistic 3D objects before, then you probably know just how agonizingly hard the process can be. Just trying to get simple things like lights to fall correctly on objects can be enough to make your hair go gray. If that’s not enough punishment, trying to animate those objects with a good degree of realism can suck every last bit of fun from any 3D project you have. For those of us with little experience in 3D applications it can seem as if scaling Mt. Everest would be less daunting a task than modeling and animating realistic plants, animals, and objects in 3D. As a result, I’m sure many of us who have some experience modeling and animating have at one point asked the age old question: “Isn’t there an easier way?”
The good news is that there are options that can help us gain back whatever part of our lives (and minds) that we lost to modeling and animating in 3D. The simplest option is to stitch together a series of photographs to make a 3D model out of a real life texture. This is by far the preferred way to model since pictures allow for more ideal shooting conditions, higher resolutions, and larger dynamic range than most video cameras are capable of. This leads to a crisper and more scalable texture for the model that you end up with. Plus, using photographs means that lighting will be taken care of, freeing up a tremendous amount of time. Check out the kinds of software available after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Canon has announced multiple new digital cameras today that combine elements of video and photography together to create some very impressive cameras. The new Canon EOS 7D is the start of a new series of DSLR cameras, perfect for amateurs and professionals alike. We had the pleasure of looking at the model and we feel it is a very impressive addition to Canon’s already successful line of digital cameras. Already leading the forefront when it comes to blurring the lines between still photography and video. The camera’s features include an 18MPX CMOS APS-C size sensor, a 94-shot burst mode, Full HD at 30p/24p/25p and more. It will be available late September and will run $1,699 for the body alone, with the full kit 28-135 at $1,899.
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