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 ZBrush: A Key Component of Weta Digital's Modeling Pipeline Posted by: amigo
Source: Press Release
Date: Tue Mar 02 2004
Los Angeles, CA - March 1, 2004 - Pixologic Inc. today announced that its award-winning ZBrush software contributed significantly to Weta Digital's modeling pipeline in the creation of the Academy Award�-winning "Lord of the Rings(tm): The Return Of The King(tm)".
Providing flexibility, speed and innovations in high-resolution sculpting, ZBrush helped Weta's modeling team save money and time by building digital maquette's in place of scanned physical sculptures.
Matt Aitken, Digital Models Supervisor at WETA explains:
"Pixologic's ZBrush was trialed by Weta Digital's modeling department early in our post-production work on "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and it quickly became one of the key software components of our modeling pipeline."
"The revolutionary nature of ZBrush leads to Weta Digital creating a new approach to modeling hero creatures, digital doubles and props for film 3 in the trilogy. Throughout our work on "Lord of the Rings" we have been extracting displacement maps from high-resolution geometry. For films 1 and 2 we were obliged to use 3D scans of physical maquette to obtain this high resolution geometry, a time consuming and expensive process, because software didn't exist that could sculpt geometric detail to the level required."
"Now with ZBrush that software is available and in many cases we are replacing the maquette scan with a "digital maquette" that is sculpted on the computer. With support for interactively updating models of up to 4 million faces, we are now able to add details such as muscle and fat definition, skin and cloth wrinkles, and surfaces such as rock, cast iron, and weathered timber."
"Without the delay and cost of sculpting and scanning a physical maquette we have more time to refine the look of our models, and the software has the necessary flexibility to work in a production environment with changes to art direction and the level of detail required."
WETA DIGITAL has been instrumental in testing ZBrush's upcoming version. Using a combination of ZBrush's currently-available modeling and texturing tools, as well as new features and enhancements, Weta Digital has developed high-quality models for animating in NEW LINE� Cinema's Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. This collaboration will help all users, as these features will become part of Pixologic's soon to be released version.
"We wish to congratulate Weta Digital, and we are thrilled that ZBrush could contribute to their outstanding success. Our product has benefited greatly from the feedback we received from them during the testing process. New features have been introduced and refined which make ZBrush an extremely powerful tool for high-end detail 3D modelers. We look forward to continuing collaborations with them." adds Ofer Alon - Pixologic CTO.
Pricing and Availability
ZBrush retails for $399.00 and can be purchased online from the e-store at Http://ZBrush.com. A CD version is available from authorized resellers. The new version will be a free upgrade to current registered ZBrush users.
About ZBrush
ZBrush enables digital artists to create high-quality, original artwork in a highly creative and interactive environment. ZBrush is host to an extensive set of real-time 3D sculpting, 2D/3D projection painting, 3D texturing and deformation tools - seamlessly integrated in one intuitive environment. With instant feedback encompassing a unique synthesis of 2D and 3D capabilities in a single stand-alone tool, ZBrush offers tremendous flexibility and appeals to a wide audience.
About Pixologic Inc.
Founded in 1997, Pixologic Incorporated (Http://ZBrush.com) develops and markets innovative software tools for digital artists. The privately funded company is based in Los Angeles, California, with Research and Development located in Silicon Valley.
About Weta Digital
Weta Digital was formed in 1993 by a group of young New Zealand filmmakers including Peter Jackson, Jamie Selkirk, Jim Booth, George Port, Tania Rodger and Richard Taylor. The single original computer, located in the backroom of an old Wellington house, was leased to accomplish the visual effects shots for Peter Jackson's film, Heavenly Creatures.
Since these humble beginnings, the company has quickly increased in size and skill to now provide some of the highest quality visual effects in the film and television industry. Weta's digital artists use the latest hardware and software, as well as a suite of proprietary tools. Working closely with the other division of Weta Ltd, Weta Workshop, they offer multidisciplinary expertise in conceptualization, creation and technical know-how as well as compositing, blue screen and background plates, miniature stop motion footage, motion capture sequencing, 35mm film scanning, recording and screenings, full design, maquette and 3D scanning services.
About New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema� is the entertainment industry's leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. The company operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units.
Related Links: Pixologic website
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