Between the Lines

Bones of Turkana Documentary

For my US readers; please tune in for Bones of Turkana on PBS Wednesday May 16th, 2012. This is a new documentary about the Leakey's human origins research in Kenya's Turkana Basin http://t.co/si59ckRu.

The Turkana Basin of Kenya is where many of the hominin fossils (our human ancestors) were found along with a great deal of other fossils and tools. Autodesk has been working with Louise Leakey, Turkana Basin Institute, and the National Museums of Kenya to document many in the collection in 3D using Autodesk 123D Catch for display online at http://www.africanfossils.org. 

Introduction Video narrated by Louise Leakey:
Welcome to AfricanFossils.org

More on how this video was created using 123D Catch and 3ds Max:
3D Fossil Exploration in a Virtual Laboratory

If in the US be sure to watch the Bones of Turkana Documentary! http://t.co/si59ckRu

-Shaan

Saved From Being Eaten By Wild Animals

Jambo!
(That’s “Hello” in Swahili)

I have posted to this blog regularly for over 8 years and even found remote connections to post to the blog even while in the deepest of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Over the next couple of weeks I will be in a extremely remote region without any real connections other than voice satellite phone. To save me from having to stand in the middle of an open area to try to post a message at a very slow speed oer a satellite phone and looking like a fat juicy meal to a large carnivore, a few bloggers have graciously provided guest posts.The guest posts will go live over the time I am traveling.

A huge thank you to:

Brian Benton http://CAD-a-Blog.com
Robin Capper http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/
RK McSwain http://cadpanacea.com/
Paul Munford http://cadsetterout.com/

I am traveling with a friend and decided that I don't really need to be fast enough to outrun a hyena, lion, or leopard, just be able outrun my friend.

There will be a great deal of stories and photos once I return.

Hakuna Matata!

(Hungry Lioness photo credit Flickr user digitalwallpapers)

Autodesk 123D Make Available – Make 3D Models Real

In the first release of Autodesk 123D Make it was available for only the Mac and took imported 3D models and sliced them into patterns so that you could create a real 3D object. Now there is not only a new version of 123D Make for the Mac but also for Windows as well as a web hosted version.

Now you can take a 3D model from the community gallery or one you captured or created and create the pattern to create a cardboard 3D sculpture. You can select several methods and materials as well as get a nice animated assembly sequence. The generated pattern or plan can be exported and printed as an EPS or PDF with each piece mark on the plans for easy assembly. The numbers come in handy when you have a huge sculpture.

Here is a 3D shark model sliced up into a cardboard pattern. This a Maker version of sushi!

 
Autodesk 123D Make Assembly Animation

Here is the web hosted version that runs on the Google Chrome browser or with the Chrome frame extension in IE.
http://apps.123dapp.com/make/

 

 

I know of a person who used the generated pattern to print on school children's cardboard lunchboxes in Africa. After the children ate their lunch they were able to cut out and glue the pattern to create a skull of a 3 million year old human ancestor and learn a great deal about science as well as a cool 3D model to take with them.

The 123D products are free so go Design, Capture, Make, and Share!

Cheers,
Shaan

New 123D Catch for Windows, Web Hosted, and Apple iPad Available and FREE

Capture the world in 3D using your Camera using 123D Catch on your desktop, web or iPad!

Autodesk 123D Catch is a technology where you take photos with your digital camera and then using cloud computing it constructs a textured 3D mesh model. There are three new flavors of this delicious 3D treat - one for the Windows desktop, one for the Apple iPad, and one web hosted version you run in a browser.

The desktop version of Autodesk 123D Catch contains some changes from the previous version such as a new My Corner where your projects are stored and the Gallery feature where you can share and explore other peoples creations.

There is now a mobile version for the iPad version named 123D Catch Mobile and available free in the Apple App store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/123d-catch/id513913018?mt=8). Autodesk 123D Catch Mobile currently supports the iPad 2 & 3 as they both have a camera. You launch 123D Catch Mobile and then simply tap the screen to take a picture in series around the object you wish to capture. It takes only about 20-30 photos for most objects and then uploads those to the server to process.
Update: This mobile app is currently restricted to the North American Apple App store. We have launched first in North America and plan to roll out to the rest of the world as we learn how people are using the apps and the cloud service so we can be sure everyone has the best possible experience and we can scale up to meet the demand.

Here is a photo of me on 123D Catch Mobile on my iPad 3 capturing some 3D textured models of ancient rock art sites in Southern Utah. I climbed up the rock wall like a mountain goat holding an iPad and stood precariously on the ledge to capture the petroglyphs.

Capturing a 3D model of a special decorated VW bug.

One of my favorite features of 123D Catch Mobile besides it being on my mobile device is that once your 3D models are created you can use the built in iPad gyro combined with your fingers pinching to orbit and view the object.

For more complex and higher resolution model captures I would suggest using a standard digital camera and the desktop version of 123D Catch but having a mobile version of 123D Catch is very convenient and fun.

There is now a web hosted version of 123D Catch so that almost anyone that can get on the web can use 123D Catch. This is really useful for those on a Mac as there is no current Mac native version of 123D Catch. The web hosted version of 123D Catch requires that you use the Google Chrome browser or the Chrome frame extension for IE. http://apps.123dapp.com/catch 

You can also take the 3D models you create and use them in animations in 3ds max or Maya or other 3D software, make a 3D print on a MakerBot or even send them to Autodesk 123D Make (also free) and create a pattern to build a real object from cardboard, acrylic or plywood. Yes imagine your own head as a 6 foot tall cardboard sculpture.
 

See my post today on 123D Make  http://bit.ly/KLSCxU 

Spread the word and capture the world around you!

Happy Capturing!
Shaan

The Avengers Movie Visual Fx

I must be one of the few that did not run out to the movie theaters last weekend to see the new Avengers movie. The movie blew away box office records and at least 3 of my family has seen it but I was unfortunately buried under a long list of things to do before some upcoming overseas travel. After all the buzz about the movie from those that have seen it, I need to make it a priority to see the movie this week.

Behind the scenes it was a who's who of visual effects companies, many are also using Autodesk software to use the power of visual effects to compliment the storytelling and dazzle moviegoers retinas and cause a flood of squealing endorphins in the brain.

Check out this detailed article on the visual effects process for the Avengers movie.

VFX roll call for The Avengers by fxguide
http://autode.sk/JkmiFk 

AutoCAD 2012 for Mac Service Pack 2

In an effort to continue to improve the quality of our products we are releasing a free update that resolves compatibility issues that have been reported while using the software on the latest versions of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6.8) and Mac OS X Lion. It also resolves problems reported by the Customer Error Reporting (CER) utility and other general problems.

http://autode.sk/ILTBAi

• AutoCAD2012ForMacSP2.dmg (dmg - 98505Kb)
• Readme English (pdf - 140Kb)

Do You Want Early Access to Autodesk Products?

If you want early access and input on Autodesk products and technologies there are a couple of great and free methods.

If you want to get early access and participate in the feedback process of a beta program for existing products such as AutoCAD, Revit, Autodesk Inventor, 3ds Max, Maya etc. then you should definitely get involved in the Autodesk Customer Feedback Programs https://beta.autodesk.com/.

If you want to test and provide feedback on early technology previews like the new Autodesk Inventor Fusion for Mac and PC or Project Vasari then Autodesk Labs is the place.

Both of these programs rely on your feedback and active participation so go ahead get involved and help shape the future of Autodesk products and technologies to be the best tools for you.

Cheers,
Shaan

Create 3D Models in Autodesk 123D Catch

When using the free Autodesk 123D Catch to convert photos taken with your digital camera to a 3D textured mesh there are some tips to getting the best resulting model.

Here is a great video explaining how to best capture a scene or objects in 3D.

Autodesk University 2012 - Submit Class Proposals

Autodesk University 2012 is now only 214 days away but if you want to be considered as a Autodesk University 2012 presenter/speaker you better get busy as there are only 25 days remaining until the deadline to have submitted your class proposals.

Being a speaker/presenter at Autodesk University is an amazing experience and opportunity to show and share your knowledge and get recognition from your peers at the largest Autodesk event in the world. Being a speaker at Autodesk University is also an excellent way to get to AU when budgets are tight as you can receive speaker honoraria that can reduce or even pay for your Autodesk University attendance and travel depending on how many classes you get selected.

The Class Proposals are really quite simple and easy compared to your class materials required later in the year if selected.

Submit Proposals Started April 24, 2012

• Submission Deadline: May 22, 2012
• Classes Selected & Speaker Notified: June 27, 2012

Resources for AU Class Submissions:

• Visit the Call for Proposals website
• Review the AU 2012 Proposal Checklist.
• 10 tips that can help you write a winning AU 2012 class proposal.

Happy Birthday Autodesk

Today is technically our birthday but we're celebrating throughout the year. It was on April 26th 1982 when a group of innovative and hardworking entrepreneurs formally incorporated as Autodesk, Inc. Yes Autodesk was a startup company 30 years ago and has grown considerably from a handful of employees meeting in a founders living room to over 7500 employees today spread around the world and over 100 products and millions of customers.

Here's to the next 30 years!

Google Drive Features Autodesk’s AutoCAD WS & Pixlr as Native Apps

It was only recently that the impending and anxiously awaited product Sketchbook Ink was shown live at the Apple main stage launch for the iPad 3. Now both Pixlr and AutoCAD WS are basking in the limelight glow of the Google Drive launch.

Upon installation of Google Drive from http://drive.google.com (getting 5Gig free space) I noticed AutoCAD WS was suggested to me as a “managed App” since apparently I had some DWG and DXF files in my Google Docs folder it migrated automatically or perhaps it was because AutoCAD WS was in my Chrome extensions but now a default native Drive app. Now AutoCAD WS will be my default viewer and editor within the Google Drive storage for DWG files.

For images it offered Autodesk’s Pixlr available natively in the Google Drive Apps. Now I can view and edit images from within my Google Drive on the web or desktop. http://autode.sk/JvDmJj

View of my Google Drive Folder with DWG files and then selecting one and it opens in AutoCAD WS ready for viewing mark up or editing.

And choosing the Pixlr Editor in Google Drive I get what looks like Photoshop with many powerful; features all without installing anything just accessing my Google Drive.

Pretty nice initial offering for cloud storage from Google that combines many apps to choose from including the Autodesk ones like AutoCAD WS and Pixlr.

Cheers,
Shaan

Visit the Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco

With the summer travel season rapidly approaching for those in the Northern hemisphere I wanted to point out a free and great place to visit if your travel plans bring you to San Francisco California. There are a wide variety of exhibits in the gallery as well as an amazing view out the windows looking towards the San Francisco Ferry Terminal Building and San Francisco Bay Bridge.

The Autodesk Gallery is open to the public every Wednesday from 12-5 p.m, with a guided tour from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

While there you can create a 3D textured model of your own head. With the very latest 123D Catch custom Photo Booth there are 24 DSLR cameras arranged in a booth with several large LED light units. You enter you email address then proceed to sit in the booth and align your head using the interactive feedback provided by a Kinect and then when your head ins in the right spot all the cameras fire at once. In a few minutes you are emailed links to download the model of your head. You can also just have someone take a series of digital photos of your head and submit them to 123D Catch to get your own head model without this fancy photo booth.

Check out the Autodesk Gallery at One Market website for the very latest on exhibits and information: http://www.autodesk.com/thegallery

If you are on Twitter you can follow the Autodesk Gallery http://twitter.com/autodeskgallery

Cheers,
Shaan