Bunkspeed Releases Version 2012.4, A Major Update Featuring Powerful Production and Real-Time Presentation Features

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Philip Lunn

Bunkspeed, Inc., a leading global provider of rendering and visualization software for design, engineering, and marketing, announced today it has released SHOT, MOVE, PRO and DRIVE 2012.4, featuring powerful production and real-time presentation features, raising the bar again for easy to use, yet professional level, 3D rendering and animation software.

Some of the many new features include:

Multi-Layer Materials (Pro and Drive Suites)

Materials can be layered so you can have a “glass layer” on top of “carbon fiber”, or a “dirt” texture map on top of car paint, for example. Materials can be stacked with up to four layers, creating sophisticated and complex material renditions with ease.

Multilayer Material - Rusty Metal

Multilayer Material - Muddy Paint

Auto-Update of Backplates, and High Dynamic Range Images Edited in Any Open Application (Shot, Move, Pro and Drive Suites)

Auto-Update monitors a file for changes on the file system. For example, if you are editing a backplate in Photoshop, when you save a change to the backplate, we detect the change and automatically update the file in Bunkspeed software. This creates an interactive workflow for rapid update and iteration of in-session edits. Common workflows include lighting creation and HDR enhancement in HDR Light Studio, backplate painting in Photoshop, or texture creation in Filter Forge.

Auto Update with HDR Light Studio

Region Render (Pro and Drive Suites)

Choose a subset, or “region”, of your image to render. Region rendering is camera-specific, so various regions can be specified on multiple cameras. Region rendering is a key professional-level workflow and productivity enhancement.

Camera Based Region Rendering

Multiple Working Viewports (Pro and Drive Suites)

Now you can have up to four viewports visible simultaneously, with each viewport referencing a separate definable camera, model set or environment. This is excellent for presentations, showing multiple variations simultaneously or even working on animation set up where the animated camera can be viewed in one viewport and the animation ribbon can be adjusted in another.

Multiple Viewports - Quad Ortho	Multiple Viewports - Four Grid
Multiple Viewport - Dual Horizontal

Full Screen Mode (Shot, Move, Pro and Drive Suites)

The application window can now be full screen and borderless for a clean appearance during important design review presentations or daily use.

Fullscreen Presentation Mode

Baked Lighting (Drive Suite)

For high quality real-time presentations, baked lighting is extremely useful. Baked lighting dramatically improves the quality and believability of models during rasterized rendering, giving “near” raytrace quality with super fast and completely noise free interactivity.

Baked Lighting Clay

Baked Lighting Painted

Network Rendering – Bunkspeed PowerBoost – Major improvements (Pro and Drive Suites)

We made significant workflow, stability and functionality improvements in network rendering. The network rendering Queue is now a production verified tool that many of our customers can’t live without. Queue and PowerBoost are significant productivity enhancing tools for offloading large renderings and animation jobs to either a local or remote cluster.

New Pro/E and CREO Plugin (Shot, Move, Pro and Drive Suites)

We re-introduced direct support for Pro/E and CREO user via a plugin. Quickly model, adjust, then push your design into any Bunkspeed product to see it in photographic perfection.

You can read more about the many fixes and other improvements here in the release notes.

Pricing and Availability

The 2012.4 release of Bunkspeed software integrated with Nvidia iray 2 rendering technology will be available today for download at www.bunkspeed.com. Pricing starts at $495 for SHOT, $1,495 for MOVE and $3,495 for PRO.

About Bunkspeed

Bunkspeed is a leading global provider of visualization software and services for design, engineering, and marketing. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, our advanced visualization technologies leverage digital engineering assets and contribute to enlightened decision-making in the digital design process. Our clients gain a cost effective way to deliver sales and marketing imagery, and realize significantly reduced product development costs. Bunkspeed’s customers include Nissan, Ford Motor Company, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Pininfarina, Chrysler, Frog Design, Smart Design, IDEO, Acushnet Company, Dell, Gillette, Gulfstream and many others.

For more information on Bunkspeed’s products and services, please visit: www.bunkspeed.com.

Aircraft Quality by ID Group

Posted on April 18, 2012 by David Randle

Its always a nice surprise when a customer sends in some examples of their recent work. When ID Group does this, we get particularly excited because they are always pushing the limits of our products. It’s no surprise that their latest work sets a standard for what is possible with Bunkspeed.

We asked them a few questions about their workflow so that the rest of the world can peer into their magic.

About this Project:

The Slimplus seat is a modular aircraft seat designed to provide a more pleasant flying experience for the passenger and a more versatile and efficient seat program for the manufacturer. For the passenger, the seat provides comfort, enhanced ergonomic features and appealing aesthetics. For the manufacturer, the seat meets stringent space, weight, cost, manufacturing and serviceability requirements.

3D visualization of the product was vital in the decision making process. Having the ability to visualize multiple design directions quickly and photo-realistically was invaluable for us. Animating a short clip of the Slimplus helped tremendously in marketing the product. Bunkspeed was instrumental in visualizing our ideas throughout the design process and even into production and marketing.

What is one aspect of the Slimplus project that you love?

A big part of our design focus was the modularity aspect of the seat system. With dozens of options and hundreds of cross-combinations, it was difficult to come up with an elegant solution to accommodate all of the possibilities. In the end, we designed a shroud system that can be easily removed from the frame. This innovation accounts for engineering demands and opens up possibilities for beautiful aesthetics. Bunkspeed was a vital tool for us to communicate these ideas to our clients. Visualizing the hundreds of iterations was made easy by their direct and intuitive UI. We used their configuration tool to its utmost during these phases.

What is one aspect of the pro suite that you love?

Bunkspeed Pro Suite is a powerful renderer with an emphasis on user experience. The guys at Bunkspeed have put a lot of focus on the GUI and how it relates to a broad range of workflow from different industries. Setting up a scene in the Pro Suite has never been easier; and they are continuing to improve. The iRay 2 render engine produces amazingly accurate lighting calculations; which leads to photo-realistic results. Bunkspeed Pro Suite is powerful enough to render complicated scenes without a lot of work-arounds; yet it is intuitive enough to allow people with little rendering experience to set up.

Were you able to accomplish anything that just simply couldn’t be done before?

Bunkspeed was one of the earliest companies to utilize a GPU-capable rendering engine. With this new technology, ID Group was able to render at incredible speeds; so we can now render out animations cost-efficiently. This certainly opened new marketing / design opportunities for us and for our clients.

Could you think of a cost and time savings that were introduced by using our solutions?

If we compare CPU to GPU rendering solutions based on performance and cost, there is no argument that GPU-based renderers are more cost-efficient. For the same investment, we can gain a lot more rendering performance with GPU-based renderers vs the old school CPU-based renderers. With such a jump in rendering speeds, rendering time is no longer the bottleneck in our workflow for most projects.

What was your client’s reaction to this project?

Our clients love the quality of our renderings. Sometimes they mistake it for a photograph; they sometimes even prefer our renderings over photographs. In addition, they were very impressed with the animated sequences.

What’s with all these automotive teasers?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Philip Lunn

Recently there seems to be an abundance of “teaser” videos released by the automotive companies to raise awareness and build anticipation in the media. Teasers have been used for years for movies, television shows and for video games. As computer generated imagery and animation in the automotive world becomes mainstream, more and more uses of pre-release CAD data is being used for content to publish in the social media and the web. It’s impossible to tell what’s real and what’s computer generated these days and it’s evidence is shown in some of these examples. We have driving in the desert teasers, dark teasers, unveiling teasers, interview teasers and even video game teasers. It definitely looks like this trend will continue to grow.

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Bunkspeed Releases 2012.3 – Many new features plus all new automatic updates

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Philip Lunn

We’re excited to release 2012.3 version of Bunkspeed SHOT, MOVE, PRO and DRIVE. This release has many new features, improvements and fixes. Wev’e especially focused on adding more file formats to the import pipeline, and improving that process significantly. There are also many small improvements in overall performance and stability plus an all new automatic update system which will mean more frequent, and easier deployment of updates. This is an update definitely worth having. We expect an overall better first experience, and a system that will ensure you have the most solid release all the time. If you’re new to Bunkspeed, the download process is now just a single click and the software will download, install and launch ready to go. We’re keenly focused on making the 3D rendering process faster and, the best user experience possible, so please keep bringing your suggestions through posts to our forum here: http://forum.bunkspeed.com/forum.php.

Here’s a list of what’s new and additional improvements:

WHATS NEW:

Support for Solidworks 2012.
Support for Maya 2012 (Maya must be installed and licensed).
Support for Autodesk Inventor 2012 (Free Inventor Viewer must be installed and run once).
Support for DWG/DXF formats.
Support for SolidEdge ST3 (Use colors in SolidEdge to control part grouping).
Cameras are now imported from Solidworks, Rhino, Sketchup, etc. (When possible).
Clown pass re-implemented to be less memory intensive and faster.
Queue automatically launches when a job is sent to it (Tools > Options > Queue).
Ability to Hide decals.
Ability to refresh textures, so when updated, you no longer have to rename/re-import them.
Queue plays movies when an animation is completed and the job is selected.
Rotation animations can now be combined with keyframe animations.
Transition from DirectX 9.0c to DirectX 11 for raster mode to improve support, speed, quality etc.

IMPROVEMENTS:

Boost now communicates and initializes renders correctly.
Imported models now default to auto-size on which scales, orients (as best as possible) and places the imported model on the ground automatically.
Normals on pretesselated import formats now import correctly.
Auto-paint for Solidworks and Rhino files fixed.
Reworked the Queue Start/Stop functionality to be more understandable.
When the Queue is stopped, the job in progress is now paused.
Pivot manipulator is now disabled on any Models/Groups/Parts with animation as to not cause unpredictable results when pivots are moved after an animation is created.
Emissive intensity now goes to “0” (black) and can be animated brightening from black.
Normals are now restored after a part split.
Queue thumbnails are now completed, regardless of the size/complexity of the job.
Dash has been removed from our desktop applications. The Boost and Queue services now live in Tools > Options > Boost/Queue respectively.
Merging of .bif files causing some geometry to go missing is now resolved.
Timeline occasionally “going missing” is now resolved.
Computer names are now shown in the Boost Console.
Inline (not background) renders correctly calculates the number of passes specified.
The render dialog now remembers when PowerBoost has been selected.
Distortion on circular surfaces imported via .wire is solved.
Possible miscalculated transforms on .wire data is solved.
Hiding a model/part with an emissive material on it, no longer “leaks” light.
Faded objects remain faded when background rendered.
Import of .bcf files into a session no longer causes a crash upon save.
Various UI tweaks/optimizations.
Various minor bug fixes.

Daniel Simon races ahead with Bunkspeed

Posted on January 31, 2012 by David Randle

When “fast” follows every job request that comes through your door, it’s only appropriate that the tools you use can keep up. That’s why Daniel Simon chooses Bunkspeed to help deliver on point imagery every time.

Check out this example revealed today for Lotus’s LMP2 World Endurance Championship programme. Now officially with a livery by Designer Daniel Simon, celebrating the Black and Gold theme of magical motor racing eras, Lotus looks to make quite the statement during this years Le Mans circuit.

Daniel Simon Livery Lotus Le Mans LMP 2

You can find more about Daniel Simon here, and more about Lotus’s plans here.

Don’t forget to “like” Daniel on Facebook to receive updates on his amazing work.

Bunkspeed brings Blue Sky CGI to new heights

Posted on January 24, 2012 by David Randle

Blue Sky CGI workflow example

With CGI being used more widely than ever throughout product marketing, Blue Sky CGI have discovered a way to stand out. The addition of Bunkspeed Pro Suite to their tool box, along with their expertise are helping them stay ahead of the game.

Blue Sky CGI were courteous enough to let us in on exactly how they do this.

Imagine that a global ad agency needs to create a series of images for Ford Ranger. The location in mind is in Thailand. Due to the remote locations and unpredictability of the weather CG is clearly the way to go.

In the studio CAD data used to generate 3D-models of the car was being prepared for realistic shading and material mapping. At the same time the photographic team is off to Thailand. On the team – the art director, photographer, CG operator, producer, prop stylists and assistants. As the photographic team shoots backplates and matching HDRI lightdomes, the source is sent back to the studio where its is prepped and set up in the CG environment. The photographer and art director then work with the CG operator to set the camera and lighting. This can be done back in the studio or directed remotely. Next comes the high resolution rendering which gives the product proper lighting, reflections, and any masks the retoucher might require. Lastly the image is composited into the background and final retouching takes place.

Directors at Blue Sky CGI, Rick Chou and Lee Waters concur: “As modern equipment and software continue to improve, one major difference between how photography worked in the old days versus modern advertising is the exposure to digital capability and visualization…”

“Security issues are easier to control. The large cost of prototypes is eliminated. Earlier production starts are possible and realistic visualizations of the final product are viewable during the design phase. There are broader creative possibilities, less weather dependency, and it is easier to make changes updating the model year. Also the speed and ease of global communications has opened up the whole world as potential clients.”

Along with their clients (Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota – to name a few), Blue Sky CGI is currently producing projects for Ford’s use in Europe, for Roewe’s use in Asia, and images are being worked on for a yacht designer from Amsterdam.”

About Blue Sky CGI:

Blue Sky CGI is a Los Angeles based boutique studio offering high-end CGI rendering and creative retouching services to the automotive, transportation and advertising industries. With a combination of talent, technical skills and deep experience, Blue Sky CGI has the unique ability to accommodate a broad range of advertising assignments from print to broadcast to mobile platforms.

To see more of their work and for more information, visit Blue Sky CGI at http://www.cgibluesky.com/.

Twister CGI makes a splash with Drive 2012

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David Randle

Ralph Richter from Twister CGI is no stranger to Bunkspeed products. He’s been pushing the envelope with visual creativity for years now. Ralph raises the bar with each advance in technology . It’s no surprise to us that he started the year with a splash.

Twister CGI Splash

Audi 1	Audi 2	Splash Metal
Splash 2	Lexus	Sculpture

Twister CGI produces some of the hottest magazine ready shots and we found a perfect example.

Photo of Magazine and Original Image

We hope you enjoy his work.

www.twisterimaging.com

Say Hello to our 1000th Community Member!

Posted on December 23, 2011 by David Randle

Congratulations to David Tonkinson, who recently became Bunkspeed’s 1000th community member! To celebrate, we gave him a free copy of Bunkspeed Move. We are also rapidly approaching 2000 members, so keep spreading the word about our new site and maybe you too can be awarded free Bunkspeed software!

David is a UK-based Industrial Designer with a passion for creating user-centered products with strong aesthetic identities and unique personalities. He graduated in 2008 from Bournemouth University’s School of Design, Engineering and Computing on the south coast of England after studying BA (Hons) Industrial Design. His university thesis project, the “Capsule Caravan”, went on to generate a great deal of attention, both in the UK and internationally, and was widely published in newspapers, magazines and design-centered blogs. Images of the design are on permanent collection at Germany’s Erwin Hymer Museum, a museum dedicated to the history and design of caravans.

David has worked as a freelancer and as a design consultant at product design consultancy Haughton Design in Staffordshire. While working for Haughton Design, he had the opportunity to work on projects across a variety of industries, including consumer medical, industrial, agricultural, and street furniture. David has used Bunkspeed’s products to help in creating realistic and striking imagery to demonstrate design concepts, create product marketing material, and to sell ideas to clients, investors, and manufacturers.

Here are a few examples of his work:

Congratulations David! We can’t wait to see what you create with Move.

All New Tutorials Section Added to Bunkspeed Community

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Philip Lunn

Today we have added 15 short tutorials to the community area of our website at http://www.bunkspeed.com/community/tutorials. Each tutorial focuses on a specific funtionality to help you get great results quickly and are between 2 minutes and 10 minutes long. Just go ahead and register to get to the tutorials and access to the community asset library, the forum, and webinar posts too.

The first set of tutorials include:

Setting Preferences
Interface Overview
Models Overview
Importing Models
Materials and Textures
Basics of Materials
Environments Overview
Environments HDRI Lighting
Cameras Overview
Camera Basics
Library Overview
Animation Overview
The Animation Ribbon
Rendering Overview

We are planning many more tutorials soon. If you have any suggested topics for tutorials please post to the forum.

NVIDIA Maximus and Bunkspeed Technology Helps Drive the Silver Arrow Mercedes-Benz Concept Car for the LA Auto Show Design Challenge

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Philip Lunn

Reposted from Nvidia:

Car design is like a heady combination of art, high fashion, and engineering, requiring extreme degrees of creativity and aesthetic sensibility. Creative aesthetics are even more refined in the rarified world of concept car design, which explores the future form and function of automotive transport. Each year at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles, design studios are invited to compete in a Design Challenge to create entire story lines based on and featuring extreme car designs.

For several years, the Advanced Design Center California, the North American research and development division of Mercedes-Benz, has competed in the LA Auto Show Design Challenge. This year, the Mercedes California studio added to its technology tools the NVIDIA® Maximus™ platform, transforming the studio’s workflow from a tedious, serial process to a parallel processing environment enabling multitasking with even the most compute-intensive steps.

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