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The 3D Invigorator PRO for After Effects Plug-in has once again proven to be the must-have software of the year. Already known as the industry standard 3D graphics power house, version 4 adds many new capabilities that appeal to the artistic side of graphic design, as well as adding new tools that appeal to the motion graphic artist who must create large numbers of graphics on impossible deadlines. These new features unlock a whole different way of using 3D as a design tool and will be sure to inspire an evolution in animated motion graphics.Rather than starting in Adobe Illustrator, jump into the 3D process with a full-featured text editor. The 3D text engine can use PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts resident on the user’s computer system to directly create 3D models using any of the 100 edge bevels included with the program.Each letter can have its own font, size, kerning, tracking, baseline shift, horizontal and vertical scale, color, bevel, position, and depth, but the most astounding hallmark to this feature is the ability to change the text at any phase of the production process and retain the color, modeling, and animation.This means that after the first version of a promotion is created, 50 other versions can be created by simply changing the text. The new 3D text will retain the same coloring, text attributes, 3D beveling, texture-map placement, and even the animation data. This makes for an unbelievably fast production process when many changes or extra versions are needed.The new primitives engine will create spheres, cubes, planes, and cylinders with control over smoothness and size. There is even a control for the shading of the facets so the user can create shapes that look like they have been cut from crystal or polished as smooth as a gem.We have added a new file format for importing and exporting 3D objects. The new Invigorator object format enables the user to set up 3D logos, titles, and 3D text, color them, apply the materials, maps, and object settings, and then save them into files that can be reused over and over in other Invigorator projects. This is a huge time saver for repetitive work.Invigorator PRO v4 now supports 3D Motion Blur. Anything that can be created or imported into the Invigorator PRO can be motion blurred. This includes models made in other programs such as Maya, 3D Studio, and LightWave.Another great new feature is the ability for Invigorator objects to track, or mimic, what an AE 3D plane is doing. On the surface this feature might not seem that significant, however for the advanced After Effects’ user this feature opens the doors to incredible new abilities. By tracking AE's 3D planes, an AE user is now able to use the standard 3D manipulation tools within AE to create motion paths and keyframes for the Invigorator's objects. This means that everything that can be done to an AE 3D plane can now be done to Invigorator objects. Get visible 3D paths, function curve control, animation assistants, and even expression-based control over 3D animations.There is a new control for texture maps to animate the wrap of a texture as it is applied to an object. This feature is especially useful for reflection maps. Once a 3D title comes to rest, the reflections stop moving too. This can make the graphic look "dead" and uninteresting. By animating this new parameter the map will continue to move so the graphics will remain alive and visually appealing.Highlight mapping, or specular mapping as it is sometimes called, is a type of texture mapping that only affects the highlights on an object. Much of the textural feel of a surface is contained in the highlights. The base-paint job on an object may be fine, but over the top of the paint job the surface may be worn or dirty, and this type of surface detail isn't seen until the eye is lined up with the glare from a light. Creative uses of highlight mapping include hidden messages such as writing on a mirror, streaks, handprints, scratches, dents, and smudges.Version 4 PRO also supports render farming using the After Effects render engine. Now, multiple computers can be used to render 3D Invigorator animations in record time.For the visual designer, there are many new ways to paint the final picture and broaden the options for being visually creative. Wireframe rendering is that "techno-looking" style where 3D objects are rendered only as the lines that define their shape. This is uniquely appealing because objects look more like drawings rather than big clunky 3D objects.Hidden line rendering is a special kind of wireframe where only the lines that define the visible parts of the objects are seen. In standard wireframe, one would see all of the lines no matter if they are on the front or the back of the objects, but with hidden line the back lines are hidden and only the lines that best show the front side of the object can be seen.Lines will get brighter or darker depending on the placement and intensity of the lights. This gives shading and increased appeal to the lines rather than having plain solid-colored lines. Another unique ability is that the lines can be texture mapped. Apply any of the standard maps (e.g., color, reflections, bump) to the surface of the lines. Make the lines look like brushed metal. Line weight can be set in tenth/pixel increments, are professionally anti-aliased, and even the space between the lines can be filled with a color if desired.Render 3D objects as though they were drawn by a poster artist or an animator painting animation cells. Standard 3D rendering paints the objects in continuous tones creating a photo-realistic look, but cartoon color rendering paints the objects in bands of color. The bands block in the color of the highlights, shadows, and base, giving a big bold look with lots of punch.Use absolute coloring so a color will be absolutely the same after rendering as it was before. Perfect for when doing a job for a corporate client who demands that their corporate colors be used and that the colors cannot be affected by the lighting or shadows in the 3D scene. This rendering option is also useful to put colored strokes around objects, for doing extremely graphic pop srt looks, or to make 3D TV screens where the image in the TV looks as though it is lit from within. Best of all, these new material styles can be mixed and matched within the same 3D scene. matte coloring is a special material option that makes a 3D object act like a mask. When an object with this material is visible, it creates a traveling matte. (Prints black in the alpha channel.) This is used to block out objects that are not to appear in the final rendering. For instance, use a placeholder cylinder to create a 3D mask to enable 3D stars to circle around an picture of a bottle. It is also useful for creating transition effects out of 3D objects.shadow catcher rendering enables the shadows from 3D objects to fall onto the objects in a piece of background video. Version 4.0 has made significant changes to the way swatches are handled. Swatches are now based on a global library system which keeps the file size down and speeds up the save process. It also means that once a material or object style is saved it is immediately available to use in all other Invigorator Plug-ins — great for keeping projects consistent and speeding up work.The new features of version 4 support the Invigorator philosophy where exceptional power is combined with exceptional speed and ease of use. All of the new material styles are one-click easy. Switching from wireframe to cartoon to photo-realistic is nothing more than a single click.Manufacturer: Zaxwerks
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