The Blender Foundation has released Blender 2.57, the first ‘stable’ 2.5x release for the popular open-source 3D package. While previous beta releases have included the software’s latest functionality, 2.57 is the first in which it is fully updated and bugfixed.

New features of Vue 9.5

Vue xStream and Vue Infinite are the company’s flagship solutions for the creation of natural 3D environments. Vue Infinite operates as a standalone application while Vue xStream works seamlessly inside 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, LightWave and Cinema4D. Specifically designed for graphics professionals, these products combine a multitude of cutting edge features that easily integrate into existing production pipelines.

December 30, 2010 – NewTek, a worldwide leader of 3D animation and video products, releases NewTek LightWave™ 10-the latest version of its Emmy® Award-winning 3D software. LightWave 10 delivers a whole new set of capabilities for 3D producers and studio pipelines. Now, 3D artists have the ability to focus on the creative process with tools that provide immediate feedback, whether they work alone or in a multi-software studio.

LightWave 10 leverages new technologies developed in LightWave CORE and showcases NewTek's commitment to the creation of tools that support the artistic process. With LightWave 10, artists have the ability to interact directly in the viewport and see changes to lights, textures, volumetrics and more, to view updates to their stereoscopic work in real time, and to deliver realistic environment walkthroughs in ways never before possible. With data interchange tools that enhance pipeline integration and a fresh user interface, LightWave 10 is the most artist-friendly, production-ready version of LightWave ever. Developed through continued collaboration with 3D artist members of the LightWave HardCORE community and key Hollywood studios, LightWave 10 delivers the benefits artists count on.

"We upgraded to LightWave 10 with its linear color space workflow because it lets us achieve photorealism so much faster. It helps bring out all the qualities of the rock solid LightWave render engine," said Stefan Bredereck, supervising artist EdenFX. "With LightWave, we achieved the needed results super fast, and we accomplished even the most challenging tasks. LightWave 10 speeds things up even more. The new features make it a very valuable tool for our studio."

For more information click here!

BonesPro 4.50 released – skin paint and smooth tools http://www.bonespro.com

Following the numerous improvements and add-ons from the last releases, the 3d-io development team is proud to release a major update of BonesPro, the sophisticated skinning tool for Autodesk 3dsMax. BonesPro version 4.5 adds the production-proven fast and easy skin painting similar to ZBrush: artists can now paint weight adjustments in real-time and even smooth them out with the brush to achieve exact and elastic skin look & feel, just like using ZBrush / Mudbox.

Announcement of the winners of the second ronenbekerman.com Architectural Visualization Challenge

- HOVER

LightUp for SketchUp is a SketchUp plugin that adds realistic, realtime lighting to your sketchup models. Add lights, add windows, and watch your SketchUp scenes glow with gorgeous reflected light, soft shadows, subtle shading. Gone are the flat, boring surfaces of old.

Robots are electro-mechanical machines that are being created by people for decades. They are able to do complicated tasks on their own. There are many various types of robots like military robots, factory robots etc. This collection shows some great inspirational examples gathered from all around the web.

Enjoy!

David Chung the contestant of Starcraft Fanart a few days back, is now the winner. There was a winner in the making all the way... we at CGTantra bring to you how David emerged to be "The Winner". And he gives an in depth making of his winning work The ZergHydralisk. Read more here.

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 2011 released for Mac and Windows! 15-day full-feature trial is available for download.

Collection of some stunning examples of creative 3D simulations. Check out all of them here!

Physics simulations are becoming more and more advanced and more spectacular each year. With processors that are becoming faster and faster computers are able to calculate complicated simulations ending up with really stunning effects. This collection consist of some beautiful physics simulations made using RayFire plug-in for 3D application or NVIDIA PhysX. Both of them enable designers to create very realistic 3D simulations.