That is an extensive article. Will be returning to read more! Thanks.
QuotePeople can be very religious about their renderers!
Mark Elendt
Mantra, Side Effects Software
What I feel is the most difficult, is sorting through all the BS, the lingo, and the "religion". To actually find understanding of what it is I need, why I need it, and where to get it. Then you have to learn to use it too ;)
I find it exceedingly remarkable that artists ever have time leftover to make culture.
Now this is the more philosophical thing I am curious about...
I sometimes (rightly or wrongly) feel like that the developers don't understand, or simply remember, how VERY important their work is to the broader world.
Its Like they are getting lost in the dailiness of what they are trying to accomplish. And forget that the non- specialist has a need and a use for the products they make. (I am talking about the big picture here, not trying to talk down!)
For example, why has the internet not become the entertainment center the futurists claimed it would, back in the 90's and early 2000's?
I think because the tech has not really freed us yet. It still takes millions of dollars, hundreds if not thousands of people, and tens of thousands of man hours to make a movie.
But if the Software was more accessible, faster, and cheaper, than more artists would be able to make more culture/art/entertainment.
Another question, as an example of what I mean is, Why has the internet not overpowered the hollywood and cable/broadcast establishments?
More and more we get our news and education from the net. But thats not enough. And its more than a question of packaging and general knowledge of availability. It is a huge lack of content! The "establishment" is content starved. And the net is quality starved.
Then there is the issue of benefit. For example, it pays to distribute content on youtube. But nothing like what it can pay to distribute on TV. This is despite the fact that you can get 20,000,000 "views" on youtube for even stupid clips. But usually nothing like that for TV (excluding Sports, political and major news events or other "special" programing).
In every case, the software (with decent affordable hardware) is the great equalizer! It can (potentially) make the little guy equal to the big dogs (Assuming the little guy has good ideas too). The problem is the software is all in some kind of feed back loop. Its made pretty much just to feed into the establishment system of workflows, software and distribution. What we need is a new model. One that empowers individuals to do, what it currently takes many to do.
There should be a Non-profit and a grant program. We have blender for example. But thats not what I mean exactly. Im for profit, for the developers, and everyone else too.
What I mean is a way to get developers to focus on making their products suitable for Non-engineers. Or rather I should say, for software that does not require artists to become engineers.
Imagine if you will, a Maya/max softimage/T3, and all the rest of em', with a Arnold/vRay/renderman/ renderer. All rolled up into one program. Thats as easy to use as an Apple OSX prosumer "art" app. But where this new soft does what the pro soft does, with no compromise on quality output! There have been attempts, DAZ (for its "ease of use), and Blender (for its power and no cost).
It would change the world, because it would change the culture. It would change the establishment system. And lead to a new better distribution model than we see on the net and TV now. The end result would/could be lots of new ideas manifest in new content/culture.
We can keep the advertising income model if need be.
There are billions if not trillions of new dollars here. We already see the money in the current old model. But you know, with 6 billion people going on line sooner or later it looks like there is going to be plenty of room for everyone.
So what would it take?
A few million dollars for development, a mission statement, skilled personnel, and a little unity and leadership.
I know, its a lot to ask.
P.S.
QuoteThe new Arnold renderer does raytraced SSS, which does away with point clouds. This is a remarkable advance, and the early results are incredibly realistic.
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I keep hearing about Arnold. Arnold, Arnold, Arnold. But no one seems to actually have a copy on their desktop. For example, is Arnold still not up for public sale? A demo? A desktop workflow?
Here you go Badger.................
http://www.solidangle.com/info.html (http://www.solidangle.com/info.html)
Thanks Yossam.
I wrote to and heard back from SolidAngle (Arnold).
They are expecting public release later this year, when their website is ready.
Currently they are running a beta with limited user spots, mostly made up of major studios. But do allow for individuals to gain access.
I answered their questions. Who knows, maybe they will let me play.
We'll see.
Hey Michael..
Did you got an answere till yet as interested "individual"?
What do you wrote them/were your questions?
Are there restrictions, requirements or duties when using their render engine as a private beta tester/user?
I'm also interested in their render engine and I guess it could help to engage them with right words, perceptions and background knowledge..
Alex
I have heard back. I had several e-mails with them. I have not been approved yet.
Their not exactly forthcoming with info.
I can tell you that they prefer to have studios on the beta team (so to speak). But they will allow for individuals. My strong impression is that the beta is not free. And may not even be discounted.
I do not really have much to tell you. But I will tell you what happens if anything, when it does.
NP, thank you..
You remember our thoughts that most CGI softwares/UI's are "meh" for some reason thru eyes of "artists"?
For me there is hope Arnold will/could close at least 1 or 2 more gaps in rendering just stuff at once without to be a scientist.
I also like their ambitions to force/optimize multithreaded renders.
But who knows, I'm just a Greenhorn.. :D
The final answer was no. They do "not have the resources to support an individual at this time". But they asked me to get them in contact with some one at my university to "get them on board".
Im sure Ill get right on that ::)