Google SketchUp 6 & Photo Match

I wrote a bit in The Guide about using the free Google SketchUp as a planning tool for shoots. Version 6 was just released, and it has some great new features. By far the coolest is Photo Match—I see all kinds of potential here for filmmakers.

SciTech Awards Announced

Scientific and Technical Achievements to Be Honored with Academy Awards

Of note:

To Florian Kainz for the design and engineering of OpenEXR, a software package implementing 16-bit, floating-point, high dynamic range image files.

To Peter Litwinowicz and Pierre Jasmin for the design and development of the RE: Vision Effects family of software tools for optical flow-based image manipulation.

Congrats Florian, Pete, Pierre, and the rest of the winners!

A few little-known facts about the Nerd Oscars:

• You don't get nominated. You apply! But you can win without applying, because if your application is investigated, so will be any similar technologies.
• The Academy announces which technologies it is investigating, so that if you have a similar one you can submit it for consideration.
  
• As you can see, the awards are announced well in advance of Oscar night.
• The awards are handed out in a seperate ceremony that is briefly referenced in the Oscar broadcast, usually when you are in the kitchen getting snacks.
  

Fusion 5.1 Ships

Fusion 5.1 has shipped. Speaking as a longtime fan of After Effects, I gotta say, Fusion 5.1 is really cool. Download the learning edition and try it out.

Edit: Eyeon has also launched VFXpedia, a wiki for Fusion and "compositors in general." Fusion has long lacked a persistent online resource exchange, so here's hoping this thing takes off.

Free Squib Element

I've updated the Rebel's Guide site a bit and added a page about the squib elements included on the book's DVD. You can download a free sample while you're there. Comp it into your next shootout scene!