HyperPics: Beyond the UI

Autodesk Release DWG TrueView

Autodesk just began release a new product for viewing DWG files and did they pack the thing full of features. Some of the features are listed below...

• It will view 2D and 3D DWG and DXF just like AutoCAD 2006.
• Can read all DWG files from AutoCAD 2 to AutoCAD 2006 spanning 20+ years of files.
• It will support custom objects like Autodesk Building Systems or Architectural Desktop.
• Publish to DWF. You could even Publish many DWG files to DWF.
• 3D Orbit supported and Shademode
• and much more...

This is great for those that want to view AutoCAD files without the need of having to worry about getting a DWF file.  This utility will help to increase workflow internal at a company, especially in production and out in the field. Did I mention it has a sticker price of FREE on it, but free does come at a price of a 100MB download; which still makes it very worth while.

Read more about this DWG TrueView at:
Shaan Hurley's blog Between the Lines
Autodesk DWG TrueView web page

Sincerely,
  Lee

For the Star Wars Fan...

Do you have that ultimate Star Wars fan in your family, which you just can't think of anything to buy for? Master Replicas is a company that designs products based on movie props and this year is no different. With Episode III, coming to DVD soon... there will be no doubt a huge demand for unique Star Wars presents under the tree once again this year. Master Replicas has many new items from Episode III like Yoda's, Obi-wan's and Anakin's light saber to list just a few. James Murphy Consulting is a reseller of these fine quality and detailed items.  I had the privilege to hold one of these and they are not cheaply made, as they are made out of aluminum and brass.

Check the items out at James Murphy Consulting's online store.

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk 3ds Max 8 Now Shipping

If you are a subscription customer on 3ds Max, you should be receiving your upgrade shortly as it has begun shipping.

This latest release of Autodesk 3ds Max 8 provides new and enhanced functionality in four key areas:

• Character Development – Craft and refine your character animation with advanced rigging tools, motion mixing, and motion retargeting.
• Advanced Modeling and Texturing - Create realtime shaders inside the 3ds Max viewport with DirectX® and .fx support. Accurately texture a 3D model in less time with our new UV pelt mapping feature. This pelt mapping feature drew thundering applause from the crowd at our SIGGRAPH 2005 User Group meeting!
• Comprehensive Development Framework - Customize your pipeline and improve workflow with our robust, well-documented SDK. Build solid MAXScripts in less time with our new MAXScript debugger. Efficiently exchange scene and animation data with XML and use the free, downloadable Autodesk® DWF™ Viewer for review and approval collaboration.
• Data & Asset Management - Share, control, and manage your work-in-progress assets using Asset Tracker and Autodesk® Vault, a full-featured data management and asset tracking solution.

For more information visit the Autodesk Media & Entertainment Solutions web page or contact your local reseller. If you are upgrading from a previous release of 3ds Max or are new all together to 3ds Max, get training from some of the best in the industry like Master Level instructor Ted Boardman at Virtual Partners Training Center.

Sincerely,
  Lee

AUGI's Blogging??

Well apparently AUGI Board has gotten onto the blogging scene.  Their vision for the blog is to allow contributing authors to post a wide range of topics.   It should be interesting to see how this blog develops over time, as AUGI has contributed much to the CAD community in the past.  The AUGI blog is named BLAUGI (short for BLog + AUGI).  A big welcome to the CAD blogging community goes out to the contributing authors of the blog BLAUGI, try to say BLAUGI ten times fast.

Check it out by clicking here.

Sincerely,
  Lee

October Issue of HotNews

Trick or Treat maybe not yet, but the October issue of AUGI HotNews brings a treat with another round of excellent articles.

Migration Madness!
Avoid the potholes on moving day! Here are tips for smoothing the move from one version to another.

Customization Corner: Creating Toolbars with the CUI
How to create toolbars through AutoCAD 2006 software's CUI Editor.

TIPniques: The Power of Page Setups
Guest columnist and AUGI Board Member Mike Perry tells how to make plotting from AutoCAD an easy and stress-free process.

The above listings are some of the highlights of the newsletter, but there are many other great articles in this issue.  To access all the articles of the issue head to the AUGI website and click the Publications section, then AUGI HotNews.

If you are not receiving AUGI HotNews or are not a member of AUGI go to the AUGI website and sign up. It is free to receive the newsletters and becoming a member is free as well.

Click here to access the AUGI website

Click here if you are already an AUGI member, but don't receive HotNews in your inbox

Sincerely,
  Lee

Autodesk set to Acquire Alias

Autodesk has just announced that it is in the process of acquiring Alias.  So who or what is Alias you might be wonder?  Alias develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the file and video, games, web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets.

The company's entertainment customers include: CNN, Digital Domain, Disney, Electronic Arts, Industrial Light & Magic, Factor 5 LLC, Midway Games, Nintendo, Pacific Data Images (PDI)/DreamWorks SKG, Pixar, Sega, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Square Enix Co., Ltd., Warner Feature Animation and Weta Ltd.
Our design customers include AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Italdesign, Kodak, Kwikset, Mattel, Price Pfister, Renault, Rollerblade, Sharp, Trek Bicycle, Teague and Timex.

To read more about this announcement:
  Go to Autodesk.com
  Read the posting on Between the Lines by Shaan Hurley an Autodesk Blogger

Sincerely,
  Lee

New Tool Palettes eBook

I have just finished a new eBook titled "Streamlining Design through: Tool Palettes for AutoCAD".  It is available for purchase at the eBook Center on the HyperPics website.  The book sells for $10 USD and in addition to the PDF copy of the eBook you will have access to a private forum for posting questions and comments directly related to the book.

So what is in the eBook you might be wondering?  Below is an overview of the contents of the book.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
What is a Tool Palette?
Working with the Tool Palettes Window Interface
Working with Individual Tool Palettes
Working with Tool Palette Groups (AutoCAD 2005 or later)
Working with Tools on a Tool Palette
Taking a Look at the Different Tools Individually
Sharing Tool Palettes Across a Network
Walk-Through: From Tool Palettes thru Tool Palette Groups
Miscellaneous Tidbits of Information about Tool Palettes

Page Count:
97 pages of content (104 total pages)

Sincerely,
  Lee

Online Community Launched

I am pleased to announce the addition of an online community to the HyperPics website.  Things are brand new so there is plenty of room to grow the feature over time.  The online community will allow you to comment on things like website content or post questions about AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT that might be general how to's to more complex topics about customization\programming.  Check it out and sign up today by clicking here.

Sincerely,
  Lee