Poweranimator: Difference between revisions
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
'''Animating in Alias 9.0 (436 pages)''' |
'''Animating in Alias 9.0 (436 pages)''' |
||
Provides information to help you create basic animations, build skeletons, bring creatures |
Provides information to help you create basic |
||
animations, build skeletons, bring creatures |
|||
to life using Inverse Kinematics, produce particles and special effects, and deform time |
to life using Inverse Kinematics, produce |
||
particles and special effects, and deform time using time warps. |
|||
using time warps. |
|||
'''Basic Tools in Alias 9.0 (610 pages)''' |
'''Basic Tools in Alias 9.0 (610 pages)''' |
||
General tools that you'll use throughout |
General tools that you'll use throughout modeling, |
||
animating, or rendering workflows. |
|||
'''Data Transfer for CAD and Solid imaging in Alias 9.0 (212 pages)''' |
'''Data Transfer for CAD and Solid imaging in Alias 9.0 (212 pages)''' |
||
Explains how to exchange 3D model data between |
|||
Alias 9.0 and CAD packages. |
Explains how to exchange 3D model data between Alias 9.0 and CAD packages. |
||
'''Games Data transfer in Alias 9.0 (130 pages)''' |
'''Games Data transfer in Alias 9.0 (130 pages)''' |
||
Explains how to translate Alias files to games |
Explains how to translate Alias files to games |
||
platforms such as Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, |
platforms such as Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, |
||
and Sega Saturn. |
and Sega Saturn. |
||
| Line 47: | Line 52: | ||
'''Learning Alias 9.0 (674 pages)''' |
'''Learning Alias 9.0 (674 pages)''' |
||
A thorough course in learning how to use the Alias |
A thorough course in learning how to use the Alias |
||
design and animation software. |
design and animation software. |
||
'''NURBS Modeling in Alias 9.0 (554 pages)''' |
'''NURBS Modeling in Alias 9.0 (554 pages)''' |
||
Tools to create and modify NURBS curves and surfaces, |
Tools to create and modify NURBS curves and surfaces, |
||
as well as construction and evaluation tools. |
as well as construction and evaluation tools. |
||
''' |
|||
Polygonal Modeling in Alias 9.0 (120 pages)''' |
'''Polygonal Modeling in Alias 9.0 (120 pages)''' |
||
Tools to create and modify polygons and polysets. |
Tools to create and modify polygons and polysets. |
||
'''Rendering in Alias 9.0 (562 pages)''' |
'''Rendering in Alias 9.0 (562 pages)''' |
||
Tools to define the look of your scene, |
Tools to define the look of your scene, create special |
||
create special effects, define how the |
|||
scene will render, and create final |
effects, define how the scene will render, and create final |
||
rendered images and animations. |
rendered images and animations. |
||
Revision as of 10:49, 19 July 2005
| File:Poweranimatorui.gif User Interface of Power Animator 8.5 | |
| Developer(s) | Alias Systems Corporation |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 9.0
/ November 1998 |
| Operating system | IRIX, Windows NT |
| Type | Computer Graphics |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.alias.com |
Overview
PowerAnimator and Animator, the precursor to what is now Maya (software) and StudioTools, was an expensive, complex, highly-integrated industrial 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects suite. It was the most widely used non-proprietary software in the visual effects and animation industries, and as such, it has had a long track record, starting with Terminator 2 in 1990 and ending in Star Wars: Episode 1 in 2001. PowerAnimator ran natively on MIPS based SGI Irix systems up until the late 90's, when it was ported to the NT platform.
The Software
The software itself featured one of the most complex user-interfaces ever created, which allowed for an incredible amount of control over scene parameters, but made many tasks, such as animation, cumbersome and non-intuitive. It was also expensive as well, apart from the enormous cost of SGI systems at the time. The standalone software retailed for $7500, but was also sold with other modules, and a PowerPack containing all modules that retailed for $30,000 US.
Alias PowerAnimator 9.0 Documentation
Animating in Alias 9.0 (436 pages) Provides information to help you create basic
animations, build skeletons, bring creatures to life using Inverse Kinematics, produce
particles and special effects, and deform time using time warps.
Basic Tools in Alias 9.0 (610 pages) General tools that you'll use throughout modeling,
animating, or rendering workflows.
Data Transfer for CAD and Solid imaging in Alias 9.0 (212 pages)
Explains how to exchange 3D model data between Alias 9.0 and CAD packages.
Games Data transfer in Alias 9.0 (130 pages) Explains how to translate Alias files to games
platforms such as Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, and Sega Saturn.
Learning Alias 9.0 (674 pages) A thorough course in learning how to use the Alias
design and animation software.
NURBS Modeling in Alias 9.0 (554 pages) Tools to create and modify NURBS curves and surfaces,
as well as construction and evaluation tools.
Polygonal Modeling in Alias 9.0 (120 pages) Tools to create and modify polygons and polysets.
Rendering in Alias 9.0 (562 pages) Tools to define the look of your scene, create special
effects, define how the scene will render, and create final rendered images and animations.
Global Index for Alias 9.0
History
In 1997, John Gibson, Rob Krieger, Milan Novacek, Glen Ozymok and Dave Springer were presented with the Scientific and Engineering Award for their contributions to the geometric modeling component of the PowerAnimator system.
"The Alias PowerAnimator system is widely regarded in the computer animation field as one of the best commercially available software packages for digital geometric modeling. Used by many motion picture visual effects houses, it has been a benchmark for comparison of modeling tools and has had a major influence on visual effects and animation."
Game Development
The software's most notable contribution to the entertainment industry was in game development, in particular included as a part of Nintendo64's SGI-based developers kit and used for modeling, texturing, animation and realtime effects, of notable titles:
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
Other titles included:
Star Wars Arcade (1995)
Film
PowerAnimator was used to create the T-1000 character in Terminator 2, at a cost of $460,000 per minute.
Jurrassic Park
Batman Returns
James And The Giant Peach ("Sony Pictures Imageworks creates elaborate environments and complex composite effects using A|W software: PowerAnimator, Wavefront's Composer, Explore and Dynamation. SPI artists create 69 visual effects including a flock of seagulls, stylized ocean with waves, foam and spray.")
External Links
Animation Software Companies and Individuals In CGI PowerAnimator Bible