Autodesk Announces Stitcher Unlimited 2009 and ImageModeler 2009 Software
Products
Provide Advanced Panorama Creation and Image-based 3D Modeling Capabilities
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at SIGGRAPH 2008,
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) announced Autodesk Stitcher Unlimited 2009 and
Autodesk ImageModeler 2009 software products. These are the first versions of
the former REALVIZ products to be released as part of the Autodesk product
portfolio. Both products are being showcased at SIGGRAPH 2008 in Los Angeles,
California, August 12-14 at Autodesk booth #501.
"ImageModeler and Stitcher make 3D technology more accessible," said Marc
Petit, Autodesk Media & Entertainment's senior vice president. "They enable
the creation of 3D models from simple 2D images, and dynamic virtual
environments from conventional photographs. These products are used on many
types of projects -- from architecture and photography to film and game
development."
Stitcher Unlimited 2009 helps create wide-angle and panoramic images in a
few easy steps. With an intuitive user interface and an automatic photo-
merging engine, the software is ideal for generating virtual tours for the
Web, matte paintings for movies, environment maps for 3D rendering and
panoramic prints for artistic display.
ImageModeler 2009 offers a new approach to 3D modeling: generating 3D
models from 2D digital images. The software's easy-to-learn, three-step
workflow of calibration, modeling and texturing lets users achieve
photorealistic results with real-world accuracy.
Testimonials from Beta Testers
"Autodesk ImageModeler 2009 crosses a new frontier in the field of
architectural image-based modeling. It offers the possibility of integrating
photos and panoramas, for a complete interior and exterior structural survey,"
said Livio De Luca, research engineer at CNRS, MAP-Gamsau, Marseilles, and
professor of Digital Surveying Techniques at the University of Architecture of
Venice.
"Since the beginning, Stitcher has consistently been the fastest and most
user-friendly panoramic image editor," said Michael Eleftheriades, a UK-based
media developer. "It remains the software of choice for our panoramic
projects. Autodesk Stitcher 2009, with its graphics-accelerated previews and
renders, as well as the new automated features, will make it even more
indispensable to our panoramic workflows." Eleftheriades fuses his passions
for architecture, virtual reality and computer graphics in the creation of
large-scale panoramic imagery for virtual tours, computer games and
exhibitions.
New Feature Highlights in Stitcher Unlimited 2009
-- Fully Automatic Engine: Create partial or full spherical panoramas in
just a few clicks. Stitching, alignment and color correction can be automated.
-- Double Shot: Stitch images taken with a two-shot fisheye lens; an
effective way to create fully spherical virtual tours with only two pictures.
-- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Support: Create exceptionally high-quality
environment maps and panoramas through the embedded HDR workflow, with support
for EXR and HDR input and output.
-- Full interoperability with Adobe Photoshop and support for many
industry-standard image, Web and video file formats.
-- Hotspot Support: Create QuickTime VR hotspots for Web content with
links that can be integrated within a panorama, and reference another
panorama.
-- Tripod Cap: Users can cover up the tripod in their image with an image
of their own.
-- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Acceleration: Optimized to take
advantage of graphics card GPUs for preview rendering in the main Viewport.
The GPU is now also used to accelerate final renders.
-- Selectable Rendering Area: Using the crop tool, artists can precisely
select an area to be rendered, even in full-screen mode.
-- Redesigned User Interface and Workflow: Includes new icons and a new
palette to manage thumbnails more efficiently.
New Feature Highlights in ImageModeler 2009
-- New Calibration Engine: Generates a 3D model or scene using
calibration points based on one or more panoramas or photos.
-- 3D Measurement: The ruler toolset calculates real-world distances and
angles between points, eliminating the need for complex laser measurements
onsite. This is of particular benefit to architects.
-- High-Performance Photo Texturing: High-quality texture extraction;
texture mapping is a one-click, automatic process and photorealism is built-
in.
-- User-friendly Interface: The UI color can be customized and source
images can be viewed as thumbnails.
-- Improved Interoperability with other Autodesk software products:
Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk 3ds Max Design, Autodesk
MotionBuilder and the AutoCAD family of products.
-- Full interoperability with Adobe Photoshop and support for many
industry-standard image, Web and video file formats.
For a complete list of what's new in Stitcher Unlimited 2009 &
ImageModeler 2009, visit http://www.autodesk.com/stitcher and
http://www.autodesk.com/imagemodeler.
Pricing and Availability
Autodesk anticipates that Stitcher Unlimited 2009 for Microsoft Windows
and Apple Macintosh will be available in English, French, German and Japanese
in October 2008. The Autodesk suggested retail price for Stitcher Unlimited
2009 software is $350 USD*. ImageModeler 2009 for Microsoft Windows is
expected to be available in English in October 2008. The Autodesk suggested
retail price for ImageModeler 2009 software is $995 USD*.
* International pricing may vary.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit http://www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, ImageModeler, Maya, MotionBuilder, REALVIZ, Stitcher,
and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or
its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. SIGGRAPH
is a registered trademark of the Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. All
other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective
holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and
specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
(C) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Liz Tjostolvsen, +353(0)85.113.2618 / Roohi Saeed, 514.954.7296
Email: liz.tjostolvsen@realviz.com / roohi.saeed@autodesk.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
Liz Tjostolvsen, +353(0)85.113.2618, liz.tjostolvsen@realviz.com, for
Autodesk; or Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, +1-514-954-7296,
roohi.saeed@autodesk.com
