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3D Systems buys company behind Star Wars, Hobbit and Harry Potter models

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3D Systems Acquires Gentle Giant Studios

  • Accesses decades of licensed content from industry’s greatest brands
  • Expands leadership capabilities and know-how in retail merchandising
Release Date:
Friday, January 3, 2014 – 08:36

ROCK HILL, South Carolina – January 3, 2014 – 3D Systems  (NYSE:DDD) announced today the acquisition of Gentle Giant Studios, the leading provider of 3D modeling for the entertainment and toy industry. For over two decades, Gentle Giant Studios has led the development of state-of-the-art content using 3D scanning and modeling to develop and manufacture licensed 3D printed characters, toys and collectibles from a variety of franchise properties with global brand recognition, including Marvel, Disney, AMC’s The Walking Dead, Avatar, Harry Potter and Star Wars.

3DS plans to immediately leverage Gentle Giant Studios technology and vast library of digital content into its consumer platform and extend its existing brand relationships to further the reach of 3D scanning, modeling and printing for entertainment, toys, collectibles, action figures in conjunction with numerous blockbuster films and evergreen licensed properties.

“Gentle Giant Studios catapults 3DS’s consumer platform forward with highly curated, licensed characters, content publishing know-how and first-mover experience for the benefit of leading toy companies, movie studios and their merchandising divisions,” said Avi Reichental, President and CEO, 3D Systems.

Learn more about how 3DS is manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

About 3D Systems Corporation

3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D printing centric design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced on-demand custom parts for professionals and consumers alike in materials including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. The company also provides integrated 3D scan-based design, freeform modeling and inspection tools. Its products and services replace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, prototype or produce real parts, empowering customers to manufacture the future.

 

Leadership Through Innovation and Technology

  • 3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.
  • 3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.
  • 3DS invented the Color-Jet-Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.
  • 3DS invented Multi-Jet-Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.

Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

More information on the company is available at www.3DSystems.com.

About Gentle Giant Studios

Gentle Giant Studios is the leading provider of 3D digital data and is the first company to utilize digital data and 3D printing technology for the consumer products and entertainment industries. Creating beloved 3D characters from a variety of franchise properties with worldwide name recognition, including Star Wars, Marvel, Avatar, Harry Potter, AMC’s The Walking Dead, and The Hobbit. Gentle Giant produces a wide range of products that are manufactured using the highest quality utilizing the most advanced 3D scan to print techniques and a team of incredibly talented artisans that digitally captures the likenesses of actors, props, and scenery to accurately model and recreate these images for fans and collectors everywhere. Gentle Giant Studios also provides prototyping and product development services for consumer products, fine art, theme parks, and provides on set digitizing services for major motion pictures.

More information on the company is available on www.gentlegiantltd.com, and www.gentlegiantstudios.com.

Leica_CloudWorx_for_AutoCAD

Leica Geosystems announces updates for its point cloud software applications

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Leica Geosystems announces a major set of updates for its point cloud software applications within its flagship Leica Cyclone and Leica CloudWorx families. These updates save a significant time in the office per day and make it more convenient to work with rich, as-built point cloud data. This is the company’s largest set of point cloud software releases to date.

“What we’re seeing in the market is that our customers are using laser scanning in an increasing variety of scenarios and under more demanding circumstances, so they need more options for working with point cloud data and they need to do their work even faster,” states Chris Thewalt, VP of Scanning Software.  “Overall, we continue to see strong growth of 3D laser scanning/High-Definition Surveying (HDS) with a corresponding expansion and diversification of our user community’s needs. In response, we’ve been investing heavily in a number of our standalone Cyclone and our plug-in CloudWorx point cloud software applications. This large set of releases reflects that ongoing investment.”

Leica Cyclone and Leica CloudWorx families

• More flexible licensing lets users easily move licenses between the field and office and on-or-off a network.
• Users on customer support can implement license upgrades on their own at any time
• Rentals are now available for as short as one week for most products; discounts are available for extended rental periods

Leica CloudWorx for AutoCAD 5.0

• Plug-in for AutoCAD saves hours in the office for working with 3D point clouds in AutoCAD for both experienced users and users new to working in 3D
• Easier X,Y,Z coordinate system setup and faster navigation to desired views; faster creation of 2D drawings; faster ground surface and TIN creation; and, faster selection of high, low and ground points

Leica CloudWorx for 3ds Max 2.0

• New Leica CloudWorx plug-in family member (replaces Leica CloudWorx-VR)
• Eliminates prior need to export from Cyclone and import to Leica CloudWorx-VR; users now enjoy direct data access to Cyclone files
• Adds rich set of standard CloudWorx plug-in tools for working more efficiently with point clouds in 3ds Max

Leica CloudWorx for PDMS 1.3

• Plug-in for PDMS adds valuable option of importing plant models from PDMS directly into Leica Cyclone and exporting models created from point clouds in Cyclone directly into PDMS
• Avoids prior need to import/export models into/from PDMS and Cyclone via AutoCAD or MicroStation
• Supports direct import of PDMS models into popular Leica TruView software

Leica_CloudWorx_for_AutoCAD

LFM Server

LFM Server 4.2 – Introducing Key New Features

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As 3D laser scanning has become easier and more affordable it has become the technology of choice for ‘as-is’ data capture. LFM Server™ enables users to maximize the value of the rich information that laser scanning generates.

LFM Server is the most advanced solution available for accessing pre-registered laser scan data and working with it directly in 3D CAD systems. It is simple to use and offers unrivalled performance and functionality.

There are many different 3D laser scanners and 3D CAD systems in use today. LFM Server has been developed to provide users with maximum freedom of choice of both scanning and design systems. It can read unstructured data from various scanner types; not only terrestrial laser scanners but also hand-held, mobile or aerial scanners.

Designed to work with data from even the highest-resolution scanner, LFM Server enables users to work with datasets of unlimited size and exploit photorealistic, 360° BubbleViews™.

Business Benefits

  • Open on the input
    LFM Server can read a wide variety of 3D data capture formats
  • Open on the output
    LFM Server interfaces seamlessly with all leading 3D CAD systems
  • Unlimited Datasets
    InfiniteCore™ technology enables project datasets of unlimited size to be readily created and accessed
  • Increased Productivity
    The intuitive 360° BubbleView makes it easy to verify clashes, review laser scan data, or simply become familiar with the site
  • Clash-free Design
    Accurate, detailed ‘as-is’ information minimizes the business risks of revamp projects
  • Business Flexibility
    Import scans from a wide variety of scanner types and data formats into a single dataset

For more information about LFM Server 4.2’s great new features, contact us or read more here.

Autodesk ReCap: Making Reality Capture Easy and Affordable

Autodesk Aims to Streamline Use of Point Cloud Data

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A key addition to the complete 2014 portfolio of Suites is Autodesk® ReCap™ product, a family of powerful and easy-to-use software and services on the desktop and in the cloud to create intelligent 3D data from captured photos and laser scans in a streamlined workflow.  Autodesk ReCap is the first industry solution to bring together laser scanning and photogrammetry into one streamlined process. In addition, no other solution on the market provides the visualization quality and scalability to handle extremely large data sets.

The Autodesk ReCap product line comprises two main offerings – Autodesk ReCap Studio and Autodesk ReCap Photo. Autodesk ReCap Studio makes it easy to clean, organize and visualize massive datasets captured from reality. Autodesk ReCap Photo helps users create high-resolution textured 3D models from photos using the power of cloud computing. Rather than beginning with a blank screen, Autodesk ReCap now enables any designer, architect or engineer to add, modify, validate and document their design process in context from existing environments.

For example, a civil engineer can bypass an existing bridge or expand the road underneath digitally and test feasibility. At construction phase, builders can run clash detection to understand if utilities will be in the way. Urban planners can get answers to specific design questions about large areas, such as how much building roof surface is covered by shadow or vegetation.

ReCap Studio is a data preparation environment that runs on the desktop.  Users can import captured data directly into Autodesk design solutions, such as AutoCAD®, Autodesk® Revit®, Autodesk Inventor®, etc., to conduct QA and verification of data. The data can come from non-intelligent, black and white sparse point clouds to intelligent, visually high appealing content. ReCap Studio will ship in Autodesk product and suite installers or be available for free on the Autodesk Exchange Apps store.

ReCap Studio 2

ReCap Photo is an Autodesk 360 service designed to create high resolution 3D data from photos to enable users to visualize and share 3D data. By leveraging the power of the cloud to process and store massive data files, users can upload images on Autodesk 360 and instantly create a 3D mesh model. ReCap Photo is available with Standard Suites entitlement and higher.

ReCap Photo 2

Key features of Autodesk ReCap include:

  • Visualize and edit massive datasets:  On the desktop, ReCap users can view and edit billions of points to prepare them for use in Autodesk portfolio products to enable realistic in context design work
  • Professional-Grade Photo to 3D Features: ReCap unlocks the power of ubiquitous cameras to capture high-quality 3D models, bringing reality capture within reach of anyone with a camera.  ReCap supports objects of any size and range, full resolution for high-density meshes, survey points and multiple file exports.
  • Photo and Laser: ReCap incorporates the best of both photo and laser data capture so that customers can use photos to fill in holes or augment laser scan data. Users can both increase photos scene accuracy with laser points and add photo-realistic detail to laser scans. Create point clouds from photos, align scans and photos and convert professional grade photo to 3D models.

Autodesk continues to invest in developing sophisticated, easy-to-use reality capture technologies. The company has made several key acquisitions including Alice Labs and Allpoint Systems as well as applied its own research and development resources to accelerate the mainstream adoption of these technologies. As customers are looking for ways to easily and accurately capture the world around them, Autodesk ReCap streamlines Reality Capture workflows, making working with Reality Capture data easy, quick and cost effective.

Autodesk is the only company who has combined laser scanning data and photogrammetry into one product family to address and streamline the entire workflow.  Whereas traditional point clouds appear as dots, Autodesk technology can now visualize truly massive point clouds as realistic surfaces. Unique to Autodesk is that users can interact with these huge data sets doing CAD-like operations such as selection, tagging, moving, measuring, clash detection, and object extraction, all with native points. Laser scanning and photogrammetry are historically very expensive and data intensive. Autodesk’s goal is to democratize the process of reality capture so that anyone can capture the world around them to create high quality 3D models.

ILM Hulk Avengers Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk in "The Avengers," courtesy of Marvel Films.

How ILM Used Laser Scanning to Give Life to the Hulk in Marvel’s The Avengers

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Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm Ltd. and now owned by The Walt Disney Company, forever changed the way movies are made and how we as the viewer experience them. The movie-making geniuses have continually raised the bar in computer-generated imagery (CGI) and visual effects (VFX) year after year since the company’s founding by George Lucas in May of 1975. Released today, ILM takes us behind the scenes to show us how they used laser scanning and other tools to transform Mark Ruffalo into the lovable Hulk character that almost stole the show in Marvel’s third highest-grossing film of all time, The Avengers.

Check out more ILM movie magic on their YouTube channel.

Leica Geosystems Cyclone

Leica Geosystems Announces Major Advances in Cyclone 8.0 Software

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Leica Geosystems Announces Cyclone 8.0 Software – Major Advances for “Point Cloud” Office Productivity, Spatial Data Connectivity, and Customization

(Heerbrugg/Switzerland and Hanover/Germany, 9 October 2012) – Leica Geosystems announces the next major release of its flagship software, Leica Cyclone 8.0. In addition to providing further improvements in office productivity for processing as-built laser scan data, Cyclone 8.0 gives users powerful, new capabilities. Users can now directly connect point cloud data with other spatial data sources (such as 3D models) and readily share and re-use modeled data. Leica Cyclone 8.0 is being introduced at Intergeo as supporting software for the new Leica ScanStation P20 ultra-high speed laser scanner.

Office Productivity Gains

Cyclone 8.0 features several enhancements that increase office productivity, often significantly:

[listdot]

  • 20 – 50% faster scan data import
  • Automatic conversion on import to Enhanced Working Format, for faster data processing
  • Automatic creation of all pipe cylinders, with a single click, for an entire project or for a selected set of scan data, even during import
  • Automatic creation of TruView Hotlinks, linking scan points in panoramic TruViews to asset information
  • Easy saving and re-use of complex models created from geometric primitives
  • New “scripting” capability speeds repetitive or customized sequences of model building
  • Fewer clicks and a modern CAD-like interface for popular “Move” and “Rotate” commands[/listdot]

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ClearEdge3D Valve-flange

ClearEdge3D Releases EdgeWise Plant™ 4.0

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Now offers full, end-to-end 3D modeling solution with 9 new features and enhancements including valve/flange placement, demolition tool, custom spec editor, high-definition visualization and more

 

Herndon, Virginia — December 12, 2012 — ClearEdge3D today released EdgeWise Plant™ 4.0, with 9 major new features and enhancements that create the fastest end-to-end pipe modeling solution on the market. The software automates the 3D modeling of complex process plant facilities, cutting up to 85% of labor from the modeling workflow.

Robert Greenhalgh with Ramboll Oil & Gas used the software on a recent North Sea offshore project. “We reduced our 3D modeling time substantially with EdgeWise Plant 4.0,” said Greenhalgh. ”Building standard pipe fittings on top of the powerful automated tools makes 4.0 the complete pipe modeling package.”

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Staples Easy 3D Printing

Staples to offer full-color ‘Easy 3D’ printing service

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FRANKFURT, Germany, November 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —

Full color and low cost make 3D printing accessible to everyone

In a giant step toward the reality of 3D printing for all, Mcor Technologies Ltd has struck a deal with Staples Printing Systems Division to launch a new 3D printing service called “Staples Easy 3D,” online via the Staples Office Centre.

Staples’ Easy 3D will offer consumers, product designers, architects, healthcare professionals, educators, students and others low-cost, brilliantly coloured, photo-realistic 3D printed products from Staples stores. Customers will simply upload electronic files to the Staples Office Centre and pick up the models in their nearby Staples stores, or have them shipped to their address. Staples will produce the models with the Mcor IRIS, a 3D printer with the highest colour capability in the industry and lowest operating cost of any commercial-class 3D printer.

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Hexagon 3D Laser Scanning

Hexagon Introduces Game-changing Solution for Owner Operators

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Stockholm, Sweden, 12 November 2012

Leica TruView Integrator for SmartPlant® Enterprise Extends the Benefits of Laser Scanning to New Uses in Daily Plant Operations

Through collaboration between Intergraph® Process, Power & Marine and Leica Geosystems, Leica TruView Integrator for SmartPlant® Enterprise significantly improves the way engineering assets are maintained. The solution combines Intergraph’s trusted plant asset management software with Leica Geosystems’ intuitive object information software, extending the benefits of laser scanning from its traditional use of providing accurate as-built information for capital projects to important new uses in daily plant operations.

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Embracing Mobile 3D Laser Scanning

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Source

“Technology is advancing so quickly that it’s slowly replacing the surveyor.” These concerns have been voiced over and over as LiDAR scanning becomes more accessible. The most recent advance in scanning is terrestrial mobile LiDAR scanning (TMLS). This technology collects survey-grade data at highway speeds and at traditional survey costs, and in the transportation discipline it is a safer means of data collection while reducing risk for the entire project. But it has surveyors questioning the longevity of their profession. What is seen as a threat because of efficiency must be embraced in order for surveying to survive. Land surveyors are increasingly missing out on surveying work because they are not advancing in current measurement technologies. Understanding and appropriately responding to non-traditional ways will significantly contribute to the success of the surveying profession and to the clients you serve.

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