An exclusive interview with visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert.Today on the podcast were talking about Denis Villeneuves Dune: Part Two with visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert.Now, the first thing you should also know is that Paul is part of the full issue of befores & afters magazine in print covering the film. The wrap-around cover in the latest print magazine, covering Dune: Part Two.Hes featured along with a number of other effects crew members, including special effects supervisor Gerd Nefzer, second unit visual effects supervisor Patrick Heinen from Wylie Co., and Rhys Salcombe and Stephen James, VFX supervisors from DNEG.In this chat with Paul, we go through the big visual effects scenes in the film, including the opening eclipse moments, the sandworm riding, the attack on the spice harvester, how Giedi Prime was made, the battle of Arrakis, and how the Fremens blue eyes were achieved. This is a really fun and informative chat and I hope you might also grab the magazine as well to get the even fuller picture. This episode of the befores & afters podcast is sponsored by SideFX. Looking for great customer case studies, presentations and demos? Head to the SideFX YouTube channel. There youll find tons of Houdini, Solaris and Karma content. This includes recordings of recent Houdini HIVE sessions from around the world.Find the podcast above, and here in this gallery check out some behind the scenes stills from the film.Click to view slideshow.The post The visual effects of Dune: Part Two appeared first on befores & afters.

Take a look at this mesmerizing 3D terrarium scene made by Muhammad Awais Azhar using Megascans, Blender, and Unreal Engine 5.More renders and info: https://80.lv/articles/captivating-3d-terrarium-scene-in-blender-unreal-engine-5/

Crimson Desert, a highly-anticipated open-world action RPG, received new demos during the G-STAR global game exhibition.Enjoy a moment of huge satisfaction when Queen Stoneback Crab is taken down: https://80.lv/articles/check-out-latest-demos-of-open-world-rpg-crimson-desert/

Recently, my friend Scott asked me out of the blue: Is there anyone you idolize?I answered that Id have to think about it. Scott followed up with, What about Abraham Lincoln? Thats when I realized I had misunderstood his question. I thought he had meant, Is there anyone you idolize alive today?With all of history open before me, the question was easier: Of course, Lincoln, I said. Also, George Washington, Harry Truman, and Rosa Parks.Going back further, I invoked King David and the illustrious sage Rabbi Akiva.What about Churchill? Scott asked.Churchill was complicated, I replied. He is certainly one of my heroes, possibly the single most influential figure in preventing Hitler from establishing the Third Reich as the thousand-year empire he imagined it would become. But Churchill was also crass, coarse, and personally self-indulgent. Not someone, I explained, worthy of idolization.Scott pushed back: Does a person have to be perfect to be worthy of being idolized?And thats how we arrive at this weeks entry into the Ethical Lexicon:Idolize (idolize/ ahyd-l-ahyz) verbTo love or admire in the extremeTo worship as a godAccording to the most literal definition, an idol is a graven image representing a higher power, typically a false god of the worshippers own imagination. In more contemporary usage, idols are celebritiesfilm stars, models, sports figureswho elicit godlike devotion from their fans and acolytes. More often than not, these deified personalities lack any intrinsic qualities beyond physical beauty, athletic prowess, or charismatic personality. Clearly, we can find more deserving objects for idolization.What about intellectuals who articulate deep thoughts and moral values? Conservatives may worship such personalities as Jordan Peterson, Thomas Sowell, and Abigail Shrier. Liberals might bow their heads to Van Jones, Sam Harris, and Bob Woodward. Do these thinkers and influencers merit idolization? And if they do, should executive celebrities like Jamie Dimon, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk be counted among their ranks as well?Consider the two definitions of idolize:1) To love or admire in the extreme:If we aspire to fully realize our personal potential, we need larger-than-life figures to look up to, to emulate, to find inspiration in their greatness so we can draw upon our own hidden talents and achieve greatness in our own way. Simply recognizing exceptional individuals who have transcended the apparent limits of human achievementwhether in politics, business, competitive sports, or the artsshows us that we can look beyond the limits placed upon us by our peers, by society, or by ourselves.2) To worship as a god: Conversely, we court disaster by turning the objects of our admiration into deities or comic book superheroes. From King David to Winston Churchill, the luminaries of history all had human shortcomings to accompany their extraordinary accomplishments. Indeed, the true inspiration of their stories resides in how they overcame both internal and external challenges to earn mythic status.Consequently, there are two ways we can err when assessing the stature of heroes: The first is to invalidate their accomplishments by fixating on their flaws; the second is to dismiss their flaws as we marvel at their achievements. Conquering our lesser angels to achieve superhuman feats is the quintessence of being fully human.Perhaps thats why we have so much trouble finding people today genuinely worthy of veneration or even adoration.On the one hand, unrealistic expectations drive us to relentlessly seek out the slightest flaws. If we look long and hard enough, we inevitably find them, after which we summarily dismiss all the greatness that should overshadow those few dark blemishes. On the other hand, once we invest in admiration, we choose to ignore the obvious faults, transforming heroes into caricatures.That these two contradictory mindsets coexist in our culture is both puzzling and deeply concerning. We tear down real heroes and erect false idols in their place. By doing so, we cheat ourselves out of the inspiration that can drive us toward real success.How many CEOs or presumed wunderkind seemed to be rocketing skyward only to plummet to Earth, like Icarus flying too close to the sun? Sam Bankman-Fried, Elizabeth Holmes, Ken Lay, John DeLorean . . . and lets throw in Bernie Madoff for good measure. How many people ignored the obvious warning signs because the illusion of exceptionalism was too attractive to question?And how many humble heroes go unnoticed because we arent looking for them in the right places?Its not hard to identify leaders who deserve our followership. They are the ones who demonstrate transparency, vulnerability, empathy, humility, and grit in everything they do. They dont need to trumpet their successes because their reputations speak for themselves. They dont need to compensate for their shortcomings because struggling with shortcomings has made them who they are.When contemplating which luminaries are worthy of idolization, identify the noble qualities and real accomplishments while simultaneously acknowledging their faults and flaws.Then focus on the virtues you can strive to develop in your own lifes work, seeking inspiration from the greatness that resides in heroic struggle so that you can become a source of inspiration yourself.

Although coverage of the 2024 election was dominated by the economy, taxes didnt get much attention in the run-up to the vote. Thats a bit of a surprise, since 2025 will be a major year for Americas tax system. In fact, the fate of the most significant tax reform in three decades hangs in the balance.That would be the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Congress passed during President-elect Donald Trumps first term in office in 2017. If lawmakers dont take action, the whole package is set to expire at the end of next year. Western Governors University School of Business tax expert Jim Franklin explains what might be in store for the act, and for taxpayers.What do the election results mean for Republicans ability to advance their tax agenda?We know there will be a Republican president, and it appears the Republican Party will have the majority in both chambers of Congress. That means Republicans will be able to pass a tax bill along party lines, similar to how Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act using budget reconciliation.This would allow Republicans to pass key policies with a simple majority. The Republican majority is narrow, so it will be interesting to see how the leaders unify their constituent groups.Republicans have traditionally supported lower tax rates for businesses and individuals, as well as tax incentives to help boost economic activity.Whats next for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?Currently, the act is set to expire at the end of 2025, but Trump and Republicans favor renewing many of its provisions.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in May 2024 estimated that extending the act would cost the government $4.6 trillion, and theres a split within the party, with one bloc of congressional Republicans calling for a full extension and another asking for the balancing of tax policy and annual federal deficits.Republicans are likely to fight to keep key components in place, including the higher standard deduction, reduced corporate tax rates, individual rate cuts, and an increased estate tax exemption.Theres even talk of lowering the corporate tax rate further, possibly to 15% for domestic production, which would be a significant move.What other tax measures are Republicans considering?Trump mentioned a variety of tax relief ideas on the campaign trail, including exempting tips, Social Security benefits, and overtime pay from income taxes, and creating an itemized deduction for auto loan interest.However, Republicans arent entirely unified on tax policy. Some deficit hawks are concerned about revenue losses, so there could be internal pushback on all these points. The real question is whether there will be enough opposition within the party to alter or block certain proposals.But I expect many parts of the act to be renewed, and we may see some additions. For example, theres been a lot of pressure around increasing the state and local tax deduction cap, also known as SALT, which has bipartisan support in states with higher state income taxes like New York, California, and Illinois. It will be interesting to see if that gains any traction. Theres a lot of pressure among representatives, both Republicans and Democrats, to gain some relief in that area.Where will they find revenue?Good question. Observers are indicating that Republicans are likely to look at cutting green energy subsidies from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. These could be eliminated to help balance out the cost of their new tax proposals.Another area to watch is tariffs. Theres talk of raising tariffs on Chinese goodspotentially up to 60%and even imposing a universal tariff on all U.S. imports at a 20% rate. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will it be more targeted? For example, will there be continued tariffs on select imports such as automotive imports from China to protect the U.S. electric vehicle market?What will you be watching between now and Tax Day?One factor will be Trumps cabinet appointments. Whoever he nominates for Treasury secretary, for instance, could have a big influence. They can help shape what the tax bill looks like. Another key factor will be who ends up on the congressional tax committees. The composition of key committees will affect the direction of policy and the specific details.What do you think will happen with tariffs?Tariffs are unpredictable: They could be applied broadly, or more selectively. It could be similar to the way that Trump and his first administration placed some tariffs on steel, aluminum, and solar panels. Interestingly, many of the tariffs were retained by the Biden administration.Blanket tariffs could slow down the economy, so there is always a risk. Tariffs impact inflation because they affect the cost of imported goods, which would likely reduce consumers purchasing power. Domestic political pressure will play a role, as higher tariffs could raise prices on many goods that are imported, including essential products like medications.Do you have advice for people struggling to keep up with the latest tax news?Observers often take every policy suggestion on the campaign trail literallyexempting tips, Social Security benefits, overtime pay, etc.as if all these proposals will pass exactly as stated. But the details matter, and policies are rarely implemented without adjustments. So its wise to read beyond the headlines.Jim Franklin is a director of Academic Programs at Western Governors University School of Business.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Dezeen Showroom: a collection of rugs informed by coastlines in eastern Americais among eight new products featured on Dezeen Showroom.Atlantic collection rugs by Workshop/APD for Warp & WeftUS brandWarp & Weft worked with architecture firm Workshop/APD on the design of a rug collection informed by the coastlines that define theUS island of NantucketSix designs are compiled into three distinctive groups Tidal, Shore and Meander in the Atlantic rug collection, with all of them representing the country's east coast.Atlantic was recently featured on Dezeen Showroom alongside a lighting system defined by its ring-shaped lighting elements and a sofa with a tufted, concave form.Read on to see more of the latest products:Rings lights by Ted Bradley StudioTed Bradley Studio has released a series of ceiling-hung lights with ring-shaped that are made from glazed clay.Rings lights come in a selection of hues and can be hung in an array of configurations to create dynamic statement lighting solutions.Find out more about Rings Ploum sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne RosetA distinctive dish-shaped, concave form characterises this sofa created by designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for design brand Ligne Roset.The Ploum sofa has a tufted surface and integrated, upholstered legs that created a unique and comfortable place to relax.Find out more about Ploum Wool Library textiles by DesigntexA spectrum of richly coloured fabrics have been released by US companyDesigntex, characterised by their biodegradable wool fibre materiality.Wool Library textiles come in 190 colourways and four woven styles, which can be used in a plethora of applications.Find out more about Wool Setup Cockpit desk shelf system by BaloloGerman product design brand Balolo has released a desk setup system that enhances productivity and promotes organisation.The Setup Cockpit desk shelf system is made from steel and solid wood, ensuring durability and timelessness.Find out more about Setup Cockpit Calm privacy screens by Union Design for KFI StudiosUnion Design and KFI Studios have developed a series of fluted room dividers that help to delineate zones in open plan interiors.Calm privacy screens are made from recycled plastic felt and are anchored by heavy steel bases.Find out more about Calm Argo Libro Metal table by MaraItalian furniture brand Mara has released the Argo Libro Metal table, which is defined by the centrally-placed hinge in its tabletop that allows it to be moved and stored with ease.The table is made entirely out of metal, meaning that it is fully recyclable and durable enough for use in workplace environments.Find out more about Argo Libro Metal Professional DW60.C dishwasher by AskoAppliance brand Asko have released a professional-grade dishwasher that has enhanced performance, hygiene properties and user-friendliness.The Professional DW60.C has time-efficient cycles and, despite its high-tech functionalities, is easy to use.Find out more about Professional DW60.C Dezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post Atlantic rugs by Warp & Weft among eight new products on Dezeen Showroom appeared first on Dezeen.

Czech designers Kristna Mikolkov and Tereza Drobn have developed a collection of colourful glass side tables that can be combined with smaller metal models to alter their appearance.The Candy Tables were designed by Mikolkov&Drobn as nesting pieces that can function individually or stack together.Mikolkov&Drobn has unveiled the Candy TablesProduced in a range of six solid hues, the cylindrical metal tables take on a different aesthetic when layered with one of the taller glass elements.The tables are sold individually in colours including orange, lilac, pink, yellow, blue and mint green, which the designers said were informed by pastel sweets.The glass tables are designed to next on top of the metal onesOffering what Mikolkov and Drobn described as "a fresh take on accent side tables", the collection allows users to customise the look and feel of a space by combining colours to produce different effects.The glass tables feature a gradient effect that is introduced during the production process using a spray technique. A layer of matte white is then added to create the translucent effect towards the bottom.The metal tables are finished in block coloursThe tables are manufactured using traditional methods by glass artisans from the Nov Bor and elezn Brod regions."To minimise material waste, the glass tables are created by cutting a several-metre-long glass cylinder," the designers explained. "The top part is then attached as a 'lid' and finally, everything is manually polished to ensure the tables are formally impeccable."Read: Helle Mardahl fills Copenhagen apartment with candy-coloured glassThe metal tables are made from rolled sheet material and feature small feet that raise the bases off the floor.The collection includes two sizes a low version where the glass table has a 450-millimetre diameter and a taller size with a diameter of 300 millimetres.The system allows users to create different colour combinationsMikolkov and Drobn studied design together at the Czech Technical University in Prague before founding their studio in 2021. Their work draws inspiration from culture, architecture and scenography, often using colour to give the pieces a distinct sense of personality.For the Candy Tables, the designers chose to revisit their original specialisms: Drobn is a trained glass artist and Mikolkov typically focuses on metalwork.The glass cylinders have an ombre finish"From the beginning, our vision has been to gradually create various types of products and furniture that visually harmonise with each other and can enliven any already furnished space," the pair explained."With the Candy Tables series, after cushions and wooden screens, we are once again returning to our signature materials."The collection was unveiled at DesignblokThe tables were presented at the 26th edition of the Designblok design fair in Prague in an installation called Candy Factory with acoustic design studio Lappa.Highlights from previous editions of the festival include a wax urn and an online configurator for modular wooden homes.Cake Factory was on show at Designblok from 2 to 6 October 2024 at various locations across Prague. SeeDezeen Events Guidefor an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.The post Nesting tables by Mikolkov&Drobn change colour as they're combined appeared first on Dezeen.

The journey of creating a product doesnt end at designits where it begins. KeyShot, a trusted name in product visualization and rendering, is evolving that journey with its innovative Product Design-to-Market Suite. Imagine a world where designers, developers, and marketers dont work in silos but move together in perfect sync. Thats the vision KeyShot is bringing to life, and its already shaking up workflows for companies big and small.We sat down with Garin Gardiner, Product Director of KeyShot Hub, to uncover how this suite is solving challenges designers didnt even know had solutions. From effortless collaboration to smarter asset management, KeyShot isnt just keeping up with the demands of the design worldits rewriting the rules. Dive into this conversation to explore how KeyShot is empowering creators to dream big and deliver faster.Click Here to Download Now: The whitepaper for an in-depth look at how this new framework can transform your business.Yanko Design: What specific areas in the product design process does KeyShots new Product Design-to-Market Suite address? How does this optimize a business workflow in ways that older versions of KeyShot didnt?Garin Gardiner: Our flagship product, KeyShot Studio, is primarily geared towards the individual designer. It was the first scientifically accurate rendering engine, now used in over two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, with thousands of customers around the world. Weve always worked closely with our customers to keep Studio relevant to their needs, and over two decades of development, we learned about other significant needs related to the design process, team workflows and business logistics. We saw a huge opportunity to help and to revolutionize the way products are brought to market.Were introducing a concept called Product Design-to-Market, which is a holistic strategy that connects the many departments involved in product creation and market delivery. You can think of it as bridging the product design and go-to-market processes. Instead of working in silos, were encouraging a smooth exchange of information and assets across design, development and marketing teams. The result is faster iteration, better alignment, and a seamless transition from first sketch to market delivery.Of course, you need the right tools to make this vision a reality. Our Product Design-to-Market Suite, which includes KeyShot Studio, also provides comprehensive design team support in KeyShot Hub and connection to the management and distribution of marketing assets in KeyShot Dock.Yanko Design: How have early adopters responded to KeyShot Hubs collaboration capabilities, and can you share how it has improved their design process?Garin Gardiner: It is amazing how nearly every customer weve talked to, when we ask them how theyre navigating team workflows, say they struggle managing a central repository for their team to find the core items they use frequently. When individuals cant find what theyre looking for, they often create duplications, and theres so much time wasted in that. Hub provides that central repository, so everyone has access to the current version of the file, meaning no duplications are necessary. Plus, changes to the file can automatically be tracked and you can easily revert back to a previous version.Another favorite is the shared material library in Hub. Customers say being able to work from the same material library makes a huge difference. If a material gets modified, the entire team will automatically get the latest and greatest the next time they use a material. They are also able to tag it for easier searchability, so they arent creating duplicate materials, like they often do today.Hubs related assets feature is really resonating with customers. When you apply materials to a scene and save it to the Hub, you are able to see all those materials linked to the scene in the Hub for a quick CMF view of your scene.Tagging is another feature customers appreciate. When saving a rendering to the Hub it will automatically attach tags Model Sets, Camera, Studio, Environment, Image Style, Colorway, and Materials. These tags can then be used to search for renderings. Searches can be saved for later re-use by all members of the team. Our customers care a lot about their CMF its a key aspect of what they do. They can also manually update tags if they prefer.Customers are also loving the side-by-side comparison feature between versions. You can select two versions and real-time compare them using a dynamic slider; its really helpful to compare differences between versions, especially when the differences are in small details. Our customers create a lot of versions of the same rendering and being able to compare versions side-by-side is helpful.These are all features that Hub users say address the team and workflow challenges theyre facing today. Ultimately, its all about saving time and enabling easy collaboration, so designers can focus on their craft rather than administrative tasks. And you can see how everything works in a full demo of Hub available on YouTube.Yanko Design: What developments in other industries are providing inspiration for KeyShot as it paves the way forward with its new Product Design-to-Market Suite?Garin Gardiner: Theres certainly movement toward breaking down silos and supporting cross-collaboration. We have seen how companies like Microsoft have enabled richer collaboration using the cloud through their Teams platform. We have also seen design tools like Fusion transform how their customers work with Fusion Team.These developments were part of what inspired us to offer a purpose-built Product Design-to-Market Suite to better support our customers. Now KeyShot provides speedy and intuitive rendering, support for design team workflows, and support for marketing.Yanko Design: Were very excited about KeyShot Docks enhanced Digital Asset Management system! How do you envision it helping companies better organize and distribute their 3D assets across marketing and sales channels?Garin Gardiner: Right now, marketing teams are typically responsible for generating their own images and animations, separate from product design. They budget for product visuals and often make them from scratch, spending time and money on photography and design work. But they could be saving time and money by repurposing the 3D renderings already produced by design teams, which make it easy to create an infinite amount of marketing-worthy product visuals. CAD models and KeyShot scenes can be stored in KeyShot Dock, providing a connection between marketing and product design and empowering marketing to use those assets across go-to-market channels.Our customers tell us that 3D visuals are much more effective than 2D images or product photography; 3D visuals lead to higher conversions and lower return rates.Customers can expect regular updates to Dock. Over time, we are looking to enable viewing 3D interactive files like GLBs and even the possibility of generating on-demand 3D viewables from CAD models like SolidWorks, STEP and more.Yanko Design: How do you see technologies like AI and machine learning influencing the future of 3D rendering and Digital Asset Management, and will KeyShot incorporate these innovations?Garin Gardiner: Were considering how to incorporate AI into our tools in a way that adds value to users. While generative AI can provide impressive results in image generation, we still believe that accurate rendering down to highly detailed materials and brand elements will require physics-based rendering. However, we are analyzing how AI can help our customers achieve greater efficiency in their workflows or increase the speed and quality of rendering, through processes like sampling light rays used by rendering algorithms or denoising rendered images.On the marketing side, AI has the potential to make it faster and easier for teams to generate 2D renderings as a replacement for physical photography. Imagine feeding AI with 100% accurate product data and using it to generate creative environments around accurate renderings.These are all possibilities were looking at right now. AI has so much potential to provide creative and logistical support its all about making the most of it.Image Credits: Silvester KsslerClick Here to Download Now: The whitepaper for an in-depth look at how this new framework can transform your business.The post How Collaborative Tools are Revolutionizing the Design Pipeline: An Interview with KeyShot first appeared on Yanko Design.

Weve seen Motocompo knock-offs, personal electric commuters and cargo bikes that would put a four-wheeler to shame. This one by San Francisco-based company Otherlab is radically different though. Dubbed Lightfoot, the electric cargo scooter has built-in solar panels to employ limitless solar power to charge the in-built battery.The electric scooters 120W solar panels sandwich the considerably large 45.2 L storage compartment which is big enough to store essentials like a backpack, grocery bags, books, or any other essentials. One of these panels is hinged to allow access to the inside compartment. This space is also used to conceal the UL-certified 1.1 kWh battery and the 600W on-board charger.Designer: OtherlabThe padded seat on the bike is comfortable enough for a single rider, however, if a pillion needs to take the ride home that option is also open as the bike has footplates too. Lightfoot is powered by a couple of 750W brushless DC motors that generate 90Nm peak torque and hurl it to a top speed of 20 miles per hour. Whether it can scoot around medium-grade hilly terrain is still not clear, but based on specifications alone it should be able to do that. The motors are plugged into the 1.1kWh battery capable of having a 37-mile range on a single charge.The solar panels charge up in broad sunlight to add around 3 miles with an hour of charge, and 18 miles on a full sunny day. People who are heavy users will mostly rely on the wall plug charging option and the solar charge will be a bonus. The bike will be a good option for users who will use it for short trips to the supermarket or local metro station.Otherlab has kept in mind the maintenance and repairability of the scooter at any service center or local garage since it comes with off-the-shelf components making up the functional parts of the ride. Another set of deal-making features are the one-year complete bike guarantee and two-year mechanical guarantee. To top it off youll also get the ironclad buy-back guarantee as the company is promising a buy-back option if the user is not satisfied with LIghtfoot. Interestingly the goofy little scooter will be available to buy in the US from January for a price of $4,995. We can expect it to make an appearance at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.The post This solar powered electric scooter is a cooler sibling of the Motocompo moped first appeared on Yanko Design.

MSI Titan 18 HX A14V review: Fast, furious, and very flawed.Intel Core i9 14900HX | RTX 4090 (175 W) | 128 GB DDR5 | 6 TB SSD (total) | $4,800 | 4,800