Wait, in Avatar there were real actors? CGI artists are never just left to blindly animate characters and in most cases use reference material or even use motion-captured tracking points to move the characters precisely as the reference actor moved. In this case Zoe Saldanas performance was so good it went unnoticed, completely meshing in to the virtual world in the skilled hands of the CG artists.Like the music?Consider helping us out and downloading it on itunes, Google Play, Spotify and Amazon! The post Amazing Before & After Hollywood VFX Avatar appeared first on Fame Focus.

Image credit: OAWOttawa Architecture Week (OAW), an annual week-long festival organized by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA), is returning to the city for its latest edition.With help from local volunteers and businesses, the event welcomes the public to explore architecture, urbanism, art and design in Ottawa.From tours to lectures, panel discussions, exhibitions, workshops, and more, the event aims to create a dialogue between architects and designers and everyday residents about how built environments shape everyday life. Highlights of the festival include a movie night, trivia night, panel discussion night, OAW Talks, and more.This years theme, Mapping the Market: Spatial Anchors & Planned Histories, focuses on the ByWard Market neighbourhood in Ottawa, and explores the idea of mapping memories to honour the past while also imagining its future.The ByWard Market stands at the intersection of history and possibility. One of Ottawas oldest neighborhoods, it has long been a site of cultural exchange, architectural layering, and collective memory. But as the city grows and development accelerates, we are called to ask, how do we honour the past while imagining a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in place?' reads OAWs website.We invite everyonefrom long-time residents to first-time visitorsto join in reimagining the ByWard Market not just as a historic site, but as a living, breathing urban landscape where memory and innovation can coexist.This years festival will run from September 22 to October, 3, 2025. It includes tours of the Canadian War Museum, Ismaili Imamat, and Notre Dame cathedral, panel discussions, a movie night, a trivia night, a sketching tour, and more.For more information, click here.The post Ottawa Architecture Week returns for 2025 edition appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Mary Terrell (September 23, 1863 July 24, 1954) was an American civil rights activist, journalist, teacher and one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree. She taught in the Latin Department at the M Street High Schoolthe first African-American public high school in the nationin Washington, DC. In 1895, she was the first African-American woman in the United States to be appointed to the school board of a major city, serving in the District of Columbia until 1906. Terrell was a charter member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Colored Women's League of Washington. She helped found the National Association of Colored Women and served as its first national president, and she was a founding member of the National Association of College Women.Photograph credit: unknown; restored by Adam CuerdenRecently featured: Australian brushturkeyTadej PogaarThe FreshmanArchiveMore featured pictures

September 23: Celebrate Bisexuality DayBenedict Arnold1780 American Revolutionary War: British officer John Andr was captured by Patriot forces, thereby revealing a plot by Continental Army general Benedict Arnold (pictured) to hand over West Point, New York.1913 The United Mine Workers of America begin a strike against the Rockefeller-owned Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, sparking the Colorado Coalfield War.2002 The first version of the web browser Firefox was released by the Mozilla Organization.2008 A gunman shot and killed ten students at the Seinjoki University of Applied Sciences in Kauhajoki, Finland, before committing suicide.2019 The British travel company Thomas Cook Group ceased operations with immediate effect, leaving around 600,000 tourists stranded around the world.John Ainsworth Horrocks (d.1846)Ellen Hayes (b.1851)Sigmund Freud (d.1939)Sean Spicer (b.1971)More anniversaries: September 22September 23September 24ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

Thursday, September 26th, 2024Posted by Jim ThackerItoosoft releases Forest Pack 9.0 for 3ds Maxhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Itoosoft has released Forest Pack 9.0, the latest version of its scattering plugin for 3ds Max.The most ambitious release in years, the update adds ForestIvy, an accompanying plugin for generating 3D ivy and other climbing plants using a mix of manual and parametric workflow.The ultimate scattering tool for 3ds MaxDescribed by Itoosoft as the ultimate scattering tool for 3ds Max, Forest Pack is designed to distribute objects across a scene: usually plant models, but also rocks, buildings or lights.The plugin can generate scenes with hundreds of thousands of scattered objects, with a point cloud display mode to improve viewport response, and the option to convert Forest Pack objects to Maxs native instances.The scattering process is fully parametric, and object distribution can also be controlled by image maps, splines or painting directly onto terrain geometry.Forest Pack can scatter both static and animated objects, with the option to randomise both texture maps and the time offset of animation cycles, or control them via image maps.Forest Pack 9.0: new ForestIvy plugin generates 3D climbing plantsThe main new feature in Forest Pack 9.0 the paid Pro edition, at least is ForestIvy, a new bundled plugin for generating 3D ivy and other climbing plants.Users set the overall form of the ivy using a combination of manual and procedural workflow, drawing it directly onto surfaces, generating it automatically, or blending between the two.Its also possible to generate vegetation without an underlying surface, to create basic bushes and shrubs.For finer control, the plugin includes parametric control for properties like branching pattern, the response of the plant to gravity, and the distribution of leaves and flowers.ForestIvy ships with 30 presets based on real-world leaf scans, making it possible to recreate a range of types of climbing plants.To improve performance, the plugin uses viewport and render-time instancing: the initial release is supported in Arnold and V-Ray CPU, but other renderers should add support soon.Workflow and performance updates to the core pluginAs well as ForestIvy, there are a number of workflow and performance improvements to Forest Pack itself.Distribution maps now support multiple mapping channels, and the Randomize Stacked setting now supports stacked splines as well as areas.The ForestSet helper plugin added in Forest Pack 8.0 has been updated, to make it possible to move items from the Geometry List to ForestSet objects.There are also updates to the UI, Library Browser, camera clipping, memory management, and support for V-Ray Proxies. You can find a full list of changes via the link at the foot of the story.Pricing and availabilityForest Pack 9.0 is compatible with 3ds Max 2019+ running on Windows 10+. You can find a list of compatible render engines here.New perpetual licences cost $275. There is also a free Lite edition. Its feature-limited, but can be used on commercial projects.Read a full list of new features in Forest Pack 9.0 in the online release notesRead more about Forest Pack on the product webpage(The download link for the Lite edition is at the top of the page) Latest NewsAdobe releases Photoshop 26.11Check out the new features in the image-editing app, including a new system for creating and managing shared cloud-based projects.Wednesday, September 24th, 2025BiteTheBytes releases World Creator 2025.1Big update to the GPU-based terrain generator adds new biome and object scattering systems. See all of the changes, and the new pricing.Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025Globe Plants to close its online store next monthPopular 3D plant creator's models will be available via Chaos's Cosmos asset library after its e-store closes on 1 October 2025.Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025Itoosoft releases Forest Pack 9.3 for 3ds MaxCheck out the changes to the scattering and scene layout toolset, including support for wind animation in the new ForestIvy plugin.Monday, September 22nd, 2025Get 48,000 free 3D models, HDRIs and materials from BlenderKitCheck out the stock resources, add-ons and even complete 3D scenes available for free in the Blender asset library. For commercial use.Sunday, September 21st, 2025Download 350+ free KitBash3D assets with Cargo 2.0Check out the changes to the kitbash asset library's browser app, plus the free 3D vehicles, models and materials available through it.Sunday, September 21st, 2025More NewsStoryboarding app Previs Pro 3 adds animatics and a free editionTon Roosendaal to step down as Blender chairman and CEOAutodesk unveils new AI tools coming to MayaDiscover 5 key features for CG artists in Godot 4.5GPU firm Bolt Graphics becomes Blender's latest Corporate PatronCascadeur to get dedicated Unreal Engine Live Link pluginRizom-Lab releases RizomUV 2025Foundry releases Mari 7.5 in betaTutorials: Rendering Matte Surfaces - Volumes 1 and 2Blackmagic Design releases Fusion Studio 20.2Autodesk releases MotionBuilder 2026.1Maxon releases Red Giant 2026.0 and Universe 2026.0Older Posts

The Unreal Engine 5.7 Preview is now available and includes updates to MetaHuman Creator and MetaHuman Animator. Download now on the Epic Games Launcher, GitHub, and Linux. MetaHuman 5.7 Preview brings: The Meta

On the RGG Summit livestream tonight, Sega announced Yakuza Kiwami 3, a ground-up remake of 2009's Yakuza 3. As with the previous "Kiwami" remakes, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, Kiwami 3 gives the game's visuals a massive upgrade, fleshes out story details with new cutscenes and action sequences, and also is set to offer a wealth of new side content. In the later RGG Direct, game director Ryosuke Horii elaborated on some of the game's additions. Besides additional story scenes, several of the cutscenes and voicelines from Yakuza 3 have been completely redone for Kiwami 3. The environments of Okinawa--a distinct feature of Yakuza 3--have also been completely remade. Combat sees similar revamps, with Kiryu being able to switch between his classic "Dragon of Dojima Kiwami" fighting skills and the all-new, Okinawan-martial-arts-inspired, weapon-heavy "Ryukyu Style." And to top it all off, the "Dragon Boost" powered-up mode gives Kiryu's hard-hitting, face-smashing, ruffian-hurling techniques even more of a ferocious edge.All-new minigames were also showcased. A new game mode called "Life at Morning Glory" shows the softer side of Kiryu as he manages the Morning Glory orphanage and interacts with the children under his care. Another new mini-game, "Legendary Baddie: Bad Boy Dragon," sees Kiryu teaming up with a posse of female Okinawan biker gang members and helping them in their turf wars against rival groups. Continue Reading at GameSpot

Building an Orphie team in Zenless Zone Zero is very simple, as she has a lot of options to choose from. When it comes to her role, Orphie operates as an off-field DPS who possesses some supportive abilities that can help her team deal more DMG. Here are the best teams for Orphie & Magus in ZZZ.

AI is no longer solely a back-office tool. Its a strategic partner that can augment decision-making across every line of business.Whether users aim to reduce operational overhead or personalize customer experiences at scale, custom AI agents are key.As AI agents are adopted across enterprises, managing their deployment will require a deliberate strategy. The first steps are architecting the enterprise AI infrastructure to optimize for fast, cost-efficient inference and creating a data pipeline that keeps agents continuously fed with timely, contextual information.Alongside human and hardware resourcing, onboarding AI agents will become a core strategic function for businesses as leaders orchestrate digital talent across the organization.Heres how to onboard teams of AI agents:1. Choose the Right AI Agent for the TaskJust as human employees are hired for specific roles, AI agents must be selected and trained based on the task theyre meant to perform. Enterprises now have access to a variety of AI models including for language, vision, speech and reasoning each with unique strengths.For that reason, proper model selection is critical to achieving business outcomes:Choose a reasoning agent to solve complex problems that require puzzling through answers.Use a code-generation copilot to assist developers with writing, changing and merging code.Deploy a video analytics AI agent for analyzing site inspections or product defects.Onboard a customer service AI assistant thats grounded in a specific knowledge base rather than a generic foundation model.Model selection affects agent performance, costs, security and business alignment. The right model enables the agent to accurately address business challenges, align with compliance requirements and safeguard sensitive data. Choosing an unsuitable model can lead to overconsumption of computing resources, higher operational costs and inaccurate predictions that negatively impact agent decision-making.With software like NVIDIA NIM and NeMo microservices, developers can swap in different models and connect tools based on their needs. The result: task-specific agents fine-tuned to meet a business goals, data strategy and compliance requirements.2. Upskill AI Agents by Connecting Them to DataOnboarding AI agents requires building a strong data strategy.AI agents work best with a consistent stream of data thats specific to the task and the business theyre operating within.Institutional knowledge the accumulated wisdom and experience within an organization is a crucial asset that can often be lost when employees leave or retire. AI agents can play a pivotal role in capturing and preserving this knowledge for employees to use.Connecting AI to data sources: To function at their best, AI agents must interpret a variety of data types, from structured databases to unstructured formats such as PDFs, images and videos. Such connection enables the agents to generate tailored, context-aware responses that go beyond the capabilities of a standalone foundation model, delivering more precise and valuable outcomes.AI as a knowledge repository: AI agents benefit from systems that capture, process and reuse data. A data flywheel continuously collects, processes and uses information to iteratively improve the underlying system. AI systems benefit from this flywheel, recording interactions, decisions and problem-solving approaches to self-optimize their model performance and efficiency. For example, integrating AI into customer service operations allows the system to learn from every conversation, capturing valuable feedback and questions. This data is then used to refine responses and maintain a comprehensive repository of institutional knowledge.NVIDIA NeMo supports the development of powerful data flywheels, providing the tools for continuously curating, refining and evaluating data and models. This enables AI agents to improve accuracy and optimize performance through ongoing adaptation and learning.3. Onboard AI Agents Into Lines of BusinessOnce enterprises create the cloud-based, on-premises or hybrid AI infrastructure to support AI agents and refine the data strategy to feed those agents timely and contextual information, the next step is to systematically deploy AI agents across business units, moving from pilot to scale.According to a recent IDC survey of 125 chief information officers, the top three areas that enterprises are looking to integrate agentic AI are IT processes, business operations and customer service.In each area, AI agents help enhance the productivity of existing employees, such as by automating the ticketing process for IT engineers or giving employees easy access to data to help serve customers.AI agents in the enterprise could also be onboarded for:For telecom operations, Amdocs builds verticalized AI agents using its amAIz platform to handle complex, multistep customer journeys spanning sales, billing and care and advance autonomous networks from optimized planning to efficient deployment. This helps ensure performance of the networks and the services they support.NVIDIA has partnered with various enterprises, such as enterprise software company ServiceNow, and global systems integrators, like Accenture and Deloitte, to build and deploy AI agents for maximum business impact across use cases and lines of business.4. Provide Guardrails and Governance for AI AgentsJust like employees need clear guidelines to stay on track, AI models require well-defined guardrails to ensure they provide reliable, accurate outputs and operate within ethical boundaries.Topical guardrails: Topical guardrails prevent the AI from veering off into areas where they arent equipped to provide accurate answers. For instance, a customer service AI assistant should focus on resolving customer queries and not drift into unrelated topics such as upsells and offerings.Content safety guardrails: Content safety guardrails moderate human-LLM interactions by classifying prompts and responses as safe or unsafe and tagging violations by category when unsafe. These guardrails filter out unwanted language and make sure references are made only to reliable sources, so the AIs output is trustworthy.Jailbreak guardrails: With a growing number of agents having access to sensitive information, the agents could become vulnerable to data breaches over time. Jailbreak guardrails are designed to help with adversarial threats as well as detect and block jailbreak and prompt injection attempts targeting LLMs. These help ensure safer AI interactions by identifying malicious prompt manipulations in real time.NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails empower enterprises to set and enforce domain-specific guidelines by providing a flexible, programmable framework that keeps AI agents aligned with organizational policies, helping ensure they consistently operate within approved topics, maintain safety standards and comply with security requirements with the least latency added at inference.Get Started Onboarding AI AgentsThe best AI agents are not one-size-fits-all. Theyre custom-trained, purpose-built and continuously learning.Business leaders can start their AI agent onboarding process by asking:What business outcomes do we want AI to drive?What knowledge and tools does the AI need access to?Who are the human collaborators or overseers?In the near future, every line of business will have dedicated AI agents trained on its data, tuned to its goals and aligned with its compliance needs. The organizations that invest in thoughtful onboarding, secure data strategies and continuous learning are poised to lead the next phase of enterprise transformation.Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to create an automated data flywheel that continuously collects feedback to onboard, fine-tune and scale AI agents across enterprises.Stay up to date on agentic AI, NVIDIA Nemotron and more by subscribing to NVIDIA AI news, joining the community and following NVIDIA AI on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook.Explore the self-paced video tutorials and livestreams.

Super limited, top-down track terror? Check. European concept car from the future paying homage to its past? Yep. Timeless off-roader that took both the sport and utility mad seriously in SUV? That part. This months free update from the Polyphony fam has a vehicular something for everyone, and adds two more models: 25 Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R, Opel Corsa GSW Vision Gran Turismo, 74 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V, as well as the 23 Hyundai Elantra N, and 20 Toyota RAV4 Adventure.Play VideoFive new events will be added to World Circuits and you can take your virtual lens to South America, Bolivia specifically, with different scenes from the country having been added to Scapes.Update 1.63 for Gran Turismo 7 is available as of today, Tuesday, September 23 at 10:00pm PDT / September 24 at 6:00am BST / 2:00pm JST.New Cars**Hyundai Elantra N 23(Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars)Hyundais Elantra N is a circuit-ready thrill machine born from the brands racing DNA. Debuting with the 7th-gen Elantra in 2020, it packs a 2.0L turbo engine pushing 276 BHP and 40 kgfm torque, sprinting 062 mph in just 5.3 seconds. Available in 6-speed manual or 8-speed DCT, it features N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, and N Track Sense Shift for racetrack precision. Electronically controlled dampers, ELSD, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires deliver sharp cornering and stability. Inside, bucket seats, a custom wheel, and N Sound Equalizer elevate the drive. A TCR touring variant proves its motorsport chopsthis isnt just a daily driver, its a track-honed beast.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageMazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R 25(Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars)Only 200 made, the Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R is a factory-built track weapon born from Mazdas motorsport initiative. Debuting at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon, its based on the ND Roadster but packed with race-grade parts: a hand-assembled engine with custom internals, Bilstein dampers, Brembo brakes, forged Rays wheels, Recaro seats, and a Fujitsubo exhaust. Developed by a team of Mazda employees who raced in the Super Endurance Series, this roadster reflects deep racing know-how. With performance tuned to the edge of endurance limits, its the ultimate expression of Mazdas works team spiritraw, rare, and ready to rip.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageOpel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo(Can be purchased from Brand Central)Opels Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is a bold, all-electric concept celebrating 60 years of innovation. With dual motors delivering 788 BHP and 800 Nm torque, it rockets from 062 mph in 2.0 seconds and tops out at 198.8 mph. Its sleek, muscular design features the next-gen Opel Vizor and Compass lighting signature, while active aero elements boost high-speed handling. Inside, a stripped-down cockpit offers a focused racing experience with HUD, six-point harness, and electrochromic safety alerts. As a phygital show car playable in Gran Turismo 7, it blends Opels motorsport legacy with futuristic techan electrified glimpse into the GSE brands high-performance future.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageToyota Land Cruiser FJ40V 74(*Can be purchased from Legend Cars)The 74 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V is a compact off-roader that defined the go anywhere and come back alive philosophy. Introduced in 1960, the third-gen model stayed in production for 25 years and became a global icon. Its short wheelbase made it ideal for rugged terrain, while part-time 4WD and a 2-speed transfer case delivered serious capability. Originally powered by a 3.9L gas engine, a 3L diesel was added in 1974. Its legacy lives on through the FJ Cruiser and GAZOO Racings reproduction of model 40 parts. Beloved for its reliability and versatility, the FJ40V remains a timeless symbol of adventure.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageToyota RAV4 Adventure 20(*Can be purchased from Brand Central)The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Adventure is a rugged crossover that lives up to its name. Built on Toyotas TNGA platform, it blends off-road capability with urban comfort. A 2.0L Dynamic Force Engine paired with Direct Shift-CVT delivers smooth acceleration and fuel efficiency. Its standout feature: Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD with a disconnect system for better economy. Rugged styling includes a custom grille, skid-plate bumper, and 19-inch tires. Safety comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense, featuring pre-collision alerts, Lane Tracing Assist, and adaptive cruise control. Inside, smartphone integration and a Panoramic View Monitor enhance everyday driving. Its the perfect SUV for those who crave adventureon or off the road.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageWorld Circuits (New Events)The following new events have been added to World Circuits:Sunday CupSardegna Road Track C ReverseJapanese FR Challenge 450Suzuka CircuitRace of Turbo SportscarsWatkins Glen Long CourseVision Gran Turismo TrophyNrburgring GPWorld Touring Car 700Alsace VillageScapesBolivia has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.*Internet connection required for update. **Credits (paid or via game progression) required to purchase vehicles.