In issue 123: An exclusive feature from The Embassy showing how to animate the District 9 dropship, Astro Boy's 21st-century makeover, plus software and resources worth $1,184 on the CD

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IN THE MAGAZINE

The making of the District 9 dropship
The Embassy explains how they modelled and textured the ship to the high level of detail seen in the film before sending the model over to Weta Digital for animation, rendering and shot integration

Astro Boy for a new generation
Osamu Tezuka‘s classic Japanese manga Astro Boy, springs into action in three dimensions on the big screen. 3D World follows the adventure as Imagi takes the 2D character and breathes 3D life into him

Commentary and analysis from the CG industry
Blender breaks through – It‘s the world‘s most popular 3D package, but its reputation as a hobbyist‘s tool lingers. Can Blender make inroads into studios with its milestone 2.5 release?

Practical training for every major 3D package
Applications covered this issue include: Maya, Softimage, modo, LightWave 3D, Cinema 4D, Blender, Shade, SketchUp, After Effects, Poser, Vue

Expanded Projects section
Stay in touch with your peers with this month‘s best commercial 3D work

Inspirational imagery
The best new personal artwork from around the world

On test this issue
ZBrush 3.5, MachStudio Pro 1.2, Particle Flow Tools: Box 2, Workstation Specialists WS2112A

Also in issue 123

• Debrief: Mi‘s experience animating around the CBeebies presenters
• 3D legends reflect on life-changing work. This issue: Rare‘s Stephen Macfarlane talks Super Mario
• Letter from Tokyo: Stephen Cryan reckons a working holodeck is closer to reality than you might think

ON THE CD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $1184

Shade 8.5 Professional
Windows/Mac
Worth $899

TurboSquid Submarine
Available in 3DS, C4D, LWO, MAX, MB, OBJ, XSI formats
Worth $199

DAZ Productions
DAZ Studio, Poser formats
As sold for $39

Vanishing Point model
Poser format
Worth $10

PLUS
12 soundscalpel.com audio effects worth $37, 15 high-quality textures from TextureSpace, in JPG format, and 11 minutes of training from The Gnomon Workshop

In issue 122: The making of Aliens vs Predator videogame. Plus: software and resources worth $1328 on the CD

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IN THE MAGAZINE

Aliens vs Predator
We go behinds the scenes of Rebellion‘s update of the much-loved franchise and take a closer look at conceptual art from the preproduction phase and character modelling

Playing in stereo
Technology companies and games developers are revving up for an extra-dimension in games. We look at how to get a piece of that stereoscopic action

Snow Leopard - opening the door to a world of 3D
Changes to the core of OS X could revolutionise 3D development on the Mac. We talk to industry insiders about the leopard that changed its spots

Practical training for every major 3D package
Applications covered this issue include: 3ds Max, Softimage, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Blender, Nuke, After Effects, Photoshop, Poser, Gimp,

Expanded Projects section
Stay in touch with your peers with this month‘s best commercial 3D work

Inspirational imagery
The best new personal artwork from around the world

On test this issue
Daz Studio Advanced 3.0, Poser 8, Swift 3D v6, Flow 1.0

Also in issue 122

• Debrief: Aedas Imaging‘s experience of working on London‘s bus and Tube stations
• 3D legends reflect on life-changing work. This issue: George Pal‘s Time Machine
• Letter from Soho: Dave Throssell offers advice to those wishing to join the ranks of freelancers

ON THE DVD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $1328

Bitfilm Festival
3D World has selected 26 films from the international Bitfilm film festival, included on this month‘s special DVD

Centroid mocap files
BVH and FMX formats
Worth $506

Poser World assets
14 high-quality ready-to-use assets for Poser, DAZ Studio or Carrara
Worth $251

IR Ltd model
LWO, MAX and ZTL formats
As sold for $121

aXYZ design Evolution 2 model
MAX format
Worth $118

3d02.com model
LWO format
As sold for $79

Arte-3D plane model
MAX format
worth $50

PLUS
63 soundscalpel.com audio effects worth $203, 60 JPEG textures from Environment Textures, an HDR file from 3SIX0 and 13 minutes of training from The Gnomon Workshop

In issue 121: Enjoy a longer, stress-free career in 3D with our fixes for common job problems. Plus: software and resources worth $543 on the CD

Click the thumbnail to order your copy online

IN THE MAGAZINE

Stay fighting fit in your 3D career
Life in 3D poses many challenges, from climbing the job ladder to work-life balance. We ask artists at different stages in their careers what problems they face – then recruited a set of experts to solve them

From rags to riches
Is the Shane Acker short 9 the least likely candidate for a feature-length CG film yet? Starz Animation and the creatives behind the big-screen adaptation think not. We find out what it was like to work with legendary director Tim Burton

Siggraph 2009
As the conference moved beyond its Los Angeles heartland, attendance fell by over 60 per cent on 2008. But despite its diminished size, the 3D industry‘s leading trade event was not without incidental pleasures. Read our extended coverage of the event, including analysis, new software and technology in this issue

Practical training for every major 3D package
Applications covered this issue include: 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, Cinema 4D, LightWave 3D, Shake, Poser, Carrara, Photoshop

Expanded Projects section
Stay in touch with your peers with this month‘s best commercial 3D work

Inspirational imagery
The best new personal artwork from around the world

On test this issue
modo 401, Vue 7.5 xStream, bonzai3d, AutoPano Giga 2.0

Also in issue 121

• Debrief: Axis Animation‘s Renault Clio ‘Animals‘ ad spot
• 3D legends reflect on life-changing work. This issue: Alphaville, a Strange Case of Lemmy Caution
• Letter from Hollywood: Vanity will win out over digital doubles, argues Craig Zerouni.

ON THE CD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $543

DAZ Studio 3
Full 3D figure-posing software – Windows/Mac
Worth $76

10 models
From 3d02.com, DAZ Productions and Flat Pyramid. Various formats
3d02.com models worth $153

12 DigitalReality textures
JPEG format
As sold for $50

3SIX0 HDR file
HDR format
Worth $140

25 SoundScalpel sound FX
WAV format
As sold for $66

The Gnomon Workshop video training
Over 80 minutes of tuition, including expert mental ray training

In issue 120: Simple and practical things to do with your portfolio to make it a guaranteed job-winner. Plus: software and resources worth $542 on the CD

Click the thumbnail to order your copy online

IN THE MAGAZINE

Turn heads with your 3D
3D artists create tens of thousands images and animations for job pitches and personal portfolios every year. Our feature offers 30 expert tips on how to make your reel or portfolio stand out

Visulise and thrive
Our in-depth commentry and analysis from the CG industry covers the archictural visualisation industry this month. According to the latest CGarchitect.com survey, smart studios can still thrive. Site founder Jeff Mottle takes time to review the findings, presenting his five key strategies for future success in the sector

Practical training for every major 3D package
Applications covered this issue include: Maya, Softimage, LightWave 3D, Houdini, Blender, MotionBuilder, trueSpace, ZBrush, Photoshop, After Effects

Expanded Projects section
Stay in touch with your peers with this month‘s best commercial 3D work

Inspirational imagery
The best new personal artwork from around the world

On test this issue
V-Ray RT, Ozone 4, DX Studio 3.1, FirePro V7750, Quadro FX 1800

Also in issue 120

• Debrief: Bridgestone Australia ‘Gecko‘ ads
• The making of the incendiary plane crash from Alex Proyas‘s Knowing
• 3D legends reflect on life-changing work. This issue: Jurassic Park
• Letter from Soho: Shiny new technology is deluding our youth, argues Dave Throssell.

ON THE CD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $542

5 amazing 3D Graphics models
3DS, OBJ formats
As sold for $360

ShineFX figure model
MAX, OBJ, ZTL formats
As sold for $60

DAZ Productions assets for The Girl 4 character
Poser, DAZ Studio formats
As sold for $87

50 Absolute Textures textures
JPEG format

11 SoundScalpel sound FX
WAV format
As sold for $35

The Gnomon Workshop video training
9-minute tutorial for modelling robots in 3ds Max

In issue 119: we look back over ILM's 34-year history and bring you exclusive images from its effects work on Transformers 2. Plus: software and resources worth $515 on the CD

Click the thumbnail to order your copy online

IN THE MAGAZINE

Transformers 2
ILM received an Oscar nomination for creating the 14 mechanical stars of the first Transformers movie. For the sequel, we discover how the studio built, rigged and animated not 14 robots, but 45

Transforming the world
Industrial Light & Magic doesn‘t just build Transformers: its innovations have transformed the entire 3D industry. With the help of key studio staff, we look back over 34 years of technical breakthroughs

How much are you worth?
Controversial new website VFXWages promises to tell 3D artists whether their salaries are above or below the average. We investigate how accurate the data is – and whether it really helps in pay negotiations

Practical training for every major 3D package
Applications covered this issue include: 3ds Max, Blender, LightWave 3D, Maya, Nuke, Photoshop, Poser, Softimage, Vue Infinite and V-Ray

Expanded Projects section
Stay in touch with your peers with this month‘s best commercial 3D work

Inspirational imagery
The best new personal artwork from around the world

On test this issue
Terragen 2, Director 11.5, Turtle 5

Also in issue 119

• Debrief: the Bahrain Water Garden City visualisations
• The making of Watchmen‘s Doctor Manhattan
• Oscar winner Ken McGaugh on the magic of Dune
• Letter from Tokyo: Gonzo KK‘s Stephen Cryan

ON THE CD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $515

10 aXYZ design characters
LWO, MAX, OBJ formats
As sold for $94

aXYZ design escalator model
MAX format
As sold for $139

4 Flat Pyramid building models
3DS, MAX, OBJ, W3D, WRL formats
As sold for $223

15 TexturePortal texture sets
With bump, normal and specular maps

14 SoundScalpel audio clips
WAV format
As sold for $45

Content Paradise James Johnson figure pack
Poser format
As sold for $15.99

The Gnomon Workshop video training
18 minutes of character animation tuition

In issue 118: collect three exclusive Pixar covers to mark our feature on the making of UP - plus software and resources worth $458 on the CD

Click the thumbnail to order your copy online

IN THE MAGAZINE

The making of UP
We go behind the scenes to find out how Pixar met the technical challenges of its latest blockbuster – and how RenderMan had to evolve in order to do so

Image copyright Pixar Animations Studios

Create a killer showreel
Modeller, animator, texture artist or generalist? Craft the perfect demo reel tailored to your specific job role, with our advice from leading recruiters in the worlds of VFX, games and architectural visualisation

Unions in the 3D industry
Are you feeling exploited and overworked or creatively young, happy and free? We take a look at why there is so little union representation for 3D artists

Your technical questions answered
Applications covered this issue include: Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Softimage, After Effects, Cinema 4D, Fusion, Lightwave 3D, Photoshop, SketchUp

Expanded Projects section
More pages of brilliant commercial work to inspire you

Portfolio
The best new artwork from around the world

On test this issue
Houdini 10, Unity 2.5, Quidam 3, Craft Director Tools 8.1, Workstation Specialists WSM114 workstation

ON THE CD
Software, models, textures and video training worth $458

Hexagon 2.2 (Windows)
Create your own detailed models with this full, Windows-only copy of DAZ Productions‘ intuitive 3D modelling software
As sold for $149

3d02.com models
A family car (3ds, C4D), a racing car (MAX 9.0), a contemporary sideboard (3DS, FBX, LWO, MAX, MB, OBJ, XSI) and a hydraulic excavator (C4D)
Combined value $274

De Espona elephant model
MAX format
As sold for $35

12 Environmental Textures seamless textures
JPEG format

Character texture tracking
34 minutes of expert tuition from The Gnomon Workshop DVD Character Texturing for Productions: Material and Texturing Techniques with Ian Joyner

The Gnomon Workshop video training
The art of matchmoving. 18 minutes of expert tuition