Archive for the ‘News’ Category

iPi Soft To Sponsor Machinima Expo 7 On November 23

Just Released iPi Motion Capture V. 3.0 Software Will Be Awarded To Grand Prize Winners of Filmmaking Contest

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA — For the third year in a row, iPi Soft, developers of the advanced markerless motion capture software iPi Motion Capture, will serve as a key sponsor to Machinima Expo, the world’s only virtual machinima film festival. The event takes place on November 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST on the event website via their Ustream channel. In addition, two films that feature extensive use of iPi Soft tools will be part of the embedded pre-recorded programming premiering on the main Machinima Expo website and its Facebook page.

The Machinima Expo is an annual festival that celebrates the art of machinima, the form of 3D animation created using real time videogame engines. Over 60 animated films will be screened at the Machinima Expo this year. The program includes director profiles, panel discussions and tutorials. There will be two Grand Prize-winning films announced, as well as three Jury prizes during the awards ceremony at the end of the festival.

As an official sponsor of the event, iPi Soft is awarding two prizes. Each is a one year subscription to its just released iPi Mocap Studio Pro Version 3.0 to the Grand Jury prizewinners. In addition, Machinima Expo will also give one Microsoft Kinect to each winner to complete prize package.

“This is our third year being part of this important event celebrating creativity,” Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft’s Founder and Chief Technology Architect says. “The brilliant ways machinima filmmakers incorporate motion capture into their art continues to amaze. Our goal remains to provide content creators with the best tools for creating believable 3D character motion conveniently and affordably without the need of a studio space, special lighting or background.”

Machinima Expo is co-produced by Ricky Grove, who has been at the forefront of the machinima community as a voice actor and sound designer for over 10 years. He’s also a contributing editor for the respected renderosity.com website and recently called iPi Motion Capture 3.0 “an excellent application that will continue to get better.”

“iPi Soft’s markerless motion capture software is changing the way that machinima directors animate their films,” Grove says. “Forget the clunky, robotic character animation that you see in many machinima films. iPi Motion Capture lets you quickly animate characters realistically right in your living room. We’re proud to partner again with iPi Soft to present this cost-effective and simple method of motion capture to this year’s Expo attendees.”

More on Ricky’s blog: http://machinima-expo.com/v3/ipi-soft-to-co-sponsor-the-machinima-expo-7/

About iPi Soft:

Launched in 2008 by CEO and Chief Technology Architect Michael Nikonov, iPi

Soft, LLC is the Moscow-based developer of iPi Motion Capture, a markerless motion capture software tool that uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The company’s breakthrough technology digitizes the movement of a human skeleton, rendering it in expressive 3D characters for video games or computer generated films. Additional information on iPi Soft is available at http://www.ipisoft.com.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. 

Media Contact

Vicky Gray-Clark/Ambient Public Relations

p. 408-318-1980 e. vicky@ambientpr.com

Ray Ecke/Right Word Media

p. 973-726-3797 e. ray@rightwordmedia.com

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Next Generation Markerless Motion Capture Solution Features Support For

Kinect 2 Sensor, Tracking Speed Increase And A New Subscription Payment Model

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA November 06, 2014 – iPi Soft, LLC, developers of the iPi Motion Capture line of markerless motion capture technology, today announced the availability of iPi Motion Capture Version 3.0.The next generation motion capture solution delivers a number of impressive new features for improved workflow, including support for the new Microsoft Kinect 2 sensor, increased tracking speed, improved arm and leg tracking and a simplified calibration process that gives even entry level motion capture enthusiasts the ability to obtain quality mocap data easily and quickly.

Kinect 2 Sensors	iPi Recorder Redesigned User Interface

Additionally, iPi Soft has unveiled a new subscription payment model with options for a year subscription for frequent software users or a three-month plan for those that only need the software on a limited per-project basis.

“The latest enhancements in iPi Motion Capture V 3.0 coupled with support for Microsoft’s Kinect 2 sensor delivers an elevated experience to creative professionals and enthusiasts, and introduction of the new subscription pricing model makes our solution even more affordable,” Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft’s Founder/Chief Technology Architect, says. “The faster algorithms, simplified calibration and improved limbs tracking will give our customers — amateurs, pros and everyone in between — powerful performance tools to express their creativity.”

Nikonov notes that iPi Motion Capture V 3.0’s compatibility with the Microsoft Kinect 2 sensor lets users get closer to the camera, thus further reducing overall space requirements, while new calibration algorithms simplifies the camera set up process and ensures more accurate tracking.

Key Highlights in iPi Motion Capture Version 3.0 

With the new iPi Motion Capture Version 3.0, customers can take advantage of:

• 10-20% faster tracking algorithms
• Improved calibration of multi-camera system with no need to manually align cameras. Also, comprehensive feedback on calibration quality can save a lot of time preventing use of incorrect calibration data for tracking.
• Improved tracking for arms and legs with less tracking errors.
• Redesigned user interface

Additionally, there are several features related to the Kinect 2 sensor that iPi Soft plans to offer users in the near future. These include distributed recording (which will allow recording multiple Kinect 2 sensors using several PCs); up to 12-camera support; substantially increased tracking speed; selected limb cleanup; and three actor tracking.

The new version of iPi Motion Capture comes on the heels of growing industry acceptance among some of the industry’s leading entertainment production companies and videogame developers, including Rodeo FX, The Graphics Film Company and Ghost Town Media.

Brandon Parvini, Creative Director at LA-based post-production studio Ghost Town Media, notes that iPi Motion Capture is extremely intuitive and takes just a half an hour to setup and calibrate. With 3.0, he looks forward to reduced setup time and improved tracking.

“Our experience with iPi Soft has been great,” Parvini says. “The software has become an important part of our new pipeline and we’re currently using it extensively on a new high-profile feature film project. iPi Motion Capture is part of a small crop of ‘new-school’ platforms that are helping to move the industry forward.”

iPi Mocap Studio Redesigned User Interface

Pricing and Availability:

Beginning with iPi Motion Capture V 3.0, iPi Soft is introducing a subscription-based pricing model. Prices range from $45.00 to $1,195.00 depending on the version of software (Express, Basic, Pro) and duration of subscription. Customers who purchased iPi Motion Capture Version 2 software after July 1st, 2014 will receive a free 1-year subscription of Version 3. Customers with iPi Motion Capture Version 2 or Version 1 will receive a one-time 50-percent discount for a 1-year subscription of Version 3. Upgrading to Version 3 is optional, and a free 30-days trial for Version 3 is available here: http://ipisoft.com/download/

Early adopters can take advantage of iPi Soft’s 30-percent discount offer for a one-year subscription available through Nov 30^th. More info about the discount is available here: http://ipisoft.com/2014/11/version-3-welcome-discount/.

Additional details about iPi Soft’s new version and multi-tiered subscription pricing can be found here: http://ipisoft.com/store/version-3-0/

Press-release in PDF>>

About iPi Soft:

Launched in 2008 by CEO and Chief Technology Architect Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft, LLC is the Moscow-based developer of iPi Motion Capture™, a markerless motion capture software tool that uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The company’s breakthrough technology digitizes the movement of a human skeleton, rendering it in expressive 3D characters for video games or computer generated films. For additional information, on iPi Soft, product pricing or a 30-day free trial please visit, http://www.ipisoft.com.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Ambient PR, Vicky Gray-Clark, vicky@ambientpr.com, 408-318-1980

Right Word Media, Ray Ecke, ray@rightwordmedia.com, 973-726-3797

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iPi Motion Capture Version 3.0 Released

October 13, 2014 – iPi Soft is proud to announce the availability of iPi Motion Capture V. 3.0 – the latest version of its leading-edge markerless motion capture solution. iPi Motion Capture V 3.0 delivers a number of new features for improved workflow including support for the new Microsoft Kinect 2 sensor, improved arms tracking and a simplified calibration process that gives even entry level motion capture enthusiasts the ability to obtain quality mocap data easily and quickly.

• Download 30 days Free Trial
• Buy Now

See details here>>

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Sony Animation Made Available Zombie Rig from Hotel Transylvania

At iPi Soft we pride ourselves on creating technology that is accessible to all users, not just professionals, but here’s something we came across that might appeal more to our advanced users.

Just in time for Halloween, Sony Animation has made a zombie rig from their hit animated film “Hotel Transylvania” available for download (on a very restricted basis of course).

We checked it out and it’s very complex, but we’d love to see what our users can do with it. Send us your best use of the rig and we’ll post on our Facebook page, and put it in the running for our monthly mocap contest with a chance to win an iPI Motion Capture software license.

Here’s a link to download the rig: https://secure.sonypictures.com/animation/hotelt/zombierig/videosubmissions/

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***MEDIA ALERT ***

Brandon Reza Parvini, Creative Director at Ghost Town Media
to Appear at 2014 World Animation & VFX Summit

Motion Capture Enthusiast and VFX and Motion Graphics Design Luminary
to Talk about the Role of iPi Motion Capture Technology
on ‘21st Century Tools of the Trade” Session

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Moscow, Russia – October 20th — iPi Soft, is pleased to announce that Brandon Reza Parvini, Creative Director at LA-based Ghost Town Media, an interdisciplinary visual effects and design boutique that relies on the company’s markerless iPi Motion Capture software in production, will be a featured panelist at the World Animation & VFX Summit, November 2 – 5, 2014 in Los Angeles.

With the goal of shaping the future of worldwide animation and visual effects by connecting like-minded Industry leaders ranging from studio executives, producers, agents, distributors, technology providers and talent, face-to-face in a warm and intimate club environment, this year’s Summit theme centers on  “A Year of Reinvention and Renovation.”

Parvini will join the “21st Century Tools of the Trade” session with other creative luminaries to explore some of the latest innovations and technologies and strategies for success used at Ghost Town Media that foster creative excellence on film, international branding, broadcast commercials and live-visuals for the world’s top performers including Muse, Linkin Park and global brands such as Mercedes and Absolut. Parvini is currently using iPi Soft technology on a high profile project for feature film producton company Blum House (Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge) and Universal Studios.

While at Ghost Town, Parvini has taken on various key roles including creative, technical and overall pipeline director in order to propel the company forward and push past the notions of what a small studio is capable of producing. As a result, Parvini has developed key relationships with hardware and software developers in order to help influence and embolden the technology that enables artists.

“We were excited to bring iPi Motion Capture into the studio production pipeline for initial testing last year and so far our experience has been great,” says Parvini. “The system is very intuitive and takes about half an hour of setup and you’re able to start capturing. The software is part of a small crop of ‘new-school’ platforms that are helping to motivate the field forward and I’m looking forward to talking about it at the Summit.”

Session Highlight

Session: “21st Century Tools of the Trade”

Date/Time: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2:15 – 3:15 pm

The World Animation and VFX Summit

The World Animation and VFX Summit takes place November 2 – 5, 2014 as follows:

Location

California Yacht Club

4469 Admiralty Way

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

(818) 883-2884

Conference session times and agenda are available here.

About iPi Motion Capture

Introduced in 2009, iPi Motion Capture has been gaining momentum as a professional and reliable alternative for capturing animation data without the need for expensive green-screen stages, clumsy sensor suits with reflective markers or a team of technicians. The software uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The digitally captured movement is then applied to a 3D character and rendered as part of a video game or a computer generated movie.

Members of the Press:

Parvini will be onsite at the Summit on November 5^th and available for one-on-one briefings except from 2:15 p.m. — 3:15 p.m. during his presentation.

Please contact Vicky Gray-Clark, Ambient Public Relations, (408) 318-1980, vicky@ambientpr.com to schedule an appointment. Alternate briefing opportunities are available to those not attending the conference by phone/Skype.

Additional information on iPi Soft is available as follows:

Website: http://www.ipisoft.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Motion-Capture-Software-from-iPi-Soft/138756049507804

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iPiSoft

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Media Contact

Vicky Gray-Clark / Ambient PR / vicky@ambientpr.com / 408-318-1980

Ray Ecke / Right Word Media / ray@rightwordmedia.com / 973-726-3797

Media Alert in PDF>>

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The Oculus Rift is an important virtual reality head-mounted display technology now in development by Oculus VR that is gaining incredible popularity in the game community and beyond. iPi Soft is excited to announce that our customer Daniël Ernst is now in the early stages of developing content using iPi Motion Capture for a new Rift game entitled, The Pigeon Man.  Here are preliminary details on the project.

The Shoebox Diorama Founder, Daniël Ernst, is a Dutch game designer/artist and 3D enthusiast best known for spearheading game development work on the Cargo Commander. His latest project, The Pigeon Man, is a magical realist, illustrative game for the Oculus Rift that takes advantage of iPi Motion Capture. Ernst first tested the markerless motion capture solution for quick animation prototyping. From there he’s expanded his scope to creating complex mocap with a multiple Sony Playstation Eye cameras setup, which is then combined with facial motion capture.

“I’ve been working on VR content for well over a year and iPi Motion Capture has proved to be an invaluable addition to my production pipeline for my upcoming game, ‘The Pigeon Man’,“ Daniël Ernst says. “iPi Motion Capture can be used for quick prototyping with a single Kinect or the multi Playstation Eye setup for highly-detailed animation. It is able to capture subtle nuances in a player performance necessary to create believable characters for virtual reality, and, it accomplishes it all for a small studio-friendly fee.“

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The World Animation & VFX Summit this November is shaping up to be another stellar event. Paul Babb, MAXON US CEO, is this year’s technology keynote and Brandon Parvini, creative director at Ghost Town Media and one of the most talented VFX artists who uses both Cinema 4D and iPi Motion Capture, will be speaking on the “21st Century Tools of the Trade” panel about the creative tools that allow him to create award-winning and inspired content.

Details here: http://www.animationmagazine.net/events/world-animation-vfx-summit-to-honor-phil-roman-bonnie-arnold/

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iPi Motion Capture technology is being used in a cool new animated “edutainment” series called Max Adventure. Sci-Fi Bloggers gives an overview of the series now in production http://www.scifibloggers.com/max-adventure-looks-to-educate-and-entertain/#.VCl7uSldUaJ

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June contest is over. It was so tough that we decided that we will have a main prize and a special prize this month. And the winners are… Cornelio Natividad II with “Redfox” (Standard license) and FloresBrothersFilms with “Robby and the Giant” (Basic license). Congratulations!

The main prize:

Description from the author:

Almost all of the action animation were done using iPi soft motion capture and 6 Playstation cameras in my living room and backyard.

Behind The Scenes:

The special prize:

Description from the author:

95% of motion was captured with iPi Soft free trial.

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iPi Soft Unveils Biomech Add-On To iPi Motion Capture

New Tool Designed For In-Depth Biomechanical Analysis Of Human Motions Includes Visualization And Motion Data Export To Excel, MATLAB

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 19th June 2014 – iPi Soft, developers of the iPi Motion Capture line of markerless motion capture technology, has unveiled iPi Biomech, a new add-on software tool for the biomechanical analysis of human motion. iPi Biomech extends the functionality of iPi Motion Capture for markerless tracking and visualization of motion capture data for medical, sports analysis and movement science applications.

The iPi Biomech add-on extracts motion and plot motion data for selected bones using convenient coordinate systems (so users can select how coordinates are measured). Tracking data can be exported to various formats, including Excel or MATLAB.

Since its introduction into the marketplace in 2009, iPi Soft motion capture technology has been gaining rapid adoption predominantly by filmmakers and videogame developers as an accurate, easy-to-use and affordable motion capture solution for animating believable humanoid motion characters. Although it has been in use as a motion analysis tool in other industries – including medical, sports, movement science, ergonomics, military, kinematic and others — the supported export data formats (designed primarily for animation) were not familiar to scientists and doctors.

“We’re excited about the potential that iPi Biomech technology brings to professionals across numerous vertical markets to analyze motion data,” Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft founder and chief technology architect says. ”Since iPi Motion Capture does not require clumsy sensor suits or uniform backgrounds, doctors, scientists and others can conveniently set up a motion capture system in their offices. The ability to export bone motion data to Excel or MATLAB using our Biomech add-on, means that users will not have to spend time converting data and can get access to it right away.”

Dr. Mario Petersen, a developmental pediatrician based in Eugene, OR, who specializes in children with physical development disabilities has been using the iPi Motion Capture system effectively and notes that it was particularly useful in a recent case involving a two-year old boy with mild cerebral palsy.

“We used iPi Motion Capture without the iPi Biomech add-on to create ‘before and after’ footage to compare the child’s posture using specialized body tape designed to improve posture and then without it,” Petersen says. “The mocap data clearly showed a positive changes in his posture when he had when the tape was applied. With the new iPi Biomech add-on tool, we would expect to see even more functionality and dynamic data tailored specifically for biomechanic use.”

iPi Biomech Add-on Feature Highlights:

Working in conjunction with iPi Motion Capture, iPi Biomech will provide customers with linear and angular quantities for selected bones, including:

• Linear coordinate, velocity, acceleration
• Euler angles, angular velocity and angular acceleration
• Quaternions and rotation matrices

Users are able to:

• Select convenient coordinate systems
  • Linear: Absolute (relative to floor), Relative to parent joint, Relative to center of mass
  • Angular: Absolute (relative to floor), Relative to parent joint
  • Select Euler angles system
  • Plot values of selected quantities for selected bones
  • Export bones motion data to tab-separated text for Excel or MATLAB

Press release in PDF>>

About iPi Motion Capture

Introduced in 2009, iPi Motion Capture has been gaining momentum as a professional and reliable alternative for capturing human motion data without the need for expensive facility space, clumsy sensor suits with reflective markers or a team of technicians. The software uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body and lets users shoot video using up to three MS Kinect motion sensing input devices or up to eight Sony PlayStation Eye cameras.

Pricing and Availability:

iPi Soft makes available three editions of its iPi Motion Capture markerless technology – Express, Basic and Standard – that differ by the set of available features and complexity of motions that can be tracked. The new iPi Biomech add-on is now available directly from the iPi Soft web site and its worldwide distribution channel at a cost of $495. It is available with numerous bundle options available here.

About iPi Soft:

Launched in 2008, iPi Soft, LLC is the Moscow-based developer of iPi Motion Capture™, a markerless motion capture software tool that uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The company’s breakthrough technology digitizes the movement of a human skeleton, rendering it in expressive 3D characters for video games or computer generated films. Recent projects that relied on iPi Motion Capture include the hit feature film “Now You See Me” and the upcoming horror classic reboot “Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D” and the acclaimed videogame “Halo 4.”

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Media Contacts:

Vicky Gray-Clark, Ambient PR vicky@ambientpr.com 408-318-1980

Ray Ecke, Right Word Media ray@rightwordmedia.com 973-726-3797

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