Now available for free on Steam in early access, Kanova is a pretty impressive new approach to creating content in VR:
Sculpting in VR completely changes artists typically approach creating 3D objects. Freeing them from learning technical tools and terminology and allowing them to intuitively sculpt 3D objects in a natural fashion. The simplified nature of Kanova's interaction means that it appeals to first time users to 3D as well as seasoned artists and industry professionals, giving each a unique tool from which to create 3D artwork.
Hat tip to Patchouli Woolhara via the New World Notes' Discord channel, who points out some caveats with the technology:
"[D]o be aware it's a bit demanding on the hardware and it's nowhere as optimised as, say, NUKE/KATANA or Modo3D T_T. The main problem with Kanova is basically the same problem that Mischief had: ADF-based topology seems to mean that brushes are inherently blunt tools and lack the same flexibility and range that can be found in, say, ZBrush."
Mischief being the boundless-page sketchbook tool that was purchased in part because of the ADF technology's promise, as seen here:
http://madewithmischief.com/
it's a good tool within its limits, but don't expect to make great art with it so much as brainstorm. It also does not help that the chief researcher who implemented ADFs has left The Foundry, and that updates to the tool have gone spare for over a year. Caveat Emptor with Mischief and Kanova.
And for a brief primer on what ADFs are basically and what they bring to the table in terms of 2D and 3D creation, look at this article from around the time this tool was bought out. But basically, it's a very interesting way of combining the flexibility of pixels with the compactness of vector-based linework (with the unfortunate side-effect that Mischief cannot export vector art of any sort despite using vector-like methods)
https://www.fxguide.com/featured/whats-the-foundry-buying-the-tech-of-adf/
Posted by: Patchouli Woollahra | Friday, May 18, 2018 at 08:03 AM