Science.D.Visions releases 3DEqualizer4 8.1
Science.D.Visions has released 3DEqualizer4 8.1 (3DE4 8.1), the latest update to its high-end matchmoving software.
The update adds new features for tracking piggyback camera rigs, particularly for postvis workflows, and overhauls the script for exporting data to Blender.
(Full disclosure: it was released last month, but we didn’t manage to cover it at the time.)
A veteran matchmoving application used by VFX facilities worldwide
One of the earliest matchmoving apps, 3DEqualizer quickly built a reputation as a tool for the most demanding VFX projects, receiving a technical Academy Award in 2002.
Since then, the 3D tracking software has been used at many of the world’s leading VFX houses, including Double Negative, Framestore, Weta Digital and MPC.
The list of movie credits on the 3DEqualizer website hasn’t been updated for a while, but recent projects to use 3DE4 include PFX’s continuous three-minute shot from Locked.
You can read an overview of its – increasingly broad – feature set in the online tech specs.
3DE4 8.1: new workflow for solving shots from piggyback camera rigs
The first major update since 3DE4 8.0 was released last year, 3DE4 8.1 adds new features to support postvis workflows involving piggyback cameras.
Piggyback rigs mount a second camera – often a 360° camera – on top of the primary camera to capture more reference data for shots that would otherwise be hard to track.
3DE4 8.1 introduces a new control pane for computing the motion of the primary camera from the piggyback camera attached to it.
To streamline the workflow, the update also adds a new script for importing footage from movie files.
Other new features and workflow improvements
Other changes in 3DE4 8.1 include a new high pass filter in the image controls.
It is also now possible to set the start frame when exporting project data in USD and Alembic format.
For Blender users, the export script for exporting data from 3DE4 has been rewritten “from scratch” to match the “complexity and style” of the new Python-based Maya exporter.
Price and system requirements
3DEqualizer4 8.1 is compatible with for Windows 10+, glibc 2.17+ Linux and macOS 13.5.
Perpetual licenses cost €7,699 (around $9,065). Subscriptions cost from €65/week to €1,704/year.
Read a full list of new features in 3DEqualizer4 8.1 on Science.D.Visions’ dev blog
Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.