New real-world cameras and camera rigs
The most recent of the two videos (above) shows the changes to iClone’s animation and camera systems.

The latter introduces a new real-world camera system into the software, enabling users to create shots with camera settings that mimic the aspect ratios and lens properties of real digital movie cameras.

Presets shown in the video include RED and ARRI models, Sony’s F5 and F35, Canon’s EOS C500, and even the IMAX format.

There are also camera rigs replicating real-world camera moves, including pan and zoom, dolly and crane shots; and virtual cameras can be imported or exported from other DCC tools in FBX format.

New morph animation system, updated facial animation and real-time mocap streaming
The iClone 7 update also introduces a new morph animation system, shown at 2:25 in the video.

Morphs can be created in any DCC software – the video shows 3ds Max, Softimage and ZBrush – imported in OBJ format, and keyframed within iClone.

Morph animation support has also been added to iClone’s Face Key editor, shown at 06:55, and the software’ Facial Puppet system has been updated, adding automatic secondary motion to eyelids.

New PBR viewport and real-time global illumination
An older video (it was actually posted last November) shows enhancements to lighting and rendering.

The update adds a PBR viewport – the video compares assets viewed in iClone 7 with 3D-Coat, Substance Painter and Marmoset Toolbag – with support for materials in Allegorithmic’s Substance format.

There is also a new real-time GI system with support for all of iClone’s native light types, plus the option to bake iClone scenes to HDRI images for use in image-based lighting set-ups.

According to Reallusion’s preview page, a third preview video that will show off a new curve editor, Python scripting and LUT support is due in March.

Pricing and availability
Reallusion hasn’t announced a release date for iClone 7 yet, but given the timing of the final preview video, it’s presumably still a few months off.

The software is Windows-only, supporting 64-bit Windows 7 and above, and unlike iClone 6, which came in $99 Standard and $199 Pro editions, there will be only a single $199 version of iClone 7.

To import data in OBJ or FBX format, and therefore to make use of the new morph toolset or import cameras from other DCC apps, users will also need the Pro or Pipeline edition of add-on tool 3DXhange.

Home Page - https://www.reallusion.com/