Maya 2020 is here and it has some big changes. Read all about it on the Maya blog and check out the video. https://area.autodesk.com/blogs/the-maya-blog/introducing-maya-2020/ “Maya 2020 adds new tools that empower artists throughout the production pipeline. Whether you’re focused on animation, rigging, modeling, or effects, we’ve packed a lot into this release to help you work faster and without creative limits, including over 60 animation updates, new simulation features in Bifrost, and the latest version of Arnold with the option... Continue reading

Have you ever wanted to create a STL model or 3D physical print of a mountain range, a valley, or something from the topology of our earth? I found a way using a website that generates a 3D STL file of any area. Make sure you exaggerate the Z vertical because in a 3D model the geography can seem flat due to the vertical to horizontal ratio. Check it out. http://jthatch.com/Terrain2STL/ Continue reading

I attended a great XR Party (Extended Reality (AR & VR) last evening in Portland at Open Signal PDX , the Open Signal: Portland Community Media Center. It was a gathering of the XR community and showed a short in XR no longer being just a cool fringe technology, but now a maturing communication and story telling technology platform as XR us being used in many businesses from marketing, gaming, journalists, architects, story tellers, local community organizations, and artists all... Continue reading

Allison Scott Director, Head of Construction Thought Leadership & Customer Marketing recently gave a great talk on the big stage at Autodesk University 2019 with the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Keynote and recently published this great article on the the Autodesk Construction Blog. I'm a big fan of Allison Scott, and I think you will be as well if you aren't already a fan. “Construction is a highly collaborative process, but it’s also very fragmented. Poor data and disconnected information are leading... Continue reading

The opportunity for Better starts with learning from the best sessions at the recent Autodesk University 2019. The video recordings, handouts, slides and more are now available. Just sign in and let the learning begin. View 2019 Sessions Continue reading

Guest post from Jessica Outlaw who runs the Outlaw Center for Immersive Behavioral Science at Concordia University in Portland Oregon. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) is increasingly being incorporated into the design process for architects. VR/AR devices allows architects and their clients to experience their buildings, and make any necessary adjustments, before construction begins. I interviewed eight experts who are working in the intersection of architecture and VR to learn how VR is changing the way architects are doing their... Continue reading

There are currently 70+ groups around the World and growing of thousands of Autodesk product and technology users just like you. Go have a look and find your group or enter your existing group (add a group) to the growing list. Local groups are an invaluable resource and network as I remember running the Portland Autodesk Users Group years and years ago and many awesome local people looking to share ways of using the software and back then it was... Continue reading

Have you ever wanted to automate and process or create data or drawings using a cloud based API in an almost-headless configuration? Design Automation on Forge is most likely the answer to this need. There is still time to get hands on with the new Design Automation APIs. Four webinars are scheduled in December that will cover each of the Design Automation APIs in depth. Register Now and read more at the Autodesk Forge Blog https://forge.autodesk.com/blog/design-automation-api-webinar-series-register-now December 5 - Design... Continue reading

if you are a current subscriber to 3ds Max check your updates and install them. “3ds Max 2020.3 is focused on providing you with more predictive tools that perform the way you expect. With 2020 through 2020.2, we brought you extensive updates to chamfer workflows. In 2020.3, we’re adding many of those improvements to EditablePoly objects. Our ATF (Autodesk Translation Framework) updates include Sketchup improvements so you can bring in content with even higher fidelity along with newer JT formats... Continue reading

Big ideas on the main stage. Innovations in the Expo Hall. New workflows in the classrooms. And connections everywhere you turn. AU 2019 showed that Better Starts Here, it starts now, and it starts with you. https://youtu.be/M8-t-RHaZGw Watch: Day 1 Highlight Video https://youtu.be/No5ZSjPAZW0 AU Las Vegas 2019: Opening Keynote https://youtu.be/S3XPhGx5EbE Day 2 Highlight Video https://youtu.be/kURcmQyNF5k Architecture, Engineering & Construction Keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISx5riQnElM Product Design and Manufacturing Keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT_83zHEK84 AU Community highlight video I will be posting highlights and photos in the... Continue reading

Relive Day 2 at Autodesk University 2019 (Wednesday) through the highlight video. Day 2 was about the Industry Keynotes, community connections, more classes, and an epic Design Slam. https://youtu.be/kURcmQyNF5k Watch the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISx5riQnElM Watch the Product Design and Manufacturing Keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT_83zHEK84 Watch the AU Community highlight video Best, Shaan Continue reading

Day 1 (Tuesday) at Autodesk University 2019 was about big ideas on the main stage, bold visions in the Theater, and groundbreaking projects in the Expo. Also: 200 classes and a jog on the Strip. There were over 300 runners this year and the first finisher of the AU5k completed it in a time of 17:30! I was about half that fast pace. I'm hoping to get a Boston Dynamics robot to run with us, start the run, or just... Continue reading

The Autodesk University 2019 Blogger and Social Media Meetup was a blast. I want to thank LinkedIn for all the food and beverages as well as cards for free LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn Premium accounts as well as heavy lift assistance on logistics like store runs, cleanup, hot delicious pizza, and filling the bathtub completely with beverages and ice. Thank you to Portland AEC VR Collaboration startup The Wild. With the help of VR artist Samantha Luck and The Wild... Continue reading

The Autodesk University 2019 General Session Opening Keynote was yesterday on day 1, and now available to watch on YouTube. https://youtu.be/_v3-LwLaP5s Yesterday was an extremely busy day and I will cover the many photos and highlights in a later post including the record AU5K 300+ runners and my Blogger and Social Media Meetup which was packed and FARO brought their Boston Dynamics Spot four legged robot to the party. You can keep up with the latest on my Twitter @ShaanHurley.... Continue reading

Today was the Autodesk University pre-conferences like the Forge DevCon and Connect and Construct (I attended both) with their keynotes, classes, lunches, and receptions. Tomorrow the big official Autodesk University event begins. Up first, the AU5k! Run, jog, walk, crawl but get fresh air and have fun meeting new people. You don't need to sign up beforehand, just show up ready to run and/or have fun. If you can’t run 5k, that's ok please still join us as some walk... Continue reading

If you are getting excited like I am and want to reflect on last year to get ready or maybe you have never attended Autodesk university and wanted to get an overview of what the action packed week is like – this is for you - enjoy. Continue reading

Are you not able to attend Autodesk University this year but still very interested in the general session and keynotes? Here is the link to the Live Stream schedule. https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/conference/live-stream The General Session starts at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19. At AU Las Vegas, the General Session is consistently among the most mind-expanding and eye-opening sessions you'll attend. It frames the entire week, establishing many of the themes and introducing the big ideas you’ll see in classes, presentations, and... Continue reading

At this time next week, we will be getting ready to fill the 11,000 seats (or joining online streaming http://autode.sk/au-live-stream) for the General Session by Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost. Between now and next week many of us will be preparing and traveling. I hope everyone has uneventful and safe travels and I am looking forward to seeing you next week. I arrive there Sunday. A couple notes about the AU5K fun run: ”AU 5K and Fun Run Grab your running... Continue reading

It's time to rethink how we design and make things. We can combine human imagination and automation technologies to make more of what humanity needs with less negative impact. At Autodesk, we believe it's time to embrace the opportunity to design and make better. https://youtu.be/8evnv8B_CWA I hope you will be joining us in person at Autodesk University next week to hear more, or watch the free open live stream of several of the presentations including the general session with Autodesk... Continue reading

So much to do and only 7 days remaining. Have any Autodesk University issues that you need to resolve, who do you contact? EVENT ATTENDEES & GENERAL INFORMATION Toll Free 888-371-1722 (United States and Canada) Phone +1-415-446-7717 Email autodeskuniversity@autodeskevents.com VIEW EVENT FAQ Speakers Email au.speaker@autodeskevents.com Continue reading

On Friday evening I attended the grand opening at the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) for the new Center for Innovation - Innovation Station exhibit in the turbine hall. OMSI's Center for Innovation is using our community's creativity and design thinking to solve global problems. And its fun! Tinkercad was also released for a new group of kids and adult visitors of OMSI on Friday as part of the new Center for Innovation exhibit. Children and adults alike... Continue reading

Just having some thoughts as a technologist and designer. Wouldn't it be awesome and save costs due to errors if we had a Digital Superintendent in a design product, like spell check but construct check? Imagine designing a tall cantilevered structure and then your screen goes dim and a talking hammer comes onscreen and says: “Hey there pal, at that height I need a helicopter for each of my workers to install that structure, or you need to design another... Continue reading

I have used the screen capture software Snagit from Techsmith for over 20 years, on an almost daily basis. It makes it easy to get a image or quick video for documentation, presentations, Slack, email, and this blog. I do not get free product and do buy my own subscription as it is not expensive and vital for me. It was a pleasure that yesterday Snagit product manager Daniel Foster who was visiting Portland for a conference dropped by the... Continue reading

Every year we recognize some customers for their AEC designs. Every year I am amazed, inspired, and in awe of their projects and the innovative ways they used Autodesk software. These nine winners and the Innovator of the Year will present at Autodesk University 2019 in only a couple of weeks. Read about the winning customers and their projects. ”When it comes to the AEC industry, projects come in all shapes and sizes. So does the innovative use of technology—whether... Continue reading

Retro AutoCAD is so very cool to see. Having personally over the years cultivated and documented a collection of historical Autodesk software, events, images, and memorabilia (Autodesk History Gallery), it was a pleasure to find someone else that shares this love of old design tools. It is amazing to see how far things have come and evolved or changed in the past 37’ish years and then thinking what it might look like 10-37 years from today. I have a working... Continue reading