Autodesk creates virtual car models for BMW

An Autodesk product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 24, 2009

The BMW Group has contracted Autodesk Consulting to automate the transformation of design data into photorealistic, animated models of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand cars.

Autodesk, in cooperation with Mackevision, will convert vehicle data into Autodesk Maya and Autodesk Showcase software files that are ready for animation and rendering.

These photo-real virtual models will be used to create marketing materials before the vehicles are actually produced - including TV commercials, brochures and the company's web profile.

'Using computer software to generate advertising visualisations allows automotive agencies to market new vehicles without costly physical prototypes,' said Karim Salabi, Autodesk vice-president, Visual Communication Group.

'This approach also unlocks creative potential, allowing advertisers to create compelling art direction that is difficult and very expensive to do with traditional photography,' he added.

Together with Mackevision, Autodesk will create more than 240 virtual models of the BMW Group vehicles over the next three years.

Autodesk Consulting will provide Autodesk Creative Bridge services to architect a visual workflow for BMW that leverages its 3D assets to lower production costs, while enhancing creative flexibility.

Mackevision - a company specialising in computer-aided visualisation of vehicle data - will process an extensive design data pipeline under the management of Autodesk's consulting team.

Showcase software, part of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping, helps create accurate and realistic imagery from 3D CAD data to convey form and create environmental context to communicate brand character.

Autodesk Maya is an integrated 3D modelling, animation and rendering solution that enables consumer products and automotive manufacturers to incorporate CAD data into product collateral.

Maya is an extension of the Autodesk Alias range of products and Autodesk Showcase for the creation of advanced rendering and animated visualisations of digital prototypes.

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