Autodesk helps bring automotive design data from CAD to ad

Autodesk consulting is doing the work – automating the transformation of design data into marketing material and creating the photorealistic, animated models of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand cars. Karim Salabi, Autodesk Visual Communication Group vice president, explains that, together with creative systems firm Mackevision, the company says it will convert vehicle data into Autodesk Maya and Showcase software files ready for animation and rendering. These photo-realistic virtual models will then be used in the generation ofTV commercials, brochures and the company's web profile. "Leveraging design data for marketing is revolutionising how the automotive industry advertises in print, on the web and in television commercials," says Salabi. "Using computer software to generate advertising visualisations allows automotive agencies to market their new vehicles without costly physical prototypes," he adds – making the point that the creative work can be commissioned early and without difficult and very expensive traditional photography.