Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1574
May 2009 5 PRODUCT: MODELING•ANIMATION Autodesk rolled out its 3ds Max 2010 software with nearly 350 additional features. The 2010 release provides innovative creative tools, including a render-quality viewport display and at least 100 new Graphite modeling and texturing tools for exploring and more rapidly iterating ideas. It also offers new capabilities that help artists manage and organize complex scenes with greater ease, allowing them to work faster. A new Material Explorer simplifi es the way artists interact with objects and materials. Meanwhile, a new multithread- ed xView mesh analyzer helps reduce errors through in-viewport reporting on several types of mesh to ensure that the assets are correct. For instance, xView can identify missing UVW coordinates, overlapping vertices, or open edges, among other things. The version touts an unprecedented level of support for software interoper- ability and pipeline integration. 3ds Max 2010 is the fi rst animation package to integrate Mental Images' Mental Mill technology, enabling users to develop, test, and maintain hardware-agnostic shaders and complex shader graphs for hardware and software rendering with real-time visual feedback. Also, enhanced OBJ support and ProOp- timizer technology provide improved interoperability with Autodesk Mudbox software. 3ds Max 2010 includes all the features offered in the Creativity Exten- sion for 3ds Max 2009, which was released in August 2008. 3ds Max 2010 is available now for $3495, with upgrade pricing available. Autodesk Packs 3ds Max 2010 with New Tools PRODUCT: MODELING•ANIMATION NewTek revealed its next-generation 3D application, LightWave Core, a lightweight component system that will be released in increments as the modules become available over the course of the year. The initial modules are geared for modeling; there- fore, users will want to use Core in conjunction with LightWave 9.6 until the full product is rolled out by the end of the year. LightWave Core is built on objected-oriented structures implemented in C++. The SDK, which is also C++, is the same for internal and external development, so anyone can have full LightWave Core access via the SDK. The architecture supports scripting languages, featuring Python as the primary language, while remaining open to interface with others. With this new offering, third parties can put together plug-ins and external applications. Developers can choose to use the tools that ship with the application or build their own. Once they do, what they create is then available for use by other modules, leveraging the previous work. And, any component created via the LightWave Core SDK can become part of the application. Core is completely multithreaded, spawning as many threads as needed. The system is both 64- and 32-bit compliant, and is capable of leveraging GPU power where applicable. It will be available on Windows, Macintosh OS X, and Linux. LightWave Core can be purchased at the time of each fi nal product release or through NewTek's new HardCore member- ship program. LightWave V9 users can receive the fi nal Light- Wave Core (available in the fourth quarter) with a HardCore membership for $495. Other pricing structures are available. NewTek Unveils New 3D Technology