KeyShot 3.2 – Improvements

Specific improvements in this release include speed enhancements, a new cleaner interface (UI), and a handful of fixtures that make KeyShot even quicker. The program now supports instant loading of materials, textures and environments decreasing the time it takes to find and apply materials. Material templates can now be applied to a model even after a model imported.

01 - KeyShot is now at version 3.2 (the image above was from the 2.1 announcement) and supports ever more CAD formats.

UI improvements bring a cleaner layout to property settings and options. With this, arrow keys can now be used to navigate through the scene tree and the camera list. Along with improvements and speed increases across many features, additional enhancements have been made to the SolidWorks importer adding improved tessellation and material mapping. Additional import support has also been added for Autodesk Alias 2013 and Maya 2013.

To view the complete feature list and learn more visit here.

What’s New in Cheetah 3D 6

This new Cheetah also has support for Isosurfaces (Metaballs), the keying of mesh vertices and spline control points, improved iBooks Author compatibility, an upgrade to FBX SDK, support for 16-bit textures and many more improvements.

01 - Cheetah 3D version 6 features Bullet physics engine.

To make Cheetah 3D available to an even wider audience the price of Cheetah 3D has been cut from 149.USD to 99.USD. An upgrade from an older version cost 69.USD. For customers who bought Cheetah 3D 5.x after 12 December 2010, the upgrade to Cheetah 3D 6 is free.

There are other new features worth listing here:

• New Parametric object types — capsule, fractal, isosurface, line
• New Mesh modifiers — smooth, shell, crumble
• Global Scene Search Field
• Greatly extended Javascript API
• OS X Lion full-screen app mode

To learn more visit Cheetah 3D here: www.cheetah3d.com

KeyShot is a leading GPU-based rendering application for Mac and Windows. These new plugins bring a whole new level of functionality to the workflow between Pro/ENGINEER, Creo and KeyShot.

01 - KeyShot by Luxion is an advanced easy to use GPU-based renderer for Mac and Windows and is targeted at the MCAD and product design markets.

With this update (1.3) users now have the ability to export a KeyShot .bip file without the need of having KeyShot installed. This change compliments the workflow through the entire design process allowing modelers to send a compact file format through the pipeline for rendering and animation.

“The new plugins provide designers and engineers a faster way to deliver models to one another,” said Thomas Teger, VP, Products and Strategy at Luxion. “With a one-button export of the KeyShot file directly from the Pro/E or Creo interface, anyone can now output a KeyShot file…”

Additional improvements include:

• Tessellation refinement
• Orientation of assembly upon import
• User of part level appearance
• Optional use of assembly level appearance (Creo only)
• Ability to merge identical parts into a single material group
• And more.

To learn more about Luxion and KeyShot visit this website: www.keyshot.com

modo 601 is now a full pipeline solution for professionals working in media and entertainment, engineering and architectural design visualization.

01 - A rendered image from Luxology's new modo 601.

modo 601

“modo 601 is our most significant release ever,” said Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of Luxology. “With new feature and workflow enhancements, modo now offers an end-to-end production solution that is both powerful and highly useable by artists and designers.”

02 - modo 601 has new character animation capabilities with full body rigging support.

03 - modo 601 also has available new CAD Loaders which enable the support of Parasolid-based CAD formats.

modo 601 features a number of compelling summarized below:

• Character Animation – modo offers a complete character animation functionality, from easy to use posing tools to fully rigged characters with inverse kinematics solver support and layered deformers
• Dynamics – modo supports rigid and soft body dynamics, based on version 2.97 of the Bullet Physics engine. These are now standard with modo 601 and provide realistic simulations of mechanical and organic motion
• Retopology Modeling – Focused on tools and a new dedicated retopology modeling layout that simplify the creation of clean models on top of imported geometry
• Rendering and Shading – New photorealistic rendering capabilities include volumentric rendering, render booleans, hair and skin shaders, and rounded edge control for hard surface models.
• 3D Paint – modo features a multi-purpose paint system for vertex maps and meshes
• Rendering Workflow – The Preview Renderer can now be used for final image production as it will progressively render an image to the desired resolution at full quality. A comprehensive render pass system, plus new interactive image processing and comparison tools, speed image refinement.
• Modeling – modo’s Pixar Subdivision surface modeling now includes the ability to crease individual vertices and control display resolution while rendering at full quality

“Throughout my 18 years in the 3D business, I’ve never seen a 3D software application become so powerful, so fast,” said Dan Ablan, President, AGA Digital Studios, Inc., “The additions to modo 601 are mind blowing, and the render boolean function, blobs, and new deformer tools are absolutely invaluable.”

Architosh Analysis

We were one of the first publications to dig into modo in the early days (see for instance our interview with Brad Peebler from 2006 talking about modo 202) and we’d have to agree with Mr. Ablan above. We are astonished at how quickly modo has grown up and become a full-fledged member of what we might call the “Elite  4″ (Maya, C4D, Lightwave, Softimage) making modo really the 5th member of that high-end 3D professional app group, along with 3ds Max and Houdini as well.

So what distinguishes modo from some of the others? Well, for starters, modo from the beginning supported the Mac and Windows simultaneously with more or less full parity. Maya for instance was ported to the Mac and Softimage to this day still has no Mac version.

Another distinguishing feature is modo’s UI. Their award-winning app was lauded by Apple for instance for its beautiful but powerful user interface. While many of the elites mentioned above have improved their UIs in recent years modo’s was superb from the beginning.

What is impressive about modo 601 today is its rendering technology. The boolean rendering features are incredibly powerful. The new and updated character tools really advance modo as a full-fledged studio production tool and good citizen within an existing pipeline. And like Maxon Luxology has done a good job of reaching out to CAD companies to tie-in modo as a CAD visualization tool of choice.

Pricing and Availability

modo 601 is available now and is 1,195.USD new or 495.USD for existing modo users who want to upgrade. Exising modo users can upgrade for only 395.USD for the next two weeks only as a special promo. And also for a limited time, a cross-grade is available for 795.USD for users of Maya, 3ds Max, Softimage, Houdini, CINEMA 4D and LightWave 3D.

To learn more visit: www.luxology.com

Architosh has an interview article with Dan Farr, Co-Founder of DAZ and its Chief Strategy Officer, about why the company is giving away its software this month. You can read that here.

Part of a strategy to bring 3D software tools further down field to non-professional users as well as future professional users, the goal is to expand the use and market for its Genesis character platform.

01 - DAZ 3D's amazing give-away includes DAZ Studio 4 Pro, Bryce 7 and Hexagon 2.5.

And There’s Bryce and Hexagon

In case you are not much into 3D character modeling, illustration or modeling, the company also has Bryce Pro 7 and Hexagon 2.5 tools to give you as well. So let’s take a quite look at why you might want to obtain this software for free right now.

Hexagon 2.5. This program is a fairly sophisticated surface modeling tool with Boolean operations, Gordon surfaces, Coons surfaces in addition to sophisticated vertex modeling commands. You can export and import to many other 3D and CAD file standards, including: OBJ, 3DS, A3D, DXF, DWG and Illustrator (imports) and CAR, A3D, OBJ, 3DS, DXF, DWG and STL (exports).

Hexagon 2.5 also has a construction history that is fully editable. They call it Dynamic Geometry. Many users use this tool to work with DAZ’s other software packages. You can take models from DAZ Studio to Hexagon and back again. And you can work between Carrara and Hexagon as well.

This is just a brief summary of this organic modeler with subdivision surface capabilities and high-level 3D modeling tools. If you are more interested in designing toothpaste bottles or furniture, Hexagon can also assist you very well. Click here to see some movies of it in action.

Bryce Pro 7. This is one of the 3D legends. Bryce has been around for well over a decade and is a premier landscape creation tool. These days many people use Bryce to create scenery for DAZ Studio characters, creating entire worlds for their characters to live in.

Highlight features include its new Instancing Lab, improved Light Lab, sky rendering improvements, a particle emitter, better import and export and the DAZ Studio Bridge.  The Pro version also supports Bryce Lightning Network Rendering. Import and export options include: COLLADA, FBX, DAZ Studio format, 3DS, Lightwave, OBJ, and many others.

You can learn more about DAZ Studio here in the interview feature. While this software is free and there is literally no catch (again see the interview) system requirements include some important notes.

Hexagon 2.5 is currently not compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. This is likely because the program supports PowerPC processors going all the way back to the G4. The G5 processor is actually recommended. If you are Mactel you can run anything from 10.2 up to 10.6 (Snow Leopard, the last version which supported Rosetta).

Bryce too is not yet compatible with Lion. For likely the very same reasons. Bryce supports Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and will run on both Intel and PowerPC.

Finally, for those wondering, DAZ Studio Pro 4 itself supports both 32 and 64-bit Macs (OS X 10.5 or above and this would include Lion).

To download this software go to DAZ online here.

There are plugins for ArchiCAD 15, ArchiCAD 14, Vectorworks 2012 and Vectorworks 2011. There are also plugins for Autodesk Revit 2012 and Google SketchUp 8.

You can download your plugin today for access to Artlantis 4’s enhanced rendering engine and iVisit 3D technology, which simplifies the process of sharing virtual tours of models online and via mobile devices and tablets.

Integrated CADS Services (ICS) is an authorized distributor of Abvent products in New England and can answer questions about sales and services for such technology (800-383-5195).  You can learn more by visiting Abvent online.

There is also an update to Artlantis 4 itself, taking the version to 4.0.16. You can grab that here.

formZ 7 has a new modern user interface with a lot of new functionality and enhancements to existing formZ functionality. Many steps have been automated with the new UI. There is less picking and more doing, the company says.

01 - formZ 7 has bold new features and a modern interface

Discovering formZ 7 – Seminars

January 18, (which is today) there will be a new webinar titled: What’s new in formZ 7, Part 1: Parametric modeling in a modern fluid interface. This free event takes place at 1pm-2pm EST and you can register for it here.

Part 2: Visualization, rendering and fabrication and presentation, takes place on January 25, 2012, and is at 1pm – 2pm. EST. You ca register for it here.

There are also Webinars On Demand covering bonzai 3D and formZ. A full list is here.

The company is touting its latest integrative rendering technologies and strategies for architectural designers to allow them to create world-class visualizations for their designs using a range of tools options within the Vectorworks – CINEMA 4D family. Because your Vectorworks and Class structures are preserved with you send your files to Maxon’s award-winning CINEMA 4D Visualize product suite, you will enjoy a level of design control that is impossible to match with competing products.

Focus on Getting Vectorworks Models Into CINEMA 4D Visualize

The webinar focuses on the fundamentals of getting your Vectorworks models into CINEMA 4D. Key items covered include:

• Exportation of Vectorworks and Renderworks files into CINEMA 4D Visualize using the Send to CINEMA 4D menu command
• Fine-tune your CINEMA 4D settings to create “unique” presentations
• Quickly create very sophisticated animations, walkthroughs and flyovers

This is a must event for Vectorworks based architects who either use Renderworks now or another tool for this kind of work. Today’s Vectorworks not only utilizes the Maxon CINEMA 4D rendering engine internally but has round-trip fidelity with the professional 3D package.

To sign up click on the banner ad for the event on Architosh or go here.

We generally don’t write about Apple’s patent trail but this jot covers an interesting patent related to the world of 3D. AppleInsider uncovered a patent from Apple that describes a Microsoft Xbox Kinect-like interface technology that is sans physical controller. Instead users use their hands to move items in the UI.

Entitled “Three-Dimensional Imaging and Display System” the Apple patent (application #20110298798) attributed to Christopher Krah of Apple. In a nutshell, the Apple patent describes a method that allows the control of a 3D computer interface via a 3-dimensional imaging and display apparatus that scans and detects physical movement within a volume of space. With the system, a user could perform gestures with their hands within a given volume of space in order to control the user-interface of their Mac computer. To learn more read here.

Ad Agency Walter Isaacson uses modo

For the recent holidays Walter Isaacson was hired by Philips Norelco to produce a new TV commercial for their new SensoTouch 3D rechargeable razor. They decided to re-imagine one of Norelco’s most popular holiday ads of all time, which was a stop-motion ad featuring Santa sledding through the snow atop one of their products.

For this new ad Isaacson turned to computer graphics studio re:think studios, of Chicago. re:think studios is a big-time Luxology modo user and turned to modo to produce the ad. “mod is blazing fast!” said Brian Bulock, director of CGI and partner at re:think studios. “And with the deadline we had on this spot, we needed every minute. I vote we put modo on the nice list.” You can watch the spot here at Vimeo.

Adobe to update Critical 3D Bugs in Acrobat

Adobe is slated to update critical 3D vulnerabilities in its Acrobat and Reader applications across platforms today. The bugs were discovered in December where the 3d file format .u3d contained memory corruption issues that could lead to code attacks. These were limited in practice to the Windows platform, says Adobe. To learn more visit this eWeek news report.

LumenRT Customer Story

Vue software maker e-on software has had a new product out for awhile now called LumenRT, a plugin product for SketchUp. The photorealistic rendering plugin has received good reviews in the industry.

You can learn a little bit about this product by watching and reading the customer profile of Matthew Stone, a landscape design professional in Australia, who switched from Autodesk 3D Studio Max to SketchUp with LumenRT for its rendering platform. Read the interview here.

Shade 12 and 12.1 have excellent new features. A new Shade 12 Workflow UX (user-interface) is based around task-based tool groups which allow the user to configure tool parameters within a single window. Users can also customize these tool groups as well. The professional version allows advanced material handling, including animated normal maps to create powerful environmental effects such as oceans.

01 - All new Boolean engine in Shade 12.x

Version 12.1 includes photometric modeling. You can turn your digital camera into a 3D modeling aid. There is also volumetric lighting, a totally revised boolean modeling engine and Sketch modeling.

02 - Shade 12.x supports Volumentric lights.

Version 12.1 provides improved stereoscopic rendering for 3D playback on monitors, television sets and devices. Support has also been added for Sony Head Mounted 3D display and Sharp 3D smart phones. New FBX support adds pipeline flexibility. Plus there is new PoserFusion support.

Shade 12.1 Professional retails at 749.USD, Standard at 349.USD and Basic at 99.USD. Shade can be obtained at Mirye Software online.

Luxion has recently announced support for Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya, allowing faster, more direct import of these file types into KeyShot, the GPU-based real-time rendering system.

This new capability was demonstrated last week at Autodesk University, 2011, in Las Vegas. Already KeyShot supports direct import of Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Alias, AutoCAD and FBX formats. To learn more about KeyShot go here. www.luxion.com

formZ News

AutoDesSys has recently announced the public beta of formZ version 7, a major update to the venerable innovator in the area of modeling, rendering and animation. FormZ 7 features a new interface and new parametric modeling capabilities that allow either numeric “parametric” manipulation or what the company is calling “free-form” manipulation.

The company’s previous webinars are also all available on-demand for viewing at your own leisure. You can click here to check things out, including new webinars on version 7 FormZ, plus webinars on bonzai 3D.

Vectorworks Modeling Webinar

Nemetschek Vectorworks will be hosting a “Best Modeling with Vectorworks 2012″ webinar December, 15, 2011. Wes Gardner, Assoc. AIA, Architect Industry Specialist at Nemetschek Vectworks, Inc., will be presenting the webinar.

Wes will be presenting some of the latest new modeling tools in Vectorworks 2012 and showing how to model an object appropriate to any industry and how to create a great looking presentation using Renderworks, the program’s affiliated rendering software package.

The webinar is on Dec 15, at 2pm EST. To sign up for the webinar visit this link.

Lightwave 3D 11 features tons of new features. Instancing enables you to create mass duplicates of objects in a scene with very little overhead. These “virtual” polygon counts will not cause your machine to run out of memory. Instances are not mere clones they can be randomly different via scaling, position, rotation and even surface complexity.

Flocking enhances natural motions with such things as schools of fish, birds, et cetera. Fracture is a new modeler tool and was designed specifically to compliment Bullet dynamics in the Lightwave Layout. It allows the 3D artist to “pre-fracture” an object ready for destruction. Bullet is a fast, production-proven, open-source physics engine that does what you think it does. Lightwave 3D 11 features the Bullet engine directly in Layout.

Lightwave 3D 11 now has a much enhanced Virtual Studio Tools, allowing the user to configure various third-party device controllers (e.g.: SpaceNavigator, Playstation Move). GoZ is a new interchange technology in this version that enables users to send model and texture data to and from Pixologic’s ZBrush.

Rendering is improved thanks to new improvements in the Render Buffer. Saving and viewing various buffers produced by the render engine to make up an image is now more powerful and easier to use. This improves renders out for compositing.

Version 11 now includes Python scripting. Python is an industry standard for scripting and further allows the customization of Lightwave 3D. FiberFX has a new volume rendering mode called Stroke. Version 11 allows you to now make very realistic fibers. FiberFX now uses the new instancing technology as well.

Other Improvements

The user interface has been enhanced, especially in the area of the node editor. There are IK rigs improvements, huge speed boosts in areas such as loading scenes, many modeler optimizations and enhancements. Items can now be modeled off axis. There are OBJ file format support improvements, shader improvements and a whole lot more.

Lightwave 3D 11 is offered today for registered current users as a pre-release advanced beta. The full final release is scheduled for end of year.

To learn more about the new Newtek Lightwave 3D 11 visit them online here.

KeyShot 3 includes a new, patent-pending animation system, major improvements to the UI and workflow and over 400 new materials and new importers for NX, Parasolid, JT, Solid Edge and SolidWorks for PC and Mac.

KeyShot 3 Features

KeyShot features a brand new realtime 3D animation system that is geared towards designers, engineers and marketing professionals, not animation and rendering studio professionals. This makes it easy for users to quickly produce high-quality results. KeyShot 3 breaks down the complexity when creating part and camera animations from 3D models.

Rather than rely on keyframes, a traditional approach to animation, KeyShot 3 introduces a new and patent-pending system based on offset transforms. These transforms can be combined to create complex part and camera animations. Animations can be output to AVI, Apple QuickTime and Adobe Flash.

The user interface has been greatly improved. New areas include improved model interaction, redesigned library section, better material editing, texture mapping and general dialog cleanup.

KeyShot 3 now has more pipeline options for both Mac and PC. All formats are now supported on both Mac or PC as well, so Mac-based users can grab and import file formats associated with traditionally Windows-only based CAD programs. Some highlights include new support for NX 8 and prior with ability to control tessellation. Same goes for Parasolid, making KeyShot an option for Vectorworks users since that program is based on the Parasolid kernel. FBX importer now supports part animation that can be imported and played back.

To see all the features in detail visit them online at: www.keyshot.com

AutoDesSys has three job posts listed and given that they are still posted we assume that these positions are still available. The company may be in the process to hire as it expands its product offerings with the rollout of the updated formZ 7.0–a major modernization to a highly regarded and heavily used 3D software tool.

One position is focused on just 3D Rendering. This person will be responsible for helping to set future directions for 3D rendering across its product offerings. There is mention of experience with rendering API’s like OpenGL and Direct 3D, which are OS-oriented. There is also mention of API’s like Mental Ray, LightWorks, Vray and others. It may be interesting to see if AutoDesSys expands formZ to support other renderers. In the past the company has had a long-term relationship of sorts with Electric Image, but that company and its famous and quick rendering and animation solution has fallen behind in both public attention and studio use.

These days integration with newer renderers is a vital consideration for any powerful product design, architectural modeler or general modeling application like formZ or bonzai 3D. Such tools should integrate with the newer generation of rendering tools, with new generation GPU tools and possible with the four main professional 3D suites.

Mobile – Android and iOS

AutoDesSys may be looking to not just modernize formZ’s user interface–which it did with version 7–but update other tools. A new opportunity exist for an application OS interface engineer. The advert mentions Android and Apple iOS operating systems experience in addition to Windows. This person will be responsible for the integration between our application suite and the operating systesms on which they run.

There is a third position open for a modeling expert or programmer. This person will joint the formZ development team.

All of these positions seem like good opportunities. It will be interesting to follow this company has it wraps up and rolls out formZ 7 and how it moves forward from here now that both its longtime flagship program and its newer bonzai both have been modernized.

To learn more about these positions click here.

formZ 7 News

formZ 7.0 has what the company is calling a “game-changing” ‘intuitive interface. All model building is dynamic, intentionally tentative, and continuously changeable, which allows you to explore and experiment with no restrictions during the design process.

Back in October the company showcased the new formZ 7 at the ACADIA Conference, referring to the newly updated program as outfitted for the new parametrics of digital design. That day the new Reshape tool was covered to explain how to sculpt and conceptual design ideas with ease. New parametric controls allow for endless experimentation and iterative design.

This new game-changing interface gains on what the company learned from creating bonzai 3D, its powerful NURBS program that is as easy to use as SketchUp but with true class-A NURBS. New intelligent smart interface guides help you model in formZ 7 more efficiently. New parametric, numeric and free-from modeling choices can be dynamically changed during design. There are powerful new digital fabrication tools, plus easier NURBS modeling.

Get Your Copy

You can donwload a free beta 5 version of the new formZ 7 here by just filling out a form. There are also webinars covering the new formZ 7. Unfortunately, the company often gives very little notice with such webinars and the first one passed yesterday. Part 2 of the new webinar series covers Visualization, Rendering, Fabrication and Presentation and will give potential users a good view of the new formZ 7 and its new interface.

That webinar is scheduled for 17 November 2011. To register click here.

“Vue 10 represents a significant milestone in our continuous delivery of leading-edge Digital Nature technologies,” said Nicholas Phelps, President of e-on Software. “High-resolution rocks, physical water and spline-driven effects together with faster rendering and advanced render stacking are some of the examples of the many new technologies in Vue 10.”

The Beaverton, Oregon-based, company also announced that they will release the rest of the Vue 10 product line by mid November, 2011.

Vue 10 xStream is the company’s flagship solution offering CG professionals the leading solution for creating exceptionally rich and realistic “Digital Nature” environments, fully immersed within a range of 3rd-party software suites such as: Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, and Softimage, plus Maxon CINEMA 4D or Newtek Lightwave. All Vue tools are fully integrated in the host application as menus and toolbars and directly accessible from within the host interface.

Vue 10 Infinite is a premier standalone solution from e-on Software. It offers all the powerful tools in a separate application and is ideal for multimedia and entertainment professionals, architects and graphic designers.

Standard retail pricing for Vue 10 xStream is 1,790.USD with a one year maintenance contract and upgrades start at 395.USD. Vue 10 Infinite retails for 1,190.USD with a one year maintenance contract with upgrades from 295.USD.

To learn more about the Vue 10 product line visit them online here.

Details

The CINEMA 4D export appears directly in the After Effects export menu and generates a .c4d file containing 3D layers, cameras, lights, solids, nulls and footage. Even nested compositions are supported. All major layer attributes including animations (rotation, position, parameter, anchor points, POI, etc.), expressions, layer parenting, layer locking and layer visibility are retained. Render and document settings in CINEMA 4D are adapted accordingly to the After Effects’ project settings.

“The After Effects-CINEMA 4D workflow is the proven choice for top motion design studios worldwide seeking to easily integrate their 3D and 2D workflows,” commented Harald Schneider, managing partner and CTO at Maxon. “We are pleased to offer our customers this new After Effects export plug-in so they can benefit by the increased speed, efficiency and tight integration between these two powerhouse software packages.”

“CINEMA 4D is a 3D package After Effects users have already come to know and love because of its seamless integration into After Effects,” said Steve Forde, product manager for Adobe After Effects. “The ability to bring assets the other direction as well will certainly enhance productivity and further solidify CINEMA 4D as an ideal 3D solution for motion graphics artists.”

Pricing and Availability

The new CINEMA 4D R13 exchange plugin compatible with Adobe After Effects CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 is immediately available as a free download from the Maxon website. (www.maxon.net/afterfx-e)

To learn more about CINEMA 4D visit Maxon online here.

Lightworks Artisan is the next generation product from Lightworks. Dave Forrester, Managing Director at Lightworks commented: “We realized that there are many companies operating on the Mac platform who would like to take advantage of our Lightworks Artisan technology within their own applications and so we responded to this.”  The availability of a Mac version of Artisan means more Mac end users will be able to tap this technology in many of their favorite graphics applications.

IMSI/Design has been an early adopter of this new technology within their popular Renditioner product. Bob Mayer, COO of IMSI/Design explained: “This Artisan Mac upgrade to our popular photorealistic rendering plugin for SketchUp has been both eagerly awaited and well received by our Macintosh users. With the release of version 2, we continue to see the Mac version drive up much higher percentages of Renditioner sales than the installed percentage base of Macs would otherwise indicate.”

For more information visit them online here. www.lightworkdesign.com

In the past Chris has spoken to Architosh about the detailed relationship between Apple hardware engineering and AMD/ATi, and the various details that shape the decision-making process in hardware design and the resultant performance realities for users. Our “state of the union” style series wouldn’t be complete without a serious fireside chat with Chris Bentley. He has been on the extreme inside tract of Apple’s Mac hardware engineering like no other outside Apple for many years.

So let’s get in real close and talk about Mac graphics!

AFR: (Anthony Frausto-Robledo): In your role you are on the inside track of hardware development. Can you describe to me briefly the importance AMD/ATi plays in supporting Apple’s Mac graphics hardware advances? To what degree is AMD/ATi an influence on Apple’s decisions?

CB: (Chris Bentley): Apple is relentlessly innovative both in software and hardware, and especially in the combination of the two.  I looked back over the interview we did in January 2007;  apart from being a good read, I am struck by the fact that it came out just on the cusp of Apple introducing the first iPhone.  Since then Apple has shipped multiple generations of the iPhone, the iPod Touch, the iPad, the iPad 2, the MacBook Air, and numerous laptop and desktop systems.  All of these devices are powered by OpenGL or OpenGL ES graphics.  I think it’s fairly well accepted that Apple has shipped more OpenGL accelerated devices than any one else on the planet.

AMD works closely with Apple on both the software and hardware sides.  The software we write for Apple is entirely customized for Mac OS X.  Since 2007 we have added support for the Radeon HD 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx chip families, and added support for OpenGL 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, encompassing over 30 new features and extensions, as well as OpenCL 1.0, 1.1, and hardware accelerated H.264 decode support in Lion.  Delivering OpenGL 3.2 and the other features in Lion required Apple and AMD engineers to work hand-in-glove for months.  On the hardware side, Apple receives regular presentations on our hardware roadmap, and for every Apple program using AMD GPUs, our hardware engineers work closely with Apple throughout the bringup and production phases.

So, I would say that we are deeply invested in supporting Apple’s innovation in graphics software and hardware.  I think the relationship is more about working together, and less about our influencing them.

AFR: For years many Mac pros have lamented the lack of GPU options and specific pro-level cards. But over the past several years Apple has done much better. What do you feel are some of the decisive factors affecting Apple’s decisions in what GPU cards to support? And how much better would you describe the situation today than say seven or ten years ago?

next page: Pro Apps and OpenGL Performance

Artlantis 4 is an advanced and efficient renderer that gives its users tools for creating photo-realistic 3D projects. The software interfaces with the leading top CAD and BIM programs used by architects and supports a wide variety of file formats, including DXF, DWG, OBJ, 3DS and FBX. Available in two main versions, Artlantis offers a product line suited to different needs and practices. Artlantis Render is developed for design professionals (architects, interior designers, urban planners, landscapers, exhibition organizers, etc.) who need to create very high quality still renderings. Artlantis Studio, on the other hand, not only creates exceptional, high-quality still images, but also offers an enhanced suite of tools to generate dynamic renderings, such as iVisit 3D panoramas, VR objects and animations that provide interactivity with motion through the project.

New Features in Artlantis 4

• iVisit 3D Panoramas (Artlantis Studio only) — create a realistic tour inside your project with multi-node panoramas. Artlantis 4 automatically creates everything you need to view the panoramas. Based on Adobe Flash technology, the player is free of charge and viewable within most popular web browsers. A special tool also allows users to view and share these panoramas on an Apple iPad or iPhone. iVisit 3D is available in two versions (Lite and Pro) from Apple’s App Store. iVisit 3D Lite is free, but is limited to one viewing per day.
• Quality Improvements — a new Radiosity engine improves images for better perception of color, textures and materials. Tone correction is a new post-process tool that allows users to lighten dark images or vice versa. A new Fresnel shader has been added to the library, which is particularly suitable for metallic car bodies. Transparent surfaces and a variety of other edits are now managed more easily in this new version.
• Performance Improvements — renderings are now twice as fast on average, and up to seven times faster if the project users several Neon shaders. In order to better handle large projects, Artlantis is now optimized for 64-bit Macintosh and Windows environments.
• Productivity Improvements — A new horizontal material projection method simplifies working with complex roof surfaces, automatically orienting the direction of all roof textures to line up with soffit edges in one simple step. Batch rendering work can now be reorganized and filtered before the renderings are generated. In the 2D view, a series of duplicated objects can be automatically positioned on the underlying ground surface using gravity.
• New Artlantis Media CDs — There are five new Media Volumes are being released exclusively for Artlantis 4.

To learn more about the new Artlantis 4 visit Abvent’s website online here.