Kemper Smith (kemper@architosh.com)

09 Aug 2004

 

SIGGRAPH 2004 Report: State of 3D on the Macintosh

Page 3

Maya 6 Unlimited and Maya 5 Personal Learning Edition - Alias
(release for Mac OS X expected in late summer 2004)

Overview:
Alias has been very busy releasing software for the Mac after the introduction of OS X. Maya is one of the most respected 3D modeling, animation, and rendering packages in the industry and was used in feature films ranging from Star Wars: Episode II, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and Spiderman 2. Alias released Maya 4 Complete for Mac OS X in September of 2001 and have updated the product to the currently shipping Maya 6 Complete. Also, Alias recently announced the upcoming late-summer release of Maya 6 Unlimited for the Mac which includes all the features of Maya Complete with additional fluid effects, cloth, hair, and 3D motion matching features. Because Maya is such a large package of 3D software, Alias offers a Mac version of their free Maya Personal Learning Edition for exploring Maya 5 features.
The 29% Mac market share for Maya is very impressive and should be more than enough incentive for Alias to continue their strong support of the Mac platform.

Notable Maya Complete Features:

• Advanced modeling, rendering, animation, dynamics
• Maya Artisan: Sculpt polygon and NURBS surfaces with a brush interface
• Maya Paint Effects: advanced textures, and animated surfaces applied to polygonal and NURBS surfaces; 500 pressure-sensitive brushes
• mental ray for Maya: integrated high-end rendering technology from Mental Images
• MEL: Maya scripting language
• Ability for Maya plug-in developers to use Xcode (Mac only feature)
• Applescript support for Maya Embedded Language (Mac only feature)
• Quartz rendering (Mac only feature)

Maya Unlimited Only Features:

• Maya Hair: ability to create long hair that is integrated into the Maya dynamics engine for realistic movement and support for NURBS
• Maya Cloth and Maya Fur
• Maya Fluid Effects: support for 3D and 2D fluid motion with cloud, smoke, steam, open water, fire, explosion animated effects
• Maya Live: ability to match 3D animation with 2D video

Sketchbook Pro 1.1 - Alias
(released for Mac OS X in June, 2004)

Overview:
Another Alias product that has been released for the Mac is Sketchbook Pro. While this software is not a 3D program, it brings 2D layered and pressure-sensitive sketching to your Mac with any Wacom pen and tablet. It has a very intuitive interface that stays out of your way and minimizes the required input from a keyboard. Architects can benefit from this program because it comes with a variety of templates to sketch over like perspective and axonometric grids.

Related Architosh Articles:
Tidbits: ArchiOffice news, Alias SketchBook, and new X-RIP for HP Plotters under OS X

Piranesi 3.1 - Informatix Software
(released for Mac OS X in September, 2003)

Overview:
Piranesi is a unique 2D digital imaging and painting program for rendering 3D models. It is often called the Photoshop for architects because of the unique way one can paint receding textures onto the model which is made possible by pixel depth information. Piranesi also creates hand rendered effects through the use of filters and brushes. The release of Piranesi on OS X was a direct result of high demand from Macintosh-based architects and illustrators. Informatix is continuing their development by announcing the upcoming release of Piranesi 4 which will add more features for importing 3D objects and lighting effects.

Notable Features:

• 2D painting of 3D model views
• Automatic perspective of painted textures
• Painterly effects with filters and brushes
• 2D entourage placement for vegetation, objects, and people
• Support for a variety of 3D model file formats

Related Architosh Articles:
Piranesi 3.1 for Mac OS X Product Review
Informatix Software Announces Piranesi 4 Features

Renderman Pro Server 11.5.3 - Pixar
(released for Mac OS X in March, 2004)

Overview:
Renderman Pro Server is an advanced rendering package created by Pixar--the makers of popular 3D animated films like Toy Story, Monsters, and Finding Nemo. After the introduction of the G5 Powermacs last summer, Pixar saw the benefits of bringing their software to OS X based on the significant performance increases. In addition to Pixar's own animated films, Renderman software has been used in photorealistic settings to produce feature films like Minority Report, Star Wars Episode II, The Mummy, and Men in Black II.

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