Siggraph

Autodesk, Inc. announced that plug-ins are available for use with the new 64-bit versions of Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya animation, modeling and rendering software, thanks to a partnership with HP and Intel. Plug-ins for these new Autodesk 3D software versions were created by members of the Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) Sparks program.

HP and Intel donated 64-bit workstations to a number of ADN Sparks developers in order to port plug-ins in time for the launches of 3ds Max 9 and Maya 8. Plug-ins give artists the opportunity to extend the functionality of Autodesk‘s media and entertainment technology. They are integrated into development pipelines, optimizing workflow and increasing the creative capabilities of 3ds Max and Maya.

As video game, film and design studios scale their pipelines to accommodate larger teams and increasingly complex data, 64-bit technology is a critical component of next-generation 3D content. Marc Petit, Autodesk‘s Media & Entertainment vice president, said, “64-bit technology allows Autodesk software users to deal with greater amounts of data and create more complex 3D scenes. Through our partnership with HP and Intel, Autodesk customers can benefit not only from the new 64-bit versions of 3ds Max and Maya that are highly optimized to handle complexity, but also from a host of compatible 64-bit plug-ins. There is a lot of support and excitement around 64-bit in the media and entertainment industry.”

ADN Sparks developers relied on HP xw4300 workstations to produce the plug-ins. “64-bit computing, in combination with high-performance, multi-core Intel processors, is expected to bring Autodesk customers tremendous workflow improvements,” said David Tuhy, general manager of Intel‘s Business Client Group Product Marketing Division. “Intel has worked closely with Autodesk for a long time, enabling Autodesk‘s software to take advantage of our latest platform technologies. These HP workstations with 64-bit dual-core Intel Pentium processors ensure Autodesk‘s ADN Sparks developers are also able to provide their customers with some of the most advanced tools technology allows.”

To date, ADN Sparks developers have ported the following 64-bit plug-ins for 3ds Max 9 and Maya 8:

• 3dAliens (www.3daliens.com): glu3D




• Archvision ( www.archvision.com): RPC plug-ins and content




• Axceleon, Inc ( www.axceleon.com/3d): EnFuzion




• Bionatics ( www.bionatics.com): natFX and EASYnat




• Boomer Labs ( www.boomerlabs.com): MAX2AE




• Boris FX ( www.borisfx.com):Final Effects Complete




• Cebas (www.cebas.com): fi nalRender




• Chaos ( www.chaosgroup.com): V-Ray




• Character Animation Technologies ( www.catoolkit.com): Character Animation toolkit




• Cubicspace ( www.cubicspace.com): rtre (real time rendering)




• Frantic Films Corporation (www.franticfilms.com): Deadline render farm management system




• Itoo ( www.itoosoft.com): Forest Pack plug-ins




• Joe Alter, Inc ( www.joealter.com): Shave and a Haircut




• Npower Software( www.npowersoftware.com): Power Booleans, Power Nurbs, Power Solids




• Okino Computer Graphics (www.okino.com): Po lytrans




• Orbaz (www.orbaz.com): Particle Flow Tools




• Pipeline FX( www.pipelinefx.com): Qube!




• Pixar (www.pixar.com): RenderMan




• Rad Game Tools (www.radgametools.com): Granny 3D




• Right Hemisphere (www.righthemisphere.com): Deep Paint 3D




• Sensable ( www.sensable.com): Claytools




• Size 8 Software ( www.size8software.com): clothFX




• Syflex LLC (www.syflex.com): Syflex Cloth




• T-Splines LLC ( www.tsplines.com): T-Splines Plug-in