Autodesk Announces 3ds Max 2008

Autodesk has announced 3ds Max 2008, the latest version of its popular 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software, revealing new features such as improved viewing and handling, as well as new tools and enhancements for complex workflows and pipelines. Autodesk comments that the upcoming software version “enables artists and designers to overcome challenges associated with large and complex 3D datasets.” Previous versions of 3ds Max were used in the development of game projects such as Neversoft's Tony Hawk’s Project 8 and BioWare's upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive Mass Effect, as well as visualizations for the EMI Records building in London, and the motion picture Grindhouse. Among the new features included in 3ds Max 2008 are improvements in file-linking and interoperability with other Autodesk solutions, a new tool for easier script authoring, a new review toolset, and a new mental ray Sky Portal, which simplifies lighting indoor scenes using outdoor lighting and supports HDRI-based lighting effects. Other additions include new viewport technology and optimizations for improved performance, a new new scene explorer, a new new modeling user interface, and a more streamlined modeling workflow. “Autodesk 3ds Max 2008 provides an ideal environment for creating the complex 3D content demanded by today’s game, design visualization, film, and television industries,” said Marc Petit, Autodesk Media & Entertainment senior vice president. “3ds Max 2008 dramatically improves artists’ productivity, enabling them to quickly achieve higher levels of visual sophistication through innovative modeling and interactive rendering capabilities.”