Allegorithmic, developer of 3D technology software, has announced the latest version of MaPZone, its free bitmap texturing authoring tool, with a number of improvements including an updated bitmap input node and other UI changes. The MaPZone authoring tool, based on Allegorithmic's FXMaps technology, is designed specifically to manage and edit textures, and allows users to locally edit procedural textures to create diffuse, specular and normal maps that are resolution independent and tile automatically. Features new in the latest version include an updated bitmap image input node that enables users to mix bitmaps and procedural noises, a capability that flags normal maps automatically for usage in DirectX or OpenGL, and updated node functionality that allows them to be realigned horizontally or vertically, with existing connections modifiable by drag-and-drop. Other additions allow users to reposition the camera and objects to their default positions in the 3DEdit panel, and space-bar access to the Filter Menu. The new version of MaPZone is free and is scheduled to ship in fall 2007. “Offering the software for free has also fostered the growth of our MaPZone user community, which has grown to more that 25,000 people since the [previous] release of MaPZone," said Dr. Sebastien Deguy, president and founder of Allegorithmic. "With [the latest] MaPZone, we hope to see that number increase as the user community continues to expand and share resources.”