NEWS •FEBRUARY 8, 2001
Maxon Updates Cinema 4D, BodyPaint 3D
New Cinema 4D supports Photoshop layers as textures

by David Nagel
Executive Producer
dnagel@digitalmedianet.com

Maxon Computer today announced updates for Cinema 4D XL and Cinema 4D Net, as well as BodyPaint 3D. The new versions of Cinema 4D (version 6.3) add support for BodyPaint 3D's .b3d texture format. In addition, pictures in .psd Photoshop format with layers can be used as texture. Other improvements include enhanced alpha channel capabilities with multi-layer materials and the simultaneous display of the texture grid in shading mode.

The plugin interface has also been enhanced in order to offer more functionality for plugins. These enhancements affect the COFFEE SDK and C++ SDK. The latest version of the Software Development Kit is available as a free download from http://www.plugincafe.com. The first plugin that fully uses this functionality is Pyrocluster from cebas computer (http://www.cebas.com), available as of now directly from Maxon. Pyrocluster is a plugin used to create smoke and explosion effects.

Details about the BodyPaint update were not available at press time. Using the updated BodyPaint, however, does require the updated version of Cinema 4D Net for network rendering. The Cinema 4D XL update requires the original Cinema 4D XL CD.

The updates are free and available as downloads from Maxon's site. For more information, visit http://www.maxon.net.

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