NewTek Unveils New 3D Technology

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
February 9, 2009

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NewTek Inc. revealed LightWave® CORE™, its next-generation 3D application via a streamed live presentation on www.ustream.com to 3D artists around the world. LightWave CORE is a completely new system offering a unified environment that allows anything to be animated in any number of ways. LightWave CORE is a node-based, multi-processing, unified application, designed to be as future-proof as possible, with a concentration on capacity and performance.

"We debated, discussed and researched CORE for a long time before a line of code was even written. By designing a brand new architecture, we were able to create what I believe is a more flexible, bulletproof, forward-looking, high-capacity and performance-driven system than any 3D content creation environment currently on the market," said Jay Roth, president, 3D Division, NewTek Inc. "Longstanding LightWave artists will still be comfortable with the changes made and new users will delight in the flexibility offered by NewTek LightWave CORE."

LightWave CORE offers a flexible user interface design with general access to most of the UI components available via CSS, including fonts, placement of controls and widgets, down to pixel-level accuracy. Users can also take advantage of snapping palettes to rearrange their screen at will and use the desktop management system to store their preferred layout in a per context fashion: settings for modeling, surface, rigging, animating, rendering and so on, all set and stored separately.

The SDK for CORE is C++-based and is the same for internal development as it is for external development. The architecture enforces full access to C++ SDK and scripting languages, featuring Python as the primary language, while remaining open to connection with a wide range of others through SWIG compliance. CORE is completely multi-threaded spawning as many threads as it needs. The system is both 64- and 32-bit compliant, and is capable of leveraging GPU power where applicable. It will be available on Windows, Macintosh OS X and Linux.

NewTek LightWave 3D combines a state-of-the-art renderer with intuitive and powerful modeling and animation tools. Tools that may cost extra in other professional 3D applications are part of the product package, including unlimited render nodes, hard- and soft-body dynamics, hair, fur, cloth simulation and more. LightWave is enjoyed worldwide as a complete 3D production solution for visual effects in television, film, broadcast graphics, games, visualization, print and Web.

Pricing and Availability – Introducing HardCORE
LightWave CORE can be purchased the traditional way at the time of each final product release or by taking advantage of NewTek's new HardCORE membership program. HardCORE members receive exclusive access to ongoing software builds, special pricing, copy of the shipping version of the LightWave CORE release scheduled for Q4, a private forum for discussions with the LightWave development team, exclusive information updates, training videos, VIP invitations to special events, personalized membership card and of course, their own custom t-shirt.

LightWave v9 owners gain access to LightWave CORE with their HardCORE membership for US$395 (charter price) through March 31, 2009. Beginning April 1, HardCORE annual memberships for LightWave v9 owners will increase to US$495.

LightWave owners using any previous version of LightWave may upgrade to LightWave v9 and gain access to LightWave CORE with an included HardCORE annual membership for US$495. For 3D artists using other applications, Companion Upgrades to LightWave v9 will be available through March 31, 2009 at a cost of US$595 and come with a one year membership to HardCORE.

New LightWave v9 purchases through March 31, 2009 are available for US$895 and come with a one year membership to HardCORE. LightWave CORE is slated for a Q4 2009 release. LightWave CORE will retail for US$1495, LightWave CORE upgrades will be US$695.

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NewTek Unveils New 3D Technology

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