MONTREAL - Version 4.2 of Softimage|XSI (www.softimage.com) software is now available offering a range of new features that accelerate workflow and increase the value of the 3D content creation environment.
XSI Essentials now comes with the resolution-independent professional compositing and paint features, previously only included in the Advanced package. In addition, XSI Advanced is now bundled with version 2.0 of SoftImage|Behavior - the company's behavioral animation software - which offers tight integration with SoftImage|XSI and mental ray rendering as well as an integrated development environment (IDE) with debugging functionalities. With XSI Advanced, users can now build CG crowd scenes and independently control characters created in SoftImage|XSI as part of a complex crowd consisting of more than 100,000 characters. Other highlights in include terrain following, obstacle avoidance, dynamic path-planning, automatic motion blending, character rag doll and stunt force creation.
SoftImage|XSI 4.2 software also offers increased support for games, film and broadcast pipelines. For game developers, XSI 4.2 features advanced, robust normal and effects map generation for realtime graphics. In film and broadcast, industry-standard file formats such as 10-bit and HD Material Exchange Format (MXF), which streamlines metadata and media exchange between products, and OpenEXR, the open-source extended dynamic range image file format developed by Industrial Light & Magic, simplify data flow to editing and compositing tools. Enhancements for XSI Foundation include a new Linux version and increased rendering capabilities.