EMERYVILLE, CA - Pixar (www.pixar.com) has introduced RenderMan for Maya, a new, easy-to-use, plug-in version of its powerful renderer. The new product is designed for users that may not require all of the features found in the company's high-end RenderMan Pro Server and RenderMan Artist Tools, but still demand the same range of effects and high visual quality.
RenderMan for Maya takes Maya scene data - including lights, geometry, shading nodes, fur, particles, hair and Paint FX - and immediately renders it directly into the Maya Render View window. The result is movie-quality imagery associated with RenderMan, including render effects such as motion blur, depth of field, displacements and ambient occlusion.
A Pixar rep says the release is entirely CPU-dependent and will be available as a download late this summer for $995.