*LightWave brightens significantly

Newtek has released a significantly upgraded version of its industry-leading LightWave 3D animation software for the Mac.

Version 6 adds new character animation tools, advanced rendering capabilities and enhanced architecture, which NewTek says equals LightWave’s most significant upgrade in 10 years.

LightWave is also now up-to-speed with the new Macintosh G4 velocity engine, the company says.

‘With the new G4 processors, the Apple/LightWave combination will represent the fastest rendering solution to provide caustics, radiosity, ray tracing and volumetrics in one system,’ says marketing vp Brad Peebler in a statement. ‘Combined with the new animation and modeling tools geared for high-end character animation work, LightWave will be head and shoulders above any animation system currently available for the Macintosh.’

LightWave’s new package includes leading-edge animation tools called ‘IntelligEntities,’ consisting of Skelegons, polygons that appear like traditional 3D bones; Endomorphs, which allow for changes in expression or action by training a single model; and Multi-meshes, object-embedded multiple layers of geometry.

The new package, which is retailing for about us$2,500 ($3,640) – us$495 ($720) to upgrade from 5.6 – also features a new modeling paradigm and an updated work flow and production environment.

*Softimage DS 3.0 picks up speed

Montreal-based Softimage is shipping an update to its Softimage DS 3.0 which takes advantage of the increased processing speeds of Intergraph’s StudioZ gt workstation.

The improved functionality was made necessary thanks to the dual 700MHz Intel Pentium iii processors employed by the StudioZ gt. Softimage ds products are built on a software-based processing architecture.

The upgrade will allow Softimage ds users to run more realtime uncompressed effects concurrently and improve the overall processing of multi-layer composites and image effects, the company says.

A complete turnkey multi-stream system with Softimage DS 3.0 software and Intergraph’s StudioZ gt workstation is available for us$137,500 ($200,200). Existing customers can upgrade their systems to the 700 MHz processors through Intergraph Computer Systems.

*New plug-in maps room reverb

Kind Of Loud technologies out of Santa Cruz, California, has released RealVerb 5.1, its 5.1 surround panner for Digidesign’s ProTools.

RealVerb 5.1 is a multichannel plug-in that features the ability to map reverberation spatially for surround mixing. It can also morph between room shapes and textures.

Users have the option of creating custom room shapes and sizes through room-shape palettes. RealVerb also allows engineers to morph between their own presets.

RealVerb 5.1, which began shipping this month, is priced at us$1,495 ($2,170).

*Indie filmmakers online

One of the Web’s leading destinations for buying and selling films has launched a new service aimed at independent filmmakers. Reelplay.com demonstrated the new service last month at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

‘Reelplay recognizes the tremendous impact the Internet has on the independent film industry, especially where marketing and creating a buzz are concerned,’ says president Dennis Young.

Reelplay represents nearly 1,500 titles and provides more than 1,000 trailers for screening for sales agents and international distributors.

*New RenderBOXX streamlines work flow

BOXX Technologies has unveiled its Renderboxx nt and Linux rendering system, which the company says streamlines work flow for visual effects and video game professionals.

Renderboxx, which relies on Intel Pentium iii 800MHz processors to increase rendering times, has a completely open rendering system free of special libraries or plug-ins.

The new system is shipping with single or dual processors for as low as us$2,365 ($3,440).