KeyShot 8.1 Now Available

Luxion debuts KeyShot 8.1. This new version focuses on stability and feature updates along with new usability features to improve output, issue reporting and the visual creation workflow.

KeyShot 8.1 introduces 16-bit PSD output, in-view indicators for geometry shader, full-resolution HDRI update, in-app problem reporting and invert selection capabilities, along with many other improvements and bug fixes.

KeyShot 8 Feature Highlight

The top features in KeyShot 8.1 include the following:

16-bit PSD output is now available for still images, animation frames, and configurator output. A 16-bit image contains more tones per color channel than a typical 8-bit image. Set to a CMYK color profile, an 8-bit image has 256 tones per color, where a 16-bit image contains 65,536 tonal values.

When an update is made to a geometry shader, such as a displacement, flake or bubble setting, or when an HDRI is changed, and an update is required, the user needs to regenerate the model and/or environment to see the result. If a change in either of these is detected, the user will now see an in-view indicator button to quickly regenerate the geometry and/or HDRI.

With a selection made, the user will now see the option to ‘Invert Selection’ in the right-click context menu for both the Real-time View and the Project Scene Tree. This aids in the process of quickly selecting and making changes to models or groups of models, such as changing material, hiding/showing models, and moving or grouping/ungrouping models.

KeyShot now allows you to report a crash or error directly inside the application, which is then sent directly to Luxion Quality Assurance.

Additional Improvements

Geometry shader improvements include the addition of an ‘Add Geometry Node’ on the Material Graph ribbon and a Label input for the root material node in the Material Graph. Execute Geometry Node only changes the material it is applied to while displacement mesh quality has been improved. Also, a new ‘Seed’ option for Flakes and Bubbles brings quick variation control. The Cutaway feature gets new support for multi-selection of objects when excluding objects as well as support for object outlines when selecting excluded objects in Cutaway properties. Other improvements include pointer support for spotlights in Geometry View, a context menu for Image Styles with Image Styles also retaining Photographic Image Style values when switched to Basic.

Ready for KeyShot 8.1?

If you already have KeyShot 8 installed, you'll be prompted to update to KeyShot 8.1 when you start up KeyShot. You can also go to the KeyShot Help menu and select Check for Updates to start the update.

If you're a KeyShot customer on maintenance subsrciption or purchased KeyShot 7 after August 15, you may upgrade to KeyShot 8.1 using your current serial code.

KeyShot 8 Displacement

On Thursday, November 29, the company will host a special webinar and Q&A session that covers the new displacement feature in KeyShot 8. Register soon.

Sources: Press materials received from the company.

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