Luxion Releases KeyShot 3

By DE Editors

Luxion announced KeyShot 3, the next generation of the company’s rendering solution. KeyShot 3 delivers a patent-pending animation system that makes product and camera animations easier than before. In addition, the solution includes improved asset management and part interaction. KeyShots import pipeline has been expanded to now support Parasolid-based file formats such as NX, Solid Edge and SolidWorks on both PC and Mac, and also includes over 400 new materials and over 40 new lighting environments.

Animation setup, edit and playback of 3D models take place inside KeyShot’s real-time raytraced environment. Rather than relying on setting up keyframes, Luxion has developed a new animation system based on offset transforms. These transforms can be combined to create complex part and camera animations. Offset transforms can moved interactively in the timeline, being copied, pasted, linked with and moved to other parts.

All animations can be output to standard multi-media formats such as AVI, QuickTime, or Flash.

Interface improvements include improved model interaction that allows individual or multiple parts to be moved in local or global coordinate space, making it possible to quickly generate exploded views of your model. The library has been completely redesigned using a folder structure, which makes organizing content more flexible. The library has also been populated with over 400 materials and over 40 lighting environments with more content available on the KeyShot website.

Texture mapping has been enhanced with the addition of specular and opacity maps, allowing users to create even more advanced effects with their materials including geometric patterns based on an image. Texture manipulation is now more interactive and allows for better control of the desired result. All dialogs have been cleaned up and partially consolidated to make the interaction with the scene easier and the settings more logical. Advanced settings are always present, but never exposed directly to the user. This way the novice user is not overwhelmed, and the advanced user has quick access to an advanced toolset.

For more information, visit Luxion.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.