NVIDIA Corp. is demonstrating its next-generation, near-realtime, high-quality rendering product with performance improvements capable of re-lighting 60 frames of a complex scene in 60 seconds at SIGGRAPH 2007 in San Diego (booth #413). Along with a new release of NVIDIA Gelato GPU-accelerated software renderer and the announcement of the NVIDIA Quadro Plex Visual Computing System (VCS) Model S4 1U graphics server, this advanced technology reveals NVIDIA's continued advancement in high-quality rendering.
Running on the latest NVIDIA GPU architecture, this technology can achieve rendering performance improvements of more than 100 times that of traditional software rendering solutions. By using the GPU to enhance rendering CPU-based performance, professional quality, interactive final-frame rendering and interactive relighting is now possible-accelerating production workflow, improving review and approval cycles and reducing overall production schedules.
NVIDIA is also showing off its new NVIDIA Gelato 2.2 rendering software release, available now, which offers substantial performance improvements and many new features, such as faster raytraced reflections, more accurate subsurface scattering, enhanced texture conversion and improved support for the Autodesk Maya Hair feature. Gelato 2.2 rendering software also offers features such as an improved user interface and data exporting functionality along with enhanced Maya batch rendering. Gelato is well-suited for 3D software applications, including Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max,.
Also at SIGGRAPH 2007, NVIDIA is announcing its new 1U GPU server product, the Quadro Plex Visual Computing System (VCS) Model S4. With four Quadro FX 5600 GPUs packed into a 1U housing, it is easier than ever to get the graphics processors needed to render with Gelato into your render farm.
THE PLUSH LIFE, a new animated 3D short film by the NVIDIA Digital Film Group, showcases many of the advanced rendering features of Gelato 2.2, emphasizing the latest hair and velvet shader technology and impressive image quality that can be achieved with Gelato software. View THE PLUSH LIFE at www.nvidia.com/gelatozone.
Basic Gelato 2.2 is available now as a free Internet download at www.nvidia.com/gelatozone. Gelato Pro 2.2, priced at $1,500, offers advanced rendering features and greater scalability for professional production pipelines. Volume pricing and educational discounts on Gelato Pro 2.2 are available.
Gelato 2.2 and Gelato Pro 2.2 currently support the Windows XP and Linux operating systems running on NVIDIA GeForce 5200 graphics or higher and Quadro professional graphics solutions. Gelato Pro is certified and supported on NVIDIA Quadro solutions only.
NVIDIA Corp. (www.nvidia.com) is a worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has offices throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
