Pixar has released RenderMan Pro Server 11.5.3 for Mac OS X v10.3. This release supports both the G4 and G5 processors.
Now that RenderMan Pro Server is available on the Mac OS X, any G4 or G5 may be used as a server to render 3D images and effects, making the Macintosh a welcome addition to any render farm. (RenderMan Pro Server is like a "3D camera" which renders data that has been generated using other 3D animation programs. The RenderMan Artist Tools, which provide a clean user interface to Alias' Maya animation software, are not yet available for the Mac OS X but will be in the future.)
In addition to support for the Mac OS, this release provides a number of important fixes and enhancements for all supported platforms, including Windows 2000/XP, 32 and 64-bit Linux, and Irix 6.5.
As of the February pre-release, Pixar's RenderMan Pro Server 11.5.3 also supports 64-bit Linux platforms. The renderer can now handle much larger scenes than was previously possible by taking advantage of the increased memory and file sizes available on these systems.
The x86-64 chip architecture is featured on processors like the AMD Opteron and Athlon64, and also on forthcoming products from Intel. When a 32/64-bit operating system is installed on these systems, they can run standard 32-bit applications as well as those like RenderMan Pro Server that have been rebuilt with native 64-bit support. This release of RenderMan Pro Server for x86-64 Linux requires a GCC-3.3.1-compatible runtime environment.
Emeryville, California-base Pixar Animation Studios (www.pixar.com) has created and produced five of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: recent Oscar-winner and animation box office champ FINDING NEMO, MONSTERS, INC., TOY STORY 2, A BUGS LIFE and TOY STORY. Pixars next two films are THE INCREDIBLES (Nov. 5, 2004) and CARS (holiday 2005).
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
