Thinkbox Releases Krakatoa MY 2.3

Thinkbox Software announced the release of Krakatoa MY 2.3, the latest version of its high-volume particle renderer for Autodesk Maya. Additions to the software include an intuitive Magma node-based toolkit for channelling particles, among other UI and performance improvements. The launch coincides with the availability of Krakatoa MX 2.3, an update to the Autodesk 3ds Max version of the plug-in – giving users identical functionality across both 3D applications.

CPU-based and multi-threaded, Krakatoa overcomes the memory and system limitations of host applications by providing a pipeline for acquiring, caching, transforming, modifying, shading and rendering billions of particles at unprecedented speeds. Artists most frequently tap Krakatoa to create natural computer generated (CG) phenomena such as dust, smoke, silt, ocean surface foam and plasma, abstract images or solid objects, though it can also visualize LIDAR and particle datasets in architecture, engineering and construction.

Krakatoa MY 2.3 Key features include:

• Full Magma Support: Procedurally modify particle data in Krakatoa.
• Higher Particle Counts: Distributed .PRT partitioning over Deadline increases the particle counts of Maya particle systems.
• PRT Surfacing: Generate particles on the surface of geometry.
• Advanced Shadowing: Cast shadows from Krakatoa particles onto geometry in 3rd party renderers, including Chaos Group’s V-Ray and NVIDIA’s mental ray.

“We first developed Krakatoa on 3ds Max because we knew the software inside and out. Establishing support for Maya was a natural progression, and though it took some time to achieve parity, Krakatoa now works seamlessly for Maya users,” said Chris Bond, founder, Thinkbox Software. “Writing the new Magma toolkit for Maya was a huge undertaking, but one that brings users a ton of new advantages. We’ve also fine-tuned existing features across Krakatoa so that all formats are now feature equivalent and more than fully capable of handling anything artists throw at them.”

Source: Thinkbox Software

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.