Discreet boosts animation software with 3ds max 5

Discreet have announced a significant feature release of its professional 3D animation and modeling software – 3ds max 5.
With a mix of new features, 3ds max 5 will enable animators in film, television, games and design visualisation markets to work within realistic environments and animate expressive characters with greater efficiency.
"With 3ds max 5, Discreet answers and precipitates the continually evolving needs of the 3D industry," said Phillip Miller, Vice President of Discreet animation products.
"3ds max 5 is tailored for traditionally trained animators and designers – and delivers a solution of continued innovation and productivity that more 3D professionals choose to rely upon than any other."
Discreet introduces key new features in 3ds max 5 software that will advance the realism, character animation and productivity requirements necessary for animators to create lifelike 3D animations.
3ds max 5 introduces enhanced global illumination methods for subtle, elegant and accurate lighting. reactor, Discreet's embedded, integrated and interactive physics engine from HAVOK and new texture mapping capabilities to accurately marry image data to mesh models.
Animators using 3ds max 5 software will enjoy greater control in character animation with tools such as a new Set Key system, Curve and Dope Sheet editor, and Merge Animation tools for repurposing character animation segments.
3ds max 5 includes backburner for efficient management of free network rendering, including control over Discreet combustion, desktop 3D compositing and paint seats, and new license sharing options for networked groups of animators sharing 3ds max in a LAN environment.
Discreet 3ds max was used in recent films like 'Minority Report' and 'Panic Room', PC and console games like 'Spider-Man: The Movie Game', 'Warcraft III' and 'Never Winter Nights', as well as commercials, music videos and television episodics.
Discreet, www.discreet.com
(GMcG)