Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 announced

Autodesk gets set to release the 2012 version of 3ds Max, providing artists with a new range of creative toolsets -- read on for preview videos of the Nitrous Viewport

Nitrous Accelerated Graphics Core helps artists make better creative decisions

With the 2012 versions of Autodesk software for digital entertainment creation set to arrive this April, Autodesk has added a number of new tools to the release of 3ds Max.
As audiences and artists require more sophisticated content, Autodesk has emphasised its new, single-step interoperability that maximises creative capabilities and workflow.
There have also been a number of preview videos posted to YouTube. Scroll down to view the Nitrous Viewport at the end of the post.

Key new features:

• Move 3D data between software -- single-step interoperability between 3ds Max, Maya, Motionbuilder, Mudbox and ICE in Softimage
• New f-curve editor -- enables animators to switch between multiple Autodesk products using uniform terminology and a unified UI when editing animation curves
• Nitrous Accelerated Graphics Core -- handles larger data sets with minimal impact on interactivity. Advanced scene management techniques and new render quality display provide a smoother workflow and a clear idea of final output
• mRigids Rigid-Body Dynamics uses multi threaded NVIDIA PhysX engine -- enables the creation of complex simulations in the 3ds Max Viewport
• New save and load brush settings -- enables artists to easily switch between favourite presets. When painting bitmaps in the Viewport Canvas, the clone brush source can be taken from anywhere on screen

“Artists are facing shorter deadlines coupled with increasing expectations for quality. 3ds Max delivers powerful tools that take advantage of recent hardware advances, along with better interoperability with our other products.
“Together these enhancements help artists to make creative decisions early, validate them and deliver better results faster,” says Marc Petit, senior vice president of Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

mRigids creates compelling simulations directly in the 3ds Max viewport

Pricing and Availability

3ds Max 2012 is priced at $3495 with an upgrade from the 2011 version costing $1745.  The new release will be available from April 2011.
3ds Max is also expected to be part of the Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2012 -- together with Softimage, Mudbox, and Motion builder at a price of $6,495.
For more information visit the 3ds Max product page on the Autodesk website.
<h4>Nitrous Viewport previews:</h4>

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