6 August 2008

Software developer Autodesk says its new Mudbox 2009 application, designed for 3D modellers and texture artists working on entertainment and design projects, will give artists the freedom to create without worrying about technical details. Mudbox has been used to shape characters in blockbuster movies and games such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth, The Mist and Mass Effect.

“Our goal is to make early stage digital assets resemble their final 'on-screen' forms as closely as possible,” said Dave Cardwell, Mudbox product designer at Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “Starting with accurate models makes the production process more efficient and provides a higher-quality end result. For example, you'd want to know early on whether a prominent brow will shadow a character's eyes. That's why Mudbox 2009 has texture painting tools and on-target display features; these will help artists build and refine better 3D models.”

“The introduction of Autodesk Mudbox 2009 sparks a revolution in computer graphics tools, bringing about a paradigm shift in how designers and artists do their work,” said Habib Zargarpour, senior art director at Electronic Arts.

Dan Platt, modeller at Disney Animation Studios, said: “Time is money. An Autodesk Mudbox session begins with its artist-friendly, intuitive interface. This is sculpting at the speed of thought with the greatest of fidelity. In a business where new ideas with impossible deadlines are commonplace, Mudbox never lets me down.”

The new application will be available in October, and will be supported on Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista operating systems.