LightWork Design, the world’s leading supplier of rendering solutions for developers of advanced 3D computer graphics software, today announced the release of LightWorks 7.5. This newest release builds upon the product’s success within the industry by adding some significant new features, giving software developers the power to create even more valuable applications. These features include:
- LightWorks Real-time provides a single API that gives software developers device-independent access to hardware rendering on cards supporting the OpenGL Shading Language or Cg – this release contains revolutionary new LightWorks technology which enables the interactive rendering of high-quality images using portable LightWorks shaders that operate seamlessly in both hardware and software rendering. LightWorks Real-time breaks through the limitations of today’s graphics hardware and provides the power to support LightWorks shaders on both Cg and OGLSL graphics hardware. Using the device-independent LightWorks API, software developers can easily create interactive applications that seamlessly take advantage of cards running Cg or OGLSL.
"As a leading innovator in OpenGL(R) development, 3Dlabs pushed to transform the OpenGL Shading Language from a plug-in to a key element of the OpenGL 2.0 core," said Randi Rost, director of developer relations at 3Dlabs. "LightWork Design has supported this evolution and has worked continuously at the forefront of OpenGL Shading Language implementation. LightWorks version 7.5 provides practical solutions for CAD developers who harness the pure power of OpenGL Shading Language." - Easy-to-use radiosity – A range of improvements have been made to the Global Illumination product that make it easier for users to create high-quality images using radiosity.
- New GUI components – for rapid development of user interfaces including interactive light editing, a view manager, enhanced preview geometry, and new shader editors.
- New shaders in the Architectural and Industrial Toolboxes:
- A set of layered and layout shaders that allow designers to scan individual elements, such as a series of bricks, and automatically layout the elements with duplication & reflection to easily produce realistic walls without seams.
- A ‘paint splat’ shader which allows users to create complex layered, spotted and multi-coloured patterns.
- A new, advanced ‘environment light’ shader that uses an HDRI as a light to create highly accurate images.
- A masked image foreground shader for producing photomontages.
- Cross-platform plug-in shaders – reducing the cost for customers to upgrade their applications. The plug-in shader mechanism in LightWorks allows applications to be upgraded without needing any recompilation, which significantly reduces customers costs and time-to-market for their application upgrades. LightWorks now allows new bytecode and native shaders to be plugged directly into applications without customers having to recompile their software. Bytecode plug-in shaders are platform independent and are encapsulated inside the LWA format.
- In addition to this, there are a range of other improvements in LightWorks 7.5 to ensure that customers have the most cost-effective route to creating advanced rendering applications for their users.
For more details about this release, go to the Latest Release page on the LightWork Design website: www.lightworkdesign.com/lw_products_latest_release.htm
About LightWork Design
LightWork Design is the world’s leading supplier of rendering solutions for developers of advanced 3D computer graphics software. Established in 1989, LightWork Design has continually developed LightWorks to provide customers with innovative and market-focused solutions for the creation of powerful and easy-to-use rendering applications. Renowned for its physically accurate visualization of real-world objects and environments, LightWorks is the ideal choice for applications targeted at the AEC, Automotive, Industrial and Graphics markets. LightWorks is supplied as a complete solution which includes the SDK, support, training and consultancy services, to give customers fast and efficient access to leading-edge rendering technology, resulting in shorter development cycles, faster time-to-market for new products, and lower software development costs.
This article was last modified on January 3, 2023
This article was first published on February 25, 2005
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