Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced the worldwide availability of SOFTIMAGE|CAT version 2.5, the popular plug-in for Autodesk 3ds Max software. The SOFTIMAGE|CAT software is a complete character animation system with a unique toolset allows artists to animate quickly in a flexible environment. Part of Avid’s recent asset acquisition of Character Animation Technologies, Ltd., SOFTIMAGE|CAT version 2.5 is the latest update to the newest member of the Softimage suite of character production tools, and is currently deployed in the game development, film and post industries.
“We are very excited to release the latest update to CAT shortly after becoming part of the Softimage family. We remain committed to supporting our customers and developing the technology they have counted on to produce high quality character animation in their Max-based pipelines,” said Philip R. Taylor, CAT product designer for Softimage. “With this release, our customers will also benefit from the knowledgeable support teams at Softimage, and have access to richer documentation resources on the new CAT Wiki.”

New features in SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 software include:

  • New system for manipulating CATRigs. CAT now includes gizmos to manipulate CATRigs faster and easier. With one click a gizmo can be added to a CAT bone to give a rig a clear, streamlined set of controls.
  • Copy and paste layers for key frame animation. Artists can now quickly copy and paste poses and animation for hubs limbs, hands, feet, and tails, further speeding up the key-framing of CAT characters.
  • Unique procedural walk-cycle system. New walk modes in CATMotion include: ‘Walk on spot’, ‘Walk on Line’, and ‘Path node’. CATMotion also includes controls for gradient and direction, allowing artists to design a broader range of cycles, and additional tools for previewing a larger range of motion.
  • Pose mixer for bone-based facial animation. The new pose mixer tool provides a fast, intuitive workflow that allows artists to animate their characters’ faces in the same way they would using morph targets. Poses can be loaded, mirrored and blended onto the facial bone hierarchy.
SOFTIMAGE|CAT V.2.5 also includes updates to CAT’s capture animation tool to provide a faster, more responsive workflow. New pipeline tools include a batch importer to import data into CAT, and a new easily customizable script-based batch exporter. A new Wiki for CAT documentation is also now available at cat.wiki.avid.com.

Pricing & Availability
– SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 is a free upgrade for customers who have purchased CAT v.2.0 and above. The upgrade to v.2.5 can be immediately downloaded at www.catoolkit.com/.

– Customers with a license of CAT v.1.0 can purchase an upgrade for $295 USMSRP from the CAT website at www.catoolkit.com/purchase/ or from authorized resellers.

– New customers can purchase SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 for $995 USMSRP from the CAT website at www.catoolkit.com/purchase/ or from authorized resellers.

www.softimage.com