Apple Technology Will Allow modo Users to Create an Instant Render Farm Across Mac and PC Computers

Luxology LLC, an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software, today announced that it will be using Bonjour technology from Apple to power its upcoming modo 301 release. Bonjour is an open, standards-based networking technology that automatically connects electronic devices on a network, allowing them to interoperate seamlessly without any user configuration. One of the most advanced 3D content creation software products available for the Mac and PC, modo combines a powerful, real-time subdivision surface modeling engine with an artist-focused set of tools including 3D painting and a tightly integrated renderer that provides fully lit previews and extremely fast, production-quality rendering. Luxology will ship a comprehensive upgrade to modo that includes network rendering based on Bonjour in summer 2007.

"One of our key goals for modo 301 is to let our customers unleash the modo renderer across all of the Macs and PCs in a workgroup for maximum rendering power," said Brad Peebler, president of Luxology. "By incorporating Bonjour technology, we have not only met this goal but also done it in a manner that is incredibly easy for anyone to use."

"Since Apple introduced Bonjour in 2002, it has been widely adopted by a broad range of companies from major printer vendors to storage device and even personal video recorder manufacturers," said Ron Okamoto, Apple‚s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "We're thrilled that Luxology will take advantage of this technology for use in modo to create instant render farms across both Macs and PCs."

Highlights of network rendering in modo 301 include:

  • All Macs and PCs on the network are automatically detected. Up to 50 nodes are allowed under modo‚s license agreement for incredibly cost-effective rendering.
  • Rendering tasks from the initiating workstation are automatically parceled out to machines that have been placed in a ready-to-render mode. Visual feedback is provided on which portions of an image are being rendered on the network as the image generation progresses.
  • Can be used to compute single high-resolution print images or to render out entire animation sequences and architectural walk-throughs.
Pricing and Availability

modo ships with one license that supports both Mac OSX and Windows and sells for a suggested retail price of USD $895. A free 30-day, full-function evaluation version of modo 203 is available for immediate download from modo3d.com. Existing modo users can now reserve an upgrade to modo 301 for the special price of $295 by visiting www.luxology.com/store/modo.aspx . The upgrade price will revert to $395 after modo 301 ships. modo is also sold and supported by a network of authorized Luxology resellers across the globe.

www.modo3d.com