Autodesk has announced the latest version of 3ds Max, as well as a new version of Max that brings the best of VIZ, the company’s architectural visualization software, together with a non-SDK version of the modeling and animation package. 3ds Max 2009 includes the new Reveal rendering toolset and is expected to ship this spring. 3ds Max Design 2009 is aimed at architectural and design pros (you can export FBX files right out of Revit) but could also work well for set analysis in film and video production due to its impressive exposure lighting analysis tools. Note to legacy VIZ users: As of this announcement, Autodesk says it will no longer actively support VIZ and will eventually phase out the software with successive point releases of 3ds Max Design. However, VIZ Subscription customers will be able to cross-grade to 3ds Max Design 2009 for $249. $3,495 each for either version; $895 (upgrade from 3ds Max 2008/cross-grade for non-subscription VIZ customers).