Los Angeles, CA (December 17, 2013) – Thinkbox Software today announced the release of Krakatoa MY 2.3, the latest version of its high-volume particle renderer for Autodesk® Maya®. Additions to the software include an intuitive Magma node-based toolkit for channelling particles, among other UI and performance improvements. The launch coincides with the availability of Krakatoa MX 2.3, an update to the Autodesk® 3ds Max® version of the plug-in – giving users identical functionality across both 3D applications.

CPU-based and multi-threaded, Krakatoa overcomes the memory and system limitations of host applications by providing a pipeline for acquiring, caching, transforming, modifying, shading and rendering billions of particles at unprecedented speeds. Artists most frequently tap Krakatoa to create natural computer generated (CG) phenomena such as dust, smoke, silt, ocean surface foam and plasma, abstract images or solid objects, though it can also visualize LIDAR and particle datasets in architecture, engineering and construction.

Krakatoa MY 2.3 Key features include:
-- Full Magma Support: Procedurally modify particle data in Krakatoa.
-- Higher Particle Counts: Distributed .PRT partitioning over Deadline increases the particle counts of Maya particle systems.
-- PRT Surfacing: Generate particles on the surface of geometry.
-- Advanced Shadowing: Cast shadows from Krakatoa particles onto geometry in 3rd party renderers, including Chaos Group’s V-Ray and NVIDIA’s mental ray®.

“We first developed Krakatoa on 3ds Max because we knew the software inside and out. Establishing support for Maya was a natural progression, and though it took some time to achieve parity, Krakatoa now works seamlessly for Maya users,” said Chris Bond, founder, Thinkbox Software. “Writing the new Magma toolkit for Maya was a huge undertaking, but one that brings users a ton of new advantages. We’ve also fine-tuned existing features across Krakatoa so that all formats are now feature equivalent and more than fully capable of handling anything artists throw at them.”

Please visit www.thinkboxsoftware.com/sales or call 1-866-419-0283 to request a 15-day evaluation license, or for more information about Thinkbox Software products, including pricing.

About Thinkbox Software
Founded by Chris Bond in 2010, Thinkbox Software develops production-proven tools for visual artists and backs each product with highly responsive support. Used across entertainment, engineering and design, Thinkbox’s products include Deadline high-volume data management software used to render or process files and several other artist-driven software tools to create, visualize and modify datasets for visual effects, animation and digital simulations. For more information, visit www.thinkboxsoftware.com or follow @thinkboxsoft on Twitter.

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